# Notepad vs Smooth Note (with Folders)

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.

Both are free to download. Smooth Note (with Folders) sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Smooth Note (with Folders) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-mynotes/id1444500653/reviews) | **[4.9 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smooth-note-with-folders/id1586502581/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **29** |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Makoto Yamabayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1444500652) | [Syncly Applications](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437712077) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-mynotes/id1444500653)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smooth Note (with Folders)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smooth-note-with-folders/id1586502581)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No ads etc | $3.99 | one-time |


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