Side by side
Penbook vs SilentNotes
Both stand on note-taking apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan iPhoneMac
Penbook offers broad stationery, handwriting tools, planner pages, and Apple integrations across Apple platforms. The free tier is centered on one notebook, while Premium unlocks unlimited creation and export.
Visit Penbook Free plan AndroidWindows
SilentNotes combines offline notes, flexible sync options, and an encrypted safe on Android and Windows. Remember that unprotected local notes are usually readable and that backups are your responsibility.
Visit SilentNotesThe facts
| Penbook | SilentNotes | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Mac | Android, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Penbook Premium Lifetime: $49.99, paid once | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | penbook.app | martinstoeckli.ch |
| On note-taking apps | #97 of 216 | #101 of 216 |
Penbook: what it does well
- More than 400 stationery types
- Handwriting search and shape conversion
- PDF import for annotation
- Apple Calendar and iCloud integration
- Free plan supports one notebook
What to know first
- Notebook export requires Premium
- Sync requires the same Apple ID
- Some improvements require iOS or iPadOS 27
SilentNotes: what it does well
- Works offline and stores notes locally.
- Supports FTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
- Notes are encrypted on the device before syncing.
- No ads and no personal data collection, according to the maker.
- Open source and free.
What to know first
- Unprotected notes are usually readable on the device.
- Automatic backups are disabled on Android and Windows.
- Requires Android 7.0 or Windows 10 version 1809.
Alternatives to Penbook Alternatives to SilentNotes The whole list