Comparison

Discreet Notes vs CustosNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Discreet Notes

This app offers a unique way to manage your notes with a strong emphasis on privacy. You can create truly hidden notes accessible only by their specific passphrase, or opt for visible notes for everyday use. It supports Markdown formatting and iCloud sync across Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Truly private hidden notes
  • Visible notes option
  • Raw Markdown editor
  • Markdown preview toggle
  • iCloud sync
  • Dark mode
Read full description

Your Notes, Your Secrets — Reimagined. Welcome to a different kind of notes app. Designed for privacy, built for simplicity, and powered by a unique approach to hidden notes. # Truly Private Notes Create hidden notes that don’t appear anywhere in the app. No titles, no previews, not even a count. The only way to access them? Enter the exact passphrase you used to create them. If you don’t remember it, it’s like the note never existed. # Visible Notes, If You Want Them Prefer something more traditional? Mark any note as visible, and it will show up in your list. Easily switch between your private thoughts and everyday to-dos. # Raw Markdown + Preview Toggle Write in pure Markdown, and toggle to preview your note beautifully rendered. Focus on content first, then enjoy the polished result—no distractions, no clutter. # iCloud Sync Keep your notes with you, securely synced across all your Apple devices. # Dark Mode Thoughtfully designed for low-light environments, perfect for night writing or discreet journaling. Why You’ll Love It - Journal without leaving a trace. - Store sensitive thoughts or ideas without fear of exposure. - Draft blog posts, code snippets, or creative writing in Markdown. - Keep everyday notes visible, and hidden notes truly hidden. Minimal. Powerful. Private.

About

CustosNotes

This app keeps your important notes visible at the top of your screen, in the Dynamic Island, on your Lock Screen, or in the status bar. It allows for quick voice input and easy pinning until you're done with the task.

Highlights
  • Pin notes to Dynamic Island
  • Display notes on Lock Screen
  • Voice-to-text input
  • Set reminders by time
  • Type notes manually
  • Dark mode support
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Most notes apps give you a list. Lists are where things go to be forgotten. CustosNotes keeps the note where you cannot miss it: the top of your screen. Hold the circle, say the thing, let go. Then tap once and that note stays pinned — in the Dynamic Island, on your Lock Screen, in your status bar — until you decide it is done. HOW IT WORKS • Hold the circle and speak. One button, no menus, no cursor to find. • Your phone's own recogniser writes it down, in your language. • Let go and the note lands. It starts switched off; you choose which ones earn a spot up top. WHERE IT STAYS • Dynamic Island — the mark and the time, beside the camera (iPhone 14 Pro and later). • Lock Screen — the whole note, readable without unlocking. • Live Activities & Status Bar — pinned notifications and status updates that stay visible until you dismiss them. REMINDERS, WITHOUT THE CEREMONY Tap the clock, spin the dial, done. It saves as you turn. No date to pick — a time that has already passed means tomorrow — and nothing to confirm. ALSO • Type instead of speaking, for when you cannot talk. • English and Spanish, app and mic together. • Dark mode that follows your phone. • No account, no sign-up, no server. Your notes live on your phone. CustosNotes does one thing. It makes sure you do not forget it and your data does not get out of your device.

Screenshots

Discreet Notes4 screens
CustosNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: CustosNotes at every 3 days against Discreet Notes's every 9 days. On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Discreet Notes ships an update every 9 days, CustosNotes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Discreet Notes versus CustosNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDiscreet NotesCustosNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIvan MilicevicJuan Martin

Customer experience

Discreet Notes

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

CustosNotes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Discreet Notes

No in-app purchases

None

CustosNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Discreet Notes free?
Discreet Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CustosNotes free?
CustosNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Discreet Notes or CustosNotes have ads?
Neither Discreet Notes nor CustosNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Discreet Notes or CustosNotes?
Discreet Notes ships an update every 9 days, and CustosNotes every 3 days. Most recently, Discreet Notes was updated on October 3, 2026 and CustosNotes on October 2, 2026.

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