# Basic Journal vs Simple Calendar・Schedule app

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Calendar・Schedule app at 4.6 against Basic Journal's 3.3. Simple Calendar・Schedule app also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 40%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Basic Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simple Calendar・Schedule app asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simple Calendar・Schedule app holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Calendar・Schedule app has 2.3K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Basic Journal's written reviews are positive against 79% of Simple Calendar・Schedule app's.

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, Simple Calendar・Schedule app weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Journal | Simple Calendar・Schedule app |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-calendarschedule-app/id1558989799/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **2.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **79.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 14 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/599997663) | [Futoshi Niiho](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545504639) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456)

A fast and simple journal app designed for busy individuals to quickly jot down notes on daily activities. It offers an elegant, chronological display of entries with easy editing and export options.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Chronological note display, Summary and detail views, Edit and delete notes easily, Recently edited notes highlighted, iCloud syncing, Text export option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Simple Calendar・Schedule app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-calendarschedule-app/id1558989799)

This app offers a streamlined calendar experience, focusing on essential features for easy event management. It's designed for users who prefer simplicity and a clean interface over complex functionalities. Get organized with core calendar tools and helpful notifications.

**Highlights:** Calendar view, Event creation, Search functionality, Notifications, Holiday tracking, Customizable styles, Data backup

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💎 Clean and aesthetically pleasing design
- 🎨 Customizable color options
- 🗓️ Straightforward calendar functionality
- 🧠 Helps users stay organized

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with events showing on the wrong date
- 🕰️ Lack of 12-hour time format option
- 📢 Presence of ads
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🔀 Difficulty rearranging/reordering events

**Reported bugs**

- Backup/restore functionality not working
- Events disappearing from calendar view
- Dates/times not displaying correctly

**Requested features**

- Repeat/recurring event functionality
- Widget support for home screen
- Ability to share calendars with others
- Option to set custom notification times
- More color palette choices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Journal free?

Basic Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Simple Calendar・Schedule app free?

Simple Calendar・Schedule app is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Basic Journal or Simple Calendar・Schedule app?

Simple Calendar・Schedule app is rated higher. Basic Journal averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Simple Calendar・Schedule app averages 4.6 from 2.3K ratings.

### Do Basic Journal or Simple Calendar・Schedule app have ads?

Both Basic Journal and Simple Calendar・Schedule app show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Journal or Simple Calendar・Schedule app?

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, and Simple Calendar・Schedule app weekly. Most recently, Basic Journal was updated on October 7, 2026 and Simple Calendar・Schedule app on October 17, 2026.

---

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