Comparison

DashNote vs Shimau

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

Head to head
About

DashNote

Instantly capture thoughts, tasks, code snippets, and voice memos with a distraction-free interface. Organize notes with categories, tags, and templates, and find them quickly with powerful search. Syncs across your devices via iCloud and prioritizes user privacy with on-device processing and encryption.

Highlights
  • Instant note capture
  • Multiple note types (text, to-do, code, photo, voice, markdown, encrypted)
  • Syntax highlighting for code
  • OCR for photo notes
  • Speech-to-text for voice notes
  • Color categories and #tags
  • Calendar integration and reminders
  • iCloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Capture a thought before it slips away. Open DashNote and start typing instantly — no accounts, no loading, no distractions. Everything you jot down stays in your pocket and syncs to your iPad and Mac. No subscription, no tracking. Works offline and syncs through your own iCloud. FAST FROM THE FIRST SECOND • Tap + and write - long-press to pick a type • Shake your phone to snap a Photo note • Pull down to search everything • Slash commands: /date, /time, /todo, /code, /hr • Undo from the ⋯ menu 7 NOTE TYPES • Text - automatic title from the first words • To-dos (TODO) - checklist with check-off and X/Y progress • Code - syntax highlighting, JSON formatting, link & IP detection • Photo - snap or import an image and pull text from it (OCR) • Voice - recording with speech-to-text • Markdown - full editor with live preview • Encrypted - AES-GCM, protected by your password ORGANIZE & FIND • Color categories incl. custom ones and unlimited #tags • 5 templates: meeting, shopping, expense, daily log, bug report • Full-text search, sorting, bulk actions, pinning CALENDAR & REMINDERS • Notes and to-dos on a calendar, recurrence (daily/weekly/monthly) • Local notifications, even auto-detected from a note's text SHARE & EXPORT • Share any note as plain text to Mail, Messages, or any app • Export to JSON/CSV, copy, QR code • Link & IP detection, statistics PRIVACY FIRST • No server, no analytics, no ads • Encrypted notes never leave the device readable • Voice is recognized on-device when possible iCLOUD SYNC • Start on iPhone, continue on iPad or Mac • Sync status shown right in the app DashNote is also available for Mac.

About

Shimau

Features
Read full description

Things to keep, things to do — one home for your everyday. Shimau is one place for the scattered stuff of daily life: notes, to-dos, links, and photos. Videos from social media, half-read articles, screenshots, passing thoughts — just toss them in. No folders. No tagging. No filing. ◆ Zero-effort saving Pick "Shimau" in the share menu — you don't even need to open the app. For quick thoughts, tap the center "+". Shimau tells links from notes automatically as you type. ◆ AI understands what you saved Links and screenshots get automatic summaries and tags. Screenshots become searchable through on-device text recognition. Notes you write yourself are never sent to AI. ◆ Find things the way you remember them "That ramen video from last week" — search in your own words and it shows up. ◆ To-dos live on sticky notes Stick a note on a box, peel it off when it's done. The small satisfaction of an empty box keeps you going. Checklist notes open in a focused to-do mode. ◆ A one-line daily journal Once a day, log your mood and a single line — and look back with a little bear at your side. History, calendar, and stats grow the longer you keep going. ◆ Make it your own Choose a theme — Cozy or Lovely Pink, plus Calm Blue and Mono with Pro — and dress up box covers with theme art, photos, or colors and emoji. ◆ Only deadlines, gently When a saved booking or coupon has a date, Shimau offers a reminder. Choose how it speaks up: quiet, standard, or strong. No other notifications, ever. ◆ On iPhone and on iPad On iPad the screen splits in two, so you can see the list and what's in it at once. It also works alongside other apps in Split View and Slide Over. ◆ You can take it with you Back up everything in one file, or export to Markdown or JSON. It's free. Being able to leave without losing anything is part of what makes a place worth putting things in. ◆ Private by design What you save stays on your device. Nothing is stored on our servers or used to train AI. If you turn on iCloud sync, it is kept in your own iCloud. Things to keep, things to do, and how today felt — all in one place you'll always find again. That's Shimau. ―――――― Shimau Pro (auto-renewable subscription) Includes iCloud sync and backup, Face ID lock, and extra themes. ・$1.99 per month, renewing monthly ・$14.99 per year, renewing yearly Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can cancel in Settings → your Apple ID → Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shimau.io/en/privacy/

Screenshots

DashNote4 screens
Shimau4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Shimau at Free against DashNote's $1.99. Shimau also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On 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

Shimau is free to download; DashNote costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DashNote ships an update every 3 weeks, Shimau every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DashNote versus Shimau: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDashNoteShimau
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJiri KluciarTECH MOON, K.K.

In-app purchases

None

DashNote

No in-app purchases

None

Shimau

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DashNote free?
DashNote costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shimau free?
Shimau is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do DashNote or Shimau have ads?
Neither DashNote nor Shimau shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DashNote or Shimau?
DashNote ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shimau every 4 days. Most recently, DashNote was updated on September 28, 2026 and Shimau on September 15, 2026.

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