# Simplenote vs iMarkdown

The clearest difference is monetization model: Simplenote at free against iMarkdown's free with in-app purchases. Simplenote also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 1). iMarkdown's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, ads 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 iMarkdown sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iMarkdown 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 1, 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 90% of iMarkdown's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, iMarkdown every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | iMarkdown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imarkdown/id1530323530/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [HIROMOTO TSUJI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1106215904) |

## 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


### iMarkdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imarkdown/id1530323530)

A fast and simple Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad with full GitHub Flavored Markdown support. It offers iCloud sync, dark mode, and exports to various formats. Easily preview and auto-save your documents.

**Highlights:** GitHub Flavored Markdown support, iCloud sync, Dark mode, Export to Markdown, PDF, PNG, Quick preview, Auto-saving

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Pro | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is iMarkdown free?

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

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

iMarkdown is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while iMarkdown averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or iMarkdown have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor iMarkdown shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and iMarkdown every 3 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 15, 2026 and iMarkdown on September 18, 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.*