# Simplenote vs Tasks+Cal+Sync 4

The clearest difference is price: Simplenote at Free against Tasks+Cal+Sync 4's $14.99. Simplenote also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 20 months). Tasks+Cal+Sync 4's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Simplenote is free to download; Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 costs $14.99 up front. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simplenote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplenote has 4.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $14.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tasks-plus-cal-plus-sync-4/id1166018485/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 20 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 11 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Lukas Zeller](https://appshunter.io/developer/299521020) |

## What reviewers say

### Simplenote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962)

Capture ideas, create to-do lists, and jot down thoughts effortlessly. Organize your notes with tags and pins, and find them instantly with search. Your content syncs across all devices for free, ensuring it's always accessible.

**Highlights:** Simple note-taking experience, Cross-device syncing, Collaboration and sharing, Organization with tags, Instant search, To-do list creation, Passcode lock

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Simplenote Sustainer Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Simplenote Sustainer Yearly | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Cross-platform availability
- 🔍 Reliable search functionality
- 🌐 Seamless syncing across devices
- 📝 Simple, distraction-free interface
- 🔒 Secure with password/fingerprint protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔖 Limited formatting options (no bold, italic, etc.)
- 🗂️ Lack of folder organization
- 🔄 Occasional syncing issues
- 🖼️ Unable to add images or attachments
- 🔍 Search could be improved for long notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes sometimes disappear or get duplicated
- App crashes or freezes on certain devices
- Syncing problems between mobile and desktop

**Requested features**

- Add bold, italic, and other formatting options
- Implement folder-based organization
- Improve syncing reliability across devices
- Allow adding images, files, and other attachments
- Enhance search capabilities for long notes


### Tasks+Cal+Sync 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tasks-plus-cal-plus-sync-4/id1166018485)

This app synchronizes contacts, tasks, and calendars using the SyncML standard. It's designed for users who need to connect with older systems or specific organizational requirements that rely on this legacy synchronization technology.

**Highlights:** SyncML synchronization for contacts, tasks, and calendars, App-internal calendar and task management, iOS contact group assignment, Acts as a local SyncML server, Month, day, week, and list calendar views

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 free?

Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or Tasks+Cal+Sync 4?

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Tasks+Cal+Sync 4?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 every 20 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 12, 2026 and Tasks+Cal+Sync 4 on September 27, 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.*