Comparison

CoreNote Notes vs Nib

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

Head to head
About

CoreNote Notes

Features
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CoreNote is a local notes app. No account, no ads, no sign-in. Each note has its own title, body, and ink color, written on a floating card instead of a full-page sheet. Bookmark the ones you come back to. Deleted notes sit in Trash for 7 days, then clear themselves. Empty notes are kept, not thrown away. Accounts is a single page: write down an email address or phone number, then list the apps you registered with it. Grouped by email and phone automatically. It records where you signed up — names only, nothing else. What it does: - Notes with a separate title line, body, and one of four ink colors - Bookmarks, and a 7-day Trash - Accounts: which email or phone signed up for what, on one page - Three canvases: Indigo, Slate, and Pine - One app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac What it doesn't do: No account, no sync, no sharing, no search, no attachments, no analytics SDKs. It does not store passwords and is not a password manager. Everything stays on this device; nothing is uploaded, analyzed, or shared.

About

Nib

A distraction-free writing app for quick notes and longer-form content. It offers version history, local storage, and export options. An optional subscription unlocks encrypted sync, advanced export formats, and unlimited version history.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free writing interface
  • Version history for pages
  • Local device storage
  • Markdown export
  • Encrypted sync (subscription)
  • Advanced export formats (subscription)
Read full description

Nib is a writing app that stays out of your way. Notes are for catching a thought: open Nib, start typing. Pages are for real writing, with headings, an outline you can jump through, and images. Everything stays on your device. There are no accounts, no ads, no analytics and no tracking. Nib keeps a version history of every page, so you can go back to what you wrote before. Pin what matters, and restore what you trash. Your writing is never locked in. Export any page as Markdown, or save a full backup of your whole library, free forever. On iPad, Nib works with a hardware keyboard, with shortcuts and a command palette. NIB PLUS • Encrypted sync between your iPhone and iPad, with a sync code only you hold. The server stores copies it cannot read. • An encrypted backup off your device, restorable with your sync code. • Export to Word, PDF and HTML. • Unlimited version history. Without Plus, Nib keeps the last 20 versions of each document. • A daily word goal, with a count of days in a row. Nib Plus is an auto-renewing subscription, monthly or yearly, with a free trial for new subscribers. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase or at the end of the trial. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://nibprivacy.com

Screenshots

CoreNote Notes3 screens
Nib3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CoreNote Notes at none against Nib's 2. CoreNote Notes also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 4 days). Nib's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Nib sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. CoreNote Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CoreNote Notes ships an update daily, Nib every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
CoreNote Notes versus Nib: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoreNote NotesNib
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer腾 骆Andrew Neitsch

In-app purchases

None

CoreNote Notes

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Nib

Subscriptions2
  • Nib Plus Monthly14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Nib Plus Yearly14 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is CoreNote Notes free?
CoreNote Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nib free?
Nib is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CoreNote Notes or Nib have ads?
Neither CoreNote Notes nor Nib shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CoreNote Notes or Nib?
CoreNote Notes ships an update daily, and Nib every 4 days. Most recently, CoreNote Notes was updated on October 8, 2026 and Nib on October 21, 2026.

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