# Idea Vault vs Scout

The clearest difference is rating: Idea Vault at 5.0 against Scout's 1.0. Idea Vault also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). Scout's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idea Vault sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Scout sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idea Vault holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

Idea Vault ships an update monthly, Scout every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idea Vault | Scout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idea-vault-notes-and-journal/id6572281488/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-zettelkasten-notes/id6758234466/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 10 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kevin Struna](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700293634) | [CHIYODA NAME PLATE SEISAKUSHO, K.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871667493) |

## 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 |


### Scout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-zettelkasten-notes/id6758234466)

This app offers a frictionless note-taking experience using the Zettelkasten method. It focuses on quick idea capture and instant linking to build a connected web of knowledge, optimized for mobile use.

**Highlights:** Zero-friction note capture, Superconductive idea linking, iPhone-first design, Minimalist interface, Zettelkasten method implementation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scout Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Scout Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Lifetime VIP pass | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idea Vault free?

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

### Is Scout free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Idea Vault or Scout?

Idea Vault is rated higher. Idea Vault averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Scout averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Idea Vault or Scout have ads?

Idea Vault shows ads; Scout does not.

### Which is updated more often, Idea Vault or Scout?

Idea Vault ships an update monthly, and Scout every 5 weeks. Most recently, Idea Vault was updated on October 21, 2026 and Scout on October 24, 2026.

---

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