# Simplenote vs Zipnote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zipnote at none against Simplenote's 2. Zipnote also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Simplenote's advantage is ratings volume (4.3K vs 5) and review sentiment (86% vs 75%). 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. Zipnote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Zipnote 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 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 75% of Zipnote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Zipnote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipnote/id1603007695/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Logan Gwinup](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482221440) |

## 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


### Zipnote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zipnote/id1603007695)

This app offers a straightforward way to capture thoughts and lists quickly. It automatically saves your single note, allowing for immediate use without complex features. Export your notes and adjust text size for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Single note for maximum simplicity, Automatic saving, Note export functionality, Dark Mode support, Customizable text size, Clean and simplistic design

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Zipnote free?

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

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

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

### Do Simplenote or Zipnote have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Zipnote shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Zipnote fortnightly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 13, 2026 and Zipnote on September 21, 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.*