# Check Mate EX vs SimpleLists

The clearest difference is rating: SimpleLists at 5.0 against Check Mate EX's 3.7. Check Mate EX's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Check Mate EX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SimpleLists sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SimpleLists holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Check Mate EX ships an update monthly, SimpleLists every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Check Mate EX | SimpleLists |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-mate-ex/id6471193129/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplelists-checklists/id6711347262/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 9 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Logical Software Solutions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573628511) | [Joe Edwards](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770032816) |

## What reviewers say

### Check Mate EX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/check-mate-ex/id6471193129)

Create and reuse custom checklists for recurring tasks like camping trips. Organize items alphabetically or manually. Data syncs across devices, even offline.

**Highlights:** Create reusable checklists, Manual item arrangement, Alphabetical sorting, Offline data sync, Cross-device synchronization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Check Mate EX | $1.99 | one-time |


### SimpleLists

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplelists-checklists/id6711347262)

Create and manage reusable checklists with an intuitive interface. This app offers cloud syncing for access across devices, helping you stay organized effortlessly for various personal and professional tasks.

**Highlights:** Reusable checklists, User-friendly interface, Cloud syncing, Customizable lists, Task management

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.00 | per month |
| Yearly | $14.00 | per year |
| Mini tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| Plus tip | $3.00 | one-time |
| Pro tip | $5.00 | one-time |
| Max tip | $10.00 | one-time |
| Ultra tip | $15.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Check Mate EX free?

Check Mate EX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SimpleLists free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Check Mate EX or SimpleLists?

SimpleLists is rated higher. Check Mate EX averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SimpleLists averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Check Mate EX or SimpleLists have ads?

SimpleLists shows ads; Check Mate EX does not.

### Which is updated more often, Check Mate EX or SimpleLists?

Check Mate EX ships an update monthly, and SimpleLists every 2 months. Most recently, Check Mate EX was updated on September 14, 2026 and SimpleLists on September 4, 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.*