# Lightnote vs Instalog

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Instalog at 100% against Lightnote's 0%. Instalog also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Lightnote's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instalog sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Lightnote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Instalog holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Lightnote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Instalog's.

Lightnote ships an update every 2 months, Instalog fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightnote | Instalog |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightnote-brain-dump-notes/id6755834656/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instalog-capture-thoughts/id6758676170/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 6 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Farid Asadi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748432415) | [augusto Hernandez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818958221) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightnote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightnote-brain-dump-notes/id6755834656)

This AI notebook helps you rediscover your forgotten ideas. It analyzes your brain dumps to surface relevant insights and patterns, providing a daily recap of personalized thoughts without the need for manual organization.

**Highlights:** AI-powered Daily Recap, Automatic idea connections, Distraction-free capture, Private, encrypted storage, ADHD-friendly design, Works even with missed days

**In-app purchases:** none


### Instalog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instalog-capture-thoughts/id6758676170)

This app provides a simple, private space to quickly capture thoughts, ideas, and daily moments. Organize your entries into custom categories and build a personal timeline to reflect on your growth and patterns over time. It's designed for capturing life as it happens without pressure or complexity.

**Highlights:** Instant quick capture, Daily inbox for sorting, Customizable buckets for organization, Monthly activity heatmap, Full-text search, Home screen widgets, Private, local-first storage

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instalog Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Instalog Pro Annually | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightnote free?

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

### Is Instalog free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightnote or Instalog?

Instalog is rated higher. Lightnote averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Instalog averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Lightnote or Instalog have ads?

Neither Lightnote nor Instalog shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightnote or Instalog?

Lightnote ships an update every 2 months, and Instalog fortnightly. Most recently, Lightnote was updated on October 17, 2026 and Instalog on October 15, 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.*