# Forem Notes vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Forem Notes at none against Simple Notes's 1. Forem Notes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Simple Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and ratings volume (11 vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Forem Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Forem Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Forem Notes ships an update monthly, Simple Notes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Forem Notes | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forem-notes-notebook/id1506197148/reviews)** | [4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-take-notes/id6476257739/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 71 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Forem Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434537804) | [naoki otsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082476153) |

## What reviewers say

### Forem Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forem-notes-notebook/id1506197148)

Capture notes, organize tasks, and set reminders with this simple and elegant app. Features include color coding, folders, tags, real-time collaboration, and progress tracking to boost productivity. Secure your data with biometric locks and access notes from your home screen.

**Highlights:** Instant note capture, Task and list organization, Customizable reminders, Real-time collaboration, Password and biometric security, Home screen widgets, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-take-notes/id6476257739)

A powerful and intuitive note-taking application designed to enhance productivity and streamline daily workflows. Organize notes with unlimited tabs, search instantly, and set reminders. Protect your data with biometric authentication and export to CSV.

**Highlights:** Unlimited tab management, Free rearrangement of tabs and memos, Advanced search function, Recently updated notes list, Notification feature, Biometric authentication, CSV export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Pay Once) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Forem Notes free?

Forem Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Forem Notes or Simple Notes?

Forem Notes is rated higher. Forem Notes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Simple Notes averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.

### Do Forem Notes or Simple Notes have ads?

Neither Forem Notes nor Simple Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Forem Notes or Simple Notes?

Forem Notes ships an update monthly, and Simple Notes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Forem Notes was updated on September 9, 2026 and Simple Notes on September 23, 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.*