# TheSmartNotebook App vs Confera

The clearest difference is rating: Confera at 5.0 against TheSmartNotebook App's 1.0. Confera also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). TheSmartNotebook App's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (14.0.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Confera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. TheSmartNotebook App asks for nothing beyond the download.

Confera holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

TheSmartNotebook App ships an update every 2 weeks, Confera every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheSmartNotebook App | Confera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesmartnotebook-app/id6744987479/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/confera-conference-notes/id6801247666/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 46 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Virtual-Tec](https://appshunter.io/developer/498369221) | [Dobbins Innovation Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1590873533) |

## What reviewers say

### TheSmartNotebook App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thesmartnotebook-app/id6744987479)

Scan handwritten notes to create digital, searchable documents. Organize and share your notes instantly to cloud storage with smart shortcuts. Enjoy the freedom of handwriting with digital efficiency.

**Highlights:** Scan handwritten notes, Digital note storage, OCR text search, Organize and share notes, Cloud storage integration, Quick sharing shortcuts

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Confera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/confera-conference-notes/id6801247666)

Capture conference details, including audio, slides, and notes, then generate organized summaries with key takeaways and action items. Manage follow-ups and contacts, and sync data across devices. Offers an optional Pro subscription for advanced features.

**Highlights:** Record sessions and capture slides, AI-generated session summaries, Action item tracking and reminders, Contact management with follow-up dates, Cross-device synchronization via iCloud, Export session briefs as PDFs

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Confera Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Confera Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Confera Pro Conference Pass | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheSmartNotebook App free?

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

### Is Confera free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TheSmartNotebook App or Confera?

Confera is rated higher. TheSmartNotebook App averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Confera averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do TheSmartNotebook App or Confera have ads?

Neither TheSmartNotebook App nor Confera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheSmartNotebook App or Confera?

TheSmartNotebook App ships an update every 2 weeks, and Confera every 5 days. Most recently, TheSmartNotebook App was updated on October 24, 2026 and Confera on October 25, 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.*