# MindNote vs Rote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Rote at none against MindNote's 2. Rote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). MindNote's advantage is iOS requirement (15 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindNote sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Rote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively.

MindNote ships an update every 2 weeks, Rote every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindNote | Rote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnote-mind-map-and-notes/id6755057555/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rote-notes-journal-and-memos/id6755513897/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 15 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Xianlong Liu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1063199291) | [宗泉 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1854329402) |

## What reviewers say

### MindNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnote-mind-map-and-notes/id6755057555)

This app helps users organize thoughts and knowledge through mind mapping and outline note-taking. It offers a flexible tree structure and outlining mode, allowing seamless switching between views for planning, reviewing, or presenting ideas. Optimized for iPad and iPhone, it provides an efficient and focused experience for deep thinkers.

**Highlights:** Intuitive mind mapping with unlimited hierarchy, Flexible outline note-taking mode, Seamless switch between mind map and outline views, Optimized for iPad and iPhone with drag-and-drop, Offline access with local data storage, Export notes as text or images

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP member for 1 year | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime VIP Member | $8.99 | one-time |


### Rote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rote-notes-journal-and-memos/id6755513897)

Capture inspirations, daily snippets, or to-do lists effortlessly. Share and export notes freely, with options for self-hosting and public timelines. Enjoy multi-platform synchronization and a PWA experience.

**Highlights:** Effortless note capture, Social media-like sharing, Full export capabilities, Self-hosted solution, Public note timelines, Multi-platform synchronization, Desktop components

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindNote free?

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

### Is Rote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MindNote or Rote?

Rote is rated higher. MindNote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Rote averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do MindNote or Rote have ads?

Neither MindNote nor Rote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MindNote or Rote?

MindNote ships an update every 2 weeks, and Rote every 4 days. Most recently, MindNote was updated on October 24, 2026 and Rote on October 24, 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.*