# Simplenote vs MyNotePad

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MyNotePad at none against Simplenote's 2. MyNotePad also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Simplenote's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 13 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Simplenote against 4.7 for MyNotePad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 83% of MyNotePad's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, MyNotePad every 13 months. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | MyNotePad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | [4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mynotepad/id629786721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 82.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Daniel Amitay](https://appshunter.io/developer/356087517) |

## 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


### MyNotePad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mynotepad/id629786721)

This app offers a streamlined note-taking experience with intuitive gestures. Customize your notes with different fonts and paper styles, and easily navigate between them. It's designed for simplicity and on-the-go use.

**Highlights:** Gesture-based navigation, Pinch-to-zoom for font size, Customizable fonts, Customizable paper styles, Easy page turning

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app
- 👍 Easy to customize
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Clean and minimalist design
- 👍 Great for note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Note deletion issues
- 🔒 Lack of backup/sync options
- 🔒 No passcode/security feature
- 🐛 Keyboard issues with dark mode
- 🐛 Spell check problems

**Reported bugs**

- Note deletion issues
- Keyboard issues with dark mode
- Spell check problems
- Compatibility issues with new iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize notes into folders
- Support for formatting (bold, italic, underline)
- Backup and sync options
- Passcode/security feature
- Improved spell check


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is MyNotePad free?

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

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

Simplenote and MyNotePad are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4.3K and 1.6K ratings respectively.

### Do Simplenote or MyNotePad have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor MyNotePad shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and MyNotePad every 13 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 26, 2026 and MyNotePad on September 26, 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.*