Comparison

LightNotes vs Then

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

Head to head
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.

About

Then

Features
Read full description

"Then" keeps a short list - today, and only today. Finish a task, and add the next step. Your tasks quietly link into a path. The path keeps going until the work is done. When you're ready to think bigger, the paths climb toward your peaks — the long things you care about. - Today. Inbox. Peaks. - Tasks that connect. - One step at a time.

Screenshots

LightNotes4 screens
Then4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LightNotes at every 2 weeks against Then's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LightNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, Then every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
LightNotes versus Then: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightNotesThen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOppeldt DmitriiOleg Gordieiev

In-app purchases

None

LightNotes

No in-app purchases

None

Then

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LightNotes free?
LightNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Then free?
Then is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LightNotes or Then have ads?
Neither LightNotes nor Then shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LightNotes or Then?
LightNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Then every 3 months. Most recently, LightNotes was updated on October 6, 2026 and Then on September 30, 2026.

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