Comparison

PrivacyNotes vs CustosNotes

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

Head to head
About

PrivacyNotes

Securely manage your notes, tasks, and journal with end-to-end encryption. This app ensures your data is private by design, with no trackers or ads. It works offline and syncs encrypted across your devices without requiring an account.

Highlights
  • Zero-knowledge encryption
  • Markdown-native notes
  • Task management
  • Private journaling
  • Offline functionality
  • Cross-device sync
Features
Read full description

One encrypted home for everything you would never post. Your 12-word recovery phrase is your key, and with self-custody not even we can read a word. Seven pillars, one key: - Notes: rich editor, tags, note-links, instant search - Tasks: every checkbox in one view - Journal: mood, sleep and medication tracking - Vault: passwords, cards, SSH keys - Files: encrypted photos, documents, audio, video - Bookmarks: your saved links, with icons - Contacts: an address book that stays private Private by design: - Zero-knowledge encryption, data stored in Switzerland - Open source, no trackers, no ads - Works offline, syncs across all your devices - No email needed: a recovery phrase is enough Free forever on 2 devices. Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://lifetimelabs.dev/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

CustosNotes

This app keeps your important notes visible at the top of your screen, in the Dynamic Island, on your Lock Screen, or in the status bar. It allows for quick voice input and easy pinning until you're done with the task.

Highlights
  • Pin notes to Dynamic Island
  • Display notes on Lock Screen
  • Voice-to-text input
  • Set reminders by time
  • Type notes manually
  • Dark mode support
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Most notes apps give you a list. Lists are where things go to be forgotten. CustosNotes keeps the note where you cannot miss it: the top of your screen. Hold the circle, say the thing, let go. Then tap once and that note stays pinned — in the Dynamic Island, on your Lock Screen, in your status bar — until you decide it is done. HOW IT WORKS • Hold the circle and speak. One button, no menus, no cursor to find. • Your phone's own recogniser writes it down, in your language. • Let go and the note lands. It starts switched off; you choose which ones earn a spot up top. WHERE IT STAYS • Dynamic Island — the mark and the time, beside the camera (iPhone 14 Pro and later). • Lock Screen — the whole note, readable without unlocking. • Live Activities & Status Bar — pinned notifications and status updates that stay visible until you dismiss them. REMINDERS, WITHOUT THE CEREMONY Tap the clock, spin the dial, done. It saves as you turn. No date to pick — a time that has already passed means tomorrow — and nothing to confirm. ALSO • Type instead of speaking, for when you cannot talk. • English and Spanish, app and mic together. • Dark mode that follows your phone. • No account, no sign-up, no server. Your notes live on your phone. CustosNotes does one thing. It makes sure you do not forget it and your data does not get out of your device.

Screenshots

PrivacyNotes4 screens
CustosNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CustosNotes at none against PrivacyNotes's 4. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. PrivacyNotes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. CustosNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for PrivacyNotes against 5.0 for CustosNotes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PrivacyNotes versus CustosNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivacyNotesCustosNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.416.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLifetime Labs LLCJuan Martin

Customer experience

PrivacyNotes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

CustosNotes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PrivacyNotes

Subscriptions3
  • 1 GB Encrypted Storage$4.991 Year
  • 2 GB Encrypted Storage$8.991 Year
  • 5 GB Encrypted Storage$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • PrivacyNotes Pro$49.99
None

CustosNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PrivacyNotes free?
PrivacyNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CustosNotes free?
CustosNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PrivacyNotes or CustosNotes?
PrivacyNotes and CustosNotes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do PrivacyNotes or CustosNotes have ads?
Neither PrivacyNotes nor CustosNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PrivacyNotes or CustosNotes?
PrivacyNotes ships an update every 3 days, and CustosNotes every 3 days. Most recently, PrivacyNotes was updated on October 7, 2026 and CustosNotes on October 2, 2026.

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