Comparison

Simple Notes. vs Paper

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 it sounds like: a simple app for taking notes. It focuses on everyday essentials. No grids, camera, or audio—just text, with easy ways to organize and share it. Write a note and it saves automatically as you type. The first line becomes its title. Search your notes, star favorites, sort by favorites, date, or title, and tap the counter to switch between character and word counts. Keep notes close with widgets. Show a note you choose or browse a list of recent notes. Tap a note in a widget to open it in the app. FEATURES - Create and automatically save text notes - Count characters or words - Search, star, and sort notes - View a selected note or recent notes with widgets - Share notes as text or as a .txt file - Add a note to a Messages conversation, with the option to include its title - Create or retrieve notes with Shortcuts app - Create note or search using Siri HOW TO USE Create a note: Tap “Create New Note” and start typing. Your changes save automatically. Delete a note: Swipe left on it and tap Delete. Sort notes: Tap the menu button and choose Favorites, Date, or Title. Share in Messages: Open Simple Notes. from the Messages app drawer, choose a conversation and a note, then tap Send. Use the switch at the top to include or leave out the title. Have a suggestion? Please leave a review on the App Store or send feedback through the app.

About

Paper

Capture, organize, and sync your thoughts with a smart note-taking app. Features include rich formatting, AI summarization, and secure encryption across all your devices. Ideal for students, professionals, and anyone seeking enhanced productivity.

Highlights
  • Customizable notebooks
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Smart search
  • Rich formatting (images, sketches)
  • AI note summarization
  • Voice-to-text capture
  • Cross-device sync
Features
Read full description

Paper is the simplest way to take notes, capture ideas, and stay organized. This free note taking app brings text notes, voice notes, checklists, and smart reminders together in one clean, fast and private space. TAKE NOTES YOUR WAY • Write text notes, record voice notes, and add images, drawings and math equations • Turn any note into a checklist or to-do list with deadlines and recurring reminders • Jot down memos and ideas on the go, wherever you are STAY ORGANIZED • Organize notes with notebooks, tags and pinned notes • Search everything instantly and filter by tag • Sync your notes across phone, tablet and computer • Use it as a journal, a memo pad, or your daily planner SMART AI ASSISTANT • Summarize long notes in one tap • Translate your notes into any language • Auto-tag and structure your notes automatically PRIVATE & SECURE • Notes are end-to-end encrypted • Secret Garden: a password-protected space for your most personal notes • No ads, no tracking: a private notes app you can trust SHARE EASILY • Share notes as a link, Markdown, or HTML • Collaborate on notes in real time with friends and teammates Paper Premium unlocks unlimited notebooks, automatic voice to text transcription, AI features, unlimited recurring reminders, and real-time collaboration. Download Paper now, the free notes app with AI, voice notes, checklists and full privacy. What's new: • Completely redesigned app: navigation now uses a bottom tab bar • Create notes with your voice • Notes sharing has been rebuilt and is now much more reliable • Fresh new UI across the entire app for a smoother experience • AI features have been improved and stabilized https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Simple Notes.4 screens
Paper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Notes. at none against Paper's 3. Simple Notes. also leads on ratings volume (65 vs 2). Paper's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 79%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Paper sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Simple Notes. asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paper holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes. has 65 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 Paper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Notes. ships an update every 2 months, Paper fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Simple Notes. versus Paper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple Notes.Paper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (65 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings65 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYuto IwakamiSteve NOSSE

Customer experience

Simple Notes.

All ratings64 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral4.7%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative7.1%

Paper

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Simple Notes.

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
  • Yearly premium$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime access$9.99

Questions

Is Simple Notes. free?
Simple Notes. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Simple Notes. or Paper?
Paper is rated higher. Simple Notes. averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Paper averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Simple Notes. or Paper have ads?
Neither Simple Notes. nor Paper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Notes. or Paper?
Simple Notes. ships an update every 2 months, and Paper fortnightly. Most recently, Simple Notes. was updated on November 2, 2026 and Paper on October 30, 2026.

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