Comparison

FlatNote vs Onda

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

Head to head
About

FlatNote

This app allows you to create and organize notes using markdown formatting. It offers live formatting, image support, and robust organization features. Your notes are stored as plain files and sync via iCloud across your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Live markdown formatting
  • Image embedding in notes
  • Folder organization and pinning
  • Real checkboxes
  • In-note search
  • Cross-device iCloud sync
  • Plain .md file export
Read full description

FlatNote is a markdown notes app for people who want their writing to stay plain, portable, and theirs. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and your notes sync across all of them through your own iCloud, or stay in a folder you choose. Type markdown and watch it format as you go. Headings, bold, italic, strikethrough, links, quotes, bullet lists, and tappable checkboxes all render while you write. The raw symbols stay out of your way and reappear only on the line you are editing, so you always know exactly what you typed. WHAT YOU GET - Live formatting. See the result as you type, with a one minute reference note included. - Photos in your notes. Paste an image or attach one; it is saved next to the note as an ordinary file, not in a database. - Folders, pins, and sorting. Organize notes into real directories and keep the ones you use on top. - Real checkboxes. Tap to check things off, right in the note. - Find in a note. Search the open note and jump between highlighted matches. - Quick formatting. A formatting bar above the keyboard on iPhone and iPad, and standard shortcuts on Mac. - Find your notes fast. Search the whole library by title or content. YOUR WORDS BELONG TO YOU - Every note is a plain .md file. No proprietary format, no lock-in, readable in any app, on any device, years from now. - Your notes live in your iCloud and sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac automatically, signed in with your Apple ID. No separate account to make. - Export carries everything. Share any note as markdown, with its pictures included, or export your whole library as one zip of ordinary files. The files are also right there in the Files app on iOS and Finder on Mac. - Delete is honest. Deleted notes go to Trash, where they can be recovered. QUIET BY DESIGN - No ads. No tracking. No analytics. Nothing about you leaves your devices and your iCloud. - Works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, in light and dark. FlatNote keeps the format simple so you can keep your thinking clear.

About

Onda

Features
Read full description

Private AI that runs locally on your iPhone—no account or cloud required. Chat offline with downloaded models. Ask questions about PDFs and documents, analyze photos, and let Smart Match choose the best model for your device. For larger models, connect to your own Mac. Your prompts stay on devices you control. WHY ONDA • Private by design — local conversations are processed on your device. • Works offline — use downloaded models without an internet connection. • No account or sign-up. • Choose from supported open models, including Llama, Mistral, Qwen, Phi, and more. LOCAL AI CHAT • Fast, streaming responses in a clean native interface. • Markdown, code blocks, copy, retry, and edit. • Search, pin, and archive conversations. SMART MATCH — ONDA PRO Onda benchmarks your device and recommends a model for speed, quality, or balance, with clear scores for memory and performance. PDFS, DOCUMENTS & PHOTOS — ONDA PRO Attach an image or document and ask questions without sending it to a third-party cloud service. PERSONALIZE ONDA — ONDA PRO Create personas and store response preferences locally. USE YOUR MAC — ONDA PRO Pair with Onda on your Mac to run larger models over encrypted HTTPS or Tailscale. Processing happens on devices you control. ONDA PRO Models remain free to download and run. Pro unlocks Smart Match, benchmarking, vision, document chat, personas, remote Mac access, and unlimited history. Monthly and annual subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal. A lifetime unlock is also available as a one-time purchase. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. No ads. No trackers. No Onda account. Terms of Use (EULA): https://jtrlabs.com/Onda/terms Privacy Policy: https://jtrlabs.com/Onda/privacy

Screenshots

FlatNote4 screens
Onda4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FlatNote at none against Onda's 3. Onda's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Onda sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. FlatNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FlatNote ships an update every 2 months, Onda every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
FlatNote versus Onda: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlatNoteOnda
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB38 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperKate BenediktssonJTR Labs LLC

In-app purchases

None

FlatNote

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Onda

Subscriptions2
  • Onda Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Onda Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Onda Pro Lifetime$79.99

Questions

Is FlatNote free?
FlatNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Onda free?
Onda is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FlatNote or Onda have ads?
Neither FlatNote nor Onda shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FlatNote or Onda?
FlatNote ships an update every 2 months, and Onda every 3 days. Most recently, FlatNote was updated on October 13, 2026 and Onda on October 9, 2026.

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