# Simplenote vs Just Note2

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Just Note2 at none against Simplenote's 2. Just Note2 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Simplenote's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 1). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Just Note2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Just Note2 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 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Just Note2 every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Just Note2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-note2/id6469047079/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [KOSUKE OSAWA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711402229) |

## 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


### Just Note2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/just-note2/id6469047079)

This note-taking app offers a minimalist, ad-free, and privacy-focused experience. It securely stores your notes in a sandboxed environment and saves them in real-time, all for free.

**Highlights:** Minimalist design, Ad-free experience, Privacy-first data handling, Sandboxed environment for security, Real-time note saving, Dark mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Just Note2 free?

Just Note2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simplenote or Just Note2?

Just Note2 is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Just Note2 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Just Note2 have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Just Note2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Just Note2?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Just Note2 every 10 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on November 4, 2026 and Just Note2 on October 30, 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.*