IsI Notebook vs Serious Notebook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IsI Notebook
This app allows users to quickly write and read notes on two different notepads simultaneously on a single screen. Additional features like more notepads, font customization, and ad removal are available through in-app purchases.
- Simultaneous note-taking on two screens
- Rapid data storage and retrieval
- Expandable to 6 notepads
- Customizable font size and style
- Ad removal option
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With IsI Notebook you can quickly write and read notes. IsI Notebook is a small notepad app. With IsI Notebook data can be stored and retrieved rapidly on two different notepads. As in-app purchase more functions can be activated. For just 99 cent each user has access to 3 more notepads (6 in total) and can change the font size and font (5 different fonts). You also have the option to remove all ads from the app. This app is based on my findings from the IsI notepad that can also be downloaded here in the AppStore. The main difference to the classic notepad is that two different text fields can be filled at the same time (like a book). So you have the opportunity to save more different notes on one screen. I did not implement more functions because I want to continue to develop the app in collaboration with the users. So test the app and tell me what features you would like to have for the future and I will try to develop this. But feel free to give my app a positive feedback if you like it ;)
Serious Notebook
A private digital notebook for handwriting, typing, and annotating documents. Import PDFs, scan paper, and organize your thoughts with customizable tools. Keep your work securely on your device with no accounts or tracking.
- Handwrite and sketch with Apple Pencil
- Type notes and highlight on iPhone
- Import and annotate PDFs
- Scan paper into notebooks
- Insert text boxes, sticky notes, photos, and scans
- Export notebooks as PDF
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Your handwriting, PDFs, and ideas. A quieter place to think. Write naturally with Apple Pencil on iPad. Type notes and highlight pages on iPhone. Import a PDF planner, annotate a worksheet, or scan paper into a notebook you can keep working in. Serious Notebook keeps your work on your device, with no account, ads, tracking, or subscription. WRITE, STUDY, AND PLAN • Handwrite and sketch on iPad with pen, pencil, highlighter, and eraser tools. Apple Pencil works on compatible iPads. • Type notes and highlight with your finger on iPhone. • Choose blank, ruled, grid, or dot-grid paper in soft white or cream. • Give each notebook its own title and cover. MAKE DOCUMENTS YOUR OWN • Import PDFs as notebooks and annotate their pages. • Scan paper on supported camera-equipped devices, review the pages, then start writing. • Add text boxes and sticky notes. With lifetime access, insert photos, PDF pages, and scans into your notes. • Move, resize, and rotate inserted objects. • Export a notebook or selected pages as PDF to save or share. NEW IN 3.0 Scan several pages straight into your open notebook as movable objects with lifetime access. Take multiple photos, review them, and add them together. On iPad, a clearer top toolbar leaves more room to write. TRY YOUR OWN NOTES The free workspace includes one handwritten notebook plus one separate PDF or scan notebook, up to 10 pages each. Try the included example without using either allowance. ONE LIFETIME PURCHASE Unlock unlimited notebooks, pages, PDF imports, camera scans, and photo insertion with a single non-consumable purchase. No recurring payments. Existing lifetime customers and eligible original paid-app customers keep access. Restore Purchases is available in Settings. PRIVATE, ON YOUR DEVICE Notes, imported documents, photos, and scans stay on the device where you create them. No app account or document upload is required. Notebooks do not automatically sync between devices. Export PDFs regularly to keep a copy of your work. Purchase and restoration use Apple's App Store services. For class notes, project ideas, PDF planners, and everyday thinking on iPhone and iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Serious Notebook at 5.0 against IsI Notebook's 2.8. Serious Notebook also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months). IsI Notebook's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. IsI Notebook sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Serious Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Serious Notebook holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IsI Notebook has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
IsI Notebook ships an update every 20 months, Serious Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IsI Notebook | Serious Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (12 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dominic Barra | BILGESU KADAN |
Customer experience
IsI Notebook
Serious Notebook
In-app purchases
IsI Notebook
- Get Functions$0.99
- No Ads$0.99
Serious Notebook
- Lifetime Unlock$24.99
Questions
Is IsI Notebook free?
Is Serious Notebook free?
Which has better reviews, IsI Notebook or Serious Notebook?
Do IsI Notebook or Serious Notebook have ads?
Which is updated more often, IsI Notebook or Serious Notebook?
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