Comparison

Notes by Color vs FlatNote

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

Head to head
About

Notes by Color

This app uses color as its primary organizational tool, allowing users to create custom color labels for notes. It offers instant filtering and sorting by color, providing a visual system for quick access and organization. Features include AI-powered summaries, iCloud sync, and full-text search.

Highlights
  • Custom color labels
  • Instant color filtering
  • AI-powered note summaries
  • iCloud sync
  • Full-text search
  • Pin important notes
Features
Read full description

Toono turns color into your most powerful organizational tool. Most note apps make you work harder than you should - folders, tags, nested systems, endless scrolling. Toono is different. You create your own color labels, assign them to notes, and instantly have a visual system that your brain understands at a glance. No complexity. No clutter. Just your colors, your way. Why people love Toono: Color isn't decoration here - it's structure. Scan your note list in seconds, filter by color with one tap, and always know exactly where everything is. Whether you're capturing ideas, tracking tasks, writing, studying, or just keeping life organized, Toono adapts to how you actually think. Everything you need, nothing you don't: - Custom color labels you define yourself - Instant color filtering - Sort notes your way - Adjustable text color - AI-powered note summaries - iCloud sync across all your devices - Pin important notes to the top - Full-text search - Adjustable note preview length - Easy sharing - Light and dark mode Your colors. Your system. Your clarity. Download Toono and find out how much calmer your notes can feel.

About

FlatNote

This app allows you to create and organize notes using markdown formatting. It offers live formatting, image support, and robust organization features. Your notes are stored as plain files and sync via iCloud across your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Live markdown formatting
  • Image embedding in notes
  • Folder organization and pinning
  • Real checkboxes
  • In-note search
  • Cross-device iCloud sync
  • Plain .md file export
Read full description

FlatNote is a markdown notes app for people who want their writing to stay plain, portable, and theirs. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and your notes sync across all of them through your own iCloud, or stay in a folder you choose. Type markdown and watch it format as you go. Headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, links, quotes, bullet lists, and tappable checkboxes all render while you write. The raw symbols stay out of your way and reappear only on the line you are editing, so you always know exactly what you typed. WHAT YOU GET - Live formatting. See the result as you type, with a one minute reference note included. - Photos in your notes. Paste an image or attach one; it is saved next to the note as an ordinary file, not in a database. - Folders, pins, and sorting. Organize notes into real directories and keep the ones you use on top. - Real checkboxes. Tap to check things off, right in the note. - Find in a note. Search the open note and jump between highlighted matches. - Quick formatting. A formatting bar above the keyboard on iPhone and iPad, and standard shortcuts on Mac. - Find your notes fast. Search the whole library by title or content. YOUR WORDS BELONG TO YOU - Every note is a plain .md file. No proprietary format, no lock-in, readable in any app, on any device, years from now. - Your notes live in your iCloud and sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac automatically, signed in with your Apple ID. No separate account to make. - Export carries everything. Share any note as markdown, with its pictures included, or export your whole library as one zip of ordinary files. The files are also right there in the Files app on iOS and Finder on Mac. - Delete is honest. Deleted notes go to Trash, where they can be recovered. QUIET BY DESIGN - No ads. No tracking. No analytics. Nothing about you leaves your devices and your iCloud. - Works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, in light and dark. FlatNote keeps the format simple so you can keep your thinking clear.

Screenshots

Notes by Color4 screens
FlatNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FlatNote at none against Notes by Color's 1. FlatNote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Notes by Color's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, ads and device support 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. Notes by Color sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. FlatNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FlatNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notes by Color ships an update every 3 weeks, FlatNote every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 3 level
Notes by Color versus FlatNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotes by ColorFlatNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTwo Moon TreeKate Benediktsson

Customer experience

Notes by Color

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

FlatNote

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Notes by Color

One-time1
  • Unlock Premium$6.99
None

FlatNote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Notes by Color free?
Notes by Color is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlatNote free?
FlatNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Notes by Color or FlatNote?
FlatNote is rated higher. Notes by Color averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while FlatNote averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Notes by Color or FlatNote have ads?
Neither Notes by Color nor FlatNote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notes by Color or FlatNote?
Notes by Color ships an update every 3 weeks, and FlatNote every 2 months. Most recently, Notes by Color was updated on October 25, 2026 and FlatNote on October 13, 2026.

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