Comparison

Caliu vs PulseCalendar

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

Head to head
About

Caliu

A minimalist markdown notes app designed for writers, offering a distraction-free writing experience with features like nested tags, reminders, and cross-device syncing. It allows for easy export and integration with external tools.

Highlights
  • Markdown writing with live formatting
  • Nested and colored tags for organization
  • Cross-device sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Reminders for notes
  • Export to various formats (Markdown, ePub, RTF)
  • REST API and MCP server for integration
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

Caliu is a markdown notes app for people who write. No clutter. No toolbars in the way. Just a quiet canvas, your words, and a way to find them again later. Write in Markdown. Sync everywhere. Think clearly. It runs natively on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and stays in sync with the web app. Everything works offline. Your notes live on your device first and travel only when there is a connection. • The writing page. Headings, lists, quotes, code blocks, and links format as you type. No preview pane, no switching modes. The interface steps aside so the writing can take over. • Tags, not folders. Ideas overlap, so one note can belong to many places. Nest your tags, colour them, search them. Organisation that matches the way you think. • Reminders that find you. Pin a time to any note and Caliu nudges you on whichever device you have picked up. Good for the things you would otherwise forget you wrote down. • Sync you never think about. Start on your Mac, finish on your phone. Your notes are already there. No sync button, no spinner, no waiting. • Just talk. Tap the mic and think out loud. Caliu transcribes, trims the filler words, and turns your voice into clean Markdown: real headings and lists, not a wall of text. • Long-term memory. Caliu keeps snapshots as you write. Scroll back through a note's history, preview any moment, and bring it back in a tap. • A mood, not a menu. Ten colour themes, light and dark, plus more than 30 fonts to make the page yours. Pick the one that matches the hour. • Export, share, own your work. Export any note as Markdown, plain text, HTML, ePub, PDF, RTF, or TextPack. Share a note as a public link when someone needs to read it. Nothing locks you in. • Notes that talk back. A full REST API and a built-in MCP server, so Claude, Cursor, or your own scripts can read and write notes on your terms. • Private by design. Your notes are nobody's business. No ads, no selling your data, no tracking you across the web, and nothing you write is used to train AI. Kept on your device first and synced encrypted, built in the EU under GDPR. Export everything or delete your account whenever you like. Deleted means deleted. Caliu Pro The heart of Caliu is free: writing, tags, sync, and offline everything. Caliu Pro adds voice dictation, version history, every theme and font, unlimited attachments, more export formats, and API access. Try it free before you decide. Made with care by a small, independent team of one. No setup. No clutter. Just your thoughts, kept warm. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://caliuapp.com/privacy

About

PulseCalendar

This app acts as a daily planner and time-blocking assistant, analyzing your schedule to help you optimize your day. It integrates with multiple calendar services and offers smart features like adaptive alerts, automatic time-blocking, and personalized insights to improve productivity and time management.

Highlights
  • Calendar integration (iCloud, Google, Outlook, Exchange, CalDAV)
  • Smart time-blocking and daily priority setting
  • AI-powered schedule optimization and suggestions
  • Habit tracking and productivity insights
  • Natural language event entry
  • Live Activity and widgets for quick access
  • Customizable themes and app icons
Features
Read full description

