Comparison

Sorting Thoughts vs Atomic Notes

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

Head to head
About

Sorting Thoughts

This app helps you organize your thoughts, tasks, and projects with a focus on privacy and security. It offers features like color-coding, password protection, and end-to-end encrypted syncing across devices.

Highlights
  • Private note-taking
  • End-to-end encrypted sync
  • Password protection
  • Color markers
  • Multiple collections
  • Task and project management
  • Attachments
Features
Read full description

Simple, practical, private and sync-able that is Sorting Thoughts - a note taking app for private notes. Sorting Thoughts is a personal information and knowledge management app. It is designed to manage your thoughts such as moments of sudden inspirations, tasks, events, projects and anything else you may think of. The main aim of Sorting Thoughts is on delivering a trustworthy tool for your daily life in the knowledge-based society through security and simplicity. Furthermore, the sync service of Sorting Thoughts lets you sync all entries between multiple iOS devices and the desktop version. Privacy is a high value and for an app which collects personal notes essential. Sorting Thoughts abstains on cloud storage. All entered data stay on your device. The optional sync service used encrypted communication and a full end-to-end encryption. Only the device owner with the private key can decrypt the synced data. Additionally, the sync service collects no personal data like email addresses and the synced data will be automatically removed after a successful sync. The ensuring of privacy is a big concern for me as developer of Sorting Thoughts, because I'm a user too and enter my notes every day in Sorting Thoughts. Security feature summary: - no cloud storage - usage of Apple Data Protection - password protection (available with the Min Pack) - the optional sync service used a full end-to-end encryption with standardized technologies like RSA, AES and SSL/TLS Sorting Thoughts provides the following feature packs which are available via in-app purchasements: == 1. Free Pack == With the free feature package you can manage simple thoughts in a single thought collection. This package provides only the basic features and it is ideal to testing Sorting Thoughts. == 2. Min Pack == This package contains the password lock and color marker feature. It is ideal for users who want only manage simple thoughts with a password lock. == 3. Max Pack == This package contains all features of Sorting Thoughts but without the sync service. It is ideal for user who needs a powerful note taking app for the daily life. Feature list: Color marker - lets you mark thoughts with colors in the thought navigation tree Password lock - allows the locking of a collection Muliple collections - create multiple collections to separate work and private thoughts Projects, tasks and events - manage your projects, tasks and events and see what are your next tasks Attachments - add photos to your thoughts Tagging - use tags to find thoughts quicker Sub thoughts - create thought trees for a better thought structure Thought versions - remember the thought changes to reconstruct a train of thought == 4. Max Pack + Sync Service == With a one month or one year subscription you get all features of the "Max Pack" and the sync service. The sync service let's you sync thoughts between iOS devices and the desktop version of Sorting Thoughts 2.0. Your thought collections are synchronously on all your iOS devices and you can work across multiple devices. The service is developed by the 'privacy first' principle, that means no personal data are needed and the data transfer is completely end-to-end encrypted. Only the device owner can decrypt the sync data because only the owner holds the private key. Furthermore, the sync data will be deleted after a successful sync or after 30 days if the target device don't pick-up the data. The sync service fulfilled the strict European and German data protection guidelines. Sorting Thoughts required iOS / iPadOS 15.6 or newer. It comes in German or English. Privacy Policy: https://www.sortingthoughts.de/blog/datenschutz/ Terms of Service: https://www.sortingthoughts.de/blog/agb/

About

Atomic Notes

Features
Read full description

Write Freely. Think Clearly. Stay Private. Atomic Notes, part of the Atomic Blend suite, is your privacy-first space to capture ideas, journal thoughts, and organize knowledge — all in one beautifully simple, end-to-end encrypted app. Why Atomic Notes? – Encrypted from the Ground Up – Your notes are secured with end-to-end encryption by default. – Lightweight & Distraction-Free – A clean, fast writing experience that lets you focus. – Organize Your Way – Use tags, folders, and search to stay on top of everything. – Sync Across Devices – Your notes, available anywhere — always private. – Unified with Atomic Blend – One subscription unlocks all apps in the suite. From fleeting thoughts to long-form writing, Atomic Notes helps you think and write with clarity — while keeping your data under your control. ----- About Atomic Blend Atomic Blend is a privacy-first, 100% open-source app suite that includes Atomic Task, Atomic Notes, and more — all designed to work together seamlessly under a single subscription. Built for people who value simplicity, transparency, and control, Atomic Blend is your alternative to bloated, data-hungry SaaS tools. No ads. No tracking. Just powerful tools that respect you. ----- Terms & Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://brandonguigo.notion.site/Politique-de-confidentialit-17591ec0b6688166b781cf05f89d3a2d

Screenshots

Sorting Thoughts4 screens
Atomic Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Atomic Notes at monthly against Sorting Thoughts's every 4 months. Atomic Notes also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Sorting Thoughts sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Atomic Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sorting Thoughts ships an update every 4 months, Atomic Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Sorting Thoughts versus Atomic Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSorting ThoughtsAtomic Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHendrik EbelBrandon Guigo

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Sorting Thoughts

Subscriptions2
  • Max Pack + Sync 1 month$1.991 Month
  • Max Pack + Sync 1 year$13.991 Year
One-time4
  • Min Pack$0.99
  • Max Pack + Sync 1 month$1.99
  • Max Pack$6.99
Show 1 more
  • Max Pack + Sync 1 year$13.99
2 purchases

Atomic Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Cloud Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Cloud Yearly$34.991 Year

Questions

Is Sorting Thoughts free?
Sorting Thoughts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Atomic Notes free?
Atomic Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sorting Thoughts or Atomic Notes have ads?
Neither Sorting Thoughts nor Atomic Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sorting Thoughts or Atomic Notes?
Sorting Thoughts ships an update every 4 months, and Atomic Notes monthly. Most recently, Sorting Thoughts was updated on September 25, 2026 and Atomic Notes on October 5, 2026.

Other comparisons