# Nextcloud Notes vs Element Note

The clearest difference is rating: Element Note at 4.6 against Nextcloud Notes's 2.2. Element Note also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 27%) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 94). Nextcloud Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Nextcloud Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 94, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Nextcloud Notes's written reviews are positive against 68% of Element Note's.

Nextcloud Notes ships an update every 6 weeks, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nextcloud Notes | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (94 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud-notes/id813973264/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 94 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 27.3% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nextcloud GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1296825573) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Nextcloud Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud-notes/id813973264)

This app allows you to create, edit, and organize notes on your mobile device. It syncs seamlessly with a Nextcloud server, ensuring your notes are accessible across all your devices and the web interface. Supports plain text and markdown formatting for versatile note-taking.

**Highlights:** Syncs with Nextcloud server, Create and delete notes, Organize notes in categories, Plain text editing, Markdown formatting, Export notes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Successfully syncs with Nextcloud instances
- ⚡ Improving performance and reliability over time
- 📝 Simple, lightweight note-taking interface
- 🔒 Privacy-focused with self-hosted option
- 📱 Cross-platform availability (iOS, Android)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent data loss and note deletion issues
- 🔌 Unreliable synchronization with server
- 🔐 Login and authentication failures
- ⚠️ Poor handling of connection interruptions
- 📉 App crashes and force-closes required

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly appear empty and lose content
- Empty files being saved to server
- Login resets to default server address
- 404 errors when getting settings
- Sync fails with large note collections

**Requested features**

- Text formatting options (bold, underline, italics)
- File and image attachment support
- Note categorization and organization
- Pin important notes to top
- Ability to rename notes easily


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nextcloud Notes free?

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

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nextcloud Notes or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Nextcloud Notes averages 2.2 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Nextcloud Notes or Element Note have ads?

Neither Nextcloud Notes nor Element Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nextcloud Notes or Element Note?

Nextcloud Notes ships an update every 6 weeks, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Nextcloud Notes was updated on September 17, 2026 and Element Note on September 24, 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.*