Comparison

Habano Journal vs Cigar Notes

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

Head to head
About

Habano Journal

Features
Read full description

Habano Journal is the cigar enthusiast's tasting journal — built for people who take notes, remember favorites, and want a more thoughtful record of every cigar they smoke. THE CIGAR JOURNAL, REIMAGINED Log every smoke with editorial detail: name, brand, vitola, country, strength, wrapper, binder, filler, factory, release year. Capture flavor notes, rate the experience, save the moment with a photo of the band. Browse your full tasting history any time, in a clean, distraction-free format designed to read like a thoughtful magazine. SCAN A BAND, IDENTIFY ANY CIGAR Point your camera at a cigar band — Habano Journal's AI vision will identify the brand, line, and likely vitola, then pre-fill the journal entry. Tap to confirm or edit before saving. YOUR HUMIDOR, ORGANIZED Track exactly what's in your humidor by batch, quantity, and date acquired. Mark favorites. Build a Next Light queue for cigars you want to try. Smoke a cigar and the count automatically decreases. EDITOR'S PICK — A PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION, DAILY Every day, Habano Journal selects one cigar for you to consider — grounded in your taste profile, current humidor, and recent smokes. Refresh it any time. Add it to your Next Light list, or just keep browsing — the picks are informational, never prescriptive. ASK THE AI SOMMELIER Talk to an AI sommelier that knows your humidor and your taste. Ask "what should I smoke tonight from what I already own?" Get pairing suggestions for a drink you're having. Discuss flavor profiles like you would with a knowledgeable shop owner — without the pressure of being upsold. PRIVACY-FIRST AI features are entirely opt-in. All AI access requires explicit consent the first time you use it, and you can disable AI any time from Settings. We do not sell your data, do not run cross-app tracking, and you can delete your account and all associated data from within the app at any time. COMMUNITY (OPTIONAL) Share your cigar reviews publicly if you want — or keep your entire journal private. Follow other enthusiasts. Discover what people with similar taste are smoking. Every shared review can be blocked or reported. WHAT HABANO JOURNAL IS NOT We do not sell cigars, run a marketplace, glamorize tobacco use, or encourage smoking. Habano Journal is a journaling tool for adults who have already chosen to enjoy cigars and want a thoughtful place to record the experience. Habano Journal is for adults of legal smoking age in your jurisdiction. Tobacco use is harmful to your health and is addictive. Cigar smoking is not a safe alternative to cigarettes. — SUBSCRIPTION — Habano Pro is an auto-renewable subscription that unlocks AI band scans, Sommelier chat, Editor's Pick, and smart pairings. • Monthly — $5.99/month • Annual — $49.99/year • 7-day free trial for new subscribers Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://habanojournal.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://habanojournal.app/privacy

About

Cigar Notes

This app helps cigar enthusiasts log and remember every cigar they smoke. Record ratings, tasting notes, photos, and even the weather at the time of smoking. It offers monthly stats, a smoke calendar, and the ability to save favorite lounges.

Highlights
  • Log cigar ratings (draw, aroma, burn, flavor)
  • Record tasting notes and favorite quotes
  • Add photos to entries
  • Track monthly stats and smoke calendar
  • Save favorite lounges and smoking spots
  • Share reviews with friends
  • Sync journal across devices
Features
Read full description

Cigar Notes is the cigar journal that remembers every smoke for you. Log a cigar in seconds :: Search a library of 8,500 (and growing), rate it on various characteristics, jot your tasting notes, and snap a photo. Each entry is automatically stamped with the weather and where you were. FEATURES • Rate every cigar on four marks — draw, aroma, burn, and flavor — for an honest overall score • Tasting notes and a favorite quote for each smoke • Snap or attach a photo, framed just how you like it • Recap — monthly stats, a smoke calendar, all-time totals, and your highest-rated sticks • Vibe — save your favorite lounges and smoking spots • Buddies — share reviews and see what your friends are smoking • Your journal syncs across your devices Whether you're a weekend hobbyist or a seasoned aficionado, Cigar Notes keeps your collection, ratings, and memories in one beautiful place. Cigar Notes is a personal journaling tool intended for adults of legal smoking age. It does not sell tobacco.

Screenshots

Habano Journal4 screens
Cigar Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cigar Notes at none against Habano Journal's 2. Cigar Notes also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Habano Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Cigar Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Habano Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Cigar Notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Habano Journal versus Cigar Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHabano JournalCigar Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.8 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB9 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperRUBEN GALLARDOJONATHON TIMOTHY MORTON

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Habano Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Habano Pro Monthly7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Habano Pro Annual`7 Days trial$49.991 Year
None

Cigar Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Habano Journal free?
Habano Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cigar Notes free?
Cigar Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Habano Journal or Cigar Notes have ads?
Neither Habano Journal nor Cigar Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Habano Journal or Cigar Notes?
Habano Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cigar Notes every 10 days. Most recently, Habano Journal was updated on October 28, 2026 and Cigar Notes on October 31, 2026.

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