# SpendQ Buddy vs Steno Notes

The clearest difference is ads: Steno Notes at none against SpendQ Buddy's shown. Steno Notes also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). SpendQ Buddy's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SpendQ Buddy sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Steno Notes sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SpendQ Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, Steno Notes every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SpendQ Buddy | Steno Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Size | 69 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nemanja Mihajlovic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1784030980) | [Mikail Kraft](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816063784) |

## What reviewers say

### SpendQ Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spendq-buddy/id6739170494)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly Access | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly Access | $44.99 | per year |
| Starter Package: 30 Credits | $0.99 | one-time |
| Plus Pack: 70 Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| Boost Pack: 60 Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 15 Extra Categories | $1.99 | one-time |
| Max Pack: 120 Credits | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack: 100 Credits | $2.99 | one-time |


### Steno Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steno-notes/id6746288600)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Jar (Small) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip Jar (Medium) | $2.99 | one-time |
| Steno Complete | $4.99 | one-time |
| Steno Tip (Large) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SpendQ Buddy free?

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

### Is Steno Notes free?

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

### Do SpendQ Buddy or Steno Notes have ads?

SpendQ Buddy shows ads; Steno Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, SpendQ Buddy or Steno Notes?

SpendQ Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Steno Notes every 2 days. Most recently, SpendQ Buddy was updated on September 13, 2026 and Steno Notes on September 7, 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.*