Comparison

Caliu vs NoteChat

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 quiet place to write. Open it and start typing: no account, no setup, no clutter. Markdown takes shape as you type, everything works offline, and your notes stay on your device. When you want them everywhere, create a free account and they follow you across iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web. Sync is free, and it stays free. Writing comes first Headings, lists, tasks, quotes, code and links format as you write. There is no preview pane and no mode to switch: what you see is your note. The interface steps aside and leaves you with the page. Organised the way you think Tags instead of folders, because one idea can belong in many places. Nest them, colour them, and find any note in seconds. Link notes to each other and follow a thought from one to the next. Pin what matters now, and archive what you are done with without losing a word. There when you need it Native on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with a web app for everything else. Save things to Caliu straight from the share sheet, or add a thought from your Apple Watch. Yours, and only yours No ads. No tracking. Nothing you write is used to train AI. Your notes live on your device first and sync encrypted, and Caliu is built in the EU under GDPR. Export any note as Markdown or plain text whenever you like, share one as a public link when someone needs to read it, and delete your account at any time. Deleted means deleted. For tinkerers A full REST API and a built-in MCP server, so Claude, Cursor or your own scripts can read and write your notes, on your terms. Your first API key is free. Caliu Pro Writing, tags, sync and working offline are free. 50 notes free, forever, no account needed. Caliu Pro makes them unlimited and adds: • Version history: scroll back through any note and restore it in a tap • Every theme, font and app icon: 22 colour themes, each in light and dark, and 30 fonts • Drawing, right inside your notes • Unlimited attachments • More export formats: HTML, ePub, PDF, RTF and TextPack • Unlimited API keys, and connecting AI apps like Claude to your notes Subscribe monthly or yearly, or buy Pro lifetime once. Try it free before you decide. The monthly or yearly plan is an auto-renewing subscription: it renews unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and you can manage or cancel it anytime in your App Store account settings. Made with care by a small, independent team of one. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://caliuapp.com/privacy

About

NoteChat

Features
Read full description

Type a thought. It’s saved. No need to stop and come up with a title. Just start writing and sort it out later. WRITE FIRST. ORGANIZE LATER. NoteChat works like a chat with yourself: write your thought and send it. Whether it’s an idea, a grocery list, a task, or a line you want to keep, everything lands quickly in your note chat. Organize it whenever you have time. FIND WHAT YOU NEED • Assign a message to one or more topics. • Organize topics with subtopics, colors, and images. • Connect related thoughts in threads. • Highlight key passages and pin important items to the top. • Set the status to “open,” “in progress,” or “done,” then filter by status. Topic views keep your messages organized by topic. Look things up, work through tasks, and build on your thoughts without tapping through folders. MORE THAN TEXT • Dictate thoughts with speech recognition. • Attach photos directly to your notes. • Turn a note directly into a calendar event or reminder. • Share a single note, a selection, or an entire topic as a file. • Use NoteChat in light or dark mode. NO ACCOUNT, ADS, OR TRACKING No account, no sign-up. Your notes stay on your iPhone and in your private iCloud. NoteChat has no ads and doesn’t track you. FREE UP TO 200 NOTES AND 5 TOPICS NoteChat is free up to 200 notes and 5 topics. Pro lifts these limits. Your existing notes and topics always remain fully usable. Turn “I’ll remember that” into a message to yourself. Questions or requests? https://notechat.info/support Privacy: https://notechat.info/privacy/ Terms of use (Apple standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Caliu4 screens
NoteChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Caliu at 4 against NoteChat's 1. NoteChat's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, 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 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and NoteChat sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Caliu versus NoteChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaliuNoteChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size201 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarc TorrellesTammo Sommer

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Caliu

Subscriptions2
  • Caliu Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Caliu Pro - Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Caliu Pro Lifetime$44.99
3 purchases

NoteChat

Subscriptions2
  • NoteChat Pro – Month$4.991 Month
  • NoteChat Pro – Yearly$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • NoteChat Pro – Lifetime$69.99

Questions

Is Caliu free?
Caliu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoteChat free?
NoteChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Caliu or NoteChat have ads?
Neither Caliu nor NoteChat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Caliu or NoteChat?
Caliu ships an update weekly, and NoteChat weekly. Most recently, Caliu was updated on November 5, 2026 and NoteChat on October 31, 2026.

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