Comparison

Quicknotes Journal vs Marten

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

Head to head
About

Quicknotes Journal

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QuickNotes Journal is a simple, private journaling app designed to keep your thoughts organized and completely under your control. All entries are stored locally on your device. There are no accounts, no cloud sync, and no data collection. Your journal stays with you. Key Features โ€ข Create and edit journal entries quickly with text, photos, and audio โ€ข Organize entries using customizable tags and topics โ€ข Search and filter entries by date, text, or tag โ€ข View detailed insights into writing habits, streaks, and milestones โ€ข Clean, focused layout with simple navigation across entries and stats โ€ข Export your journal anytime to TXT, CSV, or JSON โ€ข Backup and restore data locally with full ownership of your data โ€ข Optional one-time purchase for advanced statistics (no subscriptions) Privacy First by Design QuickNotes Journal works entirely offline. Your data never leaves your device. No logins, no cloud servers, and no third-party analytics. Simple and Focused The interface is built to stay out of the way so you can focus on writing. Whether you log quick notes, track daily habits, or keep an offline work diary, QuickNotes Journal keeps things straightforward and reliable. Built for Long-Term Use Your entries are stored in a fast local database and remain accessible even if you migrate devices using your manual backups. You control your data at every step. QuickNotes Journal is ideal for anyone who wants a fast, private, and dependable journaling experience without unnecessary complexity or recurring fees.

About

Marten

Features
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Marten is a clean, distraction-free note app built for developers. Write in Markdown with syntax-highlighted code blocks, then turn any note into a project with just the tabs you need. Keep a plain note, or add API keys, secrets, passwords, social logins, links, references, and checklists. Each filled tab becomes an item, so one note holds everything about a project. FEATURES Markdown editor Fenced code blocks with an olive, editor-style highlight. Toggle a live preview anytime. Project tabs Note, List, API, Ref, Link, Secret, Password, and Social. Add only the tabs you want with a tap. Secrets vault Store API keys, passwords, and accounts with masked fields and a quick reveal. Checklists Reminders-style lists with tap-to-complete items. Tags and search Organize with #hashtags and find anything instantly with full-text search. Sync, your way Local-first storage that works offline, with optional cloud sync across your devices. Turn sync on or off whenever you want. Built for every screen A native app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with an adaptive three-column layout on iPad and Mac. Light and dark themes. Private by design Your notes are yours. No ads, no tracking, and you can delete your account and all data from inside the app at any time. Marketing URL: https://marten.kodefoundry.com Privacy Policy URL: https://marten.kodefoundry.com/privacy

Screenshots

Quicknotes Journal4 screens
Marten4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Marten at none against Quicknotes Journal's 1. Quicknotes Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Quicknotes Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Marten asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Quicknotes Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Marten every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Quicknotes Journal versus Marten: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQuicknotes JournalMarten
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks โ€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size29 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyan Bairjoseph hamawi

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Quicknotes Journal

One-time1
  • Premium$3.99
None

Marten

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Quicknotes Journal free?
Quicknotes Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Marten free?
Marten is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Quicknotes Journal or Marten have ads?
Neither Quicknotes Journal nor Marten shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Quicknotes Journal or Marten?
Quicknotes Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Marten every 2 months. Most recently, Quicknotes Journal was updated on October 30, 2026 and Marten on October 28, 2026.

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