# Simplenote vs QuickNotation

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QuickNotation at none against Simplenote's 2. QuickNotation also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Simplenote's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 17 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. QuickNotation asks for nothing beyond the download.

QuickNotation 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, QuickNotation every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | QuickNotation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/quicknotation/id6469476084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 17 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Nicholas Pompea](https://appshunter.io/developer/1444570173) |

## 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


### QuickNotation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quicknotation/id6469476084)

This note-taking app helps you organize thoughts and ideas with features like drag-and-drop, priority marking, and image support. It offers multi-mode support for a comfortable experience on iPhones and iPads.

**Highlights:** Drag and drop organization, Priority marking, Image support, Light and dark modes, iPhone and iPad optimized, Portrait and landscape orientation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is QuickNotation free?

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

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

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

### Do Simplenote or QuickNotation have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor QuickNotation shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and QuickNotation every 17 months. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 15, 2026 and QuickNotation on September 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.*