AINotes vs OpenNotes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
OpenNotes
A free, open-source note-taking app designed for handwriting and PDF annotation. Organize notes into folders, import documents, and export your work. It prioritizes privacy with local-first storage and optional iCloud backups.
- Handwriting with Apple Pencil
- PDF import and annotation
- Add images and text
- Folder organization
- Local-first privacy
- Optional iCloud backup
- Export notes
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OpenNotes is a simple, free, open-source notes app built for handwriting, PDFs, and focused organization. Create notebooks, import PDFs, write with Apple Pencil, add images or text, organize notes into folders, and export your work when you need it. OpenNotes is local-first and privacy focused. There are no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. Your notes live on your device, with optional backup to your own iCloud so they survive a lost iPad or a deleted app. Nothing is ever sent to us — your notes stay in your Apple account, readable by no one else.
Screenshots
Verdict
AINotes and OpenNotes both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of AINotes's written reviews are positive against 67% of OpenNotes's. OpenNotes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for AINotes against 4.4 for OpenNotes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 39 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of AINotes's written reviews are positive against 67% of OpenNotes's.
AINotes ships an update every 9 days, OpenNotes every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AINotes | OpenNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (14 ratings) — better | 4.4 (39 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 14 | 39 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 188 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRODSOFT PTE LTD | Mark Miller |
Customer experience
AINotes
OpenNotes
In-app purchases
AINotes
No in-app purchases
OpenNotes
No in-app purchases







