a memo to self vs 1 Bit Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
a memo to self
Display essential rules, reminders, and life principles directly on your home screen. Keep your most important thoughts visible and accessible at a glance.
- Home screen widgets
- Display rules and reminders
- Keep important thoughts visible
- Customizable text widgets
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keep your most important rules, reminders, and life principles front and center – right on your home screen.
1 Bit Notes
Capture your thoughts with a stylish, retro terminal interface. Organize, secure, and set reminders for your notes. Export in Markdown or PDF and sync across devices.
- Terminal-style interface
- Note organization and search
- Passcode encryption for notes
- Reminder functionality
- Home screen widget support
- Multiple retro themes
- Markdown and PDF export
- iCloud synchronization
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1 Bit Notes brings the nostalgic charm of classic computer terminals to modern note-taking. With its authentic retro aesthetic and pixel-perfect design, taking notes has never been this stylish. FEATURES: > Terminal-Style Interface Clean, minimalist design inspired by vintage computer systems. Green phosphor text on dark background creates the perfect writing atmosphere. > Organize Your Thoughts Create categories, pin important notes, and mark favorites. Search through all your notes instantly. > Secure Your Notes Lock sensitive notes with passcode encryption. Your private thoughts stay private. > Reminders Set reminders for your notes and never forget important tasks. > Widget Support Quick access to your notes right from your home screen. > Multiple Themes Choose from different retro color schemes to match your style. > Export Options Export your notes as Markdown or PDF files. > iCloud Sync Keep your notes synchronized across all your devices. PREMIUM FEATURES: Unlock the full experience with a one-time purchase: - iCloud Sync - Extra Themes - Note Encryption - Reminders - Boot Screen Customization - Terminal Commands Whether you're a developer, writer, or just someone who appreciates retro aesthetics, 1 Bit Notes is the perfect companion for capturing your ideas. > START TAKING NOTES_
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: a memo to self at none against 1 Bit Notes's 1. 1 Bit Notes's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. 1 Bit Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. a memo to self asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for a memo to self against 5.0 for 1 Bit Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1 Bit Notes has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | a memo to self | 1 Bit Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 5 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yi Yan Tay | Fatih Emir Onder |
Customer experience
a memo to self
1 Bit Notes
In-app purchases
a memo to self
No in-app purchases
1 Bit Notes
- Premium Lifetime$1.99
Questions
Is a memo to self free?
Is 1 Bit Notes free?
Which has better reviews, a memo to self or 1 Bit Notes?
Do a memo to self or 1 Bit Notes have ads?
Which is updated more often, a memo to self or 1 Bit Notes?
Other comparisons
