Pane vs Grid Notes App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pane
A premium note-taking app that allows users to write in Markdown with a live WYSIWYG editor. It offers features like floating sticky notes, smart folders, a Kanban board, and integrations with Apple Calendar and Siri Shortcuts for enhanced productivity.
- Live WYSIWYG Markdown editor
- Floating sticky notes
- Smart Folders and Kanban board
- Wiki-style note linking
- Focus Timer with Pomodoro
- Reminders and natural date detection
- iCloud sync across devices
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pane is a premium sticky notes app designed for people who think in text. Write in Markdown with a live WYSIWYG editor that hides syntax markers as you type — just like Bear. Bold, italic, headings, code, strikethrough, and links all render beautifully while keeping your notes in plain text. WRITE & ORGANIZE • Floating sticky notes on your Mac desktop with frosted glass backgrounds • Six Apple-inspired colors — Silver, Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, Purple • Checklist mode with tap-to-toggle checkboxes • Smart Folders auto-sort notes into Work, Personal, Shopping, Ideas, and Journal • Kanban board to track notes through Backlog, To Do, In Progress, and Done • Wiki-style [[note links]], @mentions, and backlinks to connect your thoughts • 50+ curated templates for meetings, journals, projects, movies, books, and more FOCUS & PRODUCTIVITY • Focus Timer with Pomodoro cycles built into every note • Reminders with local notifications and Apple Calendar sync • Natural date detection — write "meeting on Friday" and Pane suggests a reminder • Typewriter mode keeps your cursor centered while you write • Voice transcription for hands-free note capture EVERYWHERE YOU NEED IT • Mac menu bar app — always one click away, never clutters your Dock • Full-featured iOS app with grid, list, and kanban views • iCloud sync keeps everything in sync across all your devices • Apple Watch companion for quick capture on the go • Lock Screen widgets to keep important notes visible • Dynamic Island shows your active note while multitasking • Spotlight search and Handoff for seamless workflow • Siri Shortcuts integration PRIVATE & SECURE • Lock sensitive notes with Face ID, Touch ID, or Optic ID • All data synced through your personal iCloud — we never see your notes • No account required, no tracking, no ads Pane is built for people who want their notes fast, beautiful, and out of the wa
Grid Notes App
Read full descriptionHide full description
Instead of lists and folders, you get a zoomable grid where you can place notes wherever they feel right - cluster related ideas together, spread a project across the canvas, or keep a corner just for quick thoughts. FEATURES - Large canvas — pan and zoom freely across a grid canvas - Place notes anywhere — long press anywhere on the canvas to drop a note - Rich notes — add a title, body text, color, images, videos, and PDF attachments - Pin notes — lock important notes in place so they don't move while you pan - Search — find any note instantly by title or content - Export & import — back up all your notes as a single JSON file - Fully offline — everything stays on your device, nothing is sent anywhere DESIGNED FOR FOCUS No accounts. No subscriptions. No ads. No cloud sync. Just you and your canvas. Grid Notes is built for people who think spatially - writers mapping out a story, developers tracking ideas across a project, students connecting concepts, or anyone who finds flat lists too limiting. PRIVACY All your notes, images, and files are stored locally on your device. Grid Notes does not collect any personal data and has no internet connection.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Grid Notes App at Free against Pane's $5.99. Grid Notes App also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Grid Notes App is free to download; Pane costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Pane | Grid Notes App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sulhadin Oney | Jimmy Nordstrom |
In-app purchases
Pane
No in-app purchases
Grid Notes App
No in-app purchases









