Comparison

Notes Den vs Branchnote

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

Head to head
About

Notes Den

Features
Read full description

Notes Den is a fast, local-first markdown notebook for ideas, tasks, files, and connected notes. Write with live markdown, organize notes into folders, connect ideas with wiki-links, find context with backlinks and tags, and keep attachments alongside your notes. Everything works offline on your device first. When you sign in, Notes Den can sync notes, folders, and attachments through your account so your workspace follows you. Features: - Local-first notes backed by on-device storage - Live markdown editing with checklists, headings, code, quotes, and formatting - Wiki-links, backlinks, tags, and fast search - Folder organization with quick switching - Attachments for photos, PDFs, and files - Optional cloud sync with account sign-in - Optional end-to-end encrypted sync for note and attachment content - Import/export tools for keeping your notes portable Notes Den is built for simple, focused note taking without ads or tracking.

About

Branchnote

Organize your thoughts with a unique branching system, where each topic has its own container. Write and format notes using Markdown, with a convenient toolbar for easy styling. Secure your notes with a passcode or biometrics, and easily back them up.

Highlights
  • Organize notes by topic branches
  • Markdown formatting with toolbar
  • Full-text search with highlighted excerpts
  • Passcode and biometric lock
  • Notes backup and restore functionality
Features
Read full description

Branchnote is a notes app organized around branches — named containers, one per topic, with every note living in exactly one of them. Branches can hold sub-branches, as many levels deep as you like. Every branch is its own feed. Type at the top to add a note, and pin one to keep it at the top of the branch. No account needed. Open the app and start writing. ORGANIZE BY TOPIC Make a branch for work, recipes, reading, half-formed ideas — whatever you actually keep notes about. Add sub-branches to any branch, like Recipes/Desserts/Cookies. Move a note, or a whole branch with everything in it, whenever something ends up in the wrong place. WRITE IN MARKDOWN Headings, bold, italics, and links that render as cards. Bullet, numbered, and checkbox lists, nested up to four levels, with checkboxes you can tick right in the note. Formatting renders as you type, and a toolbar above the keyboard applies any of it without having to remember the syntax. FIND ANYTHING Full-text search across every note, ranked by relevance, with matching excerpts pulled out and your search terms highlighted in the results. LOCK IT Set a passcode and Branchnote locks every time you return to it. Unlock with your passcode, or with biometrics if your device supports it. Your notes stay covered in the app switcher. BACK IT UP Copy your notes into a single file and save it wherever you like, then restore it whenever you need to.

Screenshots

Notes Den4 screens
Branchnote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Branchnote at weekly against Notes Den's fortnightly. On price, ads, 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

Notes Den ships an update fortnightly, Branchnote weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Notes Den versus Branchnote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotes DenBranchnote
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.416.4
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDen Digital LLCBranchnote LLC

In-app purchases

None

Notes Den

No in-app purchases

None

Branchnote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Notes Den free?
Notes Den is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Branchnote free?
Branchnote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Notes Den or Branchnote have ads?
Neither Notes Den nor Branchnote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notes Den or Branchnote?
Notes Den ships an update fortnightly, and Branchnote weekly. Most recently, Notes Den was updated on October 24, 2026 and Branchnote on October 24, 2026.

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