Short answer
ScreenshotAI uses Apple's built-in AI on the device to extract text and write a title, explanation and key points, with Spotlight search, and its store page requires iOS 26.0 or later. ScreenNote runs from iOS 17 on iPhone, its on-device OCR does not depend on Apple Intelligence, and it adds a Mac app, payment screenshots logged as expenses and to-do reminders. If your phone is on iOS 26 and you like title-and-key-points summaries, ScreenshotAI fits; on an older device, or if you want a Chinese interface or expense logging, pick ScreenNote. Third-party facts checked 2026-10-16.
The differences at a glance
| ScreenshotAI | ScreenNote | |
|---|---|---|
| What it mainly does | Per its page: Apple built-in AI on the device extracts text and writes a title, explanation and key points; search by text, tag or insight; swipe to organize (right keep, left delete); notes survive deleting the original screenshot; Spotlight integration | Keeps what is inside screenshots: on-device OCR, payment screenshots logged as expenses, to-dos created automatically, find the original from one word |
| Platform and requirements | iPhone; iOS 26.0 or later; interface languages listed: English, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish (no Chinese) | iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Mac (macOS 13 or later) |
| Price | Free to download in the US store; in-app purchases and subscriptions: not verified | Free app, core features cost nothing; AI optional (official AI has a free monthly quota; Pro subscription or your own key) |
| Where data goes | The page says all AI processing happens on the device and the data never leaves the phone | OCR runs on the device; with AI off, neither images nor text leave it |
| Store reputation (check date) | US rating 3.2 from 5 ratings; latest update 3.1 (2026-08-06) | See each App Store page for current details |
Third-party entries come from the other product's official pages (read on 2026-10-16) and are its own statements, not our tests. Prices and requirements change, so check the official page on the day you download. "Not verified" means we did not see it on an official page, not that it does not exist. Our own column comes from our home page and privacy policy.
When to pick ScreenshotAI
- Your iPhone is already on iOS 26 and you want Apple's on-device AI to write a title and key points for every screenshot.
- You search with Spotlight and want screenshot notes to show up in system search.
- You like the swipe-to-organize style for a backlog of screenshots.
When to pick ScreenNote
- Your iPhone is still on iOS 17 or 18, or it does not support Apple Intelligence.
- You want a Chinese interface, payment screenshots logged as expenses and to-dos turned into reminders.
- You also use a Mac and want screenshots synced between devices through your own iCloud.
Limits of ScreenNote
- ScreenNote is not a pure cleaner: it focuses on keeping what is inside screenshots; batch cleanup with a receipt before deleting is ScreenStack's job.
- With AI turned on, the content being processed is sent to an AI service, so it is no longer purely on-device; keep AI off if you want nothing to leave the device, and on-device OCR, full-text search and sorting still work.
- Every automatic sorter gets some wrong, so try a few of your own screenshots before switching.
Three things to test yourself before you commit
- First check the system: Settings → General → About; below iOS 26 you cannot install ScreenshotAI.
- Take 5 Chinese-language screenshots and compare recognition and search in each app; ScreenshotAI\'s interface languages do not include Chinese.
- Delete one disposable original screenshot and see whether the note survives: ScreenshotAI\'s page says it does, and you can try the same single screenshot in ScreenNote.
Moving over from ScreenshotAI, or using both
ScreenshotAI keeps notes in its own library; its page says notes survive deleting the original screenshot but does not describe an export (not verified). Copy the text of the notes you want into Notes first. If the original screenshots are still in your photo library, install ScreenNote and grant photo access and they are recognized and picked up again. The two apps can coexist without overwriting each other.
FAQ
Why does ScreenshotAI need iOS 26?
The store page lists iOS 26.0 as the minimum and says it uses Apple's built-in AI; it does not explain further. ScreenNote's on-device OCR does not require iOS 26.
Does ScreenshotAI support Chinese?
Its store page lists English, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Swedish, not Chinese. We have not tested how it reads Chinese screenshots and make no claim.
Does data stay on the phone in both apps?
ScreenshotAI's page says AI processing is on the device. With AI off, ScreenNote also keeps images and text on the device; with AI on, the content being processed goes to an AI service.
Which should I try first?
On iOS 26 and wanting summary-style notes, ScreenshotAI first; otherwise ScreenNote first. Both are free to download.
Sources and check dates
- ScreenshotAI App Store 页面（美区，Apple iTunes Lookup 读取） (checked 2026-10-16)
