CollaNote vs Concepts (2026): which should you pick?

Pick CollaNote if

• Fits if you're a student handwriting on an iPad and don't want a subscription
• Works for marking up lecture slides while recording the lecture

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use Android or Windows, as it's Apple devices only
• Not for you if you want to know what Premium adds before buying, because nobody lists it
• Tight if you have an older Intel Mac, since the Mac version needs an M1 chip or later
• Watch out: the App Store shows Premium at $13.90, $9.69 and $6.95 without saying who qualifies for which
• Watch out: collaboration needs a login tied to an email address or phone number, and iCloud is the only integration named

Pick Concepts if

• Fits if you sketch or mark up PDFs with a stylus
• Works for designers and architects who need real-world scale and DXF export

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you work on a Mac or in a browser, as neither is listed
• Tight if you stay free: 5 layers, JPG export only and no selection tool
• Watch out: one-time purchases only apply to the platform where you bought them
• Not for you if you want typed notes, because it is a drawing app first

CollaNote

• Apple devices only: the listing covers iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision and Macs with an Apple M1 chip or later.
• Neither the site nor the App Store listing itemizes which features need Lifetime Premium.
• The App Store shows four Premium prices from $6.95 to $13.90 without saying who qualifies for each.
• Collaboration requires a login tied to an email address or phone number; other use needs no account.

Concepts

• Several features, including custom brushes, objects and presentation mode, are marked iOS only; the vendor says other platforms are catching up.
• The pages list iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Windows; no Mac or web app is listed, and a cross-platform release is marked as coming soon.
• One-time purchases apply only to the platform where they were bought.
• The site says prices vary by region and points to each app store for the exact figure.

CollaNote

Handwriting with Apple Pencil

The site lists 50+ pens and brushes with Apple Pencil support, along with shape and diagram recognition that tidies what you draw.

PDF, slide and document markup

Imports PDFs, PowerPoint slides and Word documents to write, highlight and sketch on, leaving the original file unchanged.

Audio recording synced to notes

Records audio while you write. Tapping a word afterwards jumps playback to the moment it was written, and AI turns the recording into a transcript.

Translation and calculator

Translates a selected phrase into 90+ languages with audio pronunciation, and turns handwritten equations into step-by-step solutions.

Planners and flashcards

Hyperlinked digital planners, habit trackers and to-do lists sit in the same document as notes, and flashcard decks can be made, pinned and shared.

Collaboration and community

Real-time collaboration works after logging in, and Public Rooms and a community library let users share notes and flashcards with others.

Concepts

Infinite canvas

Sketch with zoom and movable artboards, and share just the part you choose.

Editable vectors

Strokes stay adjustable after drawing, with infinite layers on the paid tiers.

Precision tools

Grids, line smoothing, live snap and shape guides, with real-world scale and measurement.

PDF and image markup

Drag in images and PDFs, sign documents and mark up files before sending them back.

Export formats

PDF, PNG, PSD, SVG and DXF (AutoCAD); the page ties several formats to paid unlocks.

Presentation mode

Sketch live for a team or client. The page marks this as iOS only.

CollaNote

• CollaNote$0

  Free download for iPad, iPhone and Apple silicon Macs, usable without an account. Its limits are not spelled out.

• Lifetime Premium$13.90

  one-time purchase

  One-time in-app purchase on the US App Store, which also lists a $9.69 Welcome Offer and $6.95 sale and loyal-user versions.

Concepts

• Basic$0

  Infinite Sketchbook: five layers, unlimited drawings, paper and grid types, JPG export.

• Pro$29.99

  per year, or $4.99 per month

  Over 200 libraries, services and features across iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Windows.

• Essentials (one-time)$1.99

  one-time, per platform; the page lists $1.99 to $39.99 each

  Unlocks selection and editing tools, infinite layers, shape guides, custom grids and PNG, PSD, SVG and DXF export. Brush packs, objects and PDF are sold separately.

• Teams$100

  per license / year ($10 per license billed monthly)

  Concepts Pro for a team with self-service billing, re-assignable licenses and multiple admins.

CollaNote

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium as a one-time purchase

  Premium is sold as a one-time in-app purchase, listed at $13.90 on the US App Store alongside a $9.69 Lifetime Premium Welcome Offer.

Concepts

• Education

  Free licenses for qualifying schools

  The pricing section lists free Concepts licenses for the entire school at qualifying institutions.