Comparison

Sketch vs OrigNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sketch

This app allows users to draw and sketch on their devices with a wide range of color options and brush customization. It offers a minimalist interface and supports transparency for more detailed creations. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Highlights
  • Minimalist interface
  • 16 million+ colors with RGB selection
  • Adjustable brush thickness
  • Color transparency
  • Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
Features
Read full description

Sketch Notes is a simple application that allows you to draw on the device. Several functions available : - Look minimal - Choose more than 16 million colors with RGB selection - Choose the thickness of the brush - Added the color transparency - Compatible with iPhone, iPad and Mac

About

OrigNotes

Capture, organize, and develop your thoughts with a free digital note-taking app. It offers handwritten notes, PDF annotation, mind mapping, and multimedia integration, all optimized for a natural writing experience.

Highlights
  • Handwriting & Drawing with Apple Pencil
  • PDF Reading & Annotation
  • Mind Map creation
  • Handwriting to Text conversion
  • Powerful Search
  • Multimedia integration (images, audio, video)
  • Customizable workspace
Features
Read full description

OrigNotes is a powerful, free digital note-taking app built for iPad and iPhone. Whether you're taking handwritten notes, annotating PDFs, organizing ideas with mind maps, or capturing inspiration with images, audio, and video, OrigNotes gives you the tools to keep everything in one place. Write naturally with Apple Pencil, convert handwriting into editable text, search through your notes, and customize your workspace to fit the way you think and work. OrigNotes is free to use, and we're committed to keeping it that way. If you're enjoying OrigNotes, we'd greatly appreciate a 5-star review. Your support helps us continue improving the app and building new features for everyone. Have an idea or feature request? Leave us a review or contact us directly through the app. You can also check our Future Plans inside OrigNotes to see what we're working on and follow the progress of upcoming features. KEY FEATURES • Handwriting & Drawing Enjoy a natural writing experience with a variety of pens, brushes, and creative tools designed for Apple Pencil. • PDF Reading & Annotation Import PDFs to read, highlight, annotate, draw, and take notes directly on your documents. • Mind Maps Create mind maps to organize ideas, study topics, and brainstorm visually. Add topics and subtopics, drag and rearrange nodes, and customize your mind map to fit your ideas. • Handwriting to Text Turn handwritten notes into editable text for easier editing, organizing, and reuse. • Powerful Search Find information faster by searching handwritten notes and text inside PDFs. • Images, GIFs, Audio & Video Bring your notes to life with images, animated GIFs, audio, and video—all within your notebook. • Personalized Notebooks Customize covers, paper templates, and themes to create a workspace that feels like your own. • Custom Toolbar & Tool Box Arrange your favorite tools around the way you work and keep the ones you use most within easy reach. • Smooth Writing Experience Optimized handwriting, palm rejection, and Apple Pencil interactions help writing feel smooth, responsive, and natural. • Easy Organization Organize and sort your documents, bookmark important pages, and quickly get back to the content you need. • Data Protection & Backup Multiple backup options and improved data protection help keep your important notes safe. • Cloud Backup Back up your notebooks to cloud storage for easier long-term storage and management. MADE FOR THE WAY YOU TAKE NOTES From class notes and study materials to work documents, PDF annotation, brainstorming, and everyday ideas, OrigNotes gives you a flexible space to capture, organize, and develop your thoughts. Simple when you need it. Powerful when you need more. Write. Think. Create. Organize. All in OrigNotes.

Screenshots

Sketch4 screens
OrigNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OrigNotes at 85% against Sketch's 25%. OrigNotes also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OrigNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OrigNotes has 376 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Sketch's written reviews are positive against 85% of OrigNotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sketch ships an update every 4 months, OrigNotes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sketch versus OrigNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSketchOrigNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.6 (7 ratings)4.7 (376 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews84.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7376 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB97 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFrancesco AbbondoHangzhou Future Writing Technology Co.,LTD.

Customer experience

Sketch

All ratings7 ratings
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

OrigNotes

All ratings371 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews72 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative12.5%

In-app purchases

None

Sketch

No in-app purchases

None

OrigNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sketch free?
Sketch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OrigNotes free?
OrigNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sketch or OrigNotes?
OrigNotes is rated higher. Sketch averages 1.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while OrigNotes averages 4.7 from 376 ratings.
Do Sketch or OrigNotes have ads?
Neither Sketch nor OrigNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sketch or OrigNotes?
Sketch ships an update every 4 months, and OrigNotes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sketch was updated on November 1, 2026 and OrigNotes on November 3, 2026.

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