Comparison

Zettel vs Waitly

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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 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.

About

Waitly

Features
Read full description

Waitly makes anticipation visible. Create beautiful countdowns for trips, birthdays, weddings, exams, and every moment worth looking forward to. Keep your important events organized in one calm, modern place, with optional Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets. FEATURES - Personal countdowns with a date and optional time - Flexible display in days or months and days - Recurring events - Custom colors and meaningful icons - Multiple reminders before each event - Adjustable reminder time - Custom text for reminder notifications - Pin important countdowns and find them with search - Share countdowns as beautiful Waitly cards - Quick-start templates with a live preview - Categories, milestones, and archive - Calendar import and personal photo backgrounds - Progress details and remaining weekends - Premium iCloud sync and shared countdowns - Light, dark, or automatic appearance WAITLY PREMIUM Waitly Premium unlocks unlimited countdowns, every icon and color, and the complete widget collection. Choose a specific countdown in each widget's configuration and enjoy a range of designs for your Home Screen and Lock Screen. Two countdowns are included for free. Premium is a one-time purchase with no subscription.

Screenshots

Zettel4 screens
Waitly3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Waitly at Free against Zettel's $2.99. Waitly also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Zettel's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). 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

Waitly is free to download; Zettel costs $2.99 up front. Waitly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Zettel asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zettel ships an update monthly, Waitly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Zettel versus Waitly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZettelWaitly
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, MaciPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.026.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander Moritz WeichartDominik Gausmann

In-app purchases

None

Zettel

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Waitly

One-time1
  • Waitly Premium$2.99

Questions

Is Zettel free?
Zettel costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Waitly free?
Waitly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zettel or Waitly have ads?
Neither Zettel nor Waitly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zettel or Waitly?
Zettel ships an update monthly, and Waitly fortnightly. Most recently, Zettel was updated on November 5, 2026 and Waitly on October 31, 2026.

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