# HandyNote vs OpenNotes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenNotes at none against HandyNote's 4. OpenNotes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HandyNote sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. OpenNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

HandyNote ships an update fortnightly, OpenNotes every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HandyNote | OpenNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **25** |
| Positive reviews | — | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 7 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wimlog](https://appshunter.io/developer/424067793) | [Mark Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836539324) |

## What reviewers say

### HandyNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handynote-canvas-transcribe/id6762900901)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month subscription service | $1.99 | per month |
| 3 months subscription service | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 year subscription service | $14.99 | per year |
| Canvas Wallpaper | $2.99 | one-time |


### OpenNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004)

Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, PDF import and annotation, Folder-based organization, Add images and text, Local-first data storage, Export and share notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HandyNote free?

HandyNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is OpenNotes free?

OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do HandyNote or OpenNotes have ads?

HandyNote shows ads; OpenNotes does not.

### Which is updated more often, HandyNote or OpenNotes?

HandyNote ships an update fortnightly, and OpenNotes every 5 days. Most recently, HandyNote was updated on October 15, 2026 and OpenNotes on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*