# OpenNotes vs Papyrus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenNotes at none against Papyrus's 2. OpenNotes also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Papyrus sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. OpenNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenNotes | Papyrus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **16** | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 43 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836539324) | [waraku kobayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892218372) |

## What reviewers say

### OpenNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004)

Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, PDF import and annotation, Folder-based organization, Add images and text, Local-first data storage, Export and share notes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Papyrus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papyrus-notes-pdf/id6779149036)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Papyrus Sync Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Papyrus Sync Yearly | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OpenNotes free?

OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Papyrus free?

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

### Do OpenNotes or Papyrus have ads?

Neither OpenNotes nor Papyrus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OpenNotes or Papyrus?

OpenNotes ships an update every 4 days, and Papyrus every 4 days. Most recently, OpenNotes was updated on September 6, 2026 and Papyrus on August 28, 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.*