Klad vs markdown notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Klad
This app offers a fast, offline-first note-taking experience for developers and privacy-focused users. It syncs notes directly to your own Git repository, ensuring you own your data without proprietary formats or cloud lock-in.
- 100% Data Ownership
- Native Git Sync
- Frictionless Markdown Editor
- Daily Notes Calendar View
- Local Organization with Folders
- Plain-text Markdown Files
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Klad is a lightning-fast, offline-first Markdown notebook built specifically for developers and privacy-conscious thinkers. Instead of locking your notes in a proprietary database or charging you a monthly fee for cloud storage, Klad syncs directly to your own remote Git repository. You own your data, plain and simple. Whether you are tracking daily tasks, writing code snippets, or building a second brain, Klad stays out of your way. Your vault lives on your device as standard, plain-text Markdown files. This makes Klad perfectly interoperable with desktop tools like Obsidian, VS Code, or any other text editor you choose. CORE FEATURES • 100% Data Ownership: Bring your own vault. No proprietary formats, no forced cloud accounts, and zero vendor lock-in. • Native Git Sync: Choose between seamless background Auto-Sync to keep your devices updated, or take full manual control with dedicated Push/Pull commands. • Frictionless Markdown: A fast, native-feeling editor that perfectly renders headers, task lists, code blocks, and wikilinks. • Daily Notes: A built-in calendar view instantly drops you into today's note, perfect for daily standups, journaling, or habit tracking. • Local Organization: Manage your vault your way with standard folder and file structures. Built for speed and simplicity, Klad gives you the power of version-controlled, offline-first note-taking right in your pocket. Terms of Use: https://kladnotes.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://kladnotes.com/privacy
markdown notes
A minimalist Markdown editor that stores all your notes as plain text files, accessible across your devices. It offers beautiful writing tools, seamless cloud sync, and powerful organization features without any bloat.
- Plain .md file storage
- iCloud Drive sync
- Markdown syntax highlighting
- Task list checkboxes
- Folder and instant search organization
- Menu bar app on Mac
- Export to PDF, HTML, RTF (Pro)
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Smolpad is a smol Markdown editor with respect for your files. Every note is a plain .md file you can open with any app, on any device, forever. Your files are your own. No database. No lock-in. No bloat. Just a tiny, fast home for your notes on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. WRITE IN MARKDOWN, BEAUTIFULLY • Syntax dims as you type, or hides away entirely with one tap • Task lists become real checkboxes. Checkboxes that check. • Headings, bold, italic, code, quotes, and tables, styled as you write • A formatting bar for common touches, plus full keyboard shortcuts • Pictures too: drag or paste one in, resize it by its corner, and it lives as a plain file beside the note YOUR FILES, ANYWHERE • Notes sync through your own iCloud Drive, included free • Open your notes folder in Finder or Files any time • Organize with folders, pins, and instant search • Find notes in Spotlight, and open them with Siri or Shortcuts • Nothing ever leaves your devices except to your own cloud SMOL ON PURPOSE • On the Mac, Smolpad lives in your menu bar, one hotkey away • Tear off a note into its own window when you want to stay a while • On iPhone and iPad, it opens fast and stays out of your way • Seven hand-picked fonts and a clean, quiet interface MAKE IT YOURS WITH SMOLPAD PRO • Unlimited notes (the free tier includes ten) • Dropbox, pCloud, or Google Drive sync, in a folder that belongs to you • Export to PDF, HTML, or rich text, and print • Lock Screen widgets on iPhone, and Smolpad on Apple Watch • Twenty-nine editor themes, from Tokyo Night to Catppuccin • Seventeen app icons and the full menu bar icon set Smolpad Pro is available as a monthly or yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. The free tier is a real notes app, not a trial. Made by a smol team that believes plain text outlives everything. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://smolpad.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: markdown notes at 5.0 against Klad's 3.5. Klad's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 10 days) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Klad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and markdown notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
markdown notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
Klad ships an update daily, markdown notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Klad | markdown notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 71 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mauricio Coelho | BaconWorks, LLC |
Customer experience
Klad
markdown notes
In-app purchases
Klad
- Klad Pro Lifetime$29.99
markdown notes
- Smolpad Pro$1.491 Month
- Smolpad Pro$14.991 Year
- Smolpad Pro Lifetime$29.99









