Comparison

OpenScribe vs LuNote

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

Head to head
About

OpenScribe

This app transforms handwriting, PDFs, and audio into searchable, organized notes. It offers powerful OCR for instant retrieval, PDF annotation, and audio recording with transcription. Seamless iCloud sync keeps your work updated across devices.

Highlights
  • Handwriting to text conversion
  • PDF annotation and signing
  • Audio recording and transcription
  • Universal search
  • Offline work capability
  • iCloud synchronization
Features
Read full description

OpenScribe turns handwriting, PDFs, and audio into searchable, organized notes—fast, reliable, and private. Capture ideas in class, meetings, or on the go, then find anything instantly with powerful OCR and search. Annotate PDFs, record while you write, and export in formats that fit your workflow. iCloud keeps your library in sync across devices. What you can do - Capture handwriting: Write or sketch and convert ink to text with OCR. - Annotate PDFs: Import handouts, highlight, comment, sign, and export. - Record and transcribe: Take audio notes; transcriptions make everything searchable. - Search everything: Instantly find text in handwriting, PDFs, and transcripts. - Organize your library: Notebooks, pages, and quick actions for tidy projects. - Export and share: Send PDFs or text and keep your edits intact. - Work offline: Capture and edit without a connection; sync when you’re back online. - iCloud sync: Keep notes up to date across your Apple devices. Why OpenScribe - Focused and fast: A clean workspace built for study, research, and meetings. - Accurate OCR: Turn handwriting and scans into searchable text. - Private by design: Your data stays yours; iCloud sync and secure networking. - Built for iOS 17: Modern performance, smooth canvas, and system integration. Great for - Students: Lecture notes, scanned handouts, and quick study packs. - Professionals: Meeting minutes, whiteboard photos, and annotated briefs. - Researchers: Paper markup, audio interviews, and cross‑document search. Get started by importing a PDF, creating a notebook, or tapping record. OpenScribe helps you capture, understand, and share your work—without friction. ******************* Terms of Use ********************** Please read the terms of use under: https://openscribe.app/terms.html ******************* Privacy Policy ********************** Please read our privacy policy under: https://openscribe.app/privacy.html

About

LuNote

Features
Read full description

LuNote brings your handwriting, documents, tasks and calendar into one place. WRITE BY HAND Use Apple Pencil on blank, lined or grid paper. Choose from several pen tips and adjust thickness. Mix handwriting with typed text and images on the same page. WORK ON DOCUMENTS Open PDFs, Word files, presentations and ebooks, then annotate them directly. Read in page-turning mode or scroll normally, whichever suits you. AI THAT HELPS Summarise a note, ask questions about a document, or turn what you wrote into flashcards for studying. PLAN YOUR DAY Tasks with subtasks and due dates, a calendar that syncs with your system calendar, and a focus timer for deep work sessions. CAPTURE ANYTHING Scan documents with your camera and get searchable text through OCR. Record lectures or meetings and turn them into transcripts. BRING EVERYTHING IN Import from Notability and GoodNotes. Open PDFs, Word, PowerPoint and web pages straight into LuNote. EVERYWHERE YOU WORK Your notes, documents and drawings stay in sync on iPhone and iPad through iCloud. Home Screen widgets keep today's tasks and notes in view. MAKE IT YOURS 25 themes, paper styles and reading backgrounds. Siri Shortcuts for the way you work. LuNote is free to start. Premium unlocks unlimited notes, the AI assistant, voice recording, the scanner and sync across your devices. The subscription supports Family Sharing. LuNote Premium is an auto-renewing subscription, offered monthly or yearly. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it any time in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://lunote.app/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://lunote.app/terms.html Questions or feedback: support@lunote.app

Screenshots

OpenScribe1 screens
LuNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LuNote at every 4 days against OpenScribe'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. OpenScribe sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and LuNote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenScribe ships an update every 3 months, LuNote every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
OpenScribe versus LuNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenScribeLuNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVidOpt LLCLu Apps LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

OpenScribe

Subscriptions1
  • OpenScribe Pro7 Days trial$1.991 Month
4 purchases

LuNote

Subscriptions4
  • Agenda Plan3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Full Plan3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Agenda Plan7 Days trial$7.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Full Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Year

Questions

Is OpenScribe free?
OpenScribe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LuNote free?
LuNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OpenScribe or LuNote have ads?
Neither OpenScribe nor LuNote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenScribe or LuNote?
OpenScribe ships an update every 3 months, and LuNote every 4 days. Most recently, OpenScribe was updated on October 30, 2026 and LuNote on November 10, 2026.

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