Comparison

Second Brain vs Zettelkasten

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

Head to head
About

Second Brain

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Second Brain is a companion voice recorder for the Second Brain macOS app. Capture voice notes on the go and sync them to your Mac for transcription and AI analysis. The app automatically detects speech and silence (Voice Activity Detection), splits recordings into chunks, and transfers them to your Mac over the local network — no cloud involved. Features: - Voice recording with automatic Voice Activity Detection - Background recording — keeps working when the app is minimized - Live Activity — recording progress on Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - Seamless Mac sync via Bonjour (P2P, no cloud) - Geolocation tagging for recordings - Fully offline — all data stays on your device Pair your iPhone with the Second Brain macOS app to unlock transcription, knowledge extraction, and AI-powered search across all your voice notes.

About

Zettelkasten

This app creates a visual knowledge graph from your notes, allowing you to see and explore connections between ideas. It uses wiki-style linking and automatic backlinks to help you rediscover relationships and build a personal knowledge base without relying on traditional folders. Enjoy a private, ad-free experience where all your data stays on your device.

Highlights
  • Visual knowledge graph
  • Automatic backlinks
  • Wiki-style linking
  • Interactive orbit graph
  • Full-text search
  • Markdown export
Features
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Stop losing ideas in a pile of disconnected notes. NoteOrbit is a linked-notes app that turns everything you write into a living knowledge graph — every note becomes a node you can see, connect, and explore. Most note apps bury your thinking in folders. NoteOrbit does the opposite: type a note, drop a [[wiki-link]] to any other note, and the connection is built for you — both ways. Open any note and you instantly see what references it. Then step back and watch your ideas orbit as a glowing constellation you can pan, zoom, and tap to follow the thread. WHAT YOU GET - Write a note, add a [[wiki-link]], and NoteOrbit autocompletes titles and wires up the connection for you - Automatic backlinks so every note shows exactly what links to it — context folders can never give you - An interactive orbit graph that lays out your notes by how they actually connect - Instant tags with #hashtags to slice your notes any way you think - Hubs and orphans finder that surfaces your most-connected ideas and the notes hanging loose - Full-text search across every note, title, and link PERFECT FOR - Students and researchers building study and reference notes that reinforce each other - Writers and thinkers growing a personal knowledge base or second brain - Zettelkasten and PKM fans who want backlinks without a heavy desktop setup - Anyone journaling ideas and projects who wants to rediscover old connections WHY NOT JUST USE FOLDERS Folders force every note into one place and hide how your ideas relate. NoteOrbit lets a note live in as many contexts as it links to, then draws the map for you — so the connection you made months ago is one tap away, not lost three folders deep. PRIVACY Everything stays on your device. No account, no sign-in, no ads, no tracking. Your notes never leave your phone. FULL ACCESS NoteOrbit Premium unlocks the full experience: unlimited notes and connections, the complete interactive orbit graph, hubs, tags and the orphan finder, plus Markdown export to take your notes anywhere. Choose the plan that fits: - Weekly - Yearly - Lifetime (one-time purchase) Open NoteOrbit, write your first note, and link it — watch your thinking take shape. Terms of Use (EULA): https://web-levi.web.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://web-levi.web.app/privacy-policy Questions? tphuc.work@gmail.com

Screenshots

Second Brain4 screens
Zettelkasten4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Second Brain at none against Zettelkasten's 2. On price, ads, 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. Zettelkasten sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Second Brain asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Second Brain versus Zettelkasten: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecond BrainZettelkasten
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequency—Monthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKonstantin AkushevPhuc Pham

In-app purchases

None

Second Brain

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Zettelkasten

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$9.997 Days
  • Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Second Brain free?
Second Brain is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zettelkasten free?
Zettelkasten is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Second Brain or Zettelkasten have ads?
Neither Second Brain nor Zettelkasten shows ads.

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