Comparison

VelNotes vs AINotes

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

Head to head
About

VelNotes

Features
Read full description

Take handwritten notes, annotate PDFs, and turn lecture recordings into text on your iPhone and iPad. Start without creating an account. • Math mode: Write 2(3+4)= with your finger on iPhone or Apple Pencil on iPad, and we'll handle the rest. Tap the green line with your finger, then Solve: 14 lands beside the = in your own ink. Something misread? Edit what we picked up. • Beautify while writing: Lines you scrawl in a lecture turn clean and readable as you write. Pick one of 19 handwriting styles or a neater version of your own. • Cramped PDFs are no problem in VelNotes: Widen the page or add workspace beside it, so every note, solution, and sketch fits. ONE APP FOR IPHONE AND IPAD • On iPhone, write with your finger or type on Phone screen pages that fit without zooming • On iPad, write with Apple Pencil or turn on Finger Writing Mode • Planners on iPhone: start from 12 templates or make your own, with the dates already on the pages. Tap a line to type, a checkbox to check it off • Two notebooks side by side on iPad, each with its own toolbar • Video window on iPad: watch a lesson video beside your notes WRITE YOUR WAY • Write and highlight naturally; Snap to Straight Line and Hold for a straight line keep lines neat • Type text, draw shapes, and use a ruler, brushes, labels, and sticky notes, plus a laser pointer on iPad • Capture typed notes fast with Quick Text, then save them as a notebook • Move or resize selected handwriting, convert it to text, or scribble over strokes to erase • Choose paper styles, custom colors, daily and weekly layouts, 360 stickers, and colorful folders WORK WITH PDFS AND MEDIA • Import PDFs, including password-protected ones; PDFs over 300 pages import in parts • Write, draw, and place text, photos, scans, stickers, and shapes over PDF pages • Add GIFs, keep notebooks open in tabs, and choose A4, Letter, or custom page sizes • Add images from Photos, Camera, or the built-in document scanner • Export notebooks as PDF or images with multiple quality options RECORD AND TRANSCRIBE • Record lectures, meetings, and ideas; if the app closes mid-recording, your audio is kept • Create on-device transcripts in the spoken language you pick, when supported by the device, system, and language • Import local audio or video and turn speech into notebook text with Pro REPLAY AND CREATE • Replay how a page was written and drawn with Time Travel, and export it as a 9:16 or 16:9 video • Turn photos into cutout stickers locally with Sticker Studio PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Notebooks are stored on this device first • When iCloud Drive is available, notebook sync across your iPhone and iPad and an automatic private safety backup are on by default; restore an earlier copy, turn either off, or export your data at any time • VelNotes does not upload your notebooks or raw recordings to a VelNotes server FREE AND PRO Free includes up to 3 notebooks at a time, plus 3 planners on iPhone (synced and trashed ones count; delete one for good to start a new one), recordings of up to 15 minutes per session, and one free use of live transcription. Time Travel video export is free and unlimited for everyone. Weekly, monthly, and yearly Pro plans and a one-time lifetime purchase unlock the same features: unlimited notebooks (and planners on iPhone), local audio/video import for on-device transcription, longer recordings, and unlimited live transcription on supported devices. One Pro covers your iPhone and iPad with the same Apple Account. Transcription and handwriting recognition can contain errors and depend on device, operating-system, and language support. Math mode works with numbers only: no variables, unknowns, or equations to solve. The app interface is available in English, Turkish, German, Spanish, and French; other device languages use English. Privacy Policy: https://velnotes.com/privacy/en Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

AINotes

Capture ideas naturally with a professional note-taking and document annotation app. Enjoy smooth, paper-like handwriting on an infinite canvas with features like layers, split-screen editing, and extensive import/export options. Organize your study, work, and creative projects effortlessly.

Highlights
  • Paper-like handwriting with Apple Pencil support
  • Infinite canvas for freeform ideation
  • Multi-layer editing for complex content
  • Annotate PDFs, DOCs, PPTs, and ebooks
  • OCR for text recognition from scanned documents
  • Organize notes with folders and templates
  • iCloud sync and local backups
Features
Read full description

AINotes is a professional note-taking and document annotation app for iPad and iPhone, with smooth, paper-like handwriting. Use Apple Pencil, an infinite canvas, freeform layout, multiple layers, and split-screen editing to capture ideas naturally and keep your study, work, and creative projects organized. AINotes is currently free to use, with no subscription required for its core features. WRITE NATURALLY • Optimized for iPhone and every iPad size, with pressure sensitivity and tilt support on compatible Apple Pencil models • Write and draw with a fountain pen, ballpoint pen, brush pen, or pencil • Use a highlighter, shapes, magnifier, laser pointer, ruler, and other precision tools • Customize stroke colors, widths, and styles, then refine content with the precision eraser and lasso tools THINK WITHOUT LIMITS • Create structured paged notes or explore ideas freely on an infinite canvas • Zoom and pan smoothly to organize outlines, build mind maps, plan projects, and develop creative sketches • Freely move, resize, and rotate handwriting, text, images, and shapes • Use multiple layers to edit complex content independently, and view or edit multiple notes side by side READ & ANNOTATE MULTIPLE FORMATS • Import PDF, DOC, and PPT files; Pages, Numbers, and Keynote documents; and ebooks in EPUB, MOBI, and AZW3 formats • Read imported documents and ebooks, then add handwriting, highlights, shapes, text, and comments • Import screenshots, photos, worksheets, exam papers, and other images, then crop, resize, rotate, and arrange them freely • When you need to capture paper content, scan documents, recognize text with OCR, and use smart correction and filters for clearer results • Export finished work as a PDF, individual images, or a single long image STAY ORGANIZED, MAKE IT YOUR OWN • Organize classes, projects, meetings, and personal notes with folders • Search note titles and content to quickly find what you need • Personalize notes with beautiful covers and ruled, grid, dot grid, blank, Cornell note, and other paper templates • Write comfortably in low light with Dark Mode • Sync notes between iPhone and iPad with iCloud, and create local backups that you can restore when needed FREE TO USE • No subscription or payment is required to access the core features • Work offline and capture ideas wherever you are • Export and share in multiple formats while keeping control of your notes and backups BUILT FOR STUDY, WORK & CREATIVITY Use AINotes for classroom notes, reviewing mistakes, lesson planning, handout annotation, meeting notes, document review, ebook reading, study notes, project planning, digital journaling, creative sketches, and everyday inspiration. Start using AINotes today—write naturally, think without limits, and turn every idea into something clear and useful. For technical support or feedback, contact us: Email: feedback@prodsoft.net Privacy Policy: https://www.prodsoft.net/privacy_policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.prodsoft.net/terms_of_use.html

Screenshots

VelNotes4 screens
AINotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AINotes at none against VelNotes's 4. AINotes also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. VelNotes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. AINotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VelNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, AINotes every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
VelNotes versus AINotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVelNotesAINotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB188 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYUNUS ISLEGELPRODSOFT PTE LTD

In-app purchases

4 purchases

VelNotes

Subscriptions3
  • VelNotes Pro Weekly$1.997 Days
  • VelNotes Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • VelNotes Pro Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • VelNotes Pro Lifetime$39.99
None

AINotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VelNotes free?
VelNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AINotes free?
AINotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do VelNotes or AINotes have ads?
Neither VelNotes nor AINotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VelNotes or AINotes?
VelNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, and AINotes every 9 days. Most recently, VelNotes was updated on November 9, 2026 and AINotes on November 9, 2026.

Other comparisons