# Simplenote vs Bigger Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bigger Notes at none against Simplenote's 2. Bigger Notes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Simplenote's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Bigger Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bigger Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplenote has 4.3K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 100% of Bigger Notes's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Bigger Notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Bigger Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigger-notes/id1332341756/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Jeff Fredrickson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1332341755) |

## 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


### Bigger Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigger-notes/id1332341756)

This app offers a straightforward way to create and manage notes, prioritizing speed and customization. It's specifically designed to bridge communication gaps between individuals who are Deaf and those who can hear.

**Highlights:** Fast note creation, Customizable interface, Easy to use, Facilitates Deaf and hearing communication, Simple note management

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Bigger Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or Bigger Notes?

Bigger Notes is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Bigger Notes averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Bigger Notes have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Bigger Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Bigger Notes?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Bigger Notes every 10 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 12, 2026 and Bigger Notes on October 3, 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.*