Saber vs Stylus Labs Write

Saber

• Students and others who take notes by hand on a tablet
• Marking up PDFs and printouts in a dark room
• People who want an open-source handwriting app on every device

Stylus Labs Write

• People who take handwritten notes on both a tablet and a desktop computer
• Stylus users on Linux or Windows who want an open file format
• Editing handwriting after the fact: inserting space, moving and reflowing lines

Saber

• Syncing needs an account on a Nextcloud server: the official Saber one, another provider's, or your own.
• Extra storage is bought by sponsoring the developer on GitHub Sponsors, then emailing him to have the account upgraded by hand.
• The server owner cannot read notes but can see sign-up details, connecting devices and metadata such as the size of each note.
• On Linux the developer recommends the Flatpak, since the AppImage does not work on all systems.

Stylus Labs Write

• Typed text is not supported: the FAQ says Write can display text in an SVG document but cannot edit it.
• There is no built-in sync; the FAQ suggests syncing the document folder with a third-party tool, or saving to cloud folders in the iOS Files app.
• Google Play updates are suspended, and that listing was last updated in December 2021; the current Android build is an APK from the vendor's site.
• The free iOS app watermarks every page until the $8.99 full version is bought.

Saber

Highlighter that keeps its color

The highlighter does not darken where a stroke crosses itself, and it is drawn underneath the ink, so the writing below stays clear.

Dark mode that inverts notes

Dark mode darkens the notes as well as the interface, giving light ink on a dark page. Images and PDFs are inverted too, so printouts and textbooks match.

Nested folders

Notes are organized in folders that can be nested without limit, and the most recent notes are listed on the home screen.

Encrypted sync

Notes are encrypted with a randomly generated key before upload, so the server owner cannot read them. The key stays in secure storage on the device.

Choice of Nextcloud server

Sync runs on Nextcloud: the official Saber server hosted in the Netherlands, another Nextcloud provider, or a server you host yourself.

Apps on five platforms

Saber is on Google Play and F-Droid for Android, the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac, Flathub or an AppImage for Linux, and has a Windows installer.

Stylus Labs Write

Tools that follow lines of handwriting

Insert Space adds blank lines or room between words and reflows the paragraph, including multicolumn layouts. Ruled erase and select work on whole lines of writing in one pass.

Bookmarks and handwritten links

A bookmark dropped beside text appears in a bookmark view for navigation. Handwritten links can point to bookmarks, web sites or other documents.

Undo/redo dial

A dial moves backward and forward through an unlimited undo history with one continuous motion instead of repeated taps.

SVG documents

The native format is SVG, which any modern web browser can display. Documents are plain files that can also be saved as HTML or exported to PDF.

Shared whiteboarding

Several people can work on a document in real time through a whiteboard server. The vendor publishes the server and recommends running it on your own network.

Split view, clippings and pens

Two documents, or two parts of one, can be open side by side. Frequently used content is saved as clippings, and pens, page size, color and ruling can be customized.

Saber

• Free$0

  The full app, plus 5 GB of storage for every account on the official Saber Nextcloud server.

• StandardAny amount

  per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship

  10 GB of storage on the Saber server for a monthly sponsorship of any size. Free for students who email proof of status.

• Premium$5

  or more per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship

  50 GB of storage on the Saber server.

• Hoarder$7

  or more per month, as a GitHub Sponsors sponsorship

  100 GB of storage on the Saber server.

Stylus Labs Write

• Write for desktop and Android$0

  Windows, macOS, Linux and Android builds downloaded from the vendor's site. The source code is on GitHub under the AGPL-3.0 license.

• Stylus Labs Write (iOS)$0

  The free iPhone and iPad app, which the download page calls the trial version. It puts a watermark on each page.

• Full version (iOS)$8.99

  one-time in-app purchase (US App Store)

  Removes the watermark from the free iPhone and iPad app.

• Stylus Labs Write Pro$8.99

  one-time purchase (US App Store)

  The iPhone and iPad app sold as a paid download instead of an in-app upgrade. Family Sharing covers up to six people.

Saber

• Education

  Standard storage plan free for students

  The pricing page gives students the 10 GB Standard plan free. They email the developer their Nextcloud username and proof of student status, such as a UNiDAYS ID.

Stylus Labs Write

No public discounts listed.