# Notestream vs bar'd

Notestream and bar'd both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of bar'd's written reviews are positive against 0% of Notestream's. Notestream's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Notestream against 5.0 for bar'd. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Notestream's written reviews are positive against 100% of bar'd's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notestream | bar'd |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notestream-fast-notes-to-self/id6755921997/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bard-barcode-app-blocker/id6761489805/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 27 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Calem Viluan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857337477) | [Kenneth Rapko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889931958) |

## What reviewers say

### Notestream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notestream-fast-notes-to-self/id6755921997)

This app offers a private, chat-style notebook for quick note-taking. It focuses on speed and simplicity, allowing users to send thoughts like text messages without the pressure of traditional document formatting. Ideal for lists, memos, and everyday ideas.

**Highlights:** Chat-style note interface, Fast capture and search, Checkboxes and colored ribbons, Image support with captions, Channel archiving and restoration, Export to .txt and .csv, Full backup and import

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### bar'd

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bard-barcode-app-blocker/id6761489805)

This app enforces digital discipline by linking your phone's Focus Modes to physical barcodes. Scan a barcode to unlock distracting apps, ensuring genuine accountability for your screen time. Track your progress and build streaks towards focused hours.

**Highlights:** Enforce focus modes with physical barcodes, Shield distracting apps at system level, Customizable app whitelists, Automated daily focus schedules, Track focused hours and streaks, On-device data privacy

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notestream free?

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

### Is bar'd free?

bar'd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notestream or bar'd?

Notestream and bar'd are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do Notestream or bar'd have ads?

Neither Notestream nor bar'd shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notestream or bar'd?

Notestream ships an update every 3 weeks, and bar'd every 3 weeks. Most recently, Notestream was updated on October 24, 2026 and bar'd 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.*