Comparison

OpenNotes vs Countpad

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

Countpad

Easily track your stock with this fast, offline inventory management tool. Add items, adjust quantities, scan barcodes, and generate reports in PDF or CSV format. Ideal for individuals needing accurate counts without complex features.

Highlights
  • Offline stock counting
  • Barcode scanning
  • Instant search and filtering
  • PDF and CSV report generation
  • Cloud backup and restore
  • Optional shared inventory
Features
Read full description

Countpad is a small, fast inventory tracker for people who just need the numbers to be right. Open it, add your items, and count. Tap + or − straight from the list, or tap the number to type it in when there are 143 of something. That is the whole idea. WHAT IT DOES • Count from the list — increase or decrease without opening a detail screen • Type a quantity directly when tapping would be slower • Scan a barcode to jump to an item, or to create one with the barcode attached • Search instantly across name, barcode, category and unit • Filter by category, or by what is in stock and what has run out • Create a report in one tap — a clean PDF and a CSV, ready to share or print • Back up everything to one portable file, and restore it later • Add a photo when two items look alike, and a unit cost when you want the report to total it COUNT TOGETHER (OPTIONAL) Shared inventory lets several people count one stock list at the same time, each on their own phone, with every change appearing on everyone else's screen. Two people counting the same shelf add up — the app never lets one person's count overwrite another's. A shared inventory is always live, so it needs a connection — your own inventory keeps working offline. WORKS WITHOUT A CONNECTION Counting, search, filters, reports, export and backup all work in airplane mode, in a stockroom with no signal, in a basement. Your inventory stays on your device unless you choose to share it — and if you do, it goes to your shared inventory and nowhere else. NO ACCOUNT NEEDED No sign-up, no email, no password. Open the app and start counting. An account is only ever created if you switch on the shared inventory, and you can delete it from inside the app. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://gist.github.com/hjatupon/21ebe78638c416a5373e3b1a766eb433

Screenshots

OpenNotes4 screens
Countpad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OpenNotes at 60% against Countpad's 0%. OpenNotes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, Countpad every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OpenNotes versus Countpad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenNotesCountpad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (25 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings25 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark MillerJatupon Hongweing

Customer experience

OpenNotes

All ratings25 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

Countpad

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OpenNotes

No in-app purchases

None

Countpad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is OpenNotes free?
OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Countpad free?
Countpad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do OpenNotes or Countpad have ads?
Countpad shows ads; OpenNotes does not.
Which is updated more often, OpenNotes or Countpad?
OpenNotes ships an update every 5 days, and Countpad every 4 days. Most recently, OpenNotes was updated on October 7, 2026 and Countpad on October 12, 2026.

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