Comparison

Grandpa Notes vs Plain MEMO

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

Head to head
About

Grandpa Notes

Features
Read full description

Grandpa Notes is a simple note-taking app. It is free and open source, with no advertisements, in-app purchases or tracking. Your notes are stored as plain text in a straightforward folder structure. You can create notebooks locally or in iCloud. There is also an optional encryption layer that is compatible with Cryptomator.

About

Plain MEMO

Features
Read full description

Plain MEMO is an intuitive application designed to help you effortlessly capture and manage your memos. With Plain MEMO, you can quickly jot down notes, ideas, and reminders, keeping everything organized in one place. The app's user-friendly interface ensures you can easily create, edit, and categorize your memos for efficient management. Whether it's a quick thought, a shopping list, or a detailed plan, Plain MEMO makes it simple to keep track of all your important information. Stay organized and on top of your notes with the simplicity and convenience of Plain MEMO.

Screenshots

Grandpa Notes4 screens
Plain MEMO4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Plain MEMO at every 6 days against Grandpa Notes's every 20 months. Plain MEMO also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grandpa Notes ships an update every 20 months, Plain MEMO every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
Grandpa Notes versus Plain MEMO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrandpa NotesPlain MEMO
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 20 monthsEvery 6 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.012.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size3 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJulien EyrièsHyobeom Han

In-app purchases

None

Grandpa Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Plain MEMO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Grandpa Notes free?
Grandpa Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plain MEMO free?
Plain MEMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Grandpa Notes or Plain MEMO have ads?
Neither Grandpa Notes nor Plain MEMO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Grandpa Notes or Plain MEMO?
Grandpa Notes ships an update every 20 months, and Plain MEMO every 6 days. Most recently, Grandpa Notes was updated on October 30, 2026 and Plain MEMO on October 27, 2026.

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