Comparison

OpenNotes vs Encria

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

Head to head
About

OpenNotes

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
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.

About

Encria

Features
Read full description

Turn handwritten pages into clean, editable text on iPhone and iPad. Capture a page with your camera or import several images from Photos. Encria transcribes handwriting, keeps the original pages beside the result, and lets you correct, copy, or share the text. • Keep the raw transcription word for word, and let an optional AI pass repair reading errors and broken sentences • Compare every result with the original page • Fix the words flagged as uncertain, underlined right under the original • Save corrections and writing profiles on your device • Keep your document library locally on your iPhone or iPad • Use Encria without creating an account Start with 5 transcribed pages per month. Encria Pro includes up to 500 pages per month and batches of up to 20 pages. Your images are sent only when you explicitly start a transcription. Encria's server keeps no durable database of your documents or source images. Handwriting recognition can make mistakes, so always review important transcriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

OpenNotes4 screens
Encria4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenNotes at none against Encria's 4. OpenNotes also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, 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. Encria sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. OpenNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, Encria every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
OpenNotes versus Encria: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenNotesEncria
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark MillerTeo Goulois

In-app purchases

None

OpenNotes

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Encria

Subscriptions2
  • Encria Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Encria Pro Yearly$34.991 Year
One-time2
  • 100 OCR Page Credits$1.99
  • Encria Pro Lifetime$179.99

Questions

Is OpenNotes free?
OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Encria free?
Encria is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OpenNotes or Encria have ads?
Neither OpenNotes nor Encria shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenNotes or Encria?
OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, and Encria every 4 days. Most recently, OpenNotes was updated on October 7, 2026 and Encria on October 10, 2026.

Other comparisons