Comparison

Notepad vs Smooth Note (with Folders)

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

Head to head
About

Notepad

A straightforward writing application that allows for easy note-taking and sentence composition. It offers robust editing tools like undo/redo and a keyboard toolbar for efficient text manipulation. The app is designed for one-handed operation and includes features for organizing notes with folders and backups.

Highlights
  • Note and folder management
  • Undo/Redo editing
  • Keyboard toolbar for text manipulation
  • One-handed operation design
  • Startup lock with iOS authentication
  • Dark mode support
  • iCloud backup
Read full description

This is a simple notepad app that has useful features not only to take notes but also to write sentences. Mistakes of editing can be fixed easily by undo/redo feature. If you want to restore a note to previous content, you will be able to restore from update history. On keyboard toolbar, There is convenient features such as moving cursor up/down/left/right and select/copy/cut/paste. In addition, This app is made to make it easy to operate with one hand. ------ This is a notepad app that implements convenient features while being careful not to impair the simple operation feeling. The features of this app is below. Notes management features: - Manage notes by folders - Sort notes and folders freely - Manage update and delete history of notes Notes editing features: - Store a note at real time - Change font size while viewing a note - Show character, word, line count - Link text to other app such as Email and SNS - keyboard toolbar --> Select/Copy/Cut/Paste --> Move cursor up/down/left/right by one character --> Move cursor to start or end of note --> Move cursor to start or end of line --> Undo and Redo of editing Other features: - Startup lock - Use iOS authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, Passcode) - Mini note - Ancillary note when creating notes - Change color setting to dark mode - Export and Import backup files - iCloud backup

About

Smooth Note (with Folders)

This app offers a simple and fast way to take notes, organize them into folders, and customize your writing experience. It supports dark mode, voice input, and easy sharing to various platforms.

Highlights
  • Folder in folder organization
  • Dark mode support
  • Fast app launch
  • Customizable font and size
  • Convenient copy and paste
  • Voice input
  • Sharing to SNS and email
Features
Read full description

The simplest and most convenient memo app. Since there is no character limit, it is also suitable for notebooks and manuscripts. ・ Dark mode compatible ・ Folder in folder function ・ App launch is fast ・ Support available ・ Character count ・ Font and size can be changed ・ Convenient copy and paste button ・ Swipe the screen to the right to return ・ Abundant color variations ・ Voice input is also possible with iPhone settings ・ Can be sent by email ・ You can share notes on SNS ・ Easy data migration ・ If you don't need various functions, you can turn it off in the settings. ・ We also accept requests for new features ■ Recommended use ・ Todo list ·Shopping list ・ As a draft of the document. For example, reports, minutes, sentences, novels, lyrics, etc. ・ Write down the idea I will explain how to use the app for each screen. ■ List screen This screen allows you to see a list of memos and folder titles. If you set the dark mode, it's easy on your eyes. You can view and edit the memo by tapping the line of the memo. Tap a folder line to go to the screen inside that folder. If you delete a folder, you can delete all its contents. ● Add new button (round + mark) → Go to the screen for registering a new memo. ● Add folder button → You can add a folder to the displayed location. You can register a folder in a folder without any upper limit, such as registering a folder in a folder and then registering a folder in that folder. ● Edit button (pencil mark) → You can rearrange the lines. You can easily change the folder name by pressing the i button displayed in edit mode. You can move them to another location by selecting the rows in edit mode and pressing the round folder move button. Of course, you can move notes and folders. ■ Folder move screen If you press the round check button while the screen you want to move to is displayed, you will be moved to that folder. ● Add folder button → You can register a folder in that location. ■ Memo screen You can view and edit your notes in your favorite font. There is a text full selection button and a copy / paste button, so you can easily transfer data to and from other apps. Swipe the screen to the right to save the text you have entered and easily return to the list screen. You can rest assured that it will be saved automatically even if you receive a call and close the app. ● Clipboard button → You can show or hide the copy and paste button. ● Share button → You can link the memo to other apps. Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, LINE, iPhone memo app, Twitter, discord, Microsoft Outlook, Teams, etc. ● Cut button → Cut the selected text ● Copy button → Copy selected text ● Paste button → Paste the text on the clipboard (you can also paste by pressing the button continuously) ● ALL button → Select all text ● Check button → Close keyboard ■ Setting screen For example, you can set the following. ·font size -List row height -Title bar color (left and right gradation. No color can be selected) ・ Display the character count of the memo at the top of the screen You can also set the keyboard to be displayed from the beginning when you open the memo by changing it. Turn this on so you don't have to make one tap to edit your notes. You can also set the copy / paste button to always appear when you edit a memo. You can also hide the copy / paste button by pressing the clipboard button at the top right of the memo screen. ■ Postscript It is an application that eliminates waste and leaves only the necessary functions. Fine settings are possible and it is designed to fit in the hands of each user. It's a hassle, and I really wanted to reduce unnecessary small operations as much as possible, so I pondered and arrived at the current design. After a long app test, it was successfully completed and the app was released. We hope that many people will use it and use it in their daily lives, and we will be more than happy.

Screenshots

Notepad4 screens
Smooth Note (with Folders)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Notepad at none against Smooth Note (with Folders)'s 1. Notepad also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.4). Smooth Note (with Folders)'s advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Smooth Note (with Folders) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Notepad against 4.9 for Smooth Note (with Folders). Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 29 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 80% of Smooth Note (with Folders)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notepad ships an update monthly, Smooth Note (with Folders) every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Notepad versus Smooth Note (with Folders): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotepadSmooth Note (with Folders)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (22 ratings)4.9 (29 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2229 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.4
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMakoto YamabayashiSyncly Applications

Customer experience

Notepad

All ratings22 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral15.8%
Negative5.3%

Smooth Note (with Folders)

All ratings29 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral3.4%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

None

Notepad

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Smooth Note (with Folders)

One-time1
  • No ads etc$3.99

Questions

Is Notepad free?
Notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smooth Note (with Folders) free?
Smooth Note (with Folders) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Notepad or Smooth Note (with Folders)?
Smooth Note (with Folders) is rated higher. Notepad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Smooth Note (with Folders) averages 4.9 from 29 ratings.
Do Notepad or Smooth Note (with Folders) have ads?
Both Notepad and Smooth Note (with Folders) show ads.
Which is updated more often, Notepad or Smooth Note (with Folders)?
Notepad ships an update monthly, and Smooth Note (with Folders) every 6 days. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 17, 2026 and Smooth Note (with Folders) on September 5, 2026.

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