Comparison

Ashnote vs DeskCalendar

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

Head to head
About

Ashnote

Features
Read full description

ASHnote is a local-first markdown notes and journaling app for personal use. All notes are saved directly on your device as plain text files. No account is required, and no data is sent to any server unless you choose to set up iCloud or Git sync. Key features - Markdown editor with slash commands and a formatting toolbar - Folder structure with custom emoji icons - Calendar and journal views for daily note organization - Mood and weather icons for journaling - Tags and favorites for quick filtering - Pin important notes to the top - Full-text search - Optional iCloud sync to keep notes across Apple devices - Optional Git sync to back up notes to a Git repository - Fully offline capable Privacy-first You can use ASHnote without logging in. Unless you explicitly enable iCloud or Git sync, no data is transmitted to our servers. ASHnote offers all core note-taking features for free, with an optional auto-renewable premium subscription that unlocks additional features. ASHnote Premium (Auto-Renewable Subscription) - Monthly: US$2.99/month - Yearly: US$24.99/year Premium subscription includes: - Version history - Sticky notes - Multiple vaults - Export and sharing (PDF, HTML, ZIP) - AI assistant Payment will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://note.sunteq.net/terms Privacy Policy: https://note.sunteq.net/privacy

About

DeskCalendar

Features
Read full description

DeskCalendar is a simple handwritten desk calendar for iPad. Use it like a paper calendar: write notes and plans by hand, switch between month, week, and diary views, and keep your schedule in a way that feels natural to you. The app is built around a large, readable calendar screen, so you can open it and quickly check today, this week, or the current month. With Apple Pencil support, you can write small notes, reminders, plans, and daily records directly onto the calendar. DeskCalendar can also display events from the iOS Calendar and Reminders apps, letting you view your existing schedule while adding your own handwritten notes on top. Main features: - Month, week, and diary views - Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil - Pen, highlighter, and eraser tools - iOS Calendar event display - Reminder display - Multiple Books - Week start day setting - Timeline display hour settings - Calendar image sharing - iCloud sync display on iPhone - Backup and restore with Google Drive - Widget support The free version lets you try the calendar for last month, this month, and next month. With the Pro upgrade, you can use a wider date range and keep DeskCalendar as a long-term handwritten calendar. DeskCalendar is made for people who want a calendar that stays simple, readable, and flexible, with the freedom of handwriting.

Screenshots

Ashnote4 screens
DeskCalendar3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Ashnote at every 4 days against DeskCalendar's every 8 days. Ashnote also leads on device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.5). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Ashnote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and DeskCalendar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ashnote ships an update every 4 days, DeskCalendar every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Ashnote versus DeskCalendar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAshnoteDeskCalendar
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days โ€” betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 โ€” better26.5
Further details โ€” not scored
Size46 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSanghoon AhnSanko System Co.,Ltd.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ashnote

Subscriptions2
  • ASHnote Premium$2.991 Month
  • ASHnote Premium (Yearly)$24.991 Year
1 purchases

DeskCalendar

One-time1
  • DeskCalendar Pro$9.99

Questions

Is Ashnote free?
Ashnote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DeskCalendar free?
DeskCalendar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ashnote or DeskCalendar have ads?
Neither Ashnote nor DeskCalendar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ashnote or DeskCalendar?
Ashnote ships an update every 4 days, and DeskCalendar every 8 days. Most recently, Ashnote was updated on October 17, 2026 and DeskCalendar on October 9, 2026.

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