# Simplenote vs Handwritten note

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simplenote at 86% against Handwritten note's 0%. Simplenote also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and ads (none vs shown). Handwritten note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Simplenote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. 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. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 0% of Handwritten note's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Handwritten note every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Handwritten note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwritten-note/id519434272/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 11 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Kiyoshi Koike](https://appshunter.io/developer/513590141) |

## 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


### Handwritten note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwritten-note/id519434272)

This app allows users to quickly jot down notes by hand with a smooth writing experience. It offers basic drawing tools like adjustable line thickness and color selection, with options to save or clear your notes.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note-taking, Multi-finger writing, Adjustable line thickness, Four color options, Save notes as images, Erase written lines

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Handwritten note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or Handwritten note?

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Handwritten note averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Handwritten note have ads?

Handwritten note shows ads; Simplenote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Handwritten note?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Handwritten note every 4 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 23, 2026 and Handwritten note on September 22, 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.*