# The Stack vs Shimau

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shimau at none against The Stack's 3. Shimau also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Stack sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Shimau asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Stack ships an update every 5 weeks, Shimau every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Stack | Shimau |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-stack-notes-to-self/id6615075283/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Elegant Chaos Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1212020544) | [TECH MOON, K.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/6781580223) |

## What reviewers say

### The Stack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-stack-notes-to-self/id6615075283)

This app offers a straightforward approach to managing tasks and capturing thoughts. It utilizes a single list of text-based notes organized with hashtags for easy retrieval and organization.

**Highlights:** Simple text-based notes, Hashtag organization, Easy idea capture, To-do list management, Streamlined interface

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fresh Straw | $0.99 | one-time |
| A Nice Juicy Carrot | $2.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Hamster Wheel | $9.99 | one-time |


### Shimau

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimau-save-now-find-later/id6789530146)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Stack free?

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

### Is Shimau free?

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

### Do The Stack or Shimau have ads?

Neither The Stack nor Shimau shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Stack or Shimau?

The Stack ships an update every 5 weeks, and Shimau every 4 days. Most recently, The Stack was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shimau on October 31, 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.*
