The Concepts Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Concepts in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Concepts
The Insider’s Guide
Infinite-canvas sketching app with editable vector strokes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Concepts’s own pages.
Made by TopHatch, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Concepts’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Concepts’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade
Concepts is a sketching and whiteboarding app where each stroke on an infinite canvas stays an editable vector. It is used for handwritten notes, design sketches and marking up PDFs, and exports to formats such as PDF, PNG, PSD, SVG and DXF. It is sold through the app stores of each platform.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Concepts, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and start drawing, with nothing to set up.
- 1
Best for stylus sketching on an endless canvas
Concepts is a sketching and markup app on an endless canvas, built for stylus users, with PDF markup and vector strokes.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $29.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic: handcrafted brushes, color wheels, five layers, the infinite canvas, unlimited drawings and basic JPG export.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
iOS, Android and Windows.
- 5
Infinite canvas
Sketch with zoom and movable artboards, and share just the part you choose.
- 6
Editable vectors
Strokes stay adjustable after drawing, with infinite layers on the paid tiers.
- 7
Precision tools
Grids, line smoothing, live snap and shape guides, with real-world scale and measurement.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 51 of 152
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Concepts you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Concepts at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $29.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial of Pro through the App Store, Play Store or Microsoft Store.
- Runs on
- Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- TopHatch, Inc.
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 26,641 ratings
The report card
Best for stylus sketching on an endless canvas
Concepts is a sketching and markup app on an endless canvas, built for stylus users, with PDF markup and vector strokes. The free version has 5 layers and JPG export, selection tools and other export formats are paid, and several features are iOS only, with no Mac or web version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Pro is $29.99 a year or $4.99 a month, which works out under the $5.99 category middle. One-time Essentials unlocks start at $1.99, but each one covers a single platform. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic is free with unlimited drawings, 5 layers and JPG export. Selection tools, more layers and PNG, PSD or SVG export are paid, and Pro has a 7-day trial. |
| Features | C | Infinite canvas, editable vectors, grids and snap, and PDF markup. But custom brushes, objects and presentation mode are marked iOS only. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record. You install it and start drawing, with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iOS, Android, ChromeOS and Windows, so phones and a computer are covered. No Mac or web app is listed, and a cross-platform release is marked as coming soon. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Concepts is for
- Fits if you sketch or mark up PDFs with a stylus
- Works for designers and architects who need real-world scale and DXF export
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Stylus users who want handwritten notes and sketches on a canvas that never runs out
- Designers and architects marking up drawings and PDFs
- Whiteboarding in video calls
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.50
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Concepts has a free plan. Paid plans start at $29.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Pro).
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.
The free plan
Basic: handcrafted brushes, color wheels, five layers, the infinite canvas, unlimited drawings and basic JPG export.
Trying it first
7-day free trial of Pro through the App Store, Play Store or Microsoft Store.
Read from concepts.app on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
Free licenses for qualifying schools
The pricing section lists free Concepts licenses for the entire school at qualifying institutions.
Stated on concepts.app
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Windows, iOS and Android
Infinite-canvas sketching app with editable vector strokes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: notes, whiteboard, diagrams.
Infinite canvas, editable vectors, grids and snap, and PDF markup.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Concepts is made by TopHatch, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
51/152
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Concepts's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 24.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 87 of 152) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 15 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 153 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Concepts’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 50 of 152
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 152
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 152
- BEase of useAbove 50 of 152
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 87 of 152
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 107 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Concepts is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Concepts you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $29.99 a year.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An endless canvas that stays smooth with hundreds of things on it.
- A diagram editor.
- Apps for Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Concepts’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Goodnotes, Notability, Noteful, Squid and CollaNote
The 5 tools Concepts is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Goodnotes
Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant.
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Only Goodnotes lists a macOS app.
- Goodnotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
Notability
Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools.
- Only Notability lists a web app.
- Only Notability lists a macOS app.
- Notability can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Noteful
Free plan · from $6.99 one-time
Handwritten notes and PDF markup for iPad, with tags and layers.
- Only Concepts lists Android and Windows apps.
- Noteful can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Concepts also covers whiteboard and diagrams.
- 2.0GPA
Squid
Free plan · from $1.00
Handwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks.
- Only Concepts lists iOS and Windows apps.
- Concepts also covers diagrams.
- 3.0GPA
CollaNote
Free plan · from $13.90 one-time
Handwriting and PDF markup notes for iPad, iPhone and Mac.
- Only Concepts lists Android and Windows apps.
- Only CollaNote lists a macOS app.
- CollaNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Concepts free?
Concepts has a free plan. Basic: handcrafted brushes, color wheels, five layers, the infinite canvas, unlimited drawings and basic JPG export.
How much does Concepts cost?
Concepts lists 4 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Concepts work on?
Concepts is available on iOS, Android and Windows.
Does Concepts offer any discounts?
Concepts publicly lists the following: Free licenses for qualifying schools.
How is Concepts rated?
Concepts's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 26,641 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Concepts have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Concepts is listed for iOS, Android and Windows.
Does Concepts have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Concepts is listed for iOS, Android and Windows.
Is Concepts open source?
Concepts is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Concepts have a student discount?
Free licenses for qualifying schools. The pricing section lists free Concepts licenses for the entire school at qualifying institutions.
Does Concepts have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial of Pro through the App Store, Play Store or Microsoft Store.
Who makes Concepts?
Concepts is made by TopHatch, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Concepts?
The closest alternatives to Concepts in our directory are Goodnotes, Notability, Noteful, Squid and CollaNote.
How does Concepts compare with other note-taking apps?
Concepts's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 51 of the 152 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 24.
Is Concepts good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Concepts B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 15 of the 68 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Concepts?
The plain part of Concepts you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Concepts’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Concepts's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by TopHatch, Inc. Prices change, so check concepts.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Concepts, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/concepts
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Concepts: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/concepts
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/concepts/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Concepts, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 153 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Concepts’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Concepts is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by TopHatch, Inc. Prices and plans change: check concepts.app before you buy.