# knibl. vs Retro Desktop Notes

The clearest difference is monetization model: Retro Desktop Notes at free against knibl.'s freemium. Retro Desktop Notes also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly). knibl.'s advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. knibl. sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Retro Desktop Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for knibl. against 5.0 for Retro Desktop Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

knibl. ships an update weekly, Retro Desktop Notes daily. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | knibl. | Retro Desktop Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knibl/id6771015804/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-desktop-notes/id6792271012/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 11 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MARCUS STEPHEN TAYLOR](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896768833) | [MARIE MORIKAGE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896645636) |

## What reviewers say

### knibl.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knibl/id6771015804)

This app transforms scattered ideas into a connected knowledge graph. It helps users capture notes, extract entities, visualize relationships, and organize complex projects. AI-augmented processes streamline note-taking for writers, researchers, and creative thinkers.

**Highlights:** AI note extraction and entity mapping, Cross-device sync, Security-first architecture, Shareable links for content, Backlinks and relationship navigation, AI Workspace chat, Daily journal and streaks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| knibl pro | $2.99 | per month |


### Retro Desktop Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-desktop-notes/id6792271012)

Experience a nostalgic note-taking app that brings the charm of classic desktop computers to your mobile device. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with retro themes and essential organizational tools.

**Highlights:** Retro desktop themes, Fast and simple editor, Automatic saving, Pin important notes, Instant search, Trash with restore

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Retroプレミアム | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is knibl. free?

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

### Is Retro Desktop Notes free?

Retro Desktop Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, knibl. or Retro Desktop Notes?

knibl. and Retro Desktop Notes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do knibl. or Retro Desktop Notes have ads?

Neither knibl. nor Retro Desktop Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, knibl. or Retro Desktop Notes?

knibl. ships an update weekly, and Retro Desktop Notes daily. Most recently, knibl. was updated on September 30, 2026 and Retro Desktop Notes on October 1, 2026.

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