Comparison

Notebook vs 生き甲斐

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

生き甲斐

Features
Read full description

「生き甲斐 Ikigai Focus」へようこそ! 毎日の勉強、仕事、マインドフルネスの時間を、穏やかで達成感あふれる特別なひとときへ変える和風ポモドーロタイマーアプリです。 「生き甲斐(Ikigai)」とは、日々の生活の中で自分らしい目的や喜びを見出す日本の伝統的な考え方。Ikigai Focus は、科学的なポモドーロテクニックと日本の「Zen(禅)」の美意識を融合させました。 主な機能と特徴 禅ポモドーロタイマー • 10分、25分、30分、45分、60分、またはカスタム時間設定が可能。 • 洗練された和風グラフィックと直感的なサークル表示。 • タイマー起動中は可愛いペットも一緒に勉強・作業に集中します。 癒やしの和風環境音 • 集中力を高める高品質な環境音を収録。 • 雨の音、静かな波、焚き火、風鈴の音色、清流のせせらぎ、森の野鳥のさえずり。 • BGMとしてバックグラウンド再生にも対応。 浮世を忘れる「鯉の池」 • 集中時間の合間には、優雅に泳ぐ和風の「鯉の池」でリフレッシュ。 • 錦鯉、カニ、カメたちが穏やかなスピードで泳ぐ姿を眺めて心を整えます。 和風インテリア&フィギュアコレクション • 集中セッションを完了すると「抹茶コイン」を獲得。 • 獲得したコインで、盆栽、高級畳、ちゃぶ台、達磨、招き猫などの伝統家具やフィギュアを解放。 • 自分だけの理想の「ペットの部屋」をカスタマイズして飾ることができます。 本日のZenおみくじ&統計記録 • 毎日引ける「おみくじ」で、心に響く格言とボーナスコインを獲得。 • 連続集中日数(Streak)、総集中時間、完了セッション数、Zen称号バッジを記録。 • 蛍が舞う幻想的な「夜モード」も搭載。 安心のプライバシー保護&オフライン対応 • アカウント登録不要。ダウンロード後すぐに使えます。 • 集中データや育成記録はすべて端末内に安全に保存されます。 Ikigai Focus と一緒に、静けさの中で自分の「生き甲斐」を見つけ、毎日の時間を大切に重ねていきましょう。 今すぐダウンロードして、心地よい集中の時間を体験してください! Welcome to Ikigai Focus – your tranquil sanctuary designed to transform your daily study, work, and mindfulness sessions into a peaceful, rewarding journey. Inspired by the Japanese concept of "Ikigai" (生き甲斐) – finding your purpose and joyful fulfillment in daily life – Ikigai Focus seamlessly blends proven Pomodoro productivity techniques with a soothing Japanese Zen atmosphere. ZEN POMODORO TIMER • Customizable focus sessions (10m, 25m, 30m, 45m, 60m, or custom duration). • Minimalist, elegant circular display with smooth ambient animations. • Stay accountable with your loyal companion pet studying alongside you. CALMING AMBIENT SOUNDSCAPES • Immerse yourself in high-quality Japanese ambient sounds. • Gentle rainforest rain, ocean waves, cozy campfire, wind chimes, flowing stream, and forest birds singing. • Background audio support to maintain focus while listening to your favorite atmosphere. RELAXING KOI POND & AQUARIUM • Take peaceful breaks at your personal Zen Koi Pond. • Observe beautiful Japanese Koi fish, crabs, and turtles swimming at a serene, slow pace. • Interact with nature to recharge your mental energy between focus sessions. COLLECTIBLE ZEN & MASCOT FIGURES • Earn Matcha Coins automatically by completing focus sessions. • Unlock and display dozens of high-quality Japanese figures, traditional tea sets, bonsai trees, tatami mats, and Daruma dolls. • Customize your pet’s room with authentic Japanese decor items. DAILY ZEN OMIKUJI & STATS TRACKING Draw daily Omikuji fortune scrolls to receive inspiring quotes and bonus coins. Track your daily streak, total focus minutes, completed sessions, and badges. Day & Night modes with dynamic glowing fireflies for nighttime study sessions. PRIVACY-FIRST & OFFLINE READY • 100% private: All data stays strictly on your local device. • No account creation or sign-in required. Start focusing instantly! Find your purpose, master your time, and enjoy every step of your focus journey with Ikigai Focus. Download now and cultivate your daily peace of mind!

Screenshots

Notebook4 screens
生き甲斐4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: 生き甲斐 at none against Notebook's shown. 生き甲斐 also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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 and 生き甲斐 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Notebook versus 生き甲斐: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotebook生き甲斐
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews72.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings14K — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKoji ItoHieu Dao

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

生き甲斐

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Notebook

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$6.99
4 purchases

生き甲斐

One-time4
  • 50 Matcha Coins$0.49
  • 150 Matcha Coins$1.99
  • 500 Matcha Coins$3.99
Show 1 more
  • 1200 Matcha Coins$5.99

Questions

Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 生き甲斐 free?
生き甲斐 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Notebook or 生き甲斐 have ads?
Notebook shows ads; 生き甲斐 does not.
Which is updated more often, Notebook or 生き甲斐?
Notebook ships an update weekly, and 生き甲斐 weekly. Most recently, Notebook was updated on November 1, 2026 and 生き甲斐 on October 25, 2026.

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