# PinNote vs Near

The clearest difference is monetization model: Near at free against PinNote's free with in-app purchases. Near also leads on iOS requirement (16.2 vs 18.0). PinNote's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 days). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PinNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Near sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PinNote against 4.9 for Near. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 95% and 96% positive.

PinNote ships an update every 3 days, Near every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PinNote | Near |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinnote-lock-screen-notes/id6809535973/reviews) | **[4.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/near-pickup-and-order-codes/id6816675193/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 95.2% of reviews | **95.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 20 MB | 292 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [军 孙](https://appshunter.io/developer/949784002) | [毓凯 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1596643455) |

## What reviewers say

### PinNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinnote-lock-screen-notes/id6809535973)

This app allows you to pin notes and reminders directly to your iPhone's Lock Screen, Home Screen, or StandBy. View important information at a glance without needing to open the application. It supports text, images, and audio recordings.

**Highlights:** Lock Screen, Home Screen, and StandBy widgets, Add images and audio to notes, Repeat reminders, Privacy Mode for Lock Screen widgets, iCloud sync across devices, Adjustable text size

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PinNote Premium | $3.99 | one-time |


### Near

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/near-pickup-and-order-codes/id6816675193)

Organize your daily tasks, notes, and reminders with customizable templates and presets. Easily capture information from various sources and display important details on your lock screen and wrist. Prioritize what matters with a privacy-focused, offline-capable action hub.

**Highlights:** 22 templates and 18 role presets, Customizable entry points, Live Activity and Dynamic Island support, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Apple Watch views, Offline functionality, Encrypted local storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Near Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Near Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Near Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PinNote free?

PinNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Near free?

Near is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PinNote or Near?

Near is rated higher. PinNote averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Near averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do PinNote or Near have ads?

Neither PinNote nor Near shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PinNote or Near?

PinNote ships an update every 3 days, and Near every 5 days. Most recently, PinNote was updated on November 11, 2026 and Near on November 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*