# TagNote vs Essential

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Essential at none against TagNote's 3. On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TagNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Essential asks for nothing beyond the download.

TagNote ships an update every 5 days, Essential every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TagNote | Essential |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 9 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonggyou Kim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1768080207) | [Chang Hyun Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1661519895) |

## What reviewers say

### TagNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tagnote-multi-tagging-notes/id6747192758)

This app offers a flexible, tag-based approach to note-taking, moving beyond traditional folder structures. Organize meeting notes, ideas, and web clippings with multiple tags per note, and connect your thoughts to build a personal knowledge network. It features a rich text editor and reminders for important dates.

**Highlights:** Unlimited tags per note, Rich text editor with formatting, Birthday and anniversary reminders, Tag-based knowledge network, Minimalist and distraction-free design, iCloud data synchronization

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| 3-month subscription | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual subscription | $9.99 | per year |


### Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/essential-calendar/id6791962762)

This productivity app focuses on the core essence of a calendar, inspired by Dieter Rams' philosophy of "less, but better." It provides daily weather, exchange rates, and historical events, aiming for a clean and focused user experience without unnecessary clutter.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Daily weather updates, Exchange rate information, Historical daily events, Focused calendar experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TagNote free?

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

### Is Essential free?

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

### Do TagNote or Essential have ads?

Neither TagNote nor Essential shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TagNote or Essential?

TagNote ships an update every 5 days, and Essential every 4 days. Most recently, TagNote was updated on October 24, 2026 and Essential 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.*