Comparison

Zen Slate vs Retro Desktop Notes

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
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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

Retro Desktop Notes

Experience a nostalgic note-taking app that brings the charm of classic desktop computers to your mobile device. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with retro themes and essential organizational tools.

Highlights
  • Retro desktop themes
  • Fast and simple editor
  • Automatic saving
  • Pin important notes
  • Instant search
  • Trash with restore
Features
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Bring the charm of classic desktop computers to your pocket. Retro Memo is a nostalgic note-taking app inspired by vintage desktop operating systems. Designed for people who love retro interfaces, pixel-perfect details, and distraction-free writing. Instead of overwhelming you with unnecessary features, Retro Memo focuses on what matters most: writing, organizing, and enjoying the experience. FEATURES • Three beautiful retro desktop themes - Classic 95 - Platinum Mono - Luna Blue • Fast and simple note editor • Automatic saving • Pin important notes • Instant search • Sort your notes • Trash with restore support • Pixel-inspired desktop icons • Classic window interface • Retro typography • Privacy-friendly local storage NO SUBSCRIPTIONS. ONE-TIME PURCHASE. Whether you're capturing ideas, creating shopping lists, or writing quick reminders, Retro Memo makes every note feel like you're using a classic desktop computer again. A nostalgic experience, redesigned for modern iPhone.

Screenshots

Zen Slate4 screens
Retro Desktop Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Retro Desktop Notes at daily against Zen Slate's every 6 days. 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 Retro Desktop Notes 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, Retro Desktop Notes daily. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Zen Slate versus Retro Desktop Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen SlateRetro Desktop Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZenProducts Technologies Pvt. Ltd.MARIE MORIKAGE

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

Retro Desktop Notes

One-time1
  • Retroプレミアム$1.99

Questions

Is Zen Slate free?
Zen Slate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Desktop Notes free?
Retro Desktop Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zen Slate or Retro Desktop Notes have ads?
Neither Zen Slate nor Retro Desktop Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zen Slate or Retro Desktop Notes?
Zen Slate ships an update every 6 days, and Retro Desktop Notes daily. Most recently, Zen Slate was updated on November 9, 2026 and Retro Desktop Notes on October 31, 2026.

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