Comparison

Project Life vs Penless

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

Head to head
About

Project Life

Easily create beautiful photo albums and scrapbooks on your device. Combine photos and stories with customizable templates and digital artwork. Print your creations directly through the app to hold your memories in your hands.

Highlights
  • Import photos from Camera Roll, Photo Stream, or Dropbox
  • Collage-style templates and pre-designed artwork
  • Journaling with adjustable font styles
  • Hundreds of designer card collections
  • Export, share, and print completed pages
  • Order photo books directly through the app
  • Organize pages into albums
Features
Read full description

Bring your photos + stories together into a meaningful format without having to print your photos first, and without having to use crafting supplies! Documenting in the palm of your hand has never been easier, faster, or more convenient with such stunning results that you ultimately get to HOLD IN YOUR HANDS! Collage-style templates and pre-designed artwork allow for pages to come together in a snap. Pull in your photos from your Camera Roll, Photo Stream, or Dropbox. There are hundreds of fantastic designer card collections to choose from within the app. Add some quick journaling notes and you’re done! Editorial-style templates are designed for fewer (or no) photos and allow for longer journaling entries and stories. Don’t allow your memories to stay trapped on your device. The best part of this game-changing method of documenting is seamlessly sharing completed pages with your friends and family — and of course getting those pages and photo books PRINTED directly THROUGH the app so that you can hold those memories in your hands! Follow @BeckyHigginsLLC on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. FEATURES: import photos from Camera Roll, Photo Stream, or Dropbox zoom, crop, edit, rotate, and rearrange photos easy drag + drop photos and cards between spots zoom in and around your page for closer details adjust font style, size, color and more colored background options lots of page layout options a huge library of card designs and kits available corners can be rounded or square several 4x6 and 6x8 collage options use Speech-to-Text for fast journaling all pages (including those in progress) automatically save to library view specific Project Life card designs before purchasing export, share, and print completed pages organize pages into albums for various projects order individual page prints or photo books square pages and photo books available in 8x8, 10x10, and 12x12 sizes search features allows for easy + fast access to the cards you’re looking for The Project Life App offers a subscription service providing online backup and device-to-device syncing of the pages you create. This service is optional. The following details apply to the Online Backup subscription: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. If you cancel your subscription your online page backups are kept for 90 days then deleted if the subscription is not resumed. Terms of Service: https://www.beckyhiggins.com/terms-of-use

About

Penless

Enhance your gifting with personalized video messages attached to physical items via exclusive QR codes. Organize wish lists, save ideas to the cloud, and bookmark favorite websites.

Highlights
  • QR Code Message Writer℠
  • Attach pictures/videos to gifts
  • Create and share wish lists
  • Cloud-based idea board
  • Bookmark favorite websites
Features
Read full description

With Penless, adding video is just more fun. We personalize any gifting experience, and no other app has so much to offer, whether giving or receiving: •Penless Message: Exclusive QR Code Message Writer℠ allows you to attach your own picture/video to gifts or greeting cards using our designer stickers. •Wish List & Sizes: Create and share with friends and family by item. •Idea board: Save images on the Penless cloud to refer to later. •Bookmarking: Conveniently save your favorite websites on the app.

Screenshots

Project Life4 screens
Penless4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Penless at none against Project Life's 10. Penless also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (92% vs 72%). Project Life's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (496 vs 46). On price, ads and device support 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. Project Life sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Penless asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Penless holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Project Life has 496 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Project Life's written reviews are positive against 92% of Penless's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Project Life ships an update every 3 weeks, Penless every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Project Life versus Penless: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProject LifePenless
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (496 ratings)4.7 (46 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.4% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings496 — better46
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size347 MB103 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBecky Higgins LLCOn My Wave, LLC

Customer experience

Project Life

All ratings496 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral4.6%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews232 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral8.2%
Negative19.4%

Penless

All ratings46 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral5.6%
Negative2.8%

Bugs and requests

Project Life

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Compatibility issues with older devices
  • Text formatting problems
  • Overlays not displaying correctly

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to organize kits and pages into folders
  • More font and text customization options
  • Layering and photo editing tools
  • Integration with cloud storage services
  • Larger print size options (8x10, 8.5x11)
Show 1 more
  • Stickers and embellishment features

Penless

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Project Life

Subscriptions1
  • Backup Service (monthly)$6.991 Month
One-time9
  • Celebrate Themed CardsFree
  • Good Life 4x4 QuotesFree
  • Capture Life Themed CardsFree
Show 6 more
  • Essential Overlays - BlackFree
  • Essential Overlays - WhiteFree
  • Extra Layouts 1$4.99
  • Extra Layouts 2$4.99
  • Extra Layouts 5$4.99
  • Freeform Text$4.99
None

Penless

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Project Life free?
Project Life is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Penless free?
Penless is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Project Life or Penless?
Penless is rated higher. Project Life averages 4.4 out of 5 from 496 ratings, while Penless averages 4.7 from 46 ratings.
Do Project Life or Penless have ads?
Neither Project Life nor Penless shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Project Life or Penless?
Project Life ships an update every 3 weeks, and Penless every 3 months. Most recently, Project Life was updated on October 21, 2026 and Penless on October 3, 2026.

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