# Simple Notes vs Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool at none against Simple Notes's 3. Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Simple Notes's advantage is ratings volume (790 vs 143). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes has 790 ratings behind it against 143, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Simple Notes's written reviews are positive against 83% of Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Notes ships an update every 3 months, Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Notes | Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (790 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396/reviews) | **[4.9 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepadsimple-and-cool/id1573998707/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **790** | 143 |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 82.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 206 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) | [Futoshi Niiho](https://appshunter.io/developer/1545504639) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepadsimple-and-cool/id1573998707)

This app offers a straightforward and aesthetically pleasing way to jot down notes. It's designed for users who prefer simplicity over complex features, providing an intuitive and stress-free note-taking experience.

**Highlights:** Simple note-taking, Beautiful design, Easy to use interface, Intuitive management, Stress-free experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Is Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool free?

Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Notes or Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool?

Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool is rated higher. Simple Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 790 ratings, while Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool averages 4.9 from 143 ratings.

### Do Simple Notes or Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool have ads?

Both Simple Notes and Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Notes or Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool?

Simple Notes ships an update every 3 months, and Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool every 2 weeks. Most recently, Simple Notes was updated on September 23, 2026 and Simple Notepad・Simple and Cool on September 24, 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.*