Comparison

AINotes vs OpenNotes

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

Head to head
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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Handwriting with Apple Pencil
  • PDF import and annotation
  • Add images and text
  • Folder organization
  • Local-first privacy
  • Optional iCloud backup
  • Export notes
Features
Read full description

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

AINotes4 screens
OpenNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AINotes versus OpenNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAINotesOpenNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (14 ratings) — better4.4 (39 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1439 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRODSOFT PTE LTDMark Miller

Customer experience

AINotes

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

OpenNotes

All ratings38 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

AINotes

No in-app purchases

None

OpenNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AINotes free?
AINotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenNotes free?
OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AINotes or OpenNotes?
AINotes is rated higher. AINotes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while OpenNotes averages 4.4 from 39 ratings.
Do AINotes or OpenNotes have ads?
Neither AINotes nor OpenNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AINotes or OpenNotes?
AINotes ships an update every 9 days, and OpenNotes every 5 days. Most recently, AINotes was updated on November 9, 2026 and OpenNotes on November 10, 2026.

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