Comparison

Notely vs LightNotes

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

Head to head
About

Notely

Capture and organize your thoughts instantly with this fast, private notepad. Create, edit, and manage notes with ample space for titles and descriptions. Organize entries into custom categories with visual flair and enjoy a distraction-free, offline experience.

Highlights
  • Lightning fast note capture and editing
  • Customizable categories with pastel colors
  • Offline functionality with no account needed
  • Secure local data storage
  • Distraction-free, native dark mode UI
  • List and grid view options
Features
Read full description

Notely is a simple, fast notepad for everything you want to remember. Open the app and start writing: no account, no ads, and your notes stay on your device. WRITE WITH STYLE • Headings, bold, italic, underline and strikethrough • Bulleted and numbered lists • Left, center or right alignment • Undo and redo • Automatic saving as you type ORGANIZE WITH COLORFUL FOLDERS • Sort your notes into categories with the color of your choice • See at a glance how many notes each folder contains • Pin your most important notes and categories to the top • Switch between list and grid view FIND EVERYTHING INSTANTLY • Search all your notes by typing a few words • Browse your notes by category in one tap PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account and no sign-up • No ads • Your notes are stored on your device and work offline NOTELY PRO: ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Private vault: lock your most personal notes behind a 6-digit code • Custom app icons for your home screen • Pay once, keep it forever. No subscription. MADE FOR EVERY DAY • Light and dark mode • Available in 11 languages • Optimized for iPhone and iPad Shopping lists, ideas, journal, meeting notes, reminders: Notely keeps everything clear, fast and in one place.

About

LightNotes

This app offers a fast and private note-taking experience on iOS devices. It supports markdown formatting, secure local storage with Face ID protection, and offline functionality. Ideal for users who prioritize productivity and data privacy.

Highlights
  • Fast note taking
  • Complete privacy with local storage
  • Markdown support with live preview
  • Face ID and passcode protection
  • Offline functionality
  • Export notes to PDF, HTML, and plain text
  • Beautiful themes and dark mode
Features
Read full description

LightNotes is the fastest, most private note taking app for iPhone and iPad. Take smart notes with markdown support, organize your thoughts instantly, and keep your data secure with Face ID protection. Perfect for developers, students, writers, and anyone who values productivity and privacy. FAST NOTE TAKING Instant response, even with large texts. Create, edit, and organize notes without delays. Built with Swift for native iOS performance that outperforms web-based competitors. COMPLETE PRIVACY Your notes stay on your device - no cloud required. No registration, no tracking, no data collection. Complete control over your personal information with local storage only. MARKDOWN SUPPORT Professional text formatting made simple. Full markdown syntax support with live preview. Perfect for technical documentation, code snippets, and structured writing. BEAUTIFUL THEMES Three carefully crafted color palettes plus automatic dark mode. Clean, distraction-free interface that adapts to your preferences and lighting conditions. SECURE NOTES Face ID and passcode protection for sensitive information. Military-grade encryption keeps your private thoughts completely secure from unauthorized access. MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT Full localization in 10 languages: English, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Portuguese and Dutch. Native language support for global users. NATIVE iOS EXPERIENCE Built exclusively for iOS with Swift and SwiftUI. Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem, optimized for all iPhone models. PERFECT FOR DEVELOPERS Code snippets, technical notes, and markdown documentation. Syntax highlighting support and export options for development workflows. IDEAL FOR STUDENTS Quick study notes, research organization, and offline access. No internet required - perfect for classrooms and libraries with limited connectivity. GREAT FOR WRITERS Distraction-free writing environment with markdown formatting. Export to multiple formats including PDF, HTML, and plain text for publishing workflows. PRIVACY-FOCUSED USERS Local storage means complete data ownership. No cloud synchronization, no server uploads, no privacy concerns. Your data never leaves your device. KEY FEATURES • No ads, no subscriptions, no registration required • Works completely offline - no internet connection needed • Export notes - plain text, and more • Minimal app size - won't slow down your device • Regular updates with new features and improvements • Responsive customer support and active development EXPORT AND SHARING Share your notes in multiple formats. Export to PDF for presentations, HTML for web publishing, or plain text for maximum compatibility. Seamless integration with other iOS apps. Download LightNotes today and experience the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and privacy. Your thoughts deserve the best note taking app available.

Screenshots

Notely4 screens
LightNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LightNotes at none against Notely's 1. LightNotes also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Notely's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (15 vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model 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. Notely sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LightNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notely holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notely has 15 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notely ships an update every 2 months, LightNotes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Notely versus LightNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotelyLightNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKamel DjaberOppeldt Dmitrii

Customer experience

Notely

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%

LightNotes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Notely

One-time1
  • Premium Notely$4.99
None

LightNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Notely free?
Notely is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LightNotes free?
LightNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Notely or LightNotes?
Notely is rated higher. Notely averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while LightNotes averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Notely or LightNotes have ads?
Neither Notely nor LightNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notely or LightNotes?
Notely ships an update every 2 months, and LightNotes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Notely was updated on November 5, 2026 and LightNotes on October 30, 2026.

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