# Simplenote vs MemoTaro

The clearest difference is ads: Simplenote at none against MemoTaro's shown. Simplenote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 13). MemoTaro's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and MemoTaro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MemoTaro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplenote has 4.3K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, MemoTaro every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | MemoTaro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[4.9 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memotaro/id1242201182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Masashi Sasaoka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1124773279) |

## 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


### MemoTaro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memotaro/id1242201182)

Securely store your notes with a password lock and biometric authentication. Easily organize, edit, and share your memos with intuitive drag-and-drop and swipe gestures. Find information quickly with powerful search and customize your viewing experience with font settings.

**Highlights:** Password lock with Touch ID/Face ID, Drag-and-drop memo organization, Swipe to delete notes, Direct sharing to messages, mail, social media, Memo search and character search, Customizable font size and color

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is MemoTaro free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or MemoTaro?

MemoTaro is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while MemoTaro averages 4.9 from 13 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or MemoTaro have ads?

MemoTaro shows ads; Simplenote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or MemoTaro?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and MemoTaro every 9 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 17, 2026 and MemoTaro on October 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*