# Simplenote vs KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget

The clearest difference is rating: Simplenote at 4.7 against KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget's 4.0. Simplenote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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 KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simplenote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. 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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keepnote-lists-notes-budget/id1629934605/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [荣彬 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1629913212) |

## 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


### KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keepnote-lists-notes-budget/id1629934605)

Organize your daily lists, bookkeeping, journaling, and notes with this intuitive application. It offers a multi-color theme and seamless syncing across your Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Daily lists, Bookkeeping, Journaling, Note-taking, iCloud syncing, Multi-color themes

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| KeepNote VIP | $0.99 | per month |
| KeepNote VIP | $9.99 | per year |
| KeepNote Plus | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget free?

KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget?

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget fortnightly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 27, 2026 and KeepNote Lists, Notes, Budget on October 27, 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.*