# Handwritten note vs Simple Notepad

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simple Notepad at 68% against Handwritten note's 0%. Simple Notepad also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (2.8K vs 1). Handwritten note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notepad sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Handwritten note asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simple Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notepad has 2.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Handwritten note's written reviews are positive against 68% of Simple Notepad's.

Handwritten note ships an update every 4 months, Simple Notepad every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handwritten note | Simple Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwritten-note/id519434272/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepad-bestnote/id1207183021/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kiyoshi Koike](https://appshunter.io/developer/513590141) | [EasterEggs](https://appshunter.io/developer/553389214) |

## What reviewers say

### Handwritten note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwritten-note/id519434272)

This app allows users to quickly jot down notes by hand with a smooth writing experience. It offers basic drawing tools like adjustable line thickness and color selection, with options to save or clear your notes.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note-taking, Multi-finger writing, Adjustable line thickness, Four color options, Save notes as images, Erase written lines

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simple Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepad-bestnote/id1207183021)

This app offers a unique note-taking experience with a three-tab system for memos, remarks, and history. Attach photos to your notes and secure them with a password. Organize your thoughts with folder division for efficient management.

**Highlights:** Three-tab note structure (Memo, Remarks, History), Attach images to notes, Password security lock, Folder division for organization, Revision history tracking, Additional remarks field

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎨 Customizable colors and themes
- 🗂️ Folder organization
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 📝 Good for note-taking and journaling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Intrusive ads
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 📱 Not optimized for iPad
- 🖋️ No handwriting support
- 💾 No backup/sync options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Notes disappearing after updates
- Vertical orientation not working
- Unable to recover lost notes

**Requested features**

- Option to remove ads
- Ability to sync notes across devices
- More font and formatting options
- Print functionality
- Improved iPad support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handwritten note free?

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

### Is Simple Notepad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Handwritten note or Simple Notepad?

Simple Notepad is rated higher. Handwritten note averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Simple Notepad averages 4.6 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Handwritten note or Simple Notepad have ads?

Both Handwritten note and Simple Notepad show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Handwritten note or Simple Notepad?

Handwritten note ships an update every 4 months, and Simple Notepad every 3 weeks. Most recently, Handwritten note was updated on September 22, 2026 and Simple Notepad on September 25, 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.*