Comparison

Pinote vs Folio

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

Head to head
About

Pinote

Quickly jot down a single line reminder that appears directly on your lock screen. No need to open an app; your note is visible every time you unlock your device. Syncs seamlessly across Apple devices via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Lock screen sticky notes
  • Live Activity display
  • iCloud sync
  • No app opening required
  • One-line reminders
  • Cross-device support
Features
Read full description

Your next task. On your Lock Screen. A parcel to return before you leave. A question to ask at your next meeting. Write it in Pinote and pin it, so you can see your next task without opening the app. • Notes and checklists Write freely, then focus on the next item in your checklist. • Pin now or schedule a time Pin a note from the editor or choose when it should appear automatically. Lock Screen availability and updates depend on system settings and device conditions. • Continue across devices Use iCloud to keep your notes across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Each device displays notes in its own way. • Recover deleted notes Recently Deleted keeps copies on this device for 30 days. After restoring a note, you can turn its pin and automatic schedule back on yourself. • Keep a file backup Export a Pinote JSON backup and import it later without overwriting existing notes. Export as text to read your notes in other apps. Recently Deleted is stored separately on each device. No separate Pinote account is required. Cross-device sync uses iCloud. No ads appear on your Lock Screen.

About

Folio

Features
Read full description

Folio is a home for your notes, todos, and files on iPhone and Mac. Capture a thought in seconds, plan your next project, or keep a travel checklist close at hand. On iPhone, pin a note to your Lock Screen so it's there when you need it. CAPTURE AND WRITE • Jot down a note with the quick-add bar • Write with Markdown, headings, checklists, quotes, and text colors • Attach photos, files, and map locations to your notes • Save your current place as a note with the Save This Place shortcut • Create unlimited notes for free TURN PLANS INTO TODOS • Keep standalone todos beside your notes • Break a task into subtasks and check them off one by one • Set due dates and optional notifications • Add Markdown details for instructions, links, and context MAKE ROOM ON MAC • Keep folders, your note list, and the editor in view together • Resize the panes to fit your workspace • Start a note with Command-N • Continue across iPhone and Mac with iCloud sync in Folio Pro FOLIO PRO • Organize notes and files in folders • Keep notes, todos, and folder files current with iCloud sync • Improve your writing with on-device AI Enhance • Pin more notes to your iPhone Lock Screen • One-time purchase. No subscription. KEEP THE IMPORTANT THINGS CLOSE • Pin one note to your iPhone Lock Screen for free • Set reminders on individual notes • Share a note with the people you invite • Keep related files together in a folder • Require Face ID or Touch ID to open protected folder files on supported devices PRIVATE BY DESIGN No accounts. No ads. Folio doesn't collect the content of your notes, todos, photos, files, or saved places. Your content stays on your device, in your own iCloud with Folio Pro, or with people you choose to share a note with. AI Enhance runs on your device using Apple Intelligence. Folio does not send your writing to an AI server. Apple Intelligence requires a supported device and must be enabled and available. Anonymous usage analytics help us improve Folio. They're on by default and include app opens, feature usage, and error codes, never your content. Turn them off in Settings to stop collection and delete the analytics already collected from your install.

Screenshots

Pinote4 screens
Folio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Folio at none against Pinote's shown. Folio also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). Pinote's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pinote ships an update every 5 days, Folio every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Ā· 4 level
Pinote versus Folio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPinoteFolio
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Mac
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOKMIN LEETom Weiss

In-app purchases

None

Pinote

No in-app purchases

None

Folio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pinote free?
Pinote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Folio free?
Folio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pinote or Folio have ads?
Pinote shows ads; Folio does not.
Which is updated more often, Pinote or Folio?
Pinote ships an update every 5 days, and Folio every 2 days. Most recently, Pinote was updated on September 26, 2026 and Folio on October 11, 2026.

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