# Simplenote vs NoteBox

The clearest difference is monetization model: Simplenote at free against NoteBox's free with in-app purchases. Simplenote also leads on ratings volume (4.3K vs 10). NoteBox's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and NoteBox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Simplenote against 4.6 for NoteBox. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplenote has 4.3K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 90% of NoteBox's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, NoteBox monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | NoteBox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [4.6 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebox-simple-and-powerful/id899446595/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 86.2% of reviews | **89.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Elaborapp](https://appshunter.io/developer/899446598) |

## 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


### NoteBox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebox-simple-and-powerful/id899446595)

This app offers a streamlined note-taking experience with quick input, powerful text editing, and seamless syncing across devices. Easily organize, search, and share your notes with extensive integration options.

**Highlights:** Quick note input from various sources, Disturbance-free text editing with advanced formatting, Fast iCloud syncing across iOS devices, Extensive sharing options to numerous apps, In-note text search and Google/Wikipedia integration, Support for external keyboards and VoiceOver

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $5.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock note capacity limit | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is NoteBox free?

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

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

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while NoteBox averages 4.6 from 10 ratings.

### Do Simplenote or NoteBox have ads?

Neither Simplenote nor NoteBox shows ads.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and NoteBox monthly. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on September 29, 2026 and NoteBox on June 10, 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.*