Neatbase vs Root
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Neatbase
Organize any type of information with a flexible database app that feels like a notes app. Create custom collections with various field types, view data in cards or tables, and sync across devices. Offers offline access and robust privacy.
- Customizable notebooks with user-defined fields
- Card and table views for data visualization
- Offline access and iCloud sync
- 27+ field types including images and formulas
- Data export to CSV
- Collaboration and web form creation (Pro)
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The personal database that feels like a notes app. Build your own CRM, inventory, contact book, or any other collection in minutes — native, private, and synced with iCloud. Most notes apps give you a blank page. Neatbase gives you structure. Create a notebook, choose its fields, and adding notes becomes as easy as filling out a form. View everything as clean cards or a spreadsheet-style table — sort, filter, and group to see exactly what matters. WHAT WILL YOU BUILD? - A lightweight CRM — leads, deals, follow-ups, activity logs - A home inventory — photos, prices, barcodes - A client directory — tap to call, tap to email - A project plan — statuses, due dates, progress - A content calendar planned around publish dates - An expense log with categories and receipt photos - A library of your books, movies, and recipes — rated and tagged If you can describe it, you can collect it in Neatbase. A FIELD FOR EVERYTHING Choose from 27 field types: text and numbers, currency, dates with reminders, toggles, star ratings, color-coded tags, dropdowns, images, checklists, colors, durations, percent bars, barcodes and QR codes, tap-to-call phone and tap-to-email fields, secrets locked behind Face ID or Touch ID, buttons that open URLs — plus formulas, cross-notebook references, and comment threads with Pro. Change your mind anytime: add, rename, or reorder fields, and every existing note updates instantly. TWO VIEWS, ONE NOTEBOOK Browse and edit in a clean card view, or switch to a full table — resize and reorder columns, edit inline, copy and paste, navigate with the keyboard. Each notebook remembers your view, filters, and sorting. TRULY NATIVE. ACTUALLY FAST. Built in SwiftUI for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — one download covers all three. It launches instantly, works fully offline, and syncs through iCloud. No account to create, no password, no onboarding. Most database apps are websites in a wrapper — Neatbase feels like it shipped with your device. YOUR DATA IS NOBODY'S BUSINESS Your notes live on your device and sync securely through your own iCloud. No tracking, no analytics, no ads. Export everything to CSV anytime — even on the free plan. Your data is always yours. SHARE A NOTEBOOK THROUGH ICLOUD (PRO) Share and collaborate with anyone using their Apple Account. Shared notebooks stay in your iCloud, and our server never sees them. TURN ANY NOTEBOOK INTO A WEB FORM (PRO) Publish a form in a few taps. Anyone with the link can submit from any browser, and responses land in your notebook automatically. Add your logo, pick an accent color, share the link. Perfect for intake forms, signups, surveys, orders, and RSVPs. WORK WITH CLAUDE ON THE MAC (PRO) Let Claude, ChatGPT, and other AI assistants read and edit your notebooks on your Mac. Turn it on in Settings. FREE TO USE, FAIR TO UPGRADE Free includes 3 notebooks with 100 notes each, both views, iCloud sync, groups, templates, and CSV export. Neatbase Pro unlocks unlimited notebooks and notes, sharing, web forms, assistants on the Mac, and advanced fields — one simple yearly subscription, Family Sharing included. ALSO INCLUDED Notebook templates, Spotlight search, Home Screen widgets, reminders on date fields, nested groups, pinning, keyboard navigation, and custom icons for every notebook. Don't settle for a blank page. Collect and organize anything, your way. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://neatbase.com/privacy
Root
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Root is a personal space where ideas and everyday life take root. KEEP WHAT INSPIRES YOU Collect photos, text, and stickers on boards. Capture a moment or turn your own photos into stickers to make each board yours. GIVE YOUR IDEAS ROOM TO GROW Organize boards in folders and build a hierarchy for your projects. Keep everyday memories, creative inspiration, and work plans together without mixing them up. TURN A BOARD INTO A GOAL Manage a board as a goal, organize subgoals, set priorities and dates, and use reminders to stay connected to what matters. Keep ongoing, completed, and archived goals separate. MAKE SPACE FOR TODAY Quickly capture tasks, add times and reminders when needed, and view your day in the calendar. Connect a task to a board or goal to keep the bigger picture close. YOUR OWN PERSONAL SPACE Start without creating a Root account. Export and restore your workspace using backup files. ROOT PRO Root is free to download, with an optional auto-renewable Root Pro subscription for additional features. Available plans and local prices are shown in the app before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://root-website-tawny.vercel.app/terms/en/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Root at 16.4 against Neatbase's 26.4. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neatbase sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $34.99 per year and Root sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Neatbase | Root |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 129 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Seb Fontan | Jin Hyundeok |
In-app purchases
Neatbase
- Neatbase Pro$34.991 Year
Root
- Root Pro7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Root Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year









