# Simple Notepad vs Color Notepad

The clearest difference is rating: Color Notepad at 4.5 against Simple Notepad's 2.6. Color Notepad also leads on review sentiment (47% vs 21%) and ratings volume (607 vs 16). Simple Notepad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Color Notepad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simple Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Color Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Color Notepad has 607 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Simple Notepad's written reviews are positive against 47% of Color Notepad's.

Simple Notepad ships an update every 3 months, Color Notepad every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Notepad | Color Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepad-best-notebook-text-editor-pad-to-write-take-fast-memo-note/id1064117835/reviews) | **[4.5 (607 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/color-notepad/id1112663477/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **607** |
| Positive reviews | 20.5% of reviews | **46.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jian Yih Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/993496554) | [Dmytro Vynokurov](https://appshunter.io/developer/350017076) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepad-best-notebook-text-editor-pad-to-write-take-fast-memo-note/id1064117835)

This application provides a straightforward method for capturing quick notes. It offers customization options for font styles and sizes, along with essential tools for managing your notes, such as searching, copying, and sharing.

**Highlights:** Quick note taking, Change font size, Change font style, Search notes, Copy notes, Share notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Color Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/color-notepad/id1112663477)

A clean and simple note-taking app that lets you personalize your experience with over 20 colorful themes. It offers a minimalist design for distraction-free writing, iCloud sync, and robust backup options.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, 20+ colorful themes, Light & Dark Mode, iCloud sync, Sort notes, Export notes, Automatic local backups

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Storage | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Colorful customization options
- 💾 One-time purchase pricing model
- 📝 Simple and easy-to-use interface
- 🔤 Adjustable font size options
- ✅ Cross-device synchronization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notes frequently disappear or fail to save
- 🐛 App crashes and won't open
- 🐛 Text scrolls out of view when keyboard appears
- 💰 Expensive pricing for unlimited storage
- ❌ Limited to 3 notes in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Notes deleted unexpectedly after saving
- App crashes and fails to reopen
- Text disappears or becomes invisible
- Keyboard covers note content during editing
- Inconsistent save functionality (8 out of 10 times fails)

**Requested features**

- Password protection for notes
- Different colors for individual notes
- Checklist functionality with reset capability
- Note sharing capabilities
- Multiple font options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Notepad free?

Simple Notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Color Notepad free?

Color Notepad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Notepad or Color Notepad?

Color Notepad is rated higher. Simple Notepad averages 2.6 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Color Notepad averages 4.5 from 607 ratings.

### Do Simple Notepad or Color Notepad have ads?

Neither Simple Notepad nor Color Notepad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Notepad or Color Notepad?

Simple Notepad ships an update every 3 months, and Color Notepad every 5 months. Most recently, Simple Notepad was updated on November 2, 2026 and Color Notepad on November 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*