# SimpleCR vs Notes Writer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SimpleCR at 100% against Notes Writer's 45%. SimpleCR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 26.0). Notes Writer's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notes Writer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. SimpleCR asks for nothing beyond the download.

SimpleCR ships an update every 2 months, Notes Writer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleCR | Notes Writer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pdf-quiz-docs/id1423643723/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **7.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 44.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 688 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smartech](https://appshunter.io/developer/1316700203) | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleCR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplecr/id1338902230)

This application helps users manage work orders and record essential details. It allows for the attachment of photos and tracking of time spent on each request. Streamline your job management with this intuitive tool.

**Highlights:** Manage work orders, Record request details, Track time worked, Attach photos to requests, Complete request information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notes Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pdf-quiz-docs/id1423643723)

This app combines handwriting, PDFs, voice recordings, and AI for note-taking, document annotation, and idea organization. It offers a paper-like writing experience with various tools and supports students, professionals, and writers with specialized features.

**Highlights:** Handwriting with Apple Pencil, PDF annotation and form filling, Voice recording and transcription, AI-powered writing assistance, Flashcard creation and spaced repetition, Quiz generation from notes, Document import and export

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Notes Writer Unlock All and AI | $3.99 | per month |
| Notes Writer Unlock All and AI | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro Full Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth writing experience
- 💡 Versatile note-taking features
- 🔒 Good privacy
- 👍 Useful for various purposes (notes, PDF annotations, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Limiting free version with paywalls
- 🐛 Bugs with erasing, page management, and file corruption
- 🐛 Laggy performance and slow loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing or getting corrupted
- Inability to recover deleted documents
- Unexpected behavior when adding/deleting pages
- Syncing issues and broken links between documents

**Requested features**

- Add more brushes and pen customization options
- Improve the clipping/selection tool
- Implement OCR and handwriting search
- Provide a Mac version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleCR free?

SimpleCR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Notes Writer free?

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

### Do SimpleCR or Notes Writer have ads?

Neither SimpleCR nor Notes Writer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleCR or Notes Writer?

SimpleCR ships an update every 2 months, and Notes Writer every 4 days. Most recently, SimpleCR was updated on November 2, 2026 and Notes Writer on November 13, 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.*