Comparison

Steno Notes vs Slate

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

Head to head
About

Steno Notes

Features
Read full description

Steno is a fast, distraction-free Markdown editor designed for focused, beautiful writing. Built natively for Apple platforms with CloudKit, Steno keeps your documents automatically synced across your devices—without ads, tracking, or external servers. Why Steno? • Seamless iCloud sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad • Native performance—no bloat, no lag, just fast • Clean typography with powerful, design-forward customization • Sub-block-level references for linking directly to the exact passage you mean • Deep system integration—Handoff, Spotlight, Siri, and Widgets • Customizable PDF export for polished sharing • No data collection, no AI. Your documents stay on your device and in iCloud • All documents stored as plain Markdown files Whether you're drafting essays, making lists, or capturing ideas, Steno combines speed, clarity, and privacy in a focused writing environment.

About

Slate

This app combines note-taking with a freeform drawing canvas. Easily add text, sketches, equations, and more using simple commands. Enjoy a distraction-free, dark design optimized for Apple Pencil.

Highlights
  • Text, headings, lists
  • Tables and charts
  • Math equations (LaTeX)
  • Images, audio, files
  • Freeform canvas
  • Apple Pencil support
Read full description

Notes and canvas, beautifully combined. Slate is where writing meets drawing. Capture ideas in text, sketch them on canvas, or do both — all in one minimal app. POWERFUL BLOCKS Add anything with a simple "/" command: - Text, headings, lists - Tables and charts - Math equations (LaTeX) - Images, audio, files - Freeform canvas INFINITE CANVAS Draw without limits. Pen, pencil, brush, shapes, colors — everything you need to visualize your thoughts. DARK & MINIMAL Pure black design. Zero distractions. Just you and your ideas. APPLE PENCIL READY Pressure sensitivity. Palm rejection. Natural drawing experience. Think. Write. Draw. All in Slate.

Screenshots

Steno Notes4 screens
Slate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Slate at none against Steno Notes's 4. Slate also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Steno Notes's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price 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. Steno Notes sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Slate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Steno Notes versus Slate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteno NotesSlate
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMikail KraftNagarjuna Reddy Bhimavarapu

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Steno Notes

One-time4
  • Tip Jar (Small)$0.99
  • Tip Jar (Medium)$2.99
  • Steno Complete$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Steno Tip (Large)$4.99
None

Slate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Steno Notes free?
Steno Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Slate free?
Slate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Steno Notes or Slate have ads?
Neither Steno Notes nor Slate shows ads.

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