Comparison

StarNote vs Notes for iPad

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

Head to head
About

StarNote

This app offers a realistic pen-on-paper handwriting experience on tablets with an infinite canvas for notes and sketches. It includes advanced layering, PDF annotation, and a robust organizer for efficient digital note-taking and planning.

Highlights
  • Realistic low-latency handwriting
  • Infinite canvas for unlimited space
  • Layered design for complex projects
  • Deep PDF annotation and markup
  • Robust file management and search
  • Lifetime access with one-time purchase
  • Free templates and digital assets
Read full description

StarNote is a clean and powerful note-taking app for handwriting, PDF annotation, study, work, and everyday planning. Write naturally with your stylus, organize notebooks, mark up PDFs, and keep all your ideas in one simple workspace. Built for students, professionals, and tablet users, StarNote helps you take class notes, review lecture slides, annotate documents, plan your day, and build a paperless study or work system. With smooth handwriting, flexible notebooks, PDF markup, and digital planning tools, StarNote makes it easy to capture ideas and stay organized. No monthly subscription. Choose a one-time purchase and enjoy a long-term note-taking tool without ongoing fees. Download StarNote and start building your digital notebook today.

About

Notes for iPad

Transform your iPad into a digital notebook with a natural writing experience using Apple Pencil. Organize your life with over 60 templates, add stickers, and sync across devices. Perfect for students, professionals, and creatives.

Highlights
  • Natural handwriting with Apple Pencil
  • 60+ professionally designed templates
  • Extensive sticker library and import options
  • Unlimited notebooks with custom covers
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • Export notes as PDF
Features
Read full description

Your perfect digital notebook. Notes for iPad Pencil Planner is a beautifully designed note-taking app that transforms your iPad into an endless paper canvas. Write naturally with Apple Pencil, plan your life with stunning templates, and organize everything in one place. Whether you're a student capturing lectures, a professional planning projects, or a creative sketching ideas — Notes for iPad is the essential tool to capture, organize, and bring your thoughts to life. YOUR ALL-IN-ONE DIGITAL NOTEBOOK • Write, sketch, and draw with realistic Apple Pencil support • Choose from multiple pen styles, colors, and thicknesses • Add typed text with customizable fonts and formatting • Mix handwriting with images and stickers seamlessly 60+ PROFESSIONALLY DESIGNED TEMPLATES • Daily planners and to-do lists to organize your day • Weekly and monthly calendars for long-term planning • Habit trackers to build better routines • Meal planners and grocery lists for healthy eating • Workout logs and fitness trackers to reach your goals • Budget sheets and expense trackers for financial control • Meeting notes and project planning templates • And many more — new templates added regularly STICKERS & PERSONALIZATION • 1000+ beautiful stickers to decorate your notes • Categories: productivity, wellness, celebrations, seasons • Import your own photos and custom stickers • Resize, rotate, and layer elements freely STAY ORGANIZED YOUR WAY • Create unlimited notebooks for different areas of life • Convenient sidebar for quick page navigation • Custom covers and colors for each notebook • Archive completed notebooks to keep things tidy SYNC & SHARE • iCloud sync keeps your notes updated across devices • Export any page or entire notebook as PDF • Share your notes via email, AirDrop, or any app DESIGNED FOR COMFORT • Beautiful dark mode for nighttime note-taking • Clean, distraction-free interface • Optimized specifically for iPad's large display • Smooth, lag-free performance Your ideas deserve a beautiful home. Notes for iPad combines the freedom of paper with the power of digital — giving you the perfect space to plan, create, and organize your life. Support: hello@britetodo.com Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ A subscription or one-time purchase is required to access premium templates and features. Weekly, Yearly, and Lifetime Access options are available.

Screenshots

StarNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

StarNote and Notes for iPad both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of StarNote's written reviews are positive against 40% of Notes for iPad's. StarNote also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Notes for iPad's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. StarNote sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and Notes for iPad sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for StarNote against 4.6 for Notes for iPad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 94 and 99 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of StarNote's written reviews are positive against 40% of Notes for iPad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
StarNote versus Notes for iPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarNoteNotes for iPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (94 ratings) — better4.6 (99 ratings)
Positive reviews73.5% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9499 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size422 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOnyx International Inc.Brite Technologies

Customer experience

StarNote

All ratings94 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive73.5%
Neutral16.2%
Negative10.3%

Notes for iPad

All ratings15 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

In-app purchases

21 purchases

StarNote

One-time21
  • StarNote AI Trial$0.99
  • Templates\Stickers$3.90
  • Templates\Stickers$4.49
Show 18 more
  • Templates\Stickers$4.79
  • Templates\Stickers$5.00
  • Templates\Stickers$5.79
  • StarNote Lifetime PRO$5.99
  • Templates\Stickers$6.69
  • Templates\Stickers$6.79
  • StarNote AI Plus$6.99
  • Templates\Stickers$7.79
  • Templates\Stickers$8.99
  • Templates\Stickers$9.79
  • Templates\Stickers$9.99
  • Templates\Stickers$10.99
  • Templates\Stickers$11.49
  • Templates\Stickers$11.90
  • Templates\Stickers$12.99
  • StarNote AI Pro$22.99
  • Templates\Stickers$38.90
  • Templates\Stickers$42.90
6 purchases

Notes for iPad

Subscriptions5
  • Notes for iPad - weekly$5.997 Days
  • Weekly Plus$7.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$17.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Notes for iPad for a year3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$39.99

Questions

Is StarNote free?
StarNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notes for iPad free?
Notes for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StarNote or Notes for iPad?
StarNote is rated higher. StarNote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Notes for iPad averages 4.6 from 99 ratings.
Do StarNote or Notes for iPad have ads?
Neither StarNote nor Notes for iPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StarNote or Notes for iPad?
StarNote ships an update every 2 weeks, and Notes for iPad every 2 weeks. Most recently, StarNote was updated on September 22, 2026 and Notes for iPad on September 22, 2026.

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