Comparison

Kaarma vs passNote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kaarma

Features
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Kaarma brings your circle together for real moments. See what's happening around you, create a plan in a few taps and get together with your friends, right now or later this week. โ€œWe should catch up.โ€ Everyone says it, almost nobody does it. With Kaarma, you see who's free, you suggest something, and the plan comes together. No fifty-message group chat required. OUTINGS AND EVENTS NEARBY โ€ข Open the live map and spot events around you in real time. โ€ข See who's hosting and who's free right now. โ€ข Feeling spontaneous? Save your spot and join in. SPONTANEOUS OR PLANNED, IN A FEW TAPS โ€ข Free right now? Switch on your availability and start an instant event. โ€ข Or plan ahead, with a date, time and place that work for your friends. โ€ข Public or private: you decide who can see it. โ€ข Can't agree on where or when? Run a vote before locking in the plan. SHARE YOUR PASSIONS โ€ข Set the vibe with up to three tags per event: Chill, Cozy, Party, Outdoor, Food & Drinks, Workout, Artsy, Local, Techy, Eco... โ€ข Terrace drinks, a training session, a gallery opening or a game night: find plans that feel like you. YOUR CIRCLE, CLOSE AT HAND โ€ข Create your circles and join the ones that matter. โ€ข Invite friends with a simple link: they join the event in one tap. โ€ข Availability, RSVPs and vote results update in real time. Everyone knows where the plan stands. MOMENTS WORTH KEEPING โ€ข Every event has its own chat to sort out the last details. โ€ข Share photos and videos in the event's Media tab. YOUR WEEK, ALL IN ONE PLACE โ€ข See your past, live and upcoming events at a glance. โ€ข Search for a place or an event right on the map. YOUR PRIVACY, YOUR RULES โ€ข Your location stays under your control: share it when it helps, hide it, or switch it off completely. โ€ข Report content or block a user at any time. โ€ข Kaarma is published by Kaarma SA, a Swiss company based in Geneva. Kaarma is free, and ready when you are.

About

passNote

Features
Read full description

Exchange diaries are a traditional form of communication in Japan, where people share their daily experiences and thoughts through a notebook. Even today, they remain popular among young people, offering a slower and more meaningful alternative to social media and instant messaging. With this app, you can easily experience the charm of exchange diaries on your smartphone. Share your daily life, hobbies, and thoughts while getting to know someone little by little. Unlike short messages, exchange diaries help build deeper connections. By taking time to write and respond, you can learn about each other's values and perspectives and develop lasting relationships. You can also connect with people from around the world. Discover real daily life, culture, school, work, and traditions that cannot be fully understood through travel or social media alone. Exchange diaries are also a great way to learn languages. Built-in translation helps you communicate with confidence while naturally learning real expressions used by native speakers. Why not start a special exchange diary with someone, somewhere in the world?

Screenshots

Kaarma4 screens
passNote3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kaarma at none against passNote's 1. Kaarma also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). passNote's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. passNote sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Kaarma asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kaarma ships an update every 2 weeks, passNote every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Kaarma versus passNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKaarmapassNote
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad โ€” better
Requires iOS16.4 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size95 MB80 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperKaarma SARyota Izumi

In-app purchases

None

Kaarma

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

passNote

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Membership$2.991 Month

Questions

Is Kaarma free?
Kaarma is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is passNote free?
passNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kaarma or passNote have ads?
Neither Kaarma nor passNote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kaarma or passNote?
Kaarma ships an update every 2 weeks, and passNote every 5 days. Most recently, Kaarma was updated on October 28, 2026 and passNote on October 28, 2026.

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