# Prism vs LightNotes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LightNotes at none against Prism's 2. Prism's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Prism sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. LightNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Prism holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Prism ships an update fortnightly, LightNotes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Prism | LightNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prism-focus-and-screen-time/id6740268334/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightnotes-fast-and-private/id6749021051/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 484 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DEVSONICS (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788182508) | [Oppeldt Dmitrii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828488295) |

## What reviewers say

### Prism

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prism-focus-and-screen-time/id6740268334)

This app helps you build healthier phone habits by setting personalized screen time limits, blocking distractions, and tracking your usage. It offers customizable focus sessions and routines to boost productivity and encourage mindful digital wellness.

**Highlights:** Personalized screen time limits, Deep Focus sessions to block interruptions, Screen time and usage tracking, Customizable work/study routines, Block Lists and Allow Lists, Quick start and chained sessions, Scheduled healthy breaks

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| LifeTime Access | $19.99 | one-time |


### LightNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightnotes-fast-and-private/id6749021051)

This app offers a fast and private note-taking experience on iOS devices. It supports markdown formatting, secure local storage with Face ID protection, and offline functionality. Ideal for users who prioritize productivity and data privacy.

**Highlights:** Fast note taking, Complete privacy with local storage, Markdown support with live preview, Face ID and passcode protection, Offline functionality, Export notes to PDF, HTML, and plain text, Beautiful themes and dark mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Prism free?

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

### Is LightNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Prism or LightNotes?

Prism is rated higher. Prism averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while LightNotes averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Prism or LightNotes have ads?

Neither Prism nor LightNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Prism or LightNotes?

Prism ships an update fortnightly, and LightNotes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Prism was updated on October 24, 2026 and LightNotes on October 6, 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.*