# Simplenote vs Notepad

The clearest difference is rating: Simplenote at 4.7 against Notepad's 4.0. Simplenote also leads on monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (4.3K vs 1). 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 Notepad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simplenote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. 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, Notepad monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 11 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Vishal Kalkani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867523595) |

## 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


### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-private-diary-and-lock/id6757540776)

Capture ideas, manage tasks, and stay organized with this fast, secure, and easy-to-use note-taking app. It offers a distraction-free interface for writing or recording audio notes, organizing them efficiently for quick access.

**Highlights:** Quick note creation, Audio note recording, Clean, minimal interface, Organized note access, Secure note storage, Task management

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access – Monthly | $0.49 | per month |
| Unlimited – Yearly | $3.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Notepad free?

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

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

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Notepad averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Notepad have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Notepad shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Notepad monthly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 18, 2026 and Notepad on October 17, 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.*