# Simplenote vs SelahNote

The clearest difference is monetization model: Simplenote at free against SelahNote's free with in-app purchases. Simplenote also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 16) and device support (3 vs 1). SelahNote's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). On price, update cadence, ads 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 SelahNote sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SelahNote 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 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 100% of SelahNote's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, SelahNote weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | SelahNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews) | **[5.0 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/selahnote/id6747624373/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Kyle-Anthony hay](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822063079) |

## 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


### SelahNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/selahnote/id6747624373)

Effortlessly transform audio recordings of sermons into organized notes. Upload or record audio, then let the AI generate concise summaries and transcriptions. Stay engaged during services with automated note-taking.

**Highlights:** Audio recording, Audio upload, AI-generated notes, Transcription, Summarization, Organized notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $7.00 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $14.00 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $77.00 | per year |
| Yearly Pro Subscription | $150.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is SelahNote free?

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

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

SelahNote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while SelahNote averages 5.0 from 16 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or SelahNote have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor SelahNote shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and SelahNote weekly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 12, 2026 and SelahNote on October 11, 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.*