# Simple Notes vs Just the note

The clearest difference is ads: Just the note at none against Simple Notes's shown. Just the note also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 87%). Simple Notes's advantage is ratings volume (791 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Just the note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Just the note holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes has 791 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Simple Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Just the note's.

Simple Notes ships an update every 3 months, Just the note every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Notes | Just the note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (791 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-the-note/id6474261979/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **791** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 87.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 216 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) | [Vladimir Tezin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546233266) |

## 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


### Just the note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-the-note/id6474261979)

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a minimalist note-taking application. Designed for speed and simplicity, it allows for quick entry via widgets or a single swipe. Get your notes down without distraction.

**Highlights:** One-swipe note creation, Widget for one-tap notes, Minimalist interface, Fast and convenient, Simple note-taking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Just the note + | $0.99 | per month |
| Thanks to the author | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gift to the author | $1.99 | one-time |
| Many thanks to the author | $1.99 | one-time |
| Just the note plus (lifetime) | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Is Just the note free?

Just the note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simple Notes or Just the note?

Just the note is rated higher. Simple Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 791 ratings, while Just the note averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simple Notes or Just the note have ads?

Simple Notes shows ads; Just the note does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Notes or Just the note?

Simple Notes ships an update every 3 months, and Just the note every 2 months. Most recently, Simple Notes was updated on October 11, 2026 and Just the note on September 17, 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.*