Comparison

Oaklet Notes vs Nib

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

Head to head
About

Oaklet Notes

This app combines writing, drawing, and structured knowledge in a secure, encrypted vault on your device. Create rich text notes, sketch with Apple Pencil, build mind maps, and organize information with AI assistance, all while keeping your data private and offline.

Highlights
  • Encrypted note vault
  • Rich text and Markdown editor
  • Apple Pencil drawing and SVG export
  • Whiteboard for mind maps
  • Tables with formulas and diagrams
  • Optional local AI integration
  • WikiLinks and knowledge graph
Features
Read full description

Type and handwrite in the same note. Oaklet Notes puts your writing, Apple Pencil handwriting, whiteboards, tables, and math on one page, and recognizes your handwriting on your device, so search finds what you wrote by hand. Everything stays in an encrypted vault on your device. No account needed, and it works fully offline. ONE NOTE, EVERY WAY YOU THINK • Type with a block editor, then write over it with Apple Pencil — your ink moves with the line it's next to • Handwriting is recognized on your device: search your handwriting, or turn it into typed text • Whiteboards for mind maps and flowcharts, drawing with layers, tables with formulas, LaTeX math, task lists • Lay out blocks side by side, or freely as cards connected with lines • Decorations — stickers, sticky notes, tape, and stamps • Read PDF attachments right in the app: page through, zoom, and select text LOCKED TO YOU • AES-256-GCM encryption protects every note • Vault password, plus an optional Note Password for sensitive notes • Unlock with Face ID or Touch ID • Auto-lock when you step away • Works fully offline, and your notes never pass through our servers • Sign in with Apple is optional and only used to carry a subscription to your other devices. Your notes are never sent to us CONNECT YOUR NOTES • [[WikiLinks]] and ![[embeds]] link notes together, with a backlinks panel • Interactive knowledge graph that shows how your notes connect • Hierarchical tags and full-text search • Calendar view and reminders — browse notes by date, and set a reminder on a note or on its own. By default, notifications show only a generic alert, never your note's title or text AI IF YOU WANT IT — YOUR MODEL, YOUR KEY • AI is optional. Connect a local model running on your own computer, or your own cloud provider's key — the app connects to your provider rather than hosting one • Semantic search with your own model; drafting and rewriting, questions about your notes, and plain-language tool calling ON MAC, IPAD, IPHONE, WINDOWS, AND LINUX • Direct Share — send a note straight to a nearby device. Pair once with a code; transfers are encrypted end to end and go straight from one device to the other • Sync through one of your own computers or your own WebDAV server — the server only ever holds encrypted files • Notes on your own disk, not a vendor's database. Import and export Markdown anytime; export to PDF, HTML, and Word • Import notes exported from other notes apps, with their attachments, original dates, and folders as nested tags Oaklet Notes is free to use. An optional Pro subscription adds sync, the knowledge graph, AI writing tools, PDF, HTML, and Word export, Face ID unlock, and more — try it free for 30 days in the app. Subscriptions are billed through your Apple ID and can be managed in Settings. Privacy Policy: https://oakletnotes.com/en/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Nib

Features
Read full description

■ Where thoughts unfold Nib is a warm handwritten diary for iPad and Apple Pencil. The feeling of writing with a fountain pen on paper — captured in digital form. For anyone who wants to record today, organize class notes, or let ideas flow freely on the page. ■ Features ▸ Natural handwriting - Fountain pen, pencil, highlighter, eraser, lasso — optimized for Apple Pencil - 21 colors to express yourself - Blank, lined, and grid backgrounds ▸ Write directly on PDFs - Import textbooks, handouts, papers and annotate right away - Import from iCloud Drive, Files app, or anywhere - Select page ranges to import only what you need - Your annotations save separately — the original PDF stays intact ▸ Daily journal - End the day with a short note - Five moods (Heavy · Quiet · Even · Bloom · Radiant) to capture the feeling - Browse past days in the calendar ▸ Recording + auto-transcription - Record lectures or meetings while you write - Automatic transcription in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish - Notes and audio live side-by-side on the same page ▸ Organize by subject - Create subjects with 31 icons or draw your own - Tag notes with subjects - Browse by subject in the Shelf ▸ Six languages supported - 한국어 · English · 日本語 · 简体中文 · 繁體中文 · Español - Switch language directly in the app ■ Made for - People who want a handwritten journal on iPad - Students annotating PDF textbooks - Anyone recording lectures while taking notes - Those looking for a beautifully-designed diary app - Digital note-takers who miss the feel of paper ■ What's coming Nib is actively being improved. Dark mode and iCloud sync (across devices) are on the way. Feedback and suggestions welcome at hello@stockhub.kr ■ About the developer Nib is crafted by an independent developer. stockhub.kr

Screenshots

Oaklet Notes4 screens
Nib4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nib at none against Oaklet Notes's 2. Nib also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). Oaklet Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price 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. Oaklet Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Nib asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Oaklet Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, Nib every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Oaklet Notes versus Nib: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOaklet NotesNib
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOceanoax LLCYONGGYU KIM

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Oaklet Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$39.991 Year
None

Nib

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Oaklet Notes free?
Oaklet Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nib free?
Nib is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Oaklet Notes or Nib have ads?
Nib shows ads; Oaklet Notes does not.
Which is updated more often, Oaklet Notes or Nib?
Oaklet Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Nib every 4 days. Most recently, Oaklet Notes was updated on November 5, 2026 and Nib on November 9, 2026.

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