Comparison

Slate vs OwnNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Slate

This app combines note-taking with a freeform drawing canvas. Easily add text, sketches, equations, and more using simple commands. Enjoy a distraction-free, dark design optimized for Apple Pencil.

Highlights
  • Text, headings, lists
  • Tables and charts
  • Math equations (LaTeX)
  • Images, audio, files
  • Freeform canvas
  • Apple Pencil support
Read full description

Notes and canvas, beautifully combined. Slate is where writing meets drawing. Capture ideas in text, sketch them on canvas, or do both — all in one minimal app. POWERFUL BLOCKS Add anything with a simple "/" command: - Text, headings, lists - Tables and charts - Math equations (LaTeX) - Images, audio, files - Freeform canvas INFINITE CANVAS Draw without limits. Pen, pencil, brush, shapes, colors — everything you need to visualize your thoughts. DARK & MINIMAL Pure black design. Zero distractions. Just you and your ideas. APPLE PENCIL READY Pressure sensitivity. Palm rejection. Natural drawing experience. Think. Write. Draw. All in Slate.

About

OwnNotes

Features
Read full description

Your Offline Private AI Notebook Turn your iPhone and iPad into a private AI-powered notebook that helps you capture, organize, summarize, and improve your ideas—completely offline. No cloud. No account. No subscription. Everything runs directly on your device, so your notes stay private while you enjoy fast, intelligent AI assistance anywhere, even without an internet connection. Whether you're taking meeting notes, studying, journaling, brainstorming, writing, or organizing research, your AI assistant is always available. Key Features • 100% Offline AI – All AI processing happens on your device. No cloud processing or internet required. • Live Voice-to-Text – Capture ideas naturally with fast and accurate speech transcription. • AI Summaries – Turn long notes into concise summaries and actionable takeaways. • Rewrite with AI – Improve grammar, clarity, tone, and structure with a single tap. • Simplify Complex Information – Convert difficult topics into easy-to-understand explanations. • Brainstorm Ideas – Generate outlines, titles, creative ideas, and writing suggestions from your notes. • Biometric Lock – Protect your notes with Face ID or Touch ID for an extra layer of privacy. • Easy Sharing – Instantly share your notes and AI-generated content with Mail, Apple Notes, Reminders, Messages, and your favorite apps. • Private by Design – Your notes never leave your device. • Works Anywhere – Perfect for flights, travel, classrooms, meetings, or anywhere without internet access. Perfect For • Students • Professionals • Writers • Researchers • Journalers • Content Creators • Anyone who values privacy and offline AI. Why Choose Offline AI? Most AI note-taking apps rely on cloud services that upload your notes to remote servers and require an internet connection. This app is different. Everything runs locally on your iPhone or iPad, keeping your ideas private while delivering fast AI assistance wherever you are. Free to use with ads. Upgrade once with a one-time purchase to remove ads forever. No recurring subscription. Think Freely. Stay Private. No cloud. No internet. Just intelligent AI that keeps your ideas where they belong—on your device.

Screenshots

Slate4 screens
OwnNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Slate at none against OwnNotes's 1. Slate also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. OwnNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Slate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Slate versus OwnNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSlateOwnNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequency—Every 3 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNagarjuna Reddy BhimavarapuRajeev Kadaplackal Rajappan Pillai

In-app purchases

None

Slate

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

OwnNotes

One-time1
  • OwnNotes - Remove Ad$4.99

Questions

Is Slate free?
Slate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OwnNotes free?
OwnNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Slate or OwnNotes have ads?
OwnNotes shows ads; Slate does not.

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