# TheBrain vs Heptabase

The clearest difference is rating: TheBrain at 4.8 against Heptabase's 4.3. Heptabase's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (70% vs 44%). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TheBrain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month. Heptabase asks for nothing beyond the download.

TheBrain holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 173 and 71 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of TheBrain's written reviews are positive against 70% of Heptabase's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

TheBrain ships an update fortnightly, Heptabase every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TheBrain | Heptabase |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (173 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thebrain-smart-notes-and-links/id835873357/reviews)** | [4.3 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heptabase/id6445801508/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **173** | 71 |
| Positive reviews | 44.3% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 254 MB | 241 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TheBrain Technologies LP](https://appshunter.io/developer/579909034) | [Hepta Platforms, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673863042) |

## What reviewers say

### TheBrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thebrain-smart-notes-and-links/id835873357)

This app helps you capture, connect, and visualize all your ideas, notes, and files across devices. It acts as a digital memory, showing related items and allowing for dynamic mind mapping and powerful search to help you recall information instantly.

**Highlights:** Award-winning visualization, Networked notes with backlinks, Dynamic mind mapping, Easy idea capture, Cross-device sync, Powerful search, Visual file management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TheBrain Pro Monthly | $17.99 | per month |
| TheBrain Pro Annual | $189.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless navigation
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Excellent for knowledge management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy on iOS 9
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Limited functionality on mobile
- 🐛 Confusing UI and navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 9
- Inability to open brains
- Freezing after each action
- Login and account issues
- Sync problems

**Requested features**

- Offline mode
- Improved mobile UI and UX
- Better integration with other apps
- More affordable pricing options
- Enhanced search and filtering


### Heptabase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heptabase/id6445801508)

This visual note-taking app helps users learn complex subjects by organizing information on digital whiteboards. Access all your notes, journals, and whiteboards on the go.

**Highlights:** Visual note-taking, Whiteboard organization, Access notes on mobile, Journal entries, Learn complex topics

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TheBrain free?

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

### Is Heptabase free?

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

### Which has better reviews, TheBrain or Heptabase?

TheBrain is rated higher. TheBrain averages 4.8 out of 5 from 173 ratings, while Heptabase averages 4.3 from 71 ratings.

### Do TheBrain or Heptabase have ads?

Neither TheBrain nor Heptabase shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TheBrain or Heptabase?

TheBrain ships an update fortnightly, and Heptabase every 5 days. Most recently, TheBrain was updated on November 6, 2026 and Heptabase on November 7, 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.*