# Caffeinated Notes vs Smolpad

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smolpad at every 10 days against Caffeinated Notes's every 3 weeks. Caffeinated Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Caffeinated Notes sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smolpad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Caffeinated Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, Smolpad every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Caffeinated Notes | Smolpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smolpad-markdown-notes/id6792438749/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 48 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Caffeinated Softworks LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879624762) | [BaconWorks, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783126115) |

## What reviewers say

### Caffeinated Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caffeinated-notes/id6761129114)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Account (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Duo Account (Monthly) | $7.99 | per month |
| Family Account (Monthly) | $17.99 | per month |
| Friends & Family Account (Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| Individual Account (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |
| Duo Account (Annual) | $79.99 | per year |
| Family Account (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Friends & Family (Annual) | $199.99 | per year |


### Smolpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smolpad-markdown-notes/id6792438749)

This app offers a minimalist Markdown editor that stores your notes as plain .md files. It syncs via iCloud and allows for beautiful writing with syntax highlighting and task lists. Upgrade for unlimited notes, more sync options, and export features.

**Highlights:** Plain .md file storage, iCloud sync, Markdown syntax highlighting, Task list checkboxes, Folder organization and search, Trash and version history, Export to PDF/HTML (Pro)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smolpad Pro | $1.49 | per month |
| Smolpad Pro | $14.99 | per year |
| Smolpad Pro Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Caffeinated Notes free?

Caffeinated Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Smolpad free?

Smolpad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Caffeinated Notes or Smolpad have ads?

Neither Caffeinated Notes nor Smolpad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Caffeinated Notes or Smolpad?

Caffeinated Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Smolpad every 10 days. Most recently, Caffeinated Notes was updated on October 25, 2026 and Smolpad on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*