Comparison

Peblo vs Retro Desktop Notes

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

Head to head
About

Peblo

This app combines tasks, habits, goals, and journaling into a single, uncluttered interface. It offers features like a daily focus, flexible task management, habit tracking with streaks, goal setting, and a built-in focus timer. Personalize your experience with themes and access your data via widgets and an Apple Watch app.

Highlights
  • Daily planner with live timeline
  • Task management with priorities and subtasks
  • Habit tracking with streaks
  • Goal setting with deadlines
  • Daily journaling with searchable history
  • Built-in focus timer (Pomodoro)
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Apple Watch app
Features
Read full description

Plan your day, build habits that stick, and check in with yourself — all in one calm app. Peblo brings your tasks, calendar, habits, goals, projects and journal together, so you always know what's next without juggling five apps. YOUR WHOLE DAY, IN ONE CALM VIEW - See what's up next and check it off right from the top of Today - Timed tasks and time blocks on one clean timeline, with anytime tasks below - Add tasks by typing or speaking — "Call Mom tomorrow at 5pm #home" just works - Set one focus for the day so the important thing doesn't get lost - Left something undone? One tap moves it all to today PLAN YOUR WEEK AT A GLANCE - Calendar with Month, Week, 3-Day and Day views, colour-coded - See your Apple Calendar events next to your tasks - Day templates lay out a whole routine in one tap - Drag tasks to reschedule them HABITS THAT STICK - Check in with one tap and watch your streaks grow - Track amounts like water (8 × 250 ml = 2 L) - Flexible reminders: once a day, or every few hours - A colourful history that keeps you motivated GOALS AND PROJECTS THAT STAY ON TRACK - Set goals with real targets — books read, km run, money saved — and see if you're ahead or behind - Projects show progress, deadline and whether you're on track - Optional sprints with a burndown chart for bigger work - See what you finished each week and the time you focused CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF - A daily journal with moods, stickers and voice dictation - Writing prompts and "On this day" memories - A mood calendar that shows how your month really felt - An evening reminder — tap a mood right from the notification - Export to PDF or text, or import from Day One and other apps FOCUS AND INSIGHTS - A calm focus timer with ambient sounds and a Lock Screen Live Activity - Focus time is logged to your tasks and projects - Insights show tasks done, your on-time rate, goals, projects and a weekly review SMART, BUT OPTIONAL - On-device AI with Apple Intelligence: turn a sentence into a task, break big tasks into steps, get weekly insights - Or connect your own AI provider (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and more) with your own key - Everything works just as well without AI EVERYWHERE YOU ARE - iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch - Interactive Home and Lock Screen widgets - Siri and Shortcuts: "Add a task in Peblo" - Syncs automatically with iCloud - Import your Apple Reminders in seconds PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, no ads, no tracking. Your data stays on your device and in your own iCloud. We can't see it, and we never sell it. PEBLO PRO Peblo is free to use with up to 5 tasks, 2 habits, 1 goal and 1 project. Peblo Pro unlocks unlimited tasks, habits, goals and projects, plus the focus timer and widgets. Choose monthly, yearly (with a free trial) or a one-time lifetime purchase. Pro can be shared with up to 5 family members through Family Sharing. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/peblo/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Questions or ideas? Email thedollardetail@gmail.com — we reply within 24 hours.

About

Retro Desktop Notes

Experience a nostalgic note-taking app that brings the charm of classic desktop computers to your mobile device. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with retro themes and essential organizational tools.

Highlights
  • Retro desktop themes
  • Fast and simple editor
  • Automatic saving
  • Pin important notes
  • Instant search
  • Trash with restore
Features
Read full description

Bring the charm of classic desktop computers to your pocket. Retro Memo is a nostalgic note-taking app inspired by vintage desktop operating systems. Designed for people who love retro interfaces, pixel-perfect details, and distraction-free writing. Instead of overwhelming you with unnecessary features, Retro Memo focuses on what matters most: writing, organizing, and enjoying the experience. FEATURES • Three beautiful retro desktop themes - Classic 95 - Platinum Mono - Luna Blue • Fast and simple note editor • Automatic saving • Pin important notes • Instant search • Sort your notes • Trash with restore support • Pixel-inspired desktop icons • Classic window interface • Retro typography • Privacy-friendly local storage NO SUBSCRIPTIONS. ONE-TIME PURCHASE. Whether you're capturing ideas, creating shopping lists, or writing quick reminders, Retro Memo makes every note feel like you're using a classic desktop computer again. A nostalgic experience, redesigned for modern iPhone.

Screenshots

Peblo4 screens
Retro Desktop Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Retro Desktop Notes at free against Peblo's freemium. Retro Desktop Notes also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 8 days). Peblo's advantage is ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Peblo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Retro Desktop Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Peblo against 5.0 for Retro Desktop Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Peblo has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Peblo ships an update every 8 days, Retro Desktop Notes daily. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Peblo versus Retro Desktop Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPebloRetro Desktop Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhilip TarimoMARIE MORIKAGE

Customer experience

Peblo

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Retro Desktop Notes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Peblo

Subscriptions2
  • Peblo Pro7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Peblo Pro7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Peblo Pro Lifetime$39.99
1 purchases

Retro Desktop Notes

One-time1
  • Retroプレミアム$1.99

Questions

Is Peblo free?
Peblo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Desktop Notes free?
Retro Desktop Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Peblo or Retro Desktop Notes?
Peblo and Retro Desktop Notes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Peblo or Retro Desktop Notes have ads?
Neither Peblo nor Retro Desktop Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Peblo or Retro Desktop Notes?
Peblo ships an update every 8 days, and Retro Desktop Notes daily. Most recently, Peblo was updated on October 24, 2026 and Retro Desktop Notes on October 24, 2026.

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