Comparison

Etched vs Orderly

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

Head to head
About

Etched

Features
Read full description

Stop losing your own notes. Etched finds what you wrote by meaning β€” not just by keyword. Ask for "the note about slowing down to think" and it surfaces, even if those exact words were never written. Everything runs on your device. Write in plain markdown and watch it render as you type β€” no symbols, no preview pane, no modes. What you see is the file. Your notes stay portable .md, yours forever. FREE, and complete: β€’ On-device semantic search β€” find notes by meaning β€’ Live WYSIWYG markdown β€” bold, headings, lists, quotes, code β€’ Tables, callouts, code blocks, footnotes, highlights, links β€’ iCloud sync across your devices β€’ Export to .md (raw or with rendered images), PDF, plain text ETCHED PRO β€” one-time purchase, yours forever: β€’ Flashcards + spaced repetition β€” turn notes into memory β€’ Diagrams from plain text (flowcharts, sequences, mind maps) β€’ Typeset math and chemistry (LaTeX) β€’ Charts from a few rows of data β€’ Sheet music from ABC notation β€’ Handwriting / sketches β€’ Present mode β€” turn a note into full-screen slides β€’ Per-note themes Reading every format is always free β€” Pro unlocks creating them. No subscription, ever. Pay once and keep it. Coming from Apple Notes, Obsidian, or Bear? Your markdown imports as plain .md, and you finally get search that finds notes by meaning β€” privately, with no account. Private by design: your notes never leave your devices except through your own iCloud. No account, no tracking, no ads. Your notes, etched in memory. β€” Made by Hyojin Mo. Support: support@vibeland.app

About

Orderly

Features
Read full description

Orderly is a to-do list for people with more to do than time to sort it. Keep tasks, categories, due dates, coursework, and priorities together across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Add anything you need to remember, then view it as a clean list, a calendar, or an urgency-and-importance matrix that helps you decide what actually deserves today. Why Orderly β€’ Organize tasks by category, due date, completion state, and priority β€’ See the same tasks in List, Priorities, and Calendar views β€’ Use the Do, Schedule, Delegate, and Drop matrix to sort what matters now β€’ Create repeating tasks for habits, classes, routines, and regular work β€’ Check off today’s tasks from Home Screen widgets β€’ Sync through iCloud across iPhone, iPad, and Mac β€’ Connect Apple Calendar so dated tasks show up where you already plan β€’ Mirror coursework from Canvas, Brightspace, or any school calendar feed β€’ Keep the core app free, with no ads and no tracking Smart Schedule Paste a syllabus, upload a file, add a screenshot, or drop in a messy note. Smart Schedule drafts tasks with due dates and priorities for you to review before they join your list. Orderly includes 3 free Smart Schedule drafts with an account. Orderly Plus unlocks unlimited Smart Schedule plans. Built for students, workers, and everyone else Orderly is simple enough for groceries and errands, but structured enough for coursework, client deadlines, repeating routines, and the quiet important things that usually lose to whatever feels urgent. Requires iOS 17 or later, iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14 or later. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://orderly-ac9b6.web.app/privacy/

Screenshots

Etched4 screens
Orderly3 screens

Verdict

The call

Etched and Orderly are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

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

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Etched versus Orderly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEtchedOrderly
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 daysβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size87 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoyeon NohMICAH BENJAMIN BOCKISCH

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Etched

One-time1
  • Etched Pro$14.99
2 purchases

Orderly

Subscriptions2
  • Orderly Plus7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Orderly Plus7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Etched free?
Etched is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Orderly free?
Orderly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Etched or Orderly have ads?
Neither Etched nor Orderly shows ads.

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