Comparison

SteelNote vs TimeTracker

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

Head to head
About

SteelNote

This app stores your notes as plain Markdown files on your device, ensuring you always own your data. It offers seamless syncing across Apple devices, instant search, and robust import options from other note-taking applications.

Highlights
  • Plain Markdown file storage
  • iCloud sync across Apple devices
  • Local full-text search
  • Import from multiple note apps
  • Link notes and see backlinks
  • Organize with folders and tags
  • Mark notes as private
Read full description

SteelNote is a notes app built on one promise: your notes are plain Markdown files that you own. Every note is a real .md file on your device, openable in the Files app or in any editor you like, today and years from now. No proprietary database. Nothing locked away. Your notes, truly yours. Because every note is plain text, you are never trapped. Read and edit them in SteelNote, in Files, or in any other Markdown app. If you ever move on, you take your files with you as they are, in an open format that lasts. Native on all your Apple devices. SteelNote is built natively for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Your notes sync across all of them through iCloud, with no third party account and no extra sign in. Start a note on your phone and finish it on your Mac. Find anything, instantly. A local full text index makes search immediate, even in large libraries. Link notes together, see backlinks, organize with folders and tags, and turn any line into a task. Private when you want it. Mark a note as private and it stays out of widgets and AI features. Your most sensitive notes remain yours alone. Bring everything with you. Import from Bear, Notion, Obsidian and Evernote, or from Markdown, TextBundle, Word, RTF, PDF and CSV files. Your folders and structure come along. Apple Notes works too, one note at a time, because Apple offers no bulk export. Everything you expect. Add images, PDFs and tables inline. Use checklists, footnotes and links. Reach your notes from Spotlight, Siri and widgets, and hand off between devices. An open format, now standard. Markdown is a first class type across Apple platforms, and SteelNote is built natively around it. Your files are open, portable and yours. Membership. SteelNote comes with a 14 day free trial, then a yearly plan or a one time lifetime purchase. You can cancel during the trial and pay nothing, or skip the subscription and choose the lifetime purchase instead. Sync is always included and never restricted. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. A yearly plan renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage or cancel anytime in your Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://steelnoteapp.com/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

TimeTracker

Effortlessly monitor your daily activities with a simple, one-tap time tracking application. Visualize your progress through daily timelines and cumulative statistics to understand where your time goes. Organize tasks and habits with customizable categories for better productivity.

Highlights
  • One-tap instant time tracking
  • Daily timeline view
  • Customizable categories
  • Daily activity breakdown
  • Quarterly cumulative statistics
  • Historical progress review
Features
Read full description

TimeTracker is a minimal time tracking app designed to help you understand how your time is actually spent. Start tracking instantly with just one tap — no setup, no friction. Track your current task in real time, view your daily timeline, and organize tasks with customizable categories. Features: • One-tap instant time tracking • Daily timeline view • Current task duration tracking • Add tasks, categories, and custom durations • Drag and organize tags your way • Daily activity breakdown with charts • Quarterly cumulative statistics • Historical records and long-term progress review Whether you're a student, freelancer, or anyone trying to build better habits, TimeTracker turns your daily activity into clear, structured insights. Make your time visible.

Screenshots

SteelNote4 screens
TimeTracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TimeTracker at none against SteelNote's 3. TimeTracker also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). SteelNote's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). 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. SteelNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. TimeTracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SteelNote ships an update every 4 days, TimeTracker every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SteelNote versus TimeTracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteelNoteTimeTracker
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClaude Bezeaud家殷 孙

Customer experience

SteelNote

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

TimeTracker

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

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SteelNote

Subscriptions1
  • Annual14 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Founder$44.99
  • Lifetime$79.99
None

TimeTracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SteelNote free?
SteelNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TimeTracker free?
TimeTracker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SteelNote or TimeTracker have ads?
Neither SteelNote nor TimeTracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SteelNote or TimeTracker?
SteelNote ships an update every 4 days, and TimeTracker every 9 days. Most recently, SteelNote was updated on October 14, 2026 and TimeTracker on October 8, 2026.

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