Zettel vs Ember
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zettel
This app offers a minimalist note-taking experience, focusing on a single, full-screen note at a time. It features a unique swipe-to-clear gesture with haptic feedback and simple tag functionality for easy organization. Notes are saved as plain Markdown files for versatile use.
- Single full-screen note interface
- Swipe-to-clear gesture with haptic feedback
- Simple hashtag tagging system
- Plain Markdown file export
- Works with Files app
- Dark mode support
Read full descriptionHide full description
Zettel - Quick Notes for iOS. Write. Swipe to tear. Done. Zettel brings the satisfying feeling of ripping paper to your iPhone. What makes it different: - One note at a time: Full screen. No tabs, no folders, no mess. Just you and your thoughts. - Tear to clear: Swipe from the edge and drag across the screen. Your note tears away with haptic feedback that actually feels real. - Tags that work: Type #anything and it becomes a tag. Find notes instantly without setting up complicated systems. - Your files, anywhere: Notes are plain Markdown files. Edit them in other apps, sync however you want, or just keep them local. Perfect for: - Quick thoughts - Meeting notes - Daily journaling - Project ideas Simple by design: - iPhone only (as it should be) - Works with Files app - Dark mode included - No account required - Zero tracking Built by someone who got tired of overcomplicated note apps. Sometimes the best tools are the simplest ones.
Ember
A fast and organized workspace for writing Markdown notes, storing PDFs, diagrams, and voice memos. It offers a vault for reusable prompts and syncs across Apple devices. Start for free with full editor access.
- Rich Markdown editor
- Inline PDF and image support
- Reusable prompt vault
- Daily notes, folders, and tags
- Instant search functionality
- Private iCloud sync
- Share Extension
Read full descriptionHide full description
Your notes should feel like home. Ember is a warm, fast place to think — Markdown notes, PDFs, diagrams, voice memos, and a vault of reusable prompts, all in one calm workspace that syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. WRITE IN RICH MARKDOWN A live editor with real formatting: headings, tables, task lists, links, highlights, footnotes, and code — rendered as you type, never in your way. Bullets, numbers, and checkboxes feel native and effortless. MORE THAN TEXT Drop PDFs, images, diagrams, and voice notes right inline. Your references live beside your writing, so everything about a thought stays in one place. A VAULT FOR YOUR PROMPTS Keep the prompts you reuse for writing, research, and planning in a dedicated Prompt Vault — organized, searchable, and a tap away when you need them. STAY ORGANIZED, STAY FAST Daily notes, folders, tags, smart filters, and pinned notes keep things tidy, and instant search finds anything the moment you look for it. YOURS EVERYWHERE Ember runs natively on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with optional private iCloud sync, widgets, and a Share Extension for capturing from anywhere. FREE TO START Capture notes, PDFs, prompts, and attachments with the full editor — free, no account required. EMBER PRO Unlock advanced themes and alternate icons, premium writing and organization workflows, and deeper Prompt Vault tools, as a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts. No ads. No selling your words. Your notes stay on your device and your own iCloud. Make a home for your thinking. Download Ember Notes. TERMS & PRIVACY Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://embernotes.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Ember at Free against Zettel's $2.99. Ember also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Zettel's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#190 vs unranked). On ratings volume, 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
Ember is free to download; Zettel costs $2.99 up front. Ember sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Zettel asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ember holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively.
Zettel ships an update monthly, Ember every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Zettel | Ember |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (6 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #190 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, Mac | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Moritz Weichart | Rene DeAnda |
Customer experience
Zettel
Ember
In-app purchases
Zettel
No in-app purchases
Ember
- Ember Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
- Ember Pro Annual$34.991 Year
- Ember Pro Lifetime$99.99









