Comparison

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts vs SimplNote

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

Head to head
About

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

Enhance Apple's Shortcuts app with over 130 powerful new actions. Utilize advanced tools like OCR, document scanning, music integration, and NFC for deeper automation. Create custom app-like experiences and manage data across devices.

Highlights
  • 130+ powerful new actions for Shortcuts
  • On-device text recognition (OCR)
  • NFC Read + Write
  • Style and render text to images
  • Global variables for data storage
  • Create custom app-like experiences with Preview Tool
  • Apple Music integration
Features
Read full description

Toolbox Pro gives you 130+ powerful new actions to use within Apple’s Shortcuts app. Tools include the latest iOS technologies: • iOS document scanner • Lightning-fast, on-device text recognition (OCR) • Tag files • Manipulate reminders and calendar events with more options than Shortcuts • Apple Music tools give you access to the whole catalogue of 60 million songs (Apple Music subscription required) • Transcribe speech from audio files • Add contacts and contact groups • Get workouts and activity summaries from Health • TouchID/FaceID authentication • Style and render text to images • NFC Read + Write • Image filters • Create photo albums • The Preview Tool lets you present text, images, rich URLs & interactive maps with flexible layouts. Add your own buttons to create your own app-like experience • Global variables let you store data between shortcuts and devices • Menu creator • Icon generator • Recognise objects in images using machine learning • Get current motion of device (driving, walking etc) • Full-screen text input box • Remove duplicates from list • Quick-match text before, after or between words • Device details like orientation/is dark mode on/is audio playing/is silent mode on And many, many more. Get nearly 40 tools for *FREE*, unlock everything with a single in-app purchase. You can find detailed descriptions of what each tool does in the app along with *lots* of example shortcuts to get you started. This app supports dark mode, voice control and dynamic type. Privacy policy spoilers: I don’t store any of your data or track you. (Read more: www.toolboxpro.app/privacy-policy)

About

SimplNote

Features
Read full description

SimplNote is a notes app you actually want to scroll through. Notes are cards. Swipe through them like reels, double-tap to favourite, swipe left right to delete one. No folders. No tags. No clutter. Jot, list, share — that's it. • Quick status-style notes for one-line thoughts • Tick-off checklists that glide to the bottom as you go • Eight built-in fonts — handwriting, coding, display, serif • Eight one-tap colour themes for every mood • Favourite the ones worth keeping Made for friends, not feeds. • Pair with a friend by scanning their QR code or sending an invite • Share a note with one tap — they see it instantly in their own reel • Per-recipient avatars and shared favourites Built to feel fast. • Offline-first: every tap saves locally and syncs in the background • Smart 3-second debounce so a flurry of ticks becomes a single sync • Reanimated transitions everywhere — swipes, springs, smooth list reorders • Optimistic UI: no waiting for a server before you see the change Private by design. • Sign in with Google — we only keep your name, email, and avatar. • Note contents are encrypted. • No ads. No tracking. No third-party analytics. Designed to disappear. • Hand-drawn paper-cut sticker icons • Dark-first theme that's easy on the eyes • A first-time tutorial that gets out of the way fast If you've ever wished your notes felt less like a database and more like a feed of your own thoughts — this is for you.

Screenshots

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts4 screens
SimplNote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SimplNote at none against Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts's 4. Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts's advantage is iOS requirement (14.5 vs 16.4). On price, ads and device support 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. Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. SimplNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts versus SimplNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterToolbox Pro for ShortcutsSimplNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (435 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings435 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.5 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSnailed It Development LtdSayak Sarkar

Bugs and requests

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Restore purchase not working
  • Clipboard issues
  • List manipulation bugs
  • Haptic feedback not working
  • Example shortcuts not working

Requested features

8 requests
  • Sort numbers action
  • Custom repeat action
  • Detect if other apps are open
  • Share multiple shortcuts at once
  • Ability to read AAE files and photo edits
Show 3 more
  • SD card management
  • Detect currently running shortcut
  • Mac version

SimplNote

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

One-time4
  • Tip Jar - Small$0.99
  • Tip Jar - Medium$2.99
  • Tip Jar - Large$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Toolbox Pro Premium$5.99
None

SimplNote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts free?
Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SimplNote free?
SimplNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts or SimplNote have ads?
Neither Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts nor SimplNote shows ads.

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