# CBNote vs Vault Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CBNote at none against Vault Reader's 3. CBNote also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Vault Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CBNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

CBNote ships an update weekly, Vault Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CBNote | Vault Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Size | 15 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | **26.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cizzuk Shihu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674098361) | [Minner Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743682612) |

## What reviewers say

### CBNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cbnote/id6756120567)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Vault Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vault-reader-markdown-notes/id6762577564)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vault Reader Pro - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Vault Reader Pro - Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Vault Reader Pro - Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CBNote free?

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

### Is Vault Reader free?

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

### Do CBNote or Vault Reader have ads?

Neither CBNote nor Vault Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CBNote or Vault Reader?

CBNote ships an update weekly, and Vault Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, CBNote was updated on September 16, 2026 and Vault Reader on September 19, 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.*