Side Search vs Note Link by DCS0
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Side Search
Launch your preferred AI assistant or search engine using the Side Button or Action Button. Customize assistants with custom URLs or integrate with Apple Foundation Models, Claude API, or Google Gemini API.
- Launch AI assistants via Side/Action Button
- Custom URL-based assistants
- Apple Foundation Models integration
- Claude API support
- Google Gemini API support
- Side Bridge for custom endpoints
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Quickly launch your preferred AI assistant or search engine as a voice assistant from the Side Button or Action Button. ### Launch from Side Button ### On iPhone in Japan, you can assign Side Search to the Side Button. You can start your favorite assistant by pressing and holding the Side Button. ### Assistants ### --- URL Based Assistant You can turn various AI assistants and search engines into assistants by setting a custom URL. --- Apple Foundation Models You can converse with privacy-focused models on devices that support Apple Intelligence. --- Claude API You can ask Claude to perform web searches or ask questions using your own API key. --- Google Gemini API You can converse with Gemini and ask it to perform web searches using your own API Key. --- Side Bridge For advanced users, you can use any assistant by creating an endpoint called Side Bridge.
Note Link by DCS0
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Record voice and text notes, import audio, photos and documents, extract text, and search your library on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Export or back up your notes and optionally sync your library with iCloud. Local note-taking and search work without a NoteLink account. Apple handles supported on-device transcription and processing. For Czech and other supported languages, optional cloud transcription and analysis use NoteLink's Firebase/Google Cloud backend and Google Vertex AI Gemini after sign-in and informed permission. Cloud transcription runs after recording; live captions depend on Apple's supported languages. Cloud transcription and analysis require internet access and available credits. Cloud AI is an optional monthly auto-renewable subscription that adds 100 non-expiring credits for each paid renewal. An optional one-time purchase adds 100 credits without a subscription. Unused purchased credits accumulate and remain available after cancellation or subscription expiry. Cloud transcription uses 1 credit per started minute of audio; each cloud AI analysis uses 1 credit. Long recordings show the remaining credit estimate. There are no automatic usage overage charges. Prices are shown in your App Store currency before purchase. Manage or cancel the subscription through your Apple Account settings. Cloud permission also enables background note and attachment replication and optional sharing; you can withdraw it in Settings. Export your backend data or request cloud-account deletion in Settings. Account deletion preserves local notes and your iCloud library. Read the privacy policy for data recipients, storage, diagnostics and retention. Privacy policy: https://dcs0.com/note-link/privacy Terms of use: https://dcs0.com/note-link/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Side Search at none against Note Link by DCS0's 2. Note Link by DCS0's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Note Link by DCS0 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Side Search asks for nothing beyond the download.
Side Search ships an update weekly, Note Link by DCS0 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Side Search | Note Link by DCS0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | โ |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No โ better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | โ |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch โ better |
| Requires iOS | 27.0 | 26.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cizzuk Shihu | Docs Do Inc. |
In-app purchases
Side Search
No in-app purchases
Note Link by DCS0
- Cloud AI$3.991 Month
- 100 Cloud Credits$4.99








