# Notebook vs Handwriting Memorandum

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Handwriting Memorandum at none against Notebook's 1. Handwriting Memorandum also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Notebook's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Handwriting Memorandum 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Notebook's written reviews are positive against 71% of Handwriting Memorandum's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Notebook ships an update weekly, Handwriting Memorandum every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notebook | Handwriting Memorandum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-diary-and-journal-app/id654645301/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **72.5% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 25 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koji Ito](https://appshunter.io/developer/334329056) | [Yuichi HARA](https://appshunter.io/developer/538530212) |

## 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


### Handwriting Memorandum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697)

Easily capture your thoughts and ideas with a simple digital notebook. Draw sketches or jot down notes using your finger for quick and convenient input.

**Highlights:** Finger-based note-taking, Simple sketching functionality, Digital notebook, Quick input, Easy to use interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notebook free?

Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Handwriting Memorandum free?

Handwriting Memorandum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notebook or Handwriting Memorandum?

Handwriting Memorandum is rated higher. Notebook averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Handwriting Memorandum averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Notebook or Handwriting Memorandum have ads?

Both Notebook and Handwriting Memorandum show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notebook or Handwriting Memorandum?

Notebook ships an update weekly, and Handwriting Memorandum every 12 months. Most recently, Notebook was updated on October 29, 2026 and Handwriting Memorandum on October 24, 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.*