Comparison

Folio vs Nodus

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

Head to head
About

Folio

Features
Read full description

Folio is a local-first library for Markdown and plain text on Mac. Bring notes and docs into one place, organize them with folders and tags, explore connections with Link Map, and write with private on-device assistanceβ€”without juggling loose files in the Finder. Library & organization β€’ Import Markdown and text via the file picker, drag-and-drop, or Import from Git Link for public GitHub repositories and individual files. β€’ Needs Organizing gives new imports a clear inbox before you file them. β€’ Folders and nested structures help you group work the way you think. β€’ Tags cut across folders so you can filter by topic or project. β€’ Pinned favorites and Recently Opened put what you need one click away. Explore connections β€’ Link Map visualizes connections between your notes. β€’ Follow links to explore related ideas and navigate your library from a new perspective. Reading & writing β€’ Use Editor, Preview, or Split View to draft and see rendered Markdown side by side. β€’ Use Writing Assistant to refine drafts, improve wording, and turn rough ideas into clearer notes with private on-device help. β€’ Find text within the current document. β€’ Sort notes by title, date added, last opened, and more. β€’ Search across your library from the sidebar. Share & export β€’ Share notes as Markdown or plain text. β€’ Export documents to a folder you choose in Finder. Whether you’re collecting research, drafting READMEs, or building a personal knowledge base, Folio keeps your Markdown connected, organized, searchable, and easy to revisit.

About

Nodus

Features
Read full description

Nodus is a minimal Zettelkasten note-taking app for iPhone and iPad. Your notes are plain Markdown files stored in iCloud Drive β€” no proprietary format, no lock-in, no subscription. Why Nodus? Most note apps are too complex. Nodus focuses on what matters: writing, linking, and thinking. Features - Plain Markdown files in iCloud Drive β€” open with any Markdown editor on Mac or iOS - Wiki-style links with [[timestamp]] syntax that survive title renames - Fast full-text AND search across filenames and body text - Clean edit / preview toggle with full GFM Markdown rendering - Sort by updated date, created date, title, backlink count, or random - Created and updated timestamps read from the file system β€” no front matter needed Your files, your way Select any folder in iCloud Drive as your Zettelkasten. Use Nodus alongside your existing notes and desktop editors β€” everything stays in sync automatically.

Screenshots

Folio4 screens
Nodus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nodus at none against Folio's 1. Nodus also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

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

Both are free to download. Folio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nodus asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Folio ships an update every 3 weeks, Nodus every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Folio versus Nodus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFolioNodus
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
DevicesiPhone, MaciPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 β€” better17.6
Further details β€” not scored
Size44 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDinh Bao Thang DuongNakada Kyota

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Folio

One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$9.99
None

Nodus

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Folio free?
Folio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nodus free?
Nodus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Folio or Nodus have ads?
Neither Folio nor Nodus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Folio or Nodus?
Folio ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nodus every 5 days. Most recently, Folio was updated on November 5, 2026 and Nodus on October 28, 2026.

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