# Side Notes vs Simplexity

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Side Notes at none against Simplexity's 1. Simplexity's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Side Notes | Simplexity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-notes-pros-and-cons-list/id1555821224/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22** | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 12 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Straw Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1120982866) | [Niera Tech Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505867776) |

## What reviewers say

### Side Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-notes-pros-and-cons-list/id1555821224)

This app helps you organize thoughts by viewing multiple notes simultaneously. It offers layouts for comparing options, conducting analyses, or structuring complex ideas. Focus on your thinking with a clean, intuitive interface and privacy-focused design.

**Highlights:** Side-by-side note viewing, Multiple layout options (Dual, Four, Single), Visual comparison of ideas, SWOT analysis and Eisenhower Matrix support, Rich text editing, Offline functionality, Export notes as PDF or text

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simplexity

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplexity/id1565632120)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SimpleLists Premium | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Side Notes free?

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

### Is Simplexity free?

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

### Do Side Notes or Simplexity have ads?

Neither Side Notes nor Simplexity shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Side Notes or Simplexity?

Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Simplexity every 2 months. Most recently, Side Notes was updated on October 11, 2026 and Simplexity on October 7, 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.*