# Notebook vs DateSmith Light

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 73%). Notebook's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 2). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DateSmith Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

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: 73% of Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of DateSmith Light's.

Notebook ships an update every 9 days, DateSmith Light weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notebook | DateSmith Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-diary-and-journal-app/id654645301/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datesmith-light-date-widgets/id6746695656/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 10 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koji Ito](https://appshunter.io/developer/334329056) | [Benjamin Staab](https://appshunter.io/developer/1680743368) |

## What reviewers say

### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-diary-and-journal-app/id654645301)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 💡 Convenient for journaling and note-taking
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 👍 Organized by date

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🚫 Unable to insert photos or attachments
- 🚫 Limited formatting options
- 🚫 No cloud sync or backup
- 🚫 Not compatible with iPad

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/datesmith-light-date-widgets/id6746695656)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 every 9 days, and DateSmith Light weekly. Most recently, Notebook was updated on September 24, 2026 and DateSmith Light on June 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*