Comparison

Neo Notes vs Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing

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

Head to head
About

Neo Notes

This app digitizes your handwritten notes, allowing you to store, edit, and share them easily. It offers transcription to digital text, voice recording synced with notes, and cloud backup options. Enhance productivity and learning by keeping your handwriting accessible anywhere.

Highlights
  • Digitize handwriting instantly
  • Edit and format notes
  • Transcribe handwriting to text
  • Record audio synced with notes
  • Cloud backup and sync
  • Share notes in various formats
  • Tag and search handwritten data
Read full description

Neo smartpen is an innovation which transfers the handwritten data to digital text by using technology. Now, you can keep your handwriting in a digital form and bring them everywhere. Neo Notes is a dedicated application of Neo smartpen. You can digitize your handwriting instantly and simultaneously. It also provides an offline mode that stores your handwriting and transfer when the pen is connected with your smartphone. Transferred data can be easily edited and shared in a variety of platforms. Enhance your work productivity, learning, and self-development. [Main Updates] - The search function has been enhanced. From now on, you can search without running transcribe. - The design has changed from Notebook cover to the Settings. - You can share your handwritten documents in Microsoft Word(.docx) and PowerPoint(pptx) format. This function is experimental, and it will be stabilized gradually. ------------ Main Features ----------- [Digital Storage] Neo smartpen saves the handwritten data to the connected smart device. Its sensitive pressure recognition saves the handwritten data on the Ncode notebook accurately. [Editing Function] You can edit and change the font color and size as you prefer or delete any unnecessary data. You can also emphasize important information with a highlighter in edit mode. [Text Transcription] You can transcribe handwritten to digital text with a simple touch with a fingertip. Convert your written data to a digital text and copy & paste it on your memos or emails. Neo Notes support up to 15 different language transcriptions. [Auto Save Options] Use our “Authentication Center” and log in with your choice of Cloud services; OneNote, Evernote, Adobe CC or Google Drive. Then you can toggle on Auto Save Function at “Auto Save Options”. Now, you can check your data anywhere. [Easy and Convenient Share] Your handwritten contents can be shared via email, SNS and different applications in PDF, image, text and vector format. [Google Drive Backup and Restoring] If you upload your written contents to Google drive, then you can download it to other smart devices and continue to write or edit. Even if you wish to use different devices alternatively or change it to brand new one, you can save and download the existing data from Google drive. [Record & Playback] Record your voice while you write down your notes. You can playback the audio files that are synced with the pen strokes. Do not miss any important parts of your lectures or conversation by using the record function. [Tag & Search] You can easily search for any data by using a tag function. You can effectively manage your handwritten data by tagging it into different subjects. You may easily search your saved written contents by data or text. [Offline Sync] Neo smartpen saves written data on the offline mode and then automatically transfers and saves data once it is connected to your smart device. You can write without connecting it to your smart devices. (Neo smartpen is able to save up to 1,000 pages of written data) [Notebox] You can lock the used notebook before you use the same kind of notebook with this function. (If a used notebook is not locked your handwriting on the new notebook may overlap with used notebook) [Calendar View] The calendar view helps you to quickly search the data by date. Not only the date, but also the written place and the weather are recorded, so it is convenient to remember the environment at the time of writing. [Calendar Sync] Once you write your schedule on to “N Planner” it will sync with the designated online calendar. (Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar)

About

Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing

Capture and organize handwritten notes and sketches digitally. This app preserves the expressiveness of your original drawings with innovative visualization technology. Tag, annotate, and store your creations in the cloud for easy retrieval and sharing.

Highlights
  • Hybrid visualization technology
  • Image-based input options
  • Natural sketching with Apple Pencil support
  • Editable notes and drawings
  • Tagging and annotation for search
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Customizable export styles
Features
Read full description

Carbo lets you capture and organize handwritten notes and sketches, bringing handwriting in the digital age, right on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Carbo's innovative visualization technology sets you free from pixel artefacts, while preserving all expressiveness of your original drawings. Collect notes, design sketches, or whiteboard drawings. Tag and annotate your notes for easy retrieval. Store them either on the device itself or in the cloud, with native support for iCloud, Evernote, and Dropbox. Finally, turn your notes and drawings into beautiful creations using a variety of handcrafted export styles and share them with the world. KEY FEATURES • Hybrid visualization technology: note picture is cleaned up and turned into a highly accurate monochrome representation. Carbo’s innovative rendering technology offers both the advantages of vector (sharpness) and bitmap (easy editing) techniques. • Image-based input options: take a new picture, import from camera roll, or import an image from iCloud Drive. • Drawing support: highly accurate and natural sketching capabilities. Full support for Apple Pencil & 3D Touch pressure sensitivity. • Note editing: edit any part of your note, i.e. select, resize, relocate, or remove any element. Make strokes thinner or thicker. • Annotations: add descriptive text to your note. These annotations are archived along with the image, and are globally searchable. • Tag your notes. Tags are colored for easier detection, and will help you classify notes. • Notes can be stored either on your device, or in the cloud using Evernote, Dropbox, and iCloud. • Efficient file-based storage: typical note is 400KB instead of the usual 3MB JPEG of a photo. • Export styles (iOS): choose among 7 beautifully handcrafted styles and their variants to customize your notes (Blackboard/chalks combos, Blueprint, Paper with several pen styles…). • Up to 1200-dpi black-and-white high-fidelity exports for print. • Many sharing options: Twitter, Facebook, AirDrop, Mail, Messages, iCloud Drive, Open in (another app)... • Latest iOS Support: App Search, iPad multitasking, Siri 'Remind Me', 3D Touch shortcuts, modern iOS 14 photo access (browsing & searching). • macOS 11 Big Sur / Mac Catalyst (Optimized for Mac). • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. • Pro Pack 2 or Pro Plan: one-off purchase to remove the 10-note limit. PRICING You can unlock all features either through Pro Pack 2, a one-time purchase, or through Pro Plan, an affordable subscription. Pro Pack upgrade pricing is also available if you own a previous version. HELP & FEEDBACK Visit creaceed.com/carbo for more information. Send your questions and feedback to carbo@creaceed.com Terms of Use: https://creaceed.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://creaceed.com/privacy

