# Notebook vs WidgetCal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Notebook at every 6 days against WidgetCal's every 32 months. Notebook also leads on ratings volume (24K vs 1). WidgetCal's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and WidgetCal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WidgetCal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 24K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Notebook ships an update every 6 days, WidgetCal every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notebook | WidgetCal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-ai-notes-notepad/id973801089/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widgetcal-widget-calculator/id6468929338/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 32 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 221 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zoho Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/388384807) | [杏娣 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275821426) |

## What reviewers say

### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-ai-notes-notepad/id973801089)

Capture and organize all your thoughts, from typed notes and handwriting to voice memos and document scans. AI features help transcribe audio, create mind maps, and refine your writing. Seamlessly sync across all your Apple devices.

**Highlights:** AI-powered transcription and summarization, Handwriting and sketch support with Apple Pencil, Voice recording with AI transcription and timestamps, Checklists and to-do list management, Document scanning and file attachments, Nested collections for organization, Cross-device synchronization

**Features:** Safari Extension, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, SharePlay, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notebook Pro | $2.49 | per month |
| Notebook Pro Plus | $3.99 | per month |
| Notebook AI | $4.99 | per month |
| Notebook Personal | $14.99 | per year |
| Notebook Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| Notebook Pro Plus | $39.99 | per year |
| Notebook AI | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Highly organized and customizable
- 👍 Visually appealing and intuitive
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 🤳 Seamless cross-device sync
- 📝 Versatile note-taking features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
- 🔀 Inconsistent note order after editing
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 📤 Lack of export/backup options
- 🔗 Difficulty inserting links in notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting corrupted
- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inconsistent behavior when editing notes
- Syncing problems across devices

**Requested features**

- Improved sorting and reordering options for notes
- Enhanced search capabilities
- Ability to export notes in various formats
- More customization options for notebook covers
- Integration with other productivity apps


### WidgetCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widgetcal-widget-calculator/id6468929338)

Perform calculations directly from your home screen with advanced functions. Customize your experience with multiple themes. Unlock premium features through a subscription.

**Highlights:** Home screen widget calculator, Trigonometric and calculus functions, Over 10 beautiful themes, No ads, Monthly/annual subscription for Pro features

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WidgetCal Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| WidgetCal Pro | $3.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notebook free?

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

### Is WidgetCal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notebook or WidgetCal?

WidgetCal is rated higher. Notebook averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while WidgetCal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Notebook or WidgetCal have ads?

Neither Notebook nor WidgetCal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notebook or WidgetCal?

Notebook ships an update every 6 days, and WidgetCal every 32 months. Most recently, Notebook was updated on November 14, 2026 and WidgetCal on November 12, 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.*