# OpenNotes vs Encria

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.

Both are free to download. Encria sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. OpenNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | OpenNotes | Encria |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **25** | — |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 43 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836539324) | [Teo Goulois](https://appshunter.io/developer/1856960693) |

## 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


### Encria

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encria/id6796822973)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Encria Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Encria Pro Yearly | $34.99 | per year |
| 100 OCR Page Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| Encria Pro Lifetime | $179.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*