# Side vs Pensus

The clearest difference is update cadence: Side at daily against Pensus's every 3 days. Side also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Side sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Pensus sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Side ships an update daily, Pensus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Side | Pensus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 days |
| Size | 36 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adam Southey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845845950) | [Yitebeier Aikebaier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1861770423) |

## What reviewers say

### Side

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-note/id6753957693)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Side Note Pro Access (Weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Side Note Pro Access (Monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| Side Note Pro Access (Annual) | $119.99 | per year |


### Pensus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pensus/id6756610255)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Pensus Premium (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Pensus Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Side free?

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

### Is Pensus free?

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

### Do Side or Pensus have ads?

Neither Side nor Pensus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Side or Pensus?

Side ships an update daily, and Pensus every 3 days. Most recently, Side was updated on October 6, 2026 and Pensus on October 1, 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.*