Comparison

Retro Desktop Notes vs ScrollArc

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

Head to head
About

Retro Desktop Notes

Experience a nostalgic note-taking app that brings the charm of classic desktop computers to your mobile device. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with retro themes and essential organizational tools.

Highlights
  • Retro desktop themes
  • Fast and simple editor
  • Automatic saving
  • Pin important notes
  • Instant search
  • Trash with restore
Features
Read full description

Bring the charm of classic desktop computers to your pocket. Retro Memo is a nostalgic note-taking app inspired by vintage desktop operating systems. Designed for people who love retro interfaces, pixel-perfect details, and distraction-free writing. Instead of overwhelming you with unnecessary features, Retro Memo focuses on what matters most: writing, organizing, and enjoying the experience. FEATURES • Three beautiful retro desktop themes - Classic 95 - Platinum Mono - Luna Blue • Fast and simple note editor • Automatic saving • Pin important notes • Instant search • Sort your notes • Trash with restore support • Pixel-inspired desktop icons • Classic window interface • Retro typography • Privacy-friendly local storage NO SUBSCRIPTIONS. ONE-TIME PURCHASE. Whether you're capturing ideas, creating shopping lists, or writing quick reminders, Retro Memo makes every note feel like you're using a classic desktop computer again. A nostalgic experience, redesigned for modern iPhone.

About

ScrollArc

Features
Read full description

Finish the long AI answers and repository documents worth keeping. ScrollArc turns AI conversation exports, Markdown files, and GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket documents into one calm reading library—with your place saved automatically. AI conversations, ready to read • Import supported ZIP and JSON conversation exports • Preview conversations and choose only what you want to save • Convert supported text on your device without sending it to an AI model • Keep imported documents available offline GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket in one reader • Import public Markdown from all three providers for free • Connect private repositories with ScrollArc Plus • Keep READMEs, specifications, runbooks, and technical notes together • Preview additions and removals before updating the local copy Built to finish long documents • Return to the exact reading position you left • Use Reading Map to see headings, progress, and structured sections • Search inside a document and move between results • Adjust text size, line spacing, content width, and themes Markdown that stays readable • Syntax-highlighted code, tables, task lists, quotes, links, and images • Math and Mermaid diagrams rendered on your device • Full-screen Mermaid viewer with pinch-to-zoom Keep, compare, and take your work with you • Export the original Markdown for free • Export PDF or self-contained HTML with ScrollArc Plus • Create highlights and bookmarks with Plus • Keep local version history, compare readable diffs, and restore an earlier version with Plus Private by design No account. No ads. Your document text stays in the app's local storage. ScrollArc does not upload your documents or analyze them with AI. You can delete one document or clear the entire local library at any time. Release builds send limited feature-use totals and crash diagnostics; document text, titles, filenames, search terms, repository names, links, and annotations are never included. Free and ScrollArc Plus The free version saves up to ten documents and includes the complete reading experience, AI export import, public repository import, and Markdown export. ScrollArc Plus removes the document limit and adds private GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket connections, local version history with diff and restore, PDF and HTML export, and new highlights and bookmarks. Existing documents and annotations are not deleted when a subscription ends. Monthly and yearly plans are available; localized prices and billing periods appear on the purchase screen. Manage or cancel through your Apple Account and restore an eligible purchase from Settings. ScrollArc is a focused AI Markdown reader—not an editor or AI chat service. It gives long conversations, reports, READMEs, specifications, and technical notes a better place to be read. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Retro Desktop Notes4 screens
ScrollArc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ScrollArc at 15.0 against Retro Desktop Notes's 17.0. On price, 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

Both are free to download. Retro Desktop Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ScrollArc sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Retro Desktop Notes versus ScrollArc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetro Desktop NotesScrollArc
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMARIE MORIKAGEByungJo Ahn

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Retro Desktop Notes

One-time1
  • Retroプレミアム$1.99
2 purchases

ScrollArc

Subscriptions2
  • ScrollArc Plus Monthly$1.991 Month
  • ScrollArc Plus Annual$17.991 Year

Questions

Is Retro Desktop Notes free?
Retro Desktop Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScrollArc free?
ScrollArc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Retro Desktop Notes or ScrollArc have ads?
Neither Retro Desktop Notes nor ScrollArc shows ads.

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