# Memo Pad vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is update cadence: Memo Pad at every 6 weeks against Simple Notes's every 3 months. Simple Notes's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 79%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Memo Pad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month and Simple Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Memo Pad against 4.7 for Simple Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 427 and 790 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Memo Pad's written reviews are positive against 88% of Simple Notes's.

Memo Pad ships an update every 6 weeks, Simple Notes every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Memo Pad | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (427 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memo-pad-simple-note-pad/id1078142918/reviews) | **[4.7 (790 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 427 | **790** |
| Positive reviews | 79.3% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [woodsmall inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/708077492) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### Memo Pad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memo-pad-simple-note-pad/id1078142918)

This is a straightforward and visually appealing notepad application. It allows users to quickly jot down ideas, tasks, or lists and find them later with a search function. Users can also customize the appearance and share content with other applications.

**Highlights:** Easy note search, Customizable themes and fonts, Sort notes by date, Share notes to other apps, Tablet optimized design

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly plan | $0.49 | per month |
| 6 months plan | $2.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual plan | $5.99 | per year |
| Pay in full | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient for quick notes
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 📝 Helpful for reminders and to-do lists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty locating specific notes
- 💰 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔒 Lack of sync between devices

**Reported bugs**

- Notes sometimes disappearing after updates
- Password/fingerprint login not working consistently

**Requested features**

- Add ability to add photos or files
- Implement alphabetical sorting of notes
- Improve cursor control for editing
- Provide cloud sync across devices


### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396)

This app offers a clean and efficient way to organize your thoughts and ideas. Easily add images, organize notes into colored folders, and secure your entries with a passcode. Customize the look with various themes and fonts, and back up your data to iCloud.

**Highlights:** Add photos to notes, Organize with colored folders, Calendar view for notes, Passcode and biometric lock, Customizable themes and fonts, iCloud backup and sync, Smart search with tags

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Premium Service | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📁 Folder organization and color-coding
- 🔒 Password protection
- 💡 Useful for school and work notes
- 🚀 Fast and responsive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Lack of iCloud sync
- 📐 Limited formatting options (no bold, italics, etc.)
- 🎨 Default folder color cannot be changed
- 🔍 No alphabetical sorting for folders

**Reported bugs**

- No local PC backup and restore feature
- UI looks outdated and childish

**Requested features**

- Add ability to pin notes at the top of a folder
- Implement iCloud sync between devices
- Introduce more text formatting options (bold, italics, underline, etc.)
- Allow changing folder colors


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Memo Pad free?

Memo Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Simple Notes free?

Simple Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Memo Pad or Simple Notes?

Simple Notes is rated higher. Memo Pad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 427 ratings, while Simple Notes averages 4.7 from 790 ratings.

### Do Memo Pad or Simple Notes have ads?

Both Memo Pad and Simple Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Memo Pad or Simple Notes?

Memo Pad ships an update every 6 weeks, and Simple Notes every 3 months. Most recently, Memo Pad was updated on September 28, 2026 and Simple Notes on September 23, 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.*