Comparison

Zen Slate vs Folio

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

Head to head
About

Zen Slate

Features
Read full description

Turn voice memos into notes you can organize. Zen Slate brings rich-text notes, voice transcription and to-dos together, with camera scanning and Apple Pencil drawing on supported devices. WRITE, RECORD AND SCAN Use headings, bold, italics, quotes, code blocks, highlights and checklists. Add photos, PDFs and files. Record a voice note with on-device transcription, or scan a document with the camera on supported devices. Transcription availability depends on language, device and speech support. NOTES THAT TURN INTO ACTION Keep to-dos alongside your notes. Add a date, reminder, priority or repeat to a task, then see tasks together and plan them on a calendar. Checklists inside a note stay with that note. Optional Apple Reminders integration is off until you choose it. DRAW ON IPAD Sketch with Apple Pencil using pens, markers, a highlighter, eraser, lasso and ruler. Drawings remain editable after you save them. FIND YOUR WAY BACK Organize with nested categories, tags and smart folders. Search your writing, bookmark a note, and link related notes with double brackets. Backlinks show where a note is referenced. BRING YOUR NOTES WITH YOU Import Markdown folders with their structure, tags and dates. Import supported Evernote ENEX, RTF and HTML files. Export your library as JSON when you need it. YOUR DEVICE AND YOUR ICLOUD No Zen Slate account is required. Notes are stored on your device; sync uses your own iCloud account rather than our servers. Supported devices can protect individual notes with biometric authentication. CAPTURE WITHOUT THE DETOUR Use widgets, the share sheet, Shortcuts and Spotlight to reach your notes. Features vary by platform; camera scanning and Apple Pencil drawing require supported iPhone or iPad hardware. FREE AND PRO Start with five slates for free. Pro removes the limit and adds sync, widgets, backup and export. Choose a yearly subscription or a one-time purchase. The one-time purchase does not renew. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account subscription settings. See current pricing in the app. Privacy Policy: https://www.zenproducts.ai/apps/zen-slate/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.zenproducts.ai/apps/zen-slate/terms Support: hello@zenproducts.ai

About

Folio

Features
Read full description

Folio is a local-first library for Markdown and plain text on Mac. Bring notes and docs into one place, organize them with folders and tags, explore connections with Link Map, and write with private on-device assistance—without juggling loose files in the Finder. Library & organization • Import Markdown and text via the file picker, drag-and-drop, or Import from Git Link for public GitHub repositories and individual files. • Needs Organizing gives new imports a clear inbox before you file them. • Folders and nested structures help you group work the way you think. • Tags cut across folders so you can filter by topic or project. • Pinned favorites and Recently Opened put what you need one click away. Explore connections • Link Map visualizes connections between your notes. • Follow links to explore related ideas and navigate your library from a new perspective. Reading & writing • Use Editor, Preview, or Split View to draft and see rendered Markdown side by side. • Use Writing Assistant to refine drafts, improve wording, and turn rough ideas into clearer notes with private on-device help. • Find text within the current document. • Sort notes by title, date added, last opened, and more. • Search across your library from the sidebar. Share & export • Share notes as Markdown or plain text. • Export documents to a folder you choose in Finder. Whether you’re collecting research, drafting READMEs, or building a personal knowledge base, Folio keeps your Markdown connected, organized, searchable, and easy to revisit.

Screenshots

Zen Slate4 screens
Folio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zen Slate at every 6 days against Folio's every 3 weeks. 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. Zen Slate sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Folio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zen Slate ships an update every 6 days, Folio every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Zen Slate versus Folio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen SlateFolio
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, Mac
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZenProducts Technologies Pvt. Ltd.Dinh Bao Thang Duong

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Zen Slate

Subscriptions1
  • Zen Slate Pro Annual$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Zen Slate, bought once$49.99
1 purchases

Folio

One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is Zen Slate free?
Zen Slate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Folio free?
Folio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zen Slate or Folio have ads?
Neither Zen Slate nor Folio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zen Slate or Folio?
Zen Slate ships an update every 6 days, and Folio every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zen Slate was updated on October 25, 2026 and Folio on October 25, 2026.

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