# Simplenote vs n+otes

The clearest difference is ads: Simplenote at none against n+otes's shown. Simplenote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (86% vs 64%). n+otes's advantage is ratings volume (45K vs 4.3K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, update cadence 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 n+otes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Simplenote against 4.7 for n+otes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: n+otes has 45K ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 64% of n+otes's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | n+otes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | [4.7 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-otes/id596895960/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K | **45K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 64.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [RIEU Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/446267401) |

## 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


### n+otes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-otes/id596895960)

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a simple interface. Secure your notes with a private lock feature.  Optional subscription removes ads and supports development.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Private note lock, Ad-free experience (subscription), Easy to use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free Experience (Monthly) | $0.49 | per month |
| Ad-free Experience (3 Months) | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Ad-free Experience (1 Year) | $3.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient note-taking experience
- 🔒 Secure with passcode protection
- 💡 Customizable themes and backgrounds
- 👍 Great for organizing thoughts and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💰 Intrusive ads interrupting workflow
- 🔋 Concerns about battery drain
- 🔒 Lack of cross-device syncing

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting lost
- Inability to delete notes on Apple Watch
- Scrolling issues and text freezing at the bottom
- Inconsistent behavior after updates

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync notes across devices
- More font and formatting options
- Folder or category organization
- Voice-to-text functionality
- Ability to insert images and attachments


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is n+otes free?

n+otes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or n+otes?

Simplenote and n+otes are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4.3K and 45K ratings respectively.

### Do Simplenote or n+otes have ads?

n+otes shows ads; Simplenote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or n+otes?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and n+otes fortnightly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 29, 2026 and n+otes on October 1, 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.*