# Open Note vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Open Note at none against Simple Notes's 1. Open Note also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Simple Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Open Note asks for nothing beyond the download.

Open Note ships an update every 2 weeks, Simple Notes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Open Note | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-take-notes/id6476257739/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **11** |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 95 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cao Hoang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1018748355) | [naoki otsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1082476153) |

## What reviewers say

### Open Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-note-ghi-chu-nhanh/id6471949376)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-take-notes/id6476257739)

A powerful and intuitive note-taking app designed to boost productivity and creativity. Organize notes with unlimited tabs, search instantly, and protect your data with biometric authentication. Enjoy offline access and seamless CSV export.

**Highlights:** Unlimited tab management, Free rearrangement of tabs and memos, Advanced search function, Biometric authentication for security, CSV data export, Offline support, Dark mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Pay Once) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Open Note free?

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

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Do Open Note or Simple Notes have ads?

Open Note shows ads; Simple Notes does not.

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

Open Note ships an update every 2 weeks, and Simple Notes every 9 days. Most recently, Open Note was updated on November 8, 2026 and Simple Notes on November 12, 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.*