# Notepad vs NoteBuddy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notepad at 84% against NoteBuddy's 22%. Notepad also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months). NoteBuddy's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 and NoteBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notepad has 28K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 22% of NoteBuddy's.

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, NoteBuddy every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | NoteBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535/reviews)** | [3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **84.1% of reviews** | 22.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 75 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [1381802 Ontario Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318613521) | [Oleg Mueller](https://appshunter.io/developer/367875607) |

## 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 | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $39.99 | 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


### NoteBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185)

This note-taking application offers a comprehensive suite of tools for organizing thoughts and ideas. It supports rich text formatting, image insertion, and freehand drawing. Features like folder organization and iCloud synchronization ensure your notes are accessible and secure.

**Highlights:** Rich text editing, Add images and drawings, Folder and subfolder support, iCloud synchronization, Backup feature, Apple Pencil support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NoteBuddy Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is NoteBuddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or NoteBuddy?

Notepad is rated higher. Notepad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while NoteBuddy averages 3.3 from 16 ratings.

### Do Notepad or NoteBuddy have ads?

Notepad shows ads; NoteBuddy does not.

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

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, and NoteBuddy every 3 months. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 26, 2026 and NoteBuddy on August 17, 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.*