Comparison

StarNote vs Hustly

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

Hustly

This app generates real-time binaural frequencies to enhance concentration for intellectual work and study. It offers customizable focus blocks, detailed frequency exploration, and smart onboarding tailored to your goals. Track your progress with comprehensive statistics and enjoy a distraction-free, offline experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time binaural frequency generation
  • Customizable focus blocks
  • Frequency exploration and benefits
  • Smart onboarding based on user profile
  • Detailed tracking and statistics
  • Offline functionality
  • iOS Control Center integration
Features
Read full description

Hustly is a focus app that uses real-time binaural frequencies to promote an optimal state of concentration — no pre-recorded music, no distractions. Designed for intellectual work, study and deep work. — REAL-TIME BINAURAL SOUNDS Hustly generates frequencies directly on your device using a precision audio engine. No audio files, no streaming. • 9 frequencies across 3 categories: Sharp — Balanced Flow (12 Hz), Brain Power (25 Hz), Hyper Focus (70 Hz) Neuro — Mental Flow (10 Hz), Logical Focus (18 Hz), Neural Sync (40 Hz) Aura — Zen Flow (432 Hz), Mental Reset (741 Hz), Inner Connection (963 Hz) • Local generation, zero latency • Works 100% offline • iOS Control Center integration — CUSTOMIZABLE FOCUS BLOCKS Organize your concentration with 6 block types: Studies, Project, Reading, Skill, Meditation and Journal. • Choose your frequency and duration (15 min to 3 h) • Schedule your sessions by day and time • Customize the title, emoji and color of each block • Set your commitment level (easy quit, hard quit or hardcore) — FREQUENCY COLLECTION Explore each frequency in detail: description, benefits, recommended use cases. Progress through tiers (5, 15, 50, 100 sessions) and add your discoveries directly to your blocks. — SMART ONBOARDING During sign-up, Hustly adapts the experience to your profile: • Age range • Focus goals • Activity type (studies, projects, reading, creativity, meditation) • Main distraction factors The app automatically recommends a frequency and session structure tailored to you. — TRACKING & STATISTICS • Consecutive day streaks • Completed sessions and total focus time • Weekly chart with week-by-week navigation • Productivity percentage • Post-session assessment (focused, neutral, distracted) • Emotion breakdown by frequency • Activity calendar (heatmap) — SECURITY & PRIVACY • Sign in with Apple • Encrypted cloud sync • Row-Level Security data protection • No advertising data collection • No third-party tracking — WHO IS HUSTLY FOR? • Students during exam season • Professionals and remote workers • Creatives and developers • Anyone looking to structure their focus — Hustly is a productivity and focus tool. It is not a medical device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Hustly requires a premium subscription to access all features. Pricing available in the app.

Screenshots

StarNote4 screens
Hustly4 screens

Verdict

The call

StarNote and Hustly both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 74% of StarNote's written reviews are positive against 44% of Hustly's. StarNote also leads on monetization model (paid vs subscription) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). 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 10 one-off in-app purchases and Hustly sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. 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 4.7 for Hustly. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 124 and 71 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of StarNote's written reviews are positive against 44% of Hustly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StarNote ships an update every 2 weeks, Hustly every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
StarNote versus Hustly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarNoteHustly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (124 ratings)4.7 (71 ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.4% of reviews — better43.6% of reviews
Number of ratings124 — better71
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaid — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size422 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOnyx International Inc.Aurelien Moretto

Customer experience

StarNote

All ratings94 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive74.4%
Neutral14.4%
Negative11.1%

Hustly

All ratings60 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral1.7%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive43.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative53.8%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

StarNote

One-time10
  • StarNote AI Trial$0.99
  • Templates\Stickers$3.90
  • Templates\Stickers$4.49
Show 7 more
  • StarNote Lifetime PRO$5.99
  • Templates\Stickers$6.69
  • Templates\Stickers$7.79
  • Templates\Stickers$9.79
  • Templates\Stickers$9.99
  • Templates\Stickers$12.99
  • StarNote AI Pro$22.99
4 purchases

Hustly

Subscriptions2
  • Hustly - Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Hustly - Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time2
  • Hustly - Lifetime$22.99
  • Hustly - Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is StarNote free?
StarNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hustly free?
Hustly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, StarNote or Hustly?
Hustly is rated higher. StarNote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while Hustly averages 4.7 from 71 ratings.
Do StarNote or Hustly have ads?
Neither StarNote nor Hustly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StarNote or Hustly?
StarNote ships an update every 2 weeks, and Hustly every 9 days. Most recently, StarNote was updated on November 5, 2026 and Hustly on November 5, 2026.

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