# Notepad vs SideNotes Mobile

The clearest difference is price: Notepad at Free against SideNotes Mobile's $9.99. Notepad also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (28K vs 28). SideNotes Mobile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Notepad is free to download; SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99 up front. Notepad sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SideNotes Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notepad has 28K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 88% of SideNotes Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, SideNotes Mobile monthly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | SideNotes Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535/reviews)** | [4.2 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidenotes-mobile/id1607089308/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 28 |
| Positive reviews | 84.1% of reviews | **88.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#167** |
| Size | 100 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [1381802 Ontario Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318613521) | [Apptorium](https://appshunter.io/developer/551772156) |

## 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


### SideNotes Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidenotes-mobile/id1607089308)

**Currently charting:** #167 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture thoughts and to-dos on the go with this mobile note-taking app. It offers iCloud sync, Markdown formatting, and customizable themes for a personalized experience. Easily access notes from other applications.

**Highlights:** iCloud Synchronization, Markdown Formatting, Task Management, Customizable Themes, Note and Folder URLs, Note Colors

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is SideNotes Mobile free?

SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or SideNotes Mobile?

Notepad is rated higher. Notepad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while SideNotes Mobile averages 4.2 from 28 ratings.

### Do Notepad or SideNotes Mobile have ads?

Notepad shows ads; SideNotes Mobile does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or SideNotes Mobile?

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, and SideNotes Mobile monthly. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 25, 2026 and SideNotes Mobile on September 25, 2026.

---

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