handwriting notes app ipad app for iphone free
Most handwriting apps are fine until the moment you need to mark up a PDF, search your own handwriting, or open the app on a plane — that is where the differences show up — 100 Notes Studio is built for this.
Short answer
100 Notes Studio is a handwriting and document workspace: twenty-nine pens and brushes with pressure and tilt on supported strokes, palm rejection, pixel and whole-stroke erasers, lasso, ruler, shape tools and a laser pointer for presenting. Pages can be fixed size or an infinite canvas in A4, A5, Letter, screen or custom dimensions, and typed text sits alongside ink with lists, checklists, tables and links.
PDFs are first-class rather than an afterthought: import and mark up with highlights, underline, strike-through, text notes and handwriting, then rotate, crop, insert, extract, merge and export. Handwriting and PDF text recognition run on the device, so search covers titles, body text, handwriting and attachments, and study tools add linked flashcards, cloze cards and spaced repetition. There is no account, no ads, no third-party tracking and no external AI; editing, search and study work offline, and a notebook or the whole workspace can be locked with device authentication.
What to look for before choosing
- Handwriting and PDF markup in one place, not two apps.
- On-device recognition so your own handwriting is searchable.
- Works offline with no account and no third-party tracking.
- A real free tier to test before any purchase.
- A one-time upgrade rather than a monthly fee.
A practical decision process
- Write a page with the pen you would actually use and check pressure and palm rejection.
- Import a real PDF and mark it up, then export to confirm the result.
- Search for a word you only ever wrote by hand.
- Turn off the network and confirm editing, search and study still work.
- Decide on the one-time upgrade only after the free notebook proves the workflow.
Quick comparison
| Need | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Check whether useful features require a subscription, a one-time unlock, or neither. | The cheapest app on day one may not be cheapest after a year. |
| Privacy model | Prefer on-device work when the content is sensitive. | Private documents, resumes, study data, and family content deserve careful handling. |
| Export / lock-in | Confirm file formats, sharing, backup, and deletion controls. | A good app should help you finish the task, not trap your work. |
Where 100 Notes Studio fits
100 Notes Studio fits people who take handwritten notes on iPad and also live in PDFs, and who would rather pay once than subscribe.
Free to startOne-time unlockNo subscription
This is a publisher-authored buying guide from the app developer. App Store features and prices can change, so confirm details on the listing before purchase.
FAQ
How much can I do without paying?
The free version includes the core editor, all twenty-nine writing tools, PDF markup, page audio attachments, handwriting search and the study tools, with one active notebook, unlimited pages and two of the hundred styles.
What does the paid upgrade add?
One optional one-time upgrade adds unlimited notebooks, all hundred styles, vector-ink PDF export, restorable page history and encrypted backup. There is no subscription.
Does anything leave my device?
No — there is no account, no ads, no third-party tracking or analytics and no external AI. Notes stay on the device unless you export or back them up yourself.
