Comparison

Carbon Notes vs OpenWebUI

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

Head to head
About

Carbon Notes

Features
Read full description

Carbon is a markdown-focused note-taking app designed for seamless organization of your ideas, tasks, and knowledge. With powerful markdown support and AI-powered tools, Carbon transforms how you capture and develop your thoughts. Unlock one-tap AI for your notes: Use our keys for $20/mo or use your OpenAI, Claude, or Open Router API keys for $5 (one-time unlock) This app supports iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS KEY FEATURES: - Powerful Markdown Support: Write and format your notes with intuitive markdown syntax. Carbon provides real-time preview and styling for a distraction-free writing experience. - AI-Powered Assistance: Leverage AI to enhance your writing with smart tools that can summarize, expand, polish, translate, and transform your content with just a tap. - Intelligent Tagging System: Organize your notes with an advanced tagging system that automatically recognizes hashtags in your content and creates hierarchical tag structures. - Robust Search: Find exactly what you need with our powerful search engine that indexes note content, titles, and tags for lightning-fast results. - Complete Privacy: Your data belongs to you. Carbon supports end-to-end encryption to protect your sensitive notes with military-grade security. - Seamless iCloud Sync: Access your notes across all your Apple devices with reliable CloudKit synchronization that works silently in the background. - Clean, Customizable Interface: Focus on your writing with a distraction-free interface featuring multiple themes and typography options. - Export Flexibility: Share your notes in multiple formats including Markdown, Text, HTML, PDF, and JSON. - Deep Organization: Create a personalized knowledge base with nested tags, favorites, smart collections, and custom filters. - Distraction-Free Writing: Enter a focused writing state with Carbon's minimal interface and keyboard shortcuts. - Markdown Import/Export: Easily bring in existing markdown files or export your notes for use in other applications. - Version History: Never lose important changes with automatic versioning of your notes. - Customizable Themes: Choose from light and dark themes, or customize colors to match your style. - Secure Biometric Authentication: Protect your notes with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode authentication. CARBON IS PERFECT FOR: - Writers who need a clean environment for drafting and organizing their work - Students taking lecture notes and organizing course materials - Developers documenting projects and code snippets - Researchers collecting and connecting ideas - Professionals managing meeting notes and action items - Anyone looking to build a personal knowledge management system Carbon strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and power. The interface stays out of your way when you want to write, while offering powerful tools when you need them. Advanced features include batch operations, smart lists, custom AI prompts, note encryption, advanced search filters, and multiple export options to fit into any workflow. Your data is yours - Carbon is designed with privacy at its core. Your notes are stored locally and can be optionally encrypted and synced via iCloud. We never collect your notes or personal information. Whether you're capturing quick thoughts, writing detailed documents, or building a complete knowledge base, Carbon provides the tools you need to organize your digital life. Download Carbon today and experience the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and privacy in note-taking. PREMIUM FEATURES (available via subscription or one-time purchase): - AI-powered writing responses - OpenAI key support - Claude key support - Open Router key support Carbon respects your privacy and does not collect personal data or tracking information. Terms and Conditions: https://basicarcana.com/apps/carbon/legal Privacy Policy: https://basicarcana.com/apps/carbon/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

OpenWebUI

This client app connects to your personal Open WebUI server for AI model interaction. Enjoy real-time chat, image generation, and voice commands, all while keeping your data private on your own server. Customize themes and manage chats with various actions.

Highlights
  • Real-time AI chat responses
  • Multiple AI model support
  • Image generation
  • Voice mode for interaction
  • Notes and knowledge base (RAG)
  • Chat management and export
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

OpenWebUI Client is a native app for your own Open WebUI server — chat with your AI models with the fluidity of a real app, keeping everything on your server and under your control. FEATURES • Chat with your models, with real-time (streaming) responses • Multiple providers and models configured in your Open WebUI • Image generation • Notes and knowledge base (RAG) • Voice mode: speak and hear the responses • Chat actions: pin, archive, rename, clone, share, and export • Themes and customization • Attachments: send photos and files • 34 app languages, auto-detected from your device PRIVACY The app talks only to the Open WebUI server you specify. Nothing goes through third parties — your data stays on your server. REQUIREMENTS You need access to an Open WebUI server. On first launch, enter the server address and sign in with your account. This is an independent client, not affiliated with the Open WebUI project.

Screenshots

Carbon Notes4 screens
OpenWebUI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Carbon Notes at Free against OpenWebUI's $2.99. OpenWebUI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, device support 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

Carbon Notes is free to download; OpenWebUI costs $2.99 up front. Carbon Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. OpenWebUI asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Carbon Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, OpenWebUI every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Carbon Notes versus OpenWebUI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCarbon NotesOpenWebUI
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating—4.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYMMVJoao Victor Zao

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Carbon Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Pro$19.991 Month
One-time1
  • AI Unlock$4.99
None

OpenWebUI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Carbon Notes free?
Carbon Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenWebUI free?
OpenWebUI costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Carbon Notes or OpenWebUI have ads?
Neither Carbon Notes nor OpenWebUI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Carbon Notes or OpenWebUI?
Carbon Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, and OpenWebUI every 6 days. Most recently, Carbon Notes was updated on September 10, 2026 and OpenWebUI on September 16, 2026.

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