# Mach Note vs Notebook

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Mach Note | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mach-note-icloud-pdf-editor/id972400279/reviews) | **[4.3 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **523** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mach Software Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/327826899) | [Solitude Colors](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614422096) |

## What reviewers say

### Mach Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mach-note-icloud-pdf-editor/id972400279)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Great organization system
- 🚀 Simple and quick
- 🤩 Excellent AI-powered features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 💸 Excessive ads disrupting usage
- 🔒 Lack of customization options
- 🤯 Confusing navigation

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*