# Simplenote vs NoteBuddy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simplenote at 86% against NoteBuddy's 22%. Simplenote also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). NoteBuddy's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Simplenote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplenote has 4.3K ratings behind it against 16, 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 22% of NoteBuddy's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, NoteBuddy every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | NoteBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 22.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Oleg Mueller](https://appshunter.io/developer/367875607) |

## 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


### NoteBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185)

This note-taking application offers a comprehensive suite of tools for organizing thoughts and ideas. It supports rich text formatting, image insertion, and freehand drawing. Features like folder organization and iCloud synchronization ensure your notes are accessible and secure.

**Highlights:** Rich text editing, Add images and drawings, Folder and subfolder support, iCloud synchronization, Backup feature, Apple Pencil support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NoteBuddy Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is NoteBuddy free?

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

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

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while NoteBuddy averages 3.3 from 16 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or NoteBuddy have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor NoteBuddy shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and NoteBuddy every 3 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 23, 2026 and NoteBuddy on August 17, 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.*