# Notepad vs Cortex | AI Habit Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: Cortex | AI Habit Tracker at 5.0 against Notepad's 4.0. Cortex | AI Habit Tracker also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.2). Notepad's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Cortex | AI Habit Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cortex | AI Habit Tracker holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Notepad ships an update monthly, Cortex | AI Habit Tracker every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Cortex | AI Habit Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-ai-habit-tracker/id6757570181/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 11 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vishal Kalkani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867523595) | [Sean Dickson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1827191515) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776)

Capture ideas, manage tasks, and stay organized with this fast, secure, and easy-to-use note-taking app. It offers a distraction-free interface for writing or recording audio notes, organizing them efficiently for quick access.

**Highlights:** Quick note creation, Audio note recording, Clean, minimal interface, Organized note access, Secure note storage, Task management

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access – Monthly | $0.49 | per month |
| Unlimited – Yearly | $3.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $4.99 | one-time |


### Cortex | AI Habit Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-ai-habit-tracker/id6757570181)

This app goes beyond simple checklists by combining daily habit tracking with AI-powered coaching. It analyzes your patterns to provide personalized recommendations, helping you understand why habits stick and improve your consistency.

**Highlights:** Daily habit logging with streaks, Calendar view for consistency, AI-powered personalized coaching, Journaling and notes for reflection, Analytics dashboard for performance, Dark mode design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is Cortex | AI Habit Tracker free?

Cortex | AI Habit Tracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or Cortex | AI Habit Tracker?

Cortex | AI Habit Tracker is rated higher. Notepad averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Cortex | AI Habit Tracker averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Notepad or Cortex | AI Habit Tracker have ads?

Cortex | AI Habit Tracker shows ads; Notepad does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or Cortex | AI Habit Tracker?

Notepad ships an update monthly, and Cortex | AI Habit Tracker every 3 weeks. Most recently, Notepad was updated on October 17, 2026 and Cortex | AI Habit Tracker on October 13, 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.*