# Simplenote vs Zero Scanner

The clearest difference is device support: Simplenote at 3 against Zero Scanner's 1. Simplenote also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.2). 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 Zero Scanner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Zero Scanner every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Zero Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 11 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Yohei Kawazura](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782740964) |

## 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


### Zero Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zero-scanner-pdf-scan-and-ocr/id6784901110)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OCR & Full-Text Search Pack | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Zero Scanner free?

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

### Do Simplenote or Zero Scanner have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor Zero Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simplenote or Zero Scanner?

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Zero Scanner every 8 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 26, 2026 and Zero Scanner on September 20, 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.*