Comparison

ZenZettel vs Samay

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

Head to head
About

ZenZettel

This app helps you build knowledge by transforming fleeting thoughts into permanent insights. It features a minimalist interface inspired by Japanese aesthetics, secure local storage, and AI-powered idea development. Organize your thoughts with smart tagging and advanced filtering.

Highlights
  • Impermanent note capture
  • AI-powered idea transformation
  • Advanced filtering
  • Minimalist interface
  • Secure local storage
  • Markdown export
Features
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Mindful Knowledge Building Key Features Impermanent note capture for quick thoughts Transformation workflow to develop ideas into permanent knowledge Smooth AI transformation with personnalisable prompt Advanced filtering by date, tags, and note status Beautiful, minimalist interface inspired by Japanese aesthetics Secure local storage with export options Intuitive navigation between review, capture, and organization Perfect for students, researchers, writers, and anyone who values thoughtful knowledge building. Turn your scattered thoughts into a connected web of wisdom. "In the garden of the mind, ZenZettel helps you plant seeds of thought and cultivate a forest of knowledge." Download ZenZettel and begin your journey toward mindful note-taking today. Transform fleeting thoughts into lasting wisdom ZenZettel brings the powerful Zettelkasten method to your mobile device with a zen-like simplicity that encourages deep thinking and meaningful connections. Capture & Cultivate Quick Capture: Jot down impermanent notes instantly when inspiration strikes Mindful Review: Transform raw thoughts into refined, permanent knowledge Smart Tagging: Organize ideas with flexible tag systems for easy discovery The Zen Philosophy Two-Stage Thinking: Start with impermanent notes, then mindfully transform them into permanent insights Clutter-Free Interface: Clean, distraction-free design that focuses your mind on what matters Intentional Organization: Sort by status, date, or tags to find exactly what you need Knowledge Management Permanent Notes: Create a personal knowledge base with rich markdown support Seamless Export: Share your insights with full markdown export capabilities Privacy Policy: https://zenzettel.vercel.app/#privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Samay

Features
Read full description

Samay (Hindi/Sanskrit for time) helps you effortlessly compare and plan across multiple time zones — all in one clean, customizable view. Whether you’re coordinating with a remote team, planning international travel, or scheduling across continents, Samay makes global time intuitive and visual. Core Features: • Multi-Timezone Grid View: • Compare times across multiple cities in a clear, scrollable grid. Date Selection: • Quickly switch between dates using a horizontal date picker. Smart Location Management: • Add or remove cities with persistent storage. Default Setup: • Starts with New York, London, Tokyo, and your current location. Customization Options • 12-hour or 24-hour time formats • Hourly or 30-minute intervals Multiple calendar systems: • Default • Forex • Gregorian • Islamic • Hebrew • Buddhist Visual & Accessibility Controls • Show or hide timezone names Highlight weekends • Work-hours highlighting (custom start & end times) • Night/day visualization • High-contrast mode • Zoomed-in view for focus Built for Performance • Native SwiftUI experience • Local persistence with SwiftData • Accurate time calculations using TimeZone APIs • Optimized caching for smooth scrolling and fast updates Samay is designed to feel fast, precise, and calm so time never gets in the way of planning.

Screenshots

ZenZettel4 screens
Samay4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Samay at none against ZenZettel's 2. ZenZettel's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ZenZettel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Samay asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZenZettel ships an update every 2 months, Samay every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
ZenZettel versus Samay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenZettelSamay
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIsing Digital SarlShubh Thorat

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ZenZettel

Subscriptions2
  • Premium$0.991 Month
  • Premium$9.991 Year
None

Samay

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZenZettel free?
ZenZettel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Samay free?
Samay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZenZettel or Samay have ads?
Neither ZenZettel nor Samay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZenZettel or Samay?
ZenZettel ships an update every 2 months, and Samay every 6 weeks. Most recently, ZenZettel was updated on September 10, 2026 and Samay on September 9, 2026.

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