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Penbook vs Things

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

Penbook icon
Penbook
Things icon
Things

Penbook vs Things: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Penbook: Penbook is a free and open-source note taking app designed for handwritten notes. It allows users to write notes naturally with a stylus, with features like pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and customizable pens and paper. Useful for taking quick handwritten notes on a tablet.

Things: Things is a task management app for Mac and iOS that helps users organize projects and to-do lists. It has a simple, clean interface and features like tags, reminders, and deep Apple integration.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature Penbook Things
Sugggest Score — —
Category Office & Productivity Productivity
Pricing Open Source —

Product Overview

Penbook
Penbook

Description: Penbook is a free and open-source note taking app designed for handwritten notes. It allows users to write notes naturally with a stylus, with features like pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and customizable pens and paper. Useful for taking quick handwritten notes on a tablet.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Things
Things

Description: Things is a task management app for Mac and iOS that helps users organize projects and to-do lists. It has a simple, clean interface and features like tags, reminders, and deep Apple integration.

Type: software

Key Features Comparison

Penbook
Penbook Features
  • Pressure sensitivity for natural writing experience
  • Palm rejection to avoid accidental touches
  • Customizable pens and paper styles
  • Support for stylus input
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Note organization with notebooks and tags
  • Share notes as images
Things
Things Features
  • Task management
  • Project organization
  • To-do lists
  • Tags
  • Reminders
  • Deep Apple integration

Pros & Cons Analysis

Penbook
Penbook
Pros
  • Free and open source
  • Designed specifically for handwritten notes
  • Natural writing experience
  • Flexible organization with notebooks and tags
  • Cross-platform availability
Cons
  • Limited formatting options compared to word processors
  • No collaboration features
  • Handwriting recognition can be inaccurate
  • No cloud sync - notes only stored locally
Things
Things
Pros
  • Simple, clean interface
  • Powerful organization features
  • Seamless syncing between Mac, iPhone, iPad
  • Strong Apple integration
Cons
  • No web app
  • Can be pricey for extensive features
  • iOS-focused features may not appeal to non-Apple users

Pricing Comparison

Penbook
Penbook
  • Open Source
Things
Things
  • Not listed

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Learn More About Each Product

Penbook
Penbook
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Things
Things
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