Notebooks vs SnipNotes

Notebooks

• Writers who want notes, long documents and tasks in one app
• People who prefer one-time purchases to subscriptions
• Users who want their documents kept as regular files they can reach from other apps

SnipNotes

• Apple Watch owners who want to dictate and read notes on the wrist
• Collecting copied text, links and addresses to act on later
• People who prefer a one-time purchase to a notes subscription

Notebooks

• Each platform is a separate purchase: $17.99 for iPhone and iPad, $19 for Windows and $43.99 for Mac.
• The site offers no Android, Linux or web version.
• On iPhone and iPad, Custom Storage Locations is a $2.99 in-app purchase on top of the app price.
• WebDAV sync has no automatic mode and has to be triggered manually.

SnipNotes

• It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch only; the developer says there are no current plans for Windows or Android.
• iCloud sync, subcategories, tags, file attachments, drawing and voice recordings are all paid.
• Sync works through iCloud only; the FAQ rules out Dropbox, OneDrive and Nextcloud because notes are stored as database records.
• The feature table marks drawing, dictation, Siri, widgets, reminders and passcode protection as not yet supported on the Mac.

Notebooks

Text, Markdown and formatted documents

Write in plain text, Markdown or formatted text with styles, tables, checklists, images and attachments, and convert between the formats at any time.

Nested books

Documents and imported files live in books that nest into hierarchies and can be reordered freely. Smart Books collect recent items, favorites and tasks.

Task lists inside books

Any book can become a task list and nested books become nested projects, with due dates, alerts and recurring tasks. Tasks can be extracted from documents.

Links, backlinks and search

Wiki-style links connect documents, backlinks show where a document is referenced, and full-text search covers documents, PDFs and attachments.

PDF and eBook export

Compile one or more documents into a PDF or an eBook at any time; the developer's own handbooks are produced this way.

Regular files and flexible sync

Documents are regular files in standard formats, synced through iCloud Drive, Dropbox or WebDAV, or directly between devices over a local Wi-Fi network.

SnipNotes

Capture from clipboard, voice and share sheet

Notes can be created from copied text, dictated with Siri or in-app voice input, dragged in from other apps or sent through the share sheet. A note can also store the current location.

Apple Watch app

Notes can be dictated, read and managed on the watch, and synced notes stay available when the iPhone is out of range. LTE watches can create notes on the go.

Inbox, archive, categories and tags

New notes land in an inbox and can be archived, pinned or filed in categories. Nested categories and colored tags are paid features.

Quick actions and automation

Detected addresses open in a map and phone numbers can be called, and a note can become a calendar event. Shortcuts actions and a URL scheme connect it to other apps.

Attachments, drawing and voice recordings

Paid upgrades add file attachments such as PDFs and videos, drawing with a finger or Apple Pencil on iPhone and iPad, and voice recordings that iOS 26 or later can transcribe.

iCloud sync with offline access

With SnipNotes Plus, notes sync through the user's private iCloud account. They are also stored locally, so they can be read and edited without a connection.

Notebooks

• Notebooks for iPhone and iPad$17.99

  one-time purchase (US App Store)

  The iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch app. Custom Storage Locations is a $2.99 in-app purchase, and optional tips are offered.

• Notebooks for Windows$19

  one-time license

  A license file for the Windows app, which shares its files with the iPhone and iPad app through iCloud Drive, Dropbox or WebDAV.

• Notebooks for Mac$43.99

  one-time purchase

  Sold directly, with activation on up to five Macs, or through the Mac App Store at the same price. There are no recurring fees.

SnipNotes

• Free$0

  The app with its core features on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Paid features such as iCloud sync stay locked.

• SnipNotes Plus (Subscription)$1.99

  billing period not labelled; a monthly option exists

  Unlocks every paid feature on iOS and macOS, including ones added later, after a 7-day free trial. The US App Store lists two subscription items at $1.99.

• Single-feature upgrades$3.99

  one-time purchase per feature

  Subcategories, Note Attachments, Note Tags and Voice Recordings sold one at a time. The vendor's blog gave $4.99 for tags and voice recordings at launch.

• SnipNotes Plus (yearly subscription)$14.99

  per year

  The listing's promoted subscription for one year, with a free trial. Its price comes from the page's purchase data and is not shown as text.

• SnipNotes Plus (iOS)$14.99

  one-time purchase

  Premium features for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch only. Listed while the vendor says all purchases are reduced for a short time.

• SnipNotes Plus (iOS + macOS)$24.99

  one-time purchase

  Premium features on both iOS and macOS with one purchase. Also listed during the vendor's temporary sale; the regular price is not shown.

Notebooks

No public discounts listed.

SnipNotes

• Lifetime license

  One-time purchase instead of a subscription

  SnipNotes Plus can be unlocked permanently with a single purchase, for one platform or for iOS and macOS together, as an alternative to the monthly or annual subscription.

• Other savings

  Temporary sale on all in-app purchases

  The App Store description says all purchases are reduced for a short time and gives no end date. Tags and Voice Recordings are listed at $3.99 against the $4.99 quoted at launch.