# Notepad vs Handwriting Memorandum

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Handwriting Memorandum at none against Notepad's 7. Handwriting Memorandum also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Notepad's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (29K vs 1). On price, ads 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. Handwriting Memorandum asks for nothing beyond the download.

Handwriting Memorandum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notepad has 29K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 84% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 71% of Handwriting Memorandum'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, Handwriting Memorandum every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Handwriting Memorandum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **29K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **84.3% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 75 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [1381802 Ontario Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318613521) | [Yuichi HARA](https://appshunter.io/developer/538530212) |

## 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


### Handwriting Memorandum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697)

Easily capture your thoughts and ideas with a simple digital notebook. Draw sketches or jot down notes using your finger for quick and convenient input.

**Highlights:** Finger-based note-taking, Simple sketching functionality, Digital notebook, Quick input, Easy to use interface

**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 Handwriting Memorandum free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or Handwriting Memorandum?

Handwriting Memorandum is rated higher. Notepad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 29K ratings, while Handwriting Memorandum averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Notepad or Handwriting Memorandum have ads?

Both Notepad and Handwriting Memorandum show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or Handwriting Memorandum?

Notepad ships an update every 8 days, and Handwriting Memorandum every 12 months. Most recently, Notepad was updated on October 18, 2026 and Handwriting Memorandum on October 3, 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.*