# 1 Bit Notes vs Retro Desktop Notes The clearest difference is update cadence: Retro Desktop Notes at daily against 1 Bit Notes's every 2 months. Retro Desktop Notes also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). 1 Bit Notes's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them. Both are free to download. 1 Bit Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Retro Desktop Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters. On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for 1 Bit Notes against 5.0 for Retro Desktop Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1 Bit Notes has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive. 1 Bit Notes ships an update every 2 months, Retro Desktop Notes daily. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively. ## The numbers | Metric | 1 Bit Notes | Retro Desktop Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free | | Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1-bit-notes/id6756234025/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-desktop-notes/id6792271012/reviews) | | Number of ratings | **5** | 1 | | Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews | | In-app purchases | Yes | Yes | | Ads | No | No | | Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** | | Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** | | Size | 5 MB | 15 MB | | Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 | | Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad | | Age rating | 4+ | 4+ | | Developer | [Fatih Emir Onder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1832671310) | [MARIE MORIKAGE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896645636) | ## What reviewers say ### 1 Bit Notes [App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1-bit-notes/id6756234025) Capture your thoughts with a stylish, retro terminal interface. Organize, secure, and set reminders for your notes. Export in Markdown or PDF and sync across devices. **Highlights:** Terminal-style interface, Note organization and search, Passcode encryption for notes, Reminder functionality, Home screen widget support, Multiple retro themes, Markdown and PDF export, iCloud synchronization **Features:** Vision Pro support **In-app purchases (1)** | Purchase | Price | Billing | | --- | --- | --- | | Premium Lifetime | $1.99 | one-time | ### Retro Desktop Notes [App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-desktop-notes/id6792271012) Experience a nostalgic note-taking app that brings the charm of classic desktop computers to your mobile device. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with retro themes and essential organizational tools. **Highlights:** Retro desktop themes, Fast and simple editor, Automatic saving, Pin important notes, Instant search, Trash with restore **Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support **In-app purchases (1)** | Purchase | Price | Billing | | --- | --- | --- | | Retroプレミアム | $1.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions ### Is 1 Bit Notes free? 1 Bit Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available. ### Is Retro Desktop Notes free? Retro Desktop Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available. ### Which has better reviews, 1 Bit Notes or Retro Desktop Notes? 1 Bit Notes and Retro Desktop Notes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively. ### Do 1 Bit Notes or Retro Desktop Notes have ads? Neither 1 Bit Notes nor Retro Desktop Notes shows ads. ### Which is updated more often, 1 Bit Notes or Retro Desktop Notes? 1 Bit Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Retro Desktop Notes daily. Most recently, 1 Bit Notes was updated on September 4, 2026 and Retro Desktop Notes on October 1, 2026. --- *Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*