# Idea Vault vs Mindscope 2

The clearest difference is ads: Mindscope 2 at none against Idea Vault's shown. Mindscope 2 also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idea Vault sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mindscope 2 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Idea Vault against 5.0 for Mindscope 2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Idea Vault ships an update every 6 weeks, Mindscope 2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idea Vault | Mindscope 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-vault-notes-and-journal/id6572281488/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindscope-2/id6749939290/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kevin Struna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700293634) | [John Goering](https://appshunter.io/developer/507507566) |

## What reviewers say

### Idea Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-vault-notes-and-journal/id6572281488)

A secure and intuitive application for capturing, organizing, and protecting your thoughts and ideas. Features rich text editing, powerful search, and cross-device synchronization. Keep your inspiration safe and accessible.

**Highlights:** Rich text editing, Distraction-free interface, Organize with tags, colors, moods, locations, Powerful instant search, On-device AES encryption, iCloud sync across devices, Light and Dark Mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Mindscope 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindscope-2/id6749939290)

Capture and organize your thoughts visually with a fluid mind-mapper and outliner. Create nested entries, link ideas, and export your work in various formats. Syncs across Apple devices and offers offline access.

**Highlights:** Free-form visual boards, Instant outlining and nesting, Multiple boards per project, Rich entry types (text, links, todos, notes), Line and arrow connections, Smart Undo/Redo, Multiple export formats (OPML, PDF, PNG, HTML)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mindscope Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Mindscope Pro Yearly | $17.99 | per year |
| Mindscope Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idea Vault free?

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

### Is Mindscope 2 free?

Mindscope 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Idea Vault or Mindscope 2?

Idea Vault and Mindscope 2 are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Idea Vault or Mindscope 2 have ads?

Idea Vault shows ads; Mindscope 2 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idea Vault or Mindscope 2?

Idea Vault ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mindscope 2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Idea Vault was updated on September 17, 2026 and Mindscope 2 on August 22, 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.*