Serious Notebook

A private, offline-first handwriting notebook for iPhone and iPad. Write with Apple Pencil, import PDFs and scanned pages, and keep every notebook on your device.

No ads No advertising SDKs or interruptions.
No tracking No analytics, no telemetry, no third-party SDKs.
No AI training Your notebooks are never used to train AI.
No account No login, no cloud sync, no subscription.

Why it exists

A notebook, kept serious.

Serious Notebook is built around a single idea: a digital notebook should feel like a real one — private, focused, and entirely yours.

Private by default

Every stroke, page, and notebook stays in the app's sandbox on your device. Nothing leaves until you export it.

Made for Apple Pencil

Built on PencilKit, with paper backgrounds, smooth ink, and the option to disable finger drawing so palm rests work naturally.

Bring your old notebooks

Import PDFs, planners, worksheets, or scanned paper notebooks as locked backgrounds, then keep writing on top.

Everything you need to take real notes.

Designed around handwriting first, with the tools you reach for every day — and nothing more.

1

Handwriting and typing

Write with Apple Pencil and add typed text or sticky notes wherever you need them.

2

Import PDFs and scans

Bring in PDFs, planners, worksheets, or scanned paper notebooks as locked page backgrounds.

3

Personal book covers

Pick a cover color or use one of your own photos to make your library feel like yours.

4

Multiple papers

Blank, ruled, grid, or dot grid pages on soft white or soft cream — choose per notebook.

5

Export to PDF

Share a single page or an entire notebook as a clean PDF whenever you need to.

6

iPhone and iPad

A native SwiftUI app with a split-view library on iPad and a focused single-pane on iPhone.

Private by design

Your notebooks live on your device.

Serious Notebook does not run analytics, does not work with ad networks, and does not use your handwriting, drawings, typed text, imported PDFs, or images to train AI — ours or anyone else's.

  • No analytics, no telemetry, no third-party SDKs.
  • No account, no login, no cloud sync.
  • Pages and imports are stored in the app's sandbox, encrypted on disk.
  • You can opt out of iCloud Backup for the notebook store from settings.
Serious Notebook privacy settings on iPhone

Designed for iPad and Apple Pencil.

Bring your old paper notebooks, planners, and worksheets in, and keep writing on top — or start a fresh notebook with the paper and cover of your choice.

Import existing notebook on iPad
Split view library on iPad
Personalize notebook covers on iPad

Support

For help with Serious Notebook, email support@tinyserious.com.

support@tinyserious.com