# SimpleMind vs Sketch

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SimpleMind at 77% against Sketch's 25%. SimpleMind also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.6) and ratings volume (981 vs 7). Sketch's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

SimpleMind holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleMind has 981 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of SimpleMind's written reviews are positive against 25% of Sketch's.

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, Sketch every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleMind | Sketch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (981 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplemind-mind-mapping/id305727658/reviews)** | [1.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketch-notes/id883802060/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **981** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **77.2% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 36 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [xpt Software & Consulting B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304515490) | [Francesco Abbondo](https://appshunter.io/developer/882842549) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleMind

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

Organize thoughts, capture ideas, and generate new concepts with a powerful mind mapping tool. Its intuitive interface allows for free-form or auto-layout creation, with options to add media, documents, and synchronize across devices. Share your mind maps in various formats or present them as slideshows.

**Highlights:** Free-form and auto layout options, Add images, notes, icons, and links, Voice memos and video integration, Cloud synchronization across devices, Export to PDF, Image, Reminders, Calendar, Customizable styling and themes, Collapse/expand branches for overview

**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


### Sketch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketch-notes/id883802060)

Create drawings and sketches directly on your device. Offers a wide range of colors, adjustable brush thickness, and transparency options for detailed artwork. Compatible across Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Minimalist interface, 16 million+ color selection, Adjustable brush thickness, Color transparency, Cross-device compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleMind free?

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

### Is Sketch free?

Sketch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SimpleMind or Sketch?

SimpleMind is rated higher. SimpleMind averages 4.5 out of 5 from 981 ratings, while Sketch averages 1.6 from 7 ratings.

### Do SimpleMind or Sketch have ads?

Neither SimpleMind nor Sketch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleMind or Sketch?

SimpleMind ships an update every 2 months, and Sketch every 7 months. Most recently, SimpleMind was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sketch on June 8, 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.*