# Handwriting Memorandum vs Element Note

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Handwriting Memorandum at none against Element Note's 5. Handwriting Memorandum also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Element Note's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 12 months). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Handwriting Memorandum asks for nothing beyond the download.

Handwriting Memorandum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Handwriting Memorandum's written reviews are positive against 69% of Element Note's.

Handwriting Memorandum ships an update every 12 months, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handwriting Memorandum | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697/reviews)** | [4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 68.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yuichi HARA](https://appshunter.io/developer/538530212) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Handwriting Memorandum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-memorandum/id933577697)

Easily capture your thoughts and ideas with a simple digital notebook. Draw sketches or jot down notes using your finger for quick and convenient input.

**Highlights:** Finger-based note-taking, Simple sketching functionality, Digital notebook, Quick input, Easy to use interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handwriting Memorandum free?

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

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Handwriting Memorandum or Element Note?

Handwriting Memorandum is rated higher. Handwriting Memorandum averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Handwriting Memorandum or Element Note have ads?

Handwriting Memorandum shows ads; Element Note does not.

### Which is updated more often, Handwriting Memorandum or Element Note?

Handwriting Memorandum ships an update every 12 months, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Handwriting Memorandum was updated on October 3, 2026 and Element Note on October 13, 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.*