# NoteLabZ vs MindStream

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoteLabZ at none against MindStream's 1. MindStream's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindStream sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. NoteLabZ asks for nothing beyond the download.

NoteLabZ ships an update every 16 months, MindStream every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteLabZ | MindStream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Size | 10 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Khoa Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054445590) | [Ethan Gostin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888304532) |

## What reviewers say

### NoteLabZ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notelabz/id6746744575)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MindStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindstream-smart-second-brain/id6766705272)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MindStream Pro | $7.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteLabZ free?

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

### Is MindStream free?

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

### Do NoteLabZ or MindStream have ads?

Neither NoteLabZ nor MindStream shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NoteLabZ or MindStream?

NoteLabZ ships an update every 16 months, and MindStream every 5 weeks. Most recently, NoteLabZ was updated on October 30, 2026 and MindStream on October 28, 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.*