Comparison

ZettelkastenNote vs iFlow note

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

Head to head
About

ZettelkastenNote

Capture and connect ideas as small cards to build a growing web of knowledge. This app offers a distraction-free interface for organizing thoughts and creating structured insights. Your data remains private, stored locally or optionally in iCloud, with no tracking or ads.

Highlights
  • Capture ideas as atomic cards
  • Connect related ideas
  • Drag & drop reordering
  • Local-first data design
  • Optional iCloud sync
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Turn your knowledge into a growing asset. ZettelkastenNote is a card-based knowledge management app inspired by the Zettelkasten method — a system where you capture ideas as small cards and connect them to build a growing web of knowledge. # Organize Your Thinking - Capture ideas as atomic cards (Zettels) with notes - Group related ideas together - Turn scattered thoughts into structured insights # Discover Connections - See your knowledge as a link graph - Get automatic similar-Zettel suggestions (on-device AI) - Search by meaning, not just keywords - Skim recent notes in a timeline # Intuitive & Simple - Drag & drop to reorder freely - Swipe for quick access - Clean, distraction-free interface - Scan text from photos straight into your notes - Web links appear as rich cards with titles - Light and dark appearance # Privacy First - Local-first design - Your data stays on your device and (optionally) in your private iCloud - No tracking, no ads, no third-party data sharing # Sync Across Devices (Optional) - iCloud sync across all your Apple devices - Toggle sync on/off anytime in Settings - Works fully offline when sync is off # Perfect For - Capturing fleeting ideas before they disappear - Organizing what you learn from books and articles - Building a personal knowledge base over time - Collecting problem-solving insights Download free and start building your knowledge system today.

About

iFlow note

Features
Read full description

iFlow note is a note-taking app based on Niklas Luhmann's Zettelkasten method. It uses three types of cards to help you separately capture inspirations, literature excerpts, and permanent knowledge, while intelligently linking them in the background. Don't worry about building a "perfect system" from day one. Just start by recording that one thought you have now. Organizing, connecting, and writing will naturally become easier later. Who is it for: Creative professionals who often get fleeting ideas: creators, product managers, engineers, indie developers. Students and researchers who want to systematically organize their reading notes and paper insights. Anyone looking to build a personal knowledge base and accumulate material for writing. The three note types allow for clear distinction at a glance: Inspiration Cards: For capturing fleeting thoughts, one-liners, and voice snippets. Supports voice recording, which can be transcribed to text later for review. Literature Cards: For excerpts from books, articles, or web pages, plus your own brief understanding. Supports text extraction and photo capture (keeping original screenshots). Permanent Cards: For rewriting ideas and conclusions in your own words to form reusable knowledge cards. Supports Markdown, ideal for longer content, article outlines, and drafts. Quick Capture: Create Spark, Literature, or Permanent cards directly from the bottom menu on the home screen. Multiple input methods (text, voice, image) prioritize ease-of-use in the moment. Tagging & Search: Use tags to categorize cards by theme, project, or context. Search across titles, content, and tags to quickly rediscover past ideas. Card Linking: Build a knowledge network by linking related Spark, Literature, and Permanent cards. View "Linked Cards" in the detail page to navigate your knowledge web naturally. Review & Reminders: Set review deadlines for Spark and Literature cards to avoid forgetting them. Receive reminders to periodically review cards and upgrade them to Permanent Cards. Schedule spaced repetition reviews for Permanent Cards to reinforce understanding. Trash & Archive: Restore accidentally deleted cards from Trash. Archive infrequently used but valuable cards to reduce clutter. PRO Benefits (Unlocked via Subscription): The free version is sufficient to get started. PRO offers more capacity for power users: Unlimited notes. Record multiple audio segments per Voice Card. Attach multiple images per Image Card. iCloud Sync & Backup: Keep data consistent across devices, with export option for Permanent Cards as Markdown files. (Specific prices and terms are as displayed within the app. Subscription can be canceled at any time.) Privacy & Data: Local-first by default: Your data is stored on your device and your personal iCloud. Minimal data collection: We do not collect unnecessary personal information or engage in excessive tracking. Detailed Terms of Service and Privacy Policy can be viewed in the app's settings page. Subscription: Monthly PRO: $0.99 per month (USD) Yearly PRO: $0.99 per year (USD) Lifetime PRO: $3.99 (USD) Links: Terms of Service: https://iflownote.netlify.app/#terms Privacy Policy: https://iflownote.netlify.app/#privacy Support: https://iflownote.netlify.app/#home

Screenshots

ZettelkastenNote4 screens
iFlow note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ZettelkastenNote at every 5 days against iFlow note's every 2 weeks. ZettelkastenNote also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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. ZettelkastenNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iFlow note sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZettelkastenNote ships an update every 5 days, iFlow note every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
ZettelkastenNote versus iFlow note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZettelkastenNoteiFlow note
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShoetsu Kawasato斌 胡

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ZettelkastenNote

One-time1
  • ZettelkastenNote Pro$0.49
3 purchases

iFlow note

Subscriptions2
  • PRO Monthly Plan$0.991 Month
  • PRO Yearly Plan$1.991 Year
One-time1
  • PRO Lifetime Plan$6.99

Questions

Is ZettelkastenNote free?
ZettelkastenNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iFlow note free?
iFlow note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ZettelkastenNote or iFlow note have ads?
Neither ZettelkastenNote nor iFlow note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZettelkastenNote or iFlow note?
ZettelkastenNote ships an update every 5 days, and iFlow note every 2 weeks. Most recently, ZettelkastenNote was updated on September 9, 2026 and iFlow note on August 25, 2026.

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