Screenshots

Neo Notes4 screens
Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing at 4.3 against Neo Notes's 2.4. Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 41%). Neo Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Neo Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 51 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Neo Notes's written reviews are positive against 55% of Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Neo Notes ships an update every 2 months, Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Neo Notes versus Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNeo NotesCarbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (42 ratings)4.3 (51 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.1% of reviews54.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4251 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS9.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size179 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNeoLAB Convergence IncCreaceed SRL

Customer experience

Neo Notes

All ratings41 ratings
Positive22.0%
Neutral17.1%
Negative61.0%
Written reviews141 reviews
Positive41.1%
Neutral17.7%
Negative41.1%

Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing

All ratings51 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews146 reviews
Positive54.8%
Neutral13.7%
Negative31.5%

Bugs and requests

Neo Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Keeps crashing on iPad
  • Update bricks app (crashes on launch)
  • Carbo keeps crashing
  • Sync problem with Evernote
  • Exporting pages (archiving) doesn't work
Show 8 more
  • Buggy on iOS 9.01 and iPhone 6S
  • iPhone keeps switching off sync with Evernote
  • App crashes frequently
  • File import from iCloud shows files but can't be opened
  • Beta Evernote sync does not work
  • Randomly selects other bits on the page
  • Clunky or doesn't quite work
  • Sync with Evernote was easy, but iPhone keeps switching off attempt to sync

Requested features

58 requests
  • Adding colors
  • More pencil sizes
  • Ability to handle multi-page docs
  • Viable export options (PDF, etc.)
  • Ability to bundle pages into PDF
Show 53 more
  • Put a title on scans
  • Copy and paste selected objects
  • Export an entire notebook as PDF
  • Desktop client for reassociating tags/annotations
  • Save notes as pictures to Photos
  • Select multiple vectors and change color/thickness
  • iCloud Drive support
  • Invert image
  • Copy/cut/paste selections
  • Export svg file
  • OneDrive cloud option
  • Scan a whole page of doodles and separate them
  • Improve paper edge detection
  • Multi-page option
  • Text box or drawing function
  • Improve captured image quality
  • Edge-detection feature
  • Better handling of lined paper
  • Sync with Evernote
  • Choice of line sizes for annotations
  • Color picker and highlighter pen
  • Support for different writing utensils on one surface
  • Multiple page support
  • Different sized pens
  • More customization for page size
  • PDF vector export
  • Filter multiple tags
  • Re-editing scanned documents
  • Cloud sync for notes
  • Copy feature for local and cloud storage
  • Save to Photos app
  • Ability to use notes as pictures
  • Select multiple vectors and change color or thickness
  • Scan entire page of doodles and separate them
  • More cloud options (OneDrive)
  • Text box or drawing function
  • Better paper edge detection
  • Multi-page option
  • Improve captured image quality
  • Edge-detection
  • Better handling of lined paper
  • Sync with Evernote
  • Choice of line sizes for annotations
  • Color picker and highlighter pen
  • Support for different writing utensils on one surface
  • Multiple page support
  • Different sized pens
  • More customization for page size
  • PDF vector export
  • Filter multiple tags
  • Re-editing scanned documents
  • Cloud sync for notes
  • Copy feature for local and cloud storage

In-app purchases

None

Neo Notes

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Plan (Monthly)7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pro Plan (Yearly)7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Pack 2$23.99

Questions

Is Neo Notes free?
Neo Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing free?
Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Neo Notes or Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing?
Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing is rated higher. Neo Notes averages 2.4 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing averages 4.3 from 51 ratings.
Do Neo Notes or Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing have ads?
Neither Neo Notes nor Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Neo Notes or Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing?
Neo Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing every 4 months. Most recently, Neo Notes was updated on October 24, 2026 and Carbo › Pencil Notes & Drawing on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons