# Notepad vs CrewBeacon

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CrewBeacon at none against Notepad's 7. CrewBeacon also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). Notepad's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CrewBeacon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, CrewBeacon every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | CrewBeacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **29K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 74 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [1381802 Ontario Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318613521) | [Crew Beacon LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1138446453) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535)

Capture thoughts, create to-do lists, and organize ideas with a versatile digital notebook. Supports handwriting, text notes, and secure cloud syncing. Personalize your experience with custom themes and icons.

**Highlights:** Create to-do lists with checkboxes, Unlimited text notes, Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, Organize notes into folders, Pin and sort notes, iCloud backup and sync, Advanced search functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📝 Useful for notes, lists, and reminders
- 🎨 Customizable font and color options
- 💾 Reliable for storing important information
- 🔍 Helpful search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium subscription required to remove ads
- 🐛 Occasional data loss or note disappearance
- 📤 Lack of sharing or exporting options
- 🔒 No password protection for individual notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing
- Ads covering up the note-taking area

**Requested features**

- Add drawing/highlighting tools
- Integrate with calendar and contacts
- Ability to sort and organize notes
- Option to password protect specific notes


### CrewBeacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crewbeacon/id1138446454)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is CrewBeacon free?

CrewBeacon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Notepad or CrewBeacon have ads?

Notepad shows ads; CrewBeacon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or CrewBeacon?

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, and CrewBeacon every 5 months. Most recently, Notepad was updated on October 15, 2026 and CrewBeacon on October 2, 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.*