Comparison

Simple Notes. vs PhotoNote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Simple Notes.

This app offers a straightforward way to create, manage, and share text-based notes. It focuses on essential features like character counting and sorting, with seamless integration for sharing via messaging apps.

Highlights
  • Create text notes
  • Character count display
  • Sort notes
  • Widget support
  • Instant sharing via Messages
  • Automatic saving
Features
Read full description

Simple Notes. is exactly what the name says, a simple note taking app. The app's core idea is to provide an app with features that everyone is going to use. There's no grids, cameras, audio and etc. Just text, and sharing. What can this app do? -Create notes -Display the number of characters -Sort notes -Show list of notes, or most recent note using widgets -Share instantly using the Messages app -How to Create Notes 1. Press "Create new Note" 2. Enter the any text you'd like to save 3. Press "Save" After your first save, your note will be saved automatically -How to delete Notes Swipe your note to the left or 1. Tap the three dots button 2. Press edit 3. Then press "-" then press "delete" -How to sort notes 1. Tap the three dots button 2. Tap the way you want to sort your notes -How to share notes with iMessage 0. Open "iMessage" 1. Tap on a conversation 2. Tap on Simple Notes. from the app drawer 3. Select a note you'd like to send 4. Press the blue arrow and your message is sent! (If you don't want to send your title, turn on the switch on the top) Please leave reviews and comments in the App Store/Twitter Direct Message about what should be done to make this app better

About

PhotoNote

Capture information visually by taking photos instead of typing. Organize your visual notes with tabs and colored tags. Photos are stored within the app, preventing clutter in your device's photo gallery.

Highlights
  • Capture notes via camera
  • Organize with tabs
  • Categorize with colored tags
  • Internal photo storage
  • Reorder notes and tags
Features
Read full description

Instead of typing letters on the keyboard, I'm sure there are times when I take a picture and use it as a note instead. However, there is a risk that the photo folder will be flooded with notes. It is this application that is useful in such a case. All you have to do is take a picture with the built-in camera. You can organize the notes you have taken with tabs. In addition, the photos you took will be saved in the app, so you won't clutter up your photo folder! Usage examples: - Receipt - Timetable - Cooking Recipes - Deadline for reports written on the blackboard - Organize the screenshot. In addition, you can separate the notes you took with colored tags for each category. Tags can be added, deleted, and reordered from the pre-prepared colors. You can also reorder your notes.

Screenshots

Simple Notes.4 screens
PhotoNote3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Simple Notes. at none against PhotoNote's shown. Simple Notes. also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (61 vs 2). PhotoNote's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Simple Notes. sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and PhotoNote sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhotoNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes. has 61 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Simple Notes.'s written reviews are positive against 100% of PhotoNote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Notes. ships an update every 2 months, PhotoNote every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Simple Notes. versus PhotoNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Notes.PhotoNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (61 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings61 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuto IwakamiSatoshi Kobayashi

Customer experience

Simple Notes.

All ratings61 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral4.9%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative7.1%

PhotoNote

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Simple Notes.

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$5.99
1 purchases

PhotoNote

Subscriptions1
  • Pro plan$1.991 Month

Questions

Is Simple Notes. free?
Simple Notes. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhotoNote free?
PhotoNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Simple Notes. or PhotoNote?
PhotoNote is rated higher. Simple Notes. averages 4.7 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while PhotoNote averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Simple Notes. or PhotoNote have ads?
PhotoNote shows ads; Simple Notes. does not.
Which is updated more often, Simple Notes. or PhotoNote?
Simple Notes. ships an update every 2 months, and PhotoNote every 3 weeks. Most recently, Simple Notes. was updated on October 13, 2026 and PhotoNote on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons