# Notestream vs Caliu

Notestream and Caliu both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Caliu's written reviews are positive against 0% of Notestream's. Caliu also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Notestream's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Caliu sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Notestream asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Notestream against 5.0 for Caliu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 0% of Notestream's written reviews are positive against 100% of Caliu's.

Notestream ships an update every 3 weeks, Caliu weekly. The most recent releases landed on July 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notestream | Caliu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notestream-fast-notes-to-self/id6755921997/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caliu-markdown-notes/id6761850487/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 27 MB | 210 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Calem Viluan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1857337477) | [Marc Torrelles](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712257538) |

## 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


### Caliu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caliu-markdown-notes/id6761850487)

A minimalist markdown notes app designed for writers, offering a distraction-free writing experience with features like nested tags, reminders, and cross-device syncing. It allows for easy export and integration with external tools.

**Highlights:** Markdown writing with live formatting, Nested and colored tags for organization, Cross-device sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Reminders for notes, Export to various formats (Markdown, ePub, RTF), REST API and MCP server for integration, Customizable themes

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Caliu Pro - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Caliu Pro - Yearly | $17.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notestream free?

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

### Is Caliu free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notestream or Caliu?

Notestream and Caliu are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do Notestream or Caliu have ads?

Neither Notestream nor Caliu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notestream or Caliu?

Notestream ships an update every 3 weeks, and Caliu weekly. Most recently, Notestream was updated on July 17, 2026 and Caliu on September 30, 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.*