Comparison

Mach Note vs Notebook

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

Head to head
About

Mach Note

This app allows for versatile note-taking with freehand drawing on native PDFs, audio recording with a 3D visualizer, and RTF word processing. Notes sync across devices via iCloud, and documents can be annotated and exported for various platforms.

Highlights
  • Freehand drawing on native PDF notes
  • Audio recording with 3D visualizer
  • RTF word processing
  • iCloud sync across devices
  • iCloud HandOff for seamless device switching
  • DOC/DOCX read support on iOS, read/write on OS X
  • Speech-to-Text dictation
Features
Read full description

Mach Note is the most innovative, flexible, compatible, and powerful Note-Taking application! Mach Note features Freehand Notes in a Native PDF format, Audio recording in a Native M4A format, and Word processing in RTF format. Using the PDF format, Freehand Notes are synced across all your devices (via iCloud) so you always have the latest version of your Notes with you — regardless of device. And since Mach Note uses the PDF format, you can annotate PDFs with powerful Note-taking tools *and* your Notes are ready for Mobile, Desktop, Web, and Print right from the get go: No more manually exporting notes and uploading files — Mach Note handles everything for you! Mach Note also lets you record Audio using your device’s built in microphone, and you can see your Audio with our stunning 3D Visualizer which works for both Recording and Playback. As well as being super easy to use; with all these features Mach Note gives you with an unparalleled Note-taking experience. And best of all, Mach Note is free for iOS and only $4.99 (U.S.) for OS X! With iCloud Drive, you can take Notes on the go and have your Notes ready at your Mac or Windows PC already downloaded when you get home* And If that wasn’t enough, PDFs and RTFs can be transferred instantly from one device to another with iCloud HandOff so you can start working on one device, and continue on another (iPhone, iPad, and Mac)** Ridiculously Advanced Features! - Freehand draw on Notes using native PDF format with “Vector" note taking tools such as Pencil, Eraser, and Highlighter; keeping PDF file sizes small - Record Audio in M4A format with stunning 3D Visualizor; M4A Audio files are synced to all your devices - RTF Word processing support for instances when all you need is the keyboard - iCloud support keeps your documents in Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac; and with iCloud Drive, Windows PCs and well* - iCloud HandOff lets you start work on one device and continue on another (iPhone, iPad, and Mac)** - DOC/DOCX Read support on iOS, DOC/DOCX Read/Write support on OS X - Text Tool lets your Touch/Click to Type anywhere (iPad/Mac) - Cut Tool Makes it easy to reposition PDF content - Add Images, Text, and Web Pages to a PDF instantly (iPad/Mac) - Full Speech-To-Text Dictation support anywhere you can Type (Press Dictation key on keyboard on iOS, press “Fn” key twice on OS X) - iCloud is completely optional — Mach Note works just as well offline as online! * iCloud Drive Support for Windows requires iCloud Drive install, iCloud Drive for Mac requires OS X 10.10 or later; iCloud Drive supports PDF/RTF/RTFD/DOC/DOCX **iCloud HandOff requires both Bluetooth 4.0/LE and WiFi on and enabled; iCloud HandOff works with PDF/RTF/RTFD only ***Large PDF Documents in the Cloud (such as large eBooks) is not recommended*** ***If you have any issues please restart your device!***

About

Notebook

Organize your thoughts, plans, and ideas with a versatile notebook and list-making application. Create unlimited notes, manage tasks with checklists, and customize your workspace. Sync across devices for seamless access to your organized information.

Highlights
  • Unlimited notes and lists
  • Folders and organization tools
  • Rich text editing
  • Checklists and to-do lists
  • Cloud sync and backup
  • Quick search and tags
Features
Read full description

Organize Your Thoughts, Simplify Your Life! Tired of messy notes or forgotten ideas?
 Turn chaos into clarity with Notes – Notebook & List Maker, your ultimate space for creativity, planning, and productivity.
Whether you’re journaling, managing projects, or capturing daily ideas — keep everything beautifully organized and accessible anytime, anywhere. Perfect for students, professionals, creators, and anyone who loves to stay organized and inspired! Key Features • Unlimited Notes & Lists
Write, plan, and create without limits — from quick thoughts to detailed notebooks. • Folders & Organization Tools
Sort your notes easily into folders and categories for a clean, clutter-free workspace. • Rich Text Editing
Customize fonts, colors, and styles to make your notes uniquely yours. • Checklists & To-Do Lists
Stay productive with easy task lists and reminders — perfect for daily routines or long-term goals. • Cloud Sync & Backup
Access your notes from anywhere with secure cloud sync and never lose important data again. • Quick Search & Tags
Find what you need instantly with smart search and tagging features. Go Premium Unlock your full potential with Notes Premium: • Ad-Free Experience
Enjoy distraction-free writing and focus on what matters most. • Unlimited Folders & Storage
Create as many notebooks and folders as you like — perfect for large projects or journaling. • Exclusive Themes & Customization
Personalize your workspace with elegant themes and color palettes. • Priority Support
Get faster assistance from our team whenever you need help. Subscription Info Weekly Subscription – $4.99 Use Cases * Journaling & daily reflections
 * Project planning & task management
 * Study notes & class organization
 * Grocery lists & reminders
 * Creative writing or brainstorming ideas
 * Work documentation & meeting notes
 We know how valuable your ideas are — that’s why Notes – Notebook & List Maker helps you keep them safe, structured, and stylish.
Capture thoughts instantly, plan smarter, and stay productive every single day — all in one elegant app. Start writing smarter. Stay organized. Be unstoppable. Privacy Policy: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/
 Terms of Use: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com

Screenshots

Mach Note4 screens
Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Notebook at 4.3 against Mach Note's 3.0. Notebook also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (523 vs 2). Mach Note's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Mach Note sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notebook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 523 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Mach Note's written reviews are positive against 71% of Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mach Note ships an update every 9 months, Notebook every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Mach Note versus Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMach NoteNotebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.3 (523 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2523 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB73 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMach Software DesignSolitude Colors

Customer experience

Mach Note

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Notebook

All ratings523 ratings
Positive83.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative22.1%

Bugs and requests

Mach Note

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Notebook

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and lost user data
  • Compatibility problems with older devices
  • Copying and pasting not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add search functionality
  • Improve delete/edit options
  • Provide subscription-free version
  • Enhance calendar integration

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Mach Note

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
1 purchases

Notebook

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly$2.997 Days

Questions

Is Mach Note free?
Mach Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mach Note or Notebook?
Notebook is rated higher. Mach Note averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.3 from 523 ratings.
Do Mach Note or Notebook have ads?
Notebook shows ads; Mach Note does not.
Which is updated more often, Mach Note or Notebook?
Mach Note ships an update every 9 months, and Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mach Note was updated on October 22, 2026 and Notebook on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons