# Outline Memo vs Simple Notepad

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Notepad at 4.6 against Outline Memo's 2.5. Simple Notepad also leads on ratings volume (2.8K vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Outline Memo's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Outline Memo sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Simple Notepad sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simple Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notepad has 2.8K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Outline Memo's written reviews are positive against 68% of Simple Notepad's.

Outline Memo ships an update every 2 months, Simple Notepad every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Outline Memo | Simple Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outline-memo/id558341448/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notepad-bestnote/id1207183021/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **2.8K** |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yuji Fujishiro](https://appshunter.io/developer/408783464) | [EasterEggs](https://appshunter.io/developer/553389214) |

## What reviewers say

### Outline Memo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outline-memo/id558341448)

This app helps you create structured memos with a hierarchical outline format. Easily edit notes using swipe gestures and drag-and-drop functionality. It supports exporting to Notion and email, with options for customization and backup.

**Highlights:** Hierarchical outline creation, Drag-and-drop paragraph movement, Swipe-based hierarchy changes, Export to Notion and email, Dropbox backup and restore, Customizable background and text colors, Password protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| search memo content by key word | $0.99 | one-time |
| unlock memo count limit | $2.99 | one-time |


### 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 Outline Memo free?

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

### Is Simple Notepad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Outline Memo or Simple Notepad?

Simple Notepad is rated higher. Outline Memo averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Simple Notepad averages 4.6 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Outline Memo or Simple Notepad have ads?

Simple Notepad shows ads; Outline Memo does not.

### Which is updated more often, Outline Memo or Simple Notepad?

Outline Memo ships an update every 2 months, and Simple Notepad every 3 weeks. Most recently, Outline Memo was updated on September 10, 2026 and Simple Notepad on September 22, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*