# Smart Note Notepad vs Pencil

The clearest difference is rating: Pencil at 4.0 against Smart Note Notepad's 1.0. Pencil also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). Smart Note Notepad's advantage is iOS requirement (14.1 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Note Notepad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pencil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pencil holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 10% of Smart Note Notepad's written reviews are positive against 25% of Pencil's.

Smart Note Notepad ships an update every 5 months, Pencil weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Note Notepad | Pencil |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-note-notepad-draw-memo/id997513915/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 10.4% of reviews | **25.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 22 MB | 511 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.1** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JIN HWAN KIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/576623931) | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Note Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-note-notepad-draw-memo/id997513915)

Create visually appealing notes and memos using professionally designed coloring paper styles. This app offers a simple gallery interface for easy management and editing of your digital creations.

**Highlights:** Gallery interface, Customizable paper styles, Pinch to zoom, Edit cells, Draw memos

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| upgrade to pro | $3.99 | one-time |


### Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421)

This app allows users to handwrite, sketch, and annotate PDFs on their iPad and iPhone. It supports Apple Pencil and other styluses for note-taking, drawing, and even watercolor painting. Features include audio recording within notes and AI assistance for summarizing and translation.

**Highlights:** Handwrite and sketch with stylus or finger, Annotate and mark up PDFs, Record audio directly in notes, Create formatted text notes, Watercolor painting workspace, Scan and import documents, AI assistance for summaries and translation

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All and AI Assistant | $3.99 | per month |
| Pencil Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Pencil Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Note Notepad free?

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

### Is Pencil free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smart Note Notepad or Pencil?

Pencil is rated higher. Smart Note Notepad averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Pencil averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Smart Note Notepad or Pencil have ads?

Smart Note Notepad shows ads; Pencil does not.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Note Notepad or Pencil?

Smart Note Notepad ships an update every 5 months, and Pencil weekly. Most recently, Smart Note Notepad was updated on October 16, 2026 and Pencil on October 30, 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.*