# Notepad vs Notes

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notes at 79% against Notepad's 31%. Notes also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (654 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notes has 654 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 79% of Notes's.

Notepad ships an update every 3 months, Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-write-your-ideas/id953448387/reviews) | **[4.8 (654 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **654** |
| Positive reviews | 31.1% of reviews | **78.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tramboliko Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/887812129) | [Orange Dog](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673134885) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-write-your-ideas/id953448387)

Capture your thoughts, to-do lists, and commitments with this intuitive note-taking app. Save all your important information on a single screen for quick access. Features include multiple drawing brushes, various backgrounds, and checklist functionality.

**Highlights:** Multiple drawing brushes, Variety of backgrounds, Checklist functionality, Undo/Redo actions, Save notes on one screen, Share and save note images

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Ressorces | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock brushes Editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| FullPack | $2.99 | one-time |


### Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129)

This app combines a notepad, to-do list, and memo functionality into a single, intuitive interface. Easily create notes from text, voice, or images, and organize them with reminders and sorting options. Secure your data and transfer it to new devices.

**Highlights:** 3-in-1 notepad, to-do list, and memos, Create notes from photos, images, and voice, Set notifications and reminders, Sort notes by urgency, category, due date, color, Secure notes with a security code, Data transfer to new devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disable ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use interface
- 🎨 Highly customizable with colors and themes
- 🆓 Free app with no ads
- 🔒 Password protected notes
- 📱 Well-organized layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads despite paid subscription
- ❓ Unclear note retention policies
- 🤔 Complicated question/support system

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected ads appearing after recent updates for paid subscribers

**Requested features**

- More engaging task motivation features
- Clearer documentation on note persistence
- Improved customer support interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Is Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or Notes?

Notes is rated higher. Notepad averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Notes averages 4.8 from 654 ratings.

### Do Notepad or Notes have ads?

Both Notepad and Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or Notes?

Notepad ships an update every 3 months, and Notes monthly. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 7, 2026 and Notes on September 22, 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.*