# TakeNote vs Time Pencil

The clearest difference is rating: Time Pencil at 5.0 against TakeNote's 4.0. Time Pencil also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (16.1 vs 26.0). TakeNote's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Time Pencil sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. TakeNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Time Pencil holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively.

TakeNote ships an update every 5 weeks, Time Pencil every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TakeNote | Time Pencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/takenote-ai-markdown-notes/id6751735244/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-pencil-clock-planner/id6752816094/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adam Drew](https://appshunter.io/developer/542750986) | [Vineet Kapil](https://appshunter.io/developer/1687822330) |

## What reviewers say

### TakeNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/takenote-ai-markdown-notes/id6751735244)

Capture ideas effortlessly with a distraction-free, minimalist note-taking app. It supports Markdown, organizes notes with folders and tags, and syncs across Apple devices. Optional local AI features enhance formatting and search.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free minimalist design, Full Markdown support with live rendering, Organize with Folders, Tags, and Inbox, iCloud sync across Apple devices, Private by design, no data collection, Optional local AI for formatting and search

**In-app purchases:** none


### Time Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/time-pencil-clock-planner/id6752816094)

Visualize your day with a unique clock interface that displays calendar events as colored arcs. Easily block out focus time or activities by drawing directly on the dial. Access your schedule at a glance with home screen widgets and Apple Watch support.

**Highlights:** Calendar events visualized as arcs on a clock, Draw custom time blocks and add notes, Home screen and lock screen widgets, Live Activity countdown for Dynamic Island, Apple Watch support, Customizable clock faces (Sky mode, Zen mode)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Time Pencil Full | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TakeNote free?

TakeNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Time Pencil free?

Time Pencil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, TakeNote or Time Pencil?

Time Pencil is rated higher. TakeNote averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Time Pencil averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do TakeNote or Time Pencil have ads?

Neither TakeNote nor Time Pencil shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TakeNote or Time Pencil?

TakeNote ships an update every 5 weeks, and Time Pencil every 10 days. Most recently, TakeNote was updated on October 30, 2026 and Time Pencil on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*