# AddNotes vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is update cadence: AddNotes at every 10 days against Simple Notes's every 3 months. Simple Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AddNotes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 — 4.8 for AddNotes against 4.7 for Simple Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 365 and 790 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 87% and 88% positive.

AddNotes ships an update every 10 days, Simple Notes every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AddNotes | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (365 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/addnotes/id1254890578/reviews)** | [4.7 (790 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 365 | **790** |
| Positive reviews | 87.1% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Climb App](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048459) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### AddNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/addnotes/id1254890578)

This app combines note-taking with automatic calculation. Input data and numbers, and it will instantly compute totals for you. It's versatile for managing various data items and calculations.

**Highlights:** Integrates notes and calculator, Automatic total calculation, Supports Dynamic Type, Compatible with hardware keyboards, Manages various data items

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium yearly | $29.99 | per year |


### 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 AddNotes free?

AddNotes 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, AddNotes or Simple Notes?

AddNotes is rated higher. AddNotes averages 4.8 out of 5 from 365 ratings, while Simple Notes averages 4.7 from 790 ratings.

### Do AddNotes or Simple Notes have ads?

Both AddNotes and Simple Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AddNotes or Simple Notes?

AddNotes ships an update every 10 days, and Simple Notes every 3 months. Most recently, AddNotes was updated on September 1, 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.*