Comparison

Notebook vs DateSmith Light

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

Head to head
About

Notebook

This app offers a natural journaling experience by organizing daily notes on a single page, allowing you to flip through your entries like a physical book. It prioritizes simplicity, security with passcode locks, and seamless iCloud synchronization for easy access across devices.

Highlights
  • Realistic page-turning effect
  • One page per day organization
  • iCloud sync and backup
  • Passcode lock with Face ID/Touch ID
  • Dark mode and font adjustment
  • Ad-free Premium option
Features
Read full description

Keep daily notes and diary entries together on one page. Turn pages like a book and revisit your past entries. Search, iCloud sync, and a passcode lock help you organize and access your notes. Core features are free; ad removal is a one-time purchase. ■ Your day on one page See the notes and diary entries you write each day together on one page. Swipe or tap to turn pages and look back on everyday moments and memories. ■ Find past entries Use the contents list or search to find a note you want to revisit. Change a note's date to record plans or past events. ■ Make reading and writing comfortable Adjust the text size or use Dark Mode. Copy, print, or share your notes. ■ Protect access with a passcode Lock access to your diary with a passcode. Face ID / Touch ID is available on supported devices. ■ Sync between devices with iCloud With iCloud sync enabled, notes synchronize automatically between devices using the same Apple Account. iCloud sync is enabled by default for new installations. iCloud Drive and Notebook's iCloud access must be enabled, with available storage and a network connection. Synchronization may take time. iCloud sync and device backups are separate features. Check your sync status and backups before changing devices. ■ Recover deleted notes Recover notes within 30 days of deletion from Recently Deleted in Settings. ■ Remove ads with a one-time purchase Core features are free. Premium removes ads with a one-time purchase, not a subscription. After changing devices, use Restore Purchases with the Apple Account used for your purchase. Over 2 million downloads worldwide. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 21,000 ratings across all countries and regions (October 2026). Capture your everyday moments, one page at a time.

About

DateSmith Light

Enhance your iPhone's lock screen with a beautifully formatted date display. This app specializes in the premium space above your clock, offering customizable formats and reliable midnight updates. Track important events with a countdown mode and enjoy a minimalist, privacy-focused design.

Highlights
  • Custom date widget for above lock screen clock
  • Multiple widget formats
  • Personalized date formats
  • Countdown mode for events
  • Automatic midnight updates
  • Privacy-focused design
  • Battery efficient
Features
Read full description

DateSmith Light: YOUR LOCK SCREEN DATE PERFECTED DateSmith Light delivers what other widget apps don't - a beautifully formatted date display specifically designed for the premium space above your lock screen clock. With reliable midnight updates and customization options, DateSmith Light enhances your iPhone with information you need at a glance. ABOVE-CLOCK PERFECTION Unlike generic widget apps, DateSmith Light specializes in the coveted space above your lock screen clock. Our elegant date formats complement your iPhone's design language while delivering essential information at a glance. RELIABLE MIDNIGHT UPDATES DateSmith Light employs sophisticated background processing technology that ensures your date always updates precisely at midnight - even if your phone is asleep. Say goodbye to yesterday's date lingering on your lock screen! PERSONALIZATION OPTIONS Choose from multiple date format styles or switch to countdown mode to track days until an important event. Make your lock screen truly yours with the perfect date display that fits your needs. MINIMALIST DESIGN We focus on doing one thing perfectly - showing today's date in a clean, elegant format that enhances your lock screen. No clutter, no distractions, just the information you need. KEY FEATURES - Custom date widget designed specifically for the space above your lock screen clock - Multiple widget formats available for home screen and other widget areas - Personalized display with customizable date formats - Countdown mode to track days until important events - Automatic midnight updates with advanced background technology - Simple configuration - set it up once and forget it - One-time purchase - no subscriptions, no recurring fees - Extremely battery efficient design - 100% privacy focused - no data collection, no analytics - No internet connection required - Minimal storage footprint PRIVACY FIRST DateSmith Light is designed with your privacy in mind. We don't collect any data, require unnecessary permissions, or need an internet connection to function. Your date is your business. SIMPLE SETUP 1. Long press on your lock screen 2. Tap 'Customize' 3. Tap the widget area above the time 4. Find and select the DateSmith Light widget 5. Tap 'Done' DateSmith Light - The date widget that works your way.

Screenshots

Notebook4 screens
DateSmith Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DateSmith Light at none against Notebook's 1. DateSmith Light also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 72%). Notebook's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 2). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DateSmith Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DateSmith Light holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 14K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of DateSmith Light's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Notebook versus DateSmith Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotebookDateSmith Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14K — better2
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKoji ItoBenjamin Staab

Customer experience

Notebook

All ratings14,314 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews276 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral12.3%
Negative15.2%

DateSmith Light

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Notebook

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Deleting entries causes the app to crash
  • Long entries can cause the app to become unresponsive
  • Password feature doesn't always work as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to insert photos and attachments
  • Implement cloud sync and backup
  • Allow more formatting options (font, size, color, bold, italic, etc.)
  • Develop an iPad version with optimized layout
  • Add a search function to easily find past entries

DateSmith Light

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Notebook

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$6.99
None

DateSmith Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DateSmith Light free?
DateSmith Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Notebook or DateSmith Light?
DateSmith Light is rated higher. Notebook averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while DateSmith Light averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Notebook or DateSmith Light have ads?
Notebook shows ads; DateSmith Light does not.
Which is updated more often, Notebook or DateSmith Light?
Notebook ships an update weekly, and DateSmith Light weekly. Most recently, Notebook was updated on October 15, 2026 and DateSmith Light on September 22, 2026.

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