# Simplenote vs Inkpad Notepad

The clearest difference is ads: Simplenote at none against Inkpad Notepad's shown. Simplenote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simplenote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Inkpad Notepad sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 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 Inkpad Notepad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 8.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Simplenote's written reviews are positive against 80% of Inkpad Notepad's.

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, Inkpad Notepad every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simplenote | Inkpad Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplenote/id289429962/reviews)** | [4.6 (8.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkpad-notepad-notes-to-do/id992332888/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4.3K | **8.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.2% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Automattic](https://appshunter.io/developer/335703883) | [Workpail, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/948783012) |

## 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


### Inkpad Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkpad-notepad-notes-to-do/id992332888)

Effortlessly capture thoughts, to-do lists, and shopping lists with this intuitive note-taking app. Sync your notes online for access from any device, and easily search, share, or delete them. It's the digital notepad you'll always have with you.

**Highlights:** Create notes and lists, Auto-save functionality, Online syncing and web access, Search notes and lists, Share notes via email/SMS, Delete notes easily

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inkpad Basic Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Inkpad Lite Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Inkpad Standard Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Inkpad Basic Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Inkpad Plus Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Inkpad Lite Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Inkpad Standard Yearly | $149.99 | per year |
| Inkpad Plus Yearly | $239.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Convenient cross-device sync
- 👍 Reliable note-taking
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Helpful for organizing notes and lists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional note loss or sync issues
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Paid premium version required for some features
- 🔍 Inconsistent user interface changes
- 🔍 Ads can be intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- Notes sometimes disappear after updates
- Cursor positioning issues when editing
- Syncing problems leading to data loss
- App crashes or becomes unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add ability to password protect notes
- Improve note editing functionality
- Provide more font and formatting options
- Implement a multi-select/delete feature for notes
- Add reminders and alarm functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simplenote free?

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

### Is Inkpad Notepad free?

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

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

Simplenote is rated higher. Simplenote averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Inkpad Notepad averages 4.6 from 8.6K ratings.

### Do Simplenote or Inkpad Notepad have ads?

Inkpad Notepad shows ads; Simplenote does not.

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

Simplenote ships an update fortnightly, and Inkpad Notepad every 9 days. Most recently, Simplenote was updated on October 14, 2026 and Inkpad Notepad on October 13, 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.*