# Notes vs Notepad

The clearest difference is rating: Notes at 4.8 against Notepad's 4.0. Notes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (14 vs 1). Notepad's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notes has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Notes ships an update every 11 days, Notepad monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notes | Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-notebook/id6746961597/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 25 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nguyen Thanh](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634978580) | [Vishal Kalkani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867523595) |

## What reviewers say

### Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-notebook/id6746961597)

This app helps you create, organize, and manage daily notes, to-do lists, and reminders with a clean, user-friendly interface. It's designed for distraction-free writing and staying focused on your tasks and ideas.

**Highlights:** Create and edit notes, Manage task lists with checkboxes, Set reminders, Supports dark mode, Intuitive design

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776)

Capture ideas, manage tasks, and stay organized with this fast, secure, and easy-to-use note-taking app. It offers a distraction-free interface for writing or recording audio notes, organizing them efficiently for quick access.

**Highlights:** Quick note creation, Audio note recording, Clean, minimal interface, Organized note access, Secure note storage, Task management

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access – Monthly | $0.49 | per month |
| Unlimited – Yearly | $3.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notes free?

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

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notes or Notepad?

Notes is rated higher. Notes averages 4.8 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Notepad averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Notes or Notepad have ads?

Notes shows ads; Notepad does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notes or Notepad?

Notes ships an update every 11 days, and Notepad monthly. Most recently, Notes was updated on October 5, 2026 and Notepad on October 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*