Pulse Calendar turns your schedule into a daily coach. Connect your calendars (iCloud, Google, Outlook, Exchange, CalDAV) in one place and let Pulse analyze your time to help you make better use of it — local storage by default, no account. SMART CALENDAR • Day, 3-day, Week, Month, Year and List views • Multi-account: Apple, Google, Outlook, Exchange, CalDAV • Quick natural-language entry ("lunch with Marc tomorrow 1pm") • Automatic conflict detection • Public holidays and school breaks: 10 countries, 149 regions (FR zones A/B/C, UK 4 nations, US 50 states, DE 16 Bundesländer, CH 26 cantons, AT 9 Länder, CA 13 provinces, ES 17 communities, AU 8 states, JP) • Smart Pressure: adaptive alerts before each meeting • Real-time travel time (driving + public transit) • Live Activity Departure: GPS commute tracking on lock screen DAILY PRIORITIES • 3 daily priorities with anti-procrastination coaching • Auto-suggestions based on your events and habits • Auto Time-Blocking: Pulse blocks priorities into your calendar • Eat the Frog: most-postponed task first • "Just 5 Minutes" mode for low-pressure starts PULSE BRAIN — LOCAL AI • Optimize your day in one tap • Suggests a balanced schedule (focus + recovery + transitions) • Detects overloaded days and proposes adjustments • Personalized morning briefing TRACKER RADAR • Auto-detects recurring habits • Alerts when a regular event is overdue • Pulse Score, weekly challenges, streaks • 12-week Evolution view INSIGHTS • Time breakdown by category (work, sport, health, family…) • Heatmap of your typical week • Top people you spend most time with • Detection of peak productivity hours • Evening review with daily score and tips SIRI & SHORTCUTS • 8 ready-to-use Siri commands • "Hey Siri, add lunch with Marc tomorrow 1pm" • "Hey Siri, what's on my schedule today" → voice briefing • Start a Focus, mark a task done, view priorities… WIDGETS & LIVE ACTIVITY • Today widget — your daily agenda at a tap • Month widget — compact calendar view • Day Battery widget — your Pulse Score in real-time on lock screen • Next 3 meetings on lock screen • Live Activity Dynamic Island countdown before each meeting • Adaptive light / dark mode THEMES • 26 themes including Onyx (default), Aurora, Saphir, Rouge Nuit, Néon Or, Crépuscule, Miami… • Long-press a theme to preview live before applying • Automatic dark / light mode adaptation • Customizable app icon AVAILABLE IN 5 LANGUAGES English · Français · Español · 日本語 · Deutsch PRIVACY Local storage on your iPhone by default. No account, no ad tracking. Shared calendars and Doodle polls (optional) use a secure anonymous server. Pulse Calendar respects your privacy by design. PULSE PREMIUM • Unlimited Pulse Brain (free: 3 optimizations/day) • Live Activity GPS Departure (real-time commute tracking) • All premium themes and alternate icons • Advanced Insights and 12-week history • Exclusive widgets Pulse Monthly: $3.99 / month (auto-renewing) · Pulse Yearly: $24.99 / year (auto-renewing, save 48%) · Pulse Lifetime: $69.99 (one-time purchase) 7-day free trial on Monthly and Yearly subscriptions. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at the end of the trial. Subscriptions renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://pulsecalendar.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://pulsecalendar.app/privacy

Screenshots

Caliu4 screens
PulseCalendar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Caliu at 5.0 against PulseCalendar's 4.4. Caliu also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%) and monetization model (free vs freemium). PulseCalendar's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Caliu sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PulseCalendar sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Caliu holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Caliu's written reviews are positive against 75% of PulseCalendar's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Caliu ships an update every 9 days, PulseCalendar every 3 days. Both last shipped on September 11, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Caliu versus PulseCalendar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaliuPulseCalendar
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.4 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarc TorrellesPulse (app)

Customer experience

Caliu

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PulseCalendar

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Caliu

Subscriptions2
  • Caliu Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Caliu Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
3 purchases

PulseCalendar

Subscriptions2
  • Pulse Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pulse Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pulse Pro Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Caliu free?
Caliu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PulseCalendar free?
PulseCalendar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Caliu or PulseCalendar?
Caliu is rated higher. Caliu averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while PulseCalendar averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.
Do Caliu or PulseCalendar have ads?
Neither Caliu nor PulseCalendar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Caliu or PulseCalendar?
Caliu ships an update every 9 days, and PulseCalendar every 3 days. Most recently, Caliu was updated on September 11, 2026 and PulseCalendar on September 11, 2026.

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