# SimpleMind vs Smart Studbook Connections

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart Studbook Connections at none against SimpleMind's 1. Smart Studbook Connections also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SimpleMind's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimpleMind sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smart Studbook Connections asks for nothing beyond the download.

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, Smart Studbook Connections every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMind | Smart Studbook Connections |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (981 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **981** | — |
| Positive reviews | 77.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 36 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [xpt Software & Consulting B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304515490) | [Streamlined BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/703369008) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleMind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658)

Organize your thoughts, capture ideas, and generate new concepts with this intuitive mind mapping tool. Create unlimited mind maps, customize their appearance, and add rich content like notes, images, and links. Share your maps in various formats or sync them across devices.

**Highlights:** Unlimited mind map creation, Customizable appearance and style sheets, Add notes, images, icons, and links, Collapse/expand branches and outline view, Free-form layout and auto layouts, Export in PDF, Image, and OPML formats, Sync across devices via cloud services

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Pro Functionality | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Versatile for various use cases
- 🔒 Secure with no data collection
- 💰 Good value for one-time purchase

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
- 🔗 Issues with syncing/sharing across devices
- 🔒 Confusing in-app purchase model
- 🎨 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Maps disappearing after device resets
- Inability to import/export certain file formats

**Requested features**

- Improved syncing and cloud integration
- More customization options for appearance and layout
- Keyboard shortcuts and power user features
- Better support for Apple Pencil and handwriting


### Smart Studbook Connections

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-studbook-connections/id1521411904)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleMind free?

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

### Is Smart Studbook Connections free?

Smart Studbook Connections is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do SimpleMind or Smart Studbook Connections have ads?

Neither SimpleMind nor Smart Studbook Connections shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Smart Studbook Connections?

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Smart Studbook Connections every 4 weeks. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on November 1, 2026 and Smart Studbook Connections on November 3, 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.*