# Simple Handwritten Note vs Etchpad

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Handwritten Note at 5.0 against Etchpad's 4.1. Simple Handwritten Note also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 30 months). Etchpad's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 50%) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Simple Handwritten Note holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Etchpad has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Simple Handwritten Note's written reviews are positive against 75% of Etchpad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Handwritten Note ships an update every 3 months, Etchpad every 30 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Handwritten Note | Etchpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-handwritten-note/id1660363609/reviews)** | [4.1 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etchpad-sketch-an-image/id6446990936/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 30 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 13 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryouhei Azuma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1353297781) | [Digital Footmark Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062685418) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Handwritten Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-handwritten-note/id1660363609)

This app allows users to jot down notes and sketches using a black pen. It functions as a simple memo pad or notebook for quickly capturing ideas or communicating through writing. The core features include writing, erasing, and saving.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note-taking, Drawing and sketching, Memo pad functionality, Quick idea capture, Writing, erasing, and saving

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Etchpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etchpad-sketch-an-image/id6446990936)

Relive nostalgic drawing experiences with this app that lets you create images using two knobs for horizontal and vertical lines. Erase your creations by shaking your device or using a long press. Share your artwork through various methods.

**Highlights:** Draw with horizontal and vertical knobs, Shake to erase screen, Long press erase option, Share drawings easily, Nostalgic drawing interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Handwritten Note free?

Simple Handwritten Note is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Etchpad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple Handwritten Note or Etchpad?

Simple Handwritten Note is rated higher. Simple Handwritten Note averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Etchpad averages 4.1 from 10 ratings.

### Do Simple Handwritten Note or Etchpad have ads?

Both Simple Handwritten Note and Etchpad show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Handwritten Note or Etchpad?

Simple Handwritten Note ships an update every 3 months, and Etchpad every 30 months. Most recently, Simple Handwritten Note was updated on September 7, 2026 and Etchpad on June 1, 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.*