# Simple Notes vs Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Notes at 4.8 against Simple Notes's 2.6. Notes also leads on ratings volume (654 vs 8). Simple Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notes has 654 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Simple Notes's written reviews are positive against 79% of Notes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Notes ships an update every 2 months, Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Notes | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-noted-memo/id563351488/reviews) | **[4.8 (654 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **654** |
| Positive reviews | **81.5% of reviews** | 78.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [elias sleiman](https://appshunter.io/developer/551532485) | [Orange Dog](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673134885) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-noted-memo/id563351488)

Capture your thoughts and ideas with ease using this versatile note-taking app. Create text, audio, or video notes, organize them into categories, and set reminders. Share your creations and customize their appearance with various font options.

**Highlights:** Multiple note types (Text, Audio, Video, Photo, List), Add multiple pages per note, Set reminders for notes, Customize font (color, size, type), Share notes, High-quality audio recordings, Pause and continue recordings

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More BackGounds | Free | one-time |
| Unlock Pro Version! | $9.99 | one-time |


### Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129)

This app combines a notepad, to-do list, and memo functionality into a single, intuitive interface. Easily create notes from text, voice, or images, and organize them with reminders and sorting options. Secure your data and transfer it to new devices.

**Highlights:** 3-in-1 notepad, to-do list, and memos, Create notes from photos, images, and voice, Set notifications and reminders, Sort notes by urgency, category, due date, color, Secure notes with a security code, Data transfer to new devices

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disable ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use interface
- 🎨 Highly customizable with colors and themes
- 🆓 Free app with no ads
- 🔒 Password protected notes
- 📱 Well-organized layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads despite paid subscription
- ❓ Unclear note retention policies
- 🤔 Complicated question/support system

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected ads appearing after recent updates for paid subscribers

**Requested features**

- More engaging task motivation features
- Clearer documentation on note persistence
- Improved customer support interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Is Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple Notes or Notes?

Notes is rated higher. Simple Notes averages 2.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Notes averages 4.8 from 654 ratings.

### Do Simple Notes or Notes have ads?

Notes shows ads; Simple Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Notes or Notes?

Simple Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Notes monthly. Most recently, Simple Notes was updated on October 6, 2026 and Notes 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.*