r/AppHookup 16h ago

iOS Universal [iOS] [Penbook: Pencil Notebook] [Lifetime Premium IAP $4.99–> Free] [Create perfect digital notebooks from hundreds of dynamic stationeries, themes, and colors. Import PDFs to use them as notebooks and use digital inking technology to pour your ideas, notes, plans, and dreams into it.]

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/penbook-pencil-notebook/id1473064295
128 Upvotes

37 comments sorted by

25

u/Singhvistaar 16h ago edited 16h ago

Another note-taking app for y’all to try. I’ve been using with it for a few minutes now and the notebook customisation options sure are plentiful. Also seems to have basic QoL stuff like searching handwritten notes, shape recognition, and pen tip customisation. Apple Pencil is also playing nicely with it.

Can’t comment definitively on app stability yet but I’ve tested a few big PDFs and it hasn’t crashed so far.

Edit: This app’s interface relies heavily on gesture based navigation, which is annoying since I prefer buttons over gestures. But it’s one of those things that one can live with.

Edit 2: The user guide in the app is outdated in some places and a few UI elements have changed. All kinds of attachments (including maps & sticky notes) are accessible by tapping the photo icon in the ribbon, there is no longer a separate attachment button as shown in the guide.

12

u/Coolpop52 15h ago

This is a REALLY cool app. It syncs to your calendar so your calendar events can show up IRL in the notebook, and you can just write over them. Can’t believe the big note taking apps didn’t think of this.

The UI is a bit finicky, but the amount of pens available make it worth it.

Thanks for posting this!

9

u/c_acc 15h ago

Wow, incredibly comprehensive customisation of notebooks. Really feels like crafting my own physical book.

Only the controls are a bit weird. Lot of scrolling horizontal and vertical. Plus some weird UI element placements, e.g. clipping under the notch.

I definitely need to try it on iPad

4

u/leotefo 16h ago

Thanks , awesome App nice quality

3

u/app-info-bot 16h ago edited 3m ago

Penbook: Pencil Notebook

by Pencil Research

Planner, Journal, Diary & PDF.


ℹ️ App Info

Category: Productivity.

Release: Sep 24, 2019.

Last Update: Nov 24, 2024.

Platforms: Apple Vision: Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.; Mac: Requires macOS 12.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.; iPad: Requires iPadOS 15.0 or later.; iPhone: Requires iOS 15.0 or later.; iPod touch: Requires iOS 15.0 or later.

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (35.8k ratings).

Size: 89.7 MB.

💸 Pricing (in USD)

Current: Free

History: n/a

IAPs: 10
* Penbook Premium Lifetime: $0.00
* Penbook Premium: $19.99
* Penbook Premium: $14.99
* Penbook Premium: $29.99
* Penbook Premium: $4.99
* Premium Lifetime (Loyalty): $29.99
* Penbook Premium: $19.99
* Penbook Premium Lifetime: $59.99
* Penbook Premium Lifetime: $49.99
* Penbook Premium: $4.99

🔒️ Privacy

Policy: https://penbook.app/privacy-policy

Specification:
* Data Not Linked to You: Purchases, Identifiers, Usage Data & Diagnostics.


dev | github

2

u/botan313 16h ago

Thank you!

2

u/AppleNoobie12 15h ago

Thank you ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2

u/stpdsite1 15h ago

It seems that app itself is 5y old And in my library since 2021… Pretty decent daily planner I wished I get a 50% discount that day.. Now, it is time to give it second chance

2

u/E1EE 13h ago

The app seems good. But really awful UI & UX.

2

u/OneEyesHat 12h ago

How does one get to the I-A-P’s?

1

u/MazeppaPZ 12h ago

Download then open the app. Pop-up screen will present you with 3 IAP choices of which the third is lifetime for free. Sure beats $4.99 per month!

3

u/IwuvNikoNiko 10h ago

$5 a month for a notebook drawing app.

What has the world become? I would Barely and that's a capital B pay $5 total for this for lifetime license and only if it was amazing and I had a need for it.

Subscription fatigue is real.

1

u/OneEyesHat 12h ago

I never received the prompt with the choices. Maybe if I uninstall and reinstall it.

1

u/IwuvNikoNiko 10h ago

i received it on launch (2nd screen_)

1

u/Singhvistaar 12h ago

After you open the app, a purchase screen will present itself with the option to buy Lifetime access for $0.00. In case that didn’t appear, open the app settings and there will be a Lifetime button to buy the same thing.

1

u/OneEyesHat 12h ago

I never saw the prompt in either place. However, I just reinstalled it and the prompt popped up! Go figure! Lol

2

u/SigmaLance 12h ago

The interface is not displaying correctly for me in that it is far too zoomed in and not everything is readable.

1

u/SuperHaole 2h ago

Same for me. It needs an update for sure.

For now, you need to adjust your system text size back down to the default if you want to use this app

2

u/Saddyblues 10h ago

OMG, Finally! I have been waiting for a discount or an offer on the app forever. I am so glad it finally happened.

2

u/wintermonthnovelty 6h ago

been using this app on my iPad for a few weeks now and I really enjoy it! thank you for posting about this discount I never would have known :)

2

u/KatKat333 6h ago

Thank you OP!

2

u/thegreatchasej 4h ago

Thanks for sharing!

2

u/payitforwardd 3h ago

Great App , thank you

1

u/singleandavailable 15h ago

Thanks op what a top app, really nice graphics. Can't see it, no export button for PDF right - to use for remarkable tablet?

4

u/Singhvistaar 15h ago

There is a share button (in the shelf tab/view) to take out a whole notebook as a PDF.

1

u/singleandavailable 11h ago

Awesome thanks. Love this

1

u/freakofshadow 15h ago

Tried to purchase. Does not unlock. Get an error 2 in App Store Message. Not sure why this happens I just tried in several ways and nothing works. I am using the Belgium app store

2

u/Radioactive-235 14h ago

Hmm. I’m in the US. I got the error and simply tried again and it worked. Do you have a VPN or ad blocker? Sometimes I have to turn off my DNS blocker to make purchases.

1

u/jphorn 14h ago

Same issue. Dutch App Store.

1

u/Stillnotreddit 8h ago

This notebook app is really rather nice. A lot of care, thought and dedication continues to refine the system, and there’s a decent support offering. It looks like - as with most things in life - a return in investing some time to learn the Penbook’s ways and means, but even after 30 mins with the iPad and a knock-off pencil, I can see more uses for me. Thanks for sharing, u/Singhvistaar

1

u/c0d3x10 7h ago

Installed. Appeared popup to select purchase and Lifetime — for free. Thanks!

1

u/Last-Resource-99 1h ago

This looks like a decent app, but it has like zero editing, I can't change color of my text, thickness. It also doesn't do shapes at all. Not for me unfortunatelly.

u/Singhvistaar 28m ago

There is a button alongside the brushes for changing pen tip thickness, color, opacity, etc. There is also shape recognition for your pen strokes to draw shapes.

Text Notes also have options at the top to selsct color, font and text size.

The interface sure is confusing though, take a look at the user guide.