Comparison

Simple Notes vs LightNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Simple Notes

A powerful and intuitive note-taking application designed to enhance productivity and streamline daily workflows. Organize notes with unlimited tabs, search instantly, and set reminders. Protect your data with biometric authentication and export to CSV.

Highlights
  • Unlimited tab management
  • Free rearrangement of tabs and memos
  • Advanced search function
  • Recently updated notes list
  • Notification feature
  • Biometric authentication
  • CSV export
Features
Read full description

Powerful note-taking app with rich features that unlock your creativity. Lