Comparison

Zettel vs Paneo

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

Paneo

Features
Read full description

Your files. Your locations. A clear view. Paneo brings side-by-side file management to iPhone and iPad. Open a source and destination, spot differences and copy directly between your storage locations. On iPad, work with up to four panels. ORGANISE WITHOUT DETOURS Search folders, rename multiple files and compare directories. Transfers show the current file, known remaining data and, when measurable, speed and time left. Pause and resume tasks as needed. FIND WHAT TAKES UP SPACE Storage Analysis shows large folders and files in a chart and list. Reveal a result in the file panel or save the overview as a PDF with a visible destination. Partial scans and unknown sizes stay clear. WORK WITH YOUR SOURCES Use folders granted through the Files app or connect WebDAV, SFTP, FTP/FTPS, SMB, S3 and GitHub. Preview, text editing, checksums and archive tools are built in. Get Info includes image resolution and available music and video metadata. Inspect and edit FTP/SFTP permissions for individual entries where the server supports it. MAILBOXES BESIDE YOUR FILES Connect GMX, WEB.DE, iCloud Mail or a custom IMAP server with guided setup. Browse folders, messages and attachments directly in a panel. Explicitly export a message or attachment to a chosen file folder. Connections are read-only and leave messages on the mail server unchanged. Cowork can analyse selected messages through Apple PCC after your specific content approval. TURN FILES INTO KNOWLEDGE Create text files, scan documents or record a voice memo. Convert supported documents and media to Markdown. Folder conversions create new Markdown files alongside the originals; subfolders are a separate choice. COWORK WITH APPLE INTELLIGENCE Ask Paneo Cowork about the files in the other panel. AI processing uses only Apple Private Cloud Compute. File changes and external tool calls are presented for confirmation. Connect your own MCP servers for more tools. Paneo Shell provides built-in file commands for your open locations. It does not execute downloaded programs or operating-system shells. Requires iOS or iPadOS 27. AI features require a supported device, available Apple Intelligence and PCC. Language, region and Apple quotas may limit availability. File management also works without AI. Server features require the relevant network connection; provider limits and access permissions apply. Transfer speed and time estimates currently use completed files. One-time purchase. No in-app purchases or ads. Support: info@mobilebox-consulting.de

Screenshots

Zettel4 screens
Paneo2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Paneo at fortnightly against Zettel's monthly. Zettel's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $3.99). On ads, in-app purchases, 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

Zettel costs $2.99 and Paneo $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zettel ships an update monthly, Paneo fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Zettel versus Paneo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZettelPaneo
Price$2.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.8 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.0 — better27.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB53 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAlexander Moritz WeichartMobile Box - App Consulting UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)

In-app purchases

None

Zettel

No in-app purchases

None

Paneo

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zettel free?
Zettel costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Paneo free?
Paneo costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zettel or Paneo have ads?
Neither Zettel nor Paneo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zettel or Paneo?
Zettel ships an update monthly, and Paneo fortnightly. Most recently, Zettel was updated on November 14, 2026 and Paneo on November 10, 2026.

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