# Simplenote vs Discreet Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Discreet Notes at none against Simplenote's 2. Discreet Notes also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Simplenote's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Discreet Notes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Discreet Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Ivan Milicevic](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732082181) |

## 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


### Discreet Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/discreet-notes/id6478173166)

This app offers a unique way to manage your notes with a strong emphasis on privacy. You can create truly hidden notes accessible only by their specific passphrase, or opt for visible notes for everyday use. It supports Markdown formatting and iCloud sync across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Truly private hidden notes, Visible notes option, Raw Markdown editor, Markdown preview toggle, iCloud sync, Dark mode

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Discreet Notes free?

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

### Do Simplenote or Discreet Notes have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Discreet Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Discreet Notes?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Discreet Notes every 9 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 12, 2026 and Discreet Notes on October 3, 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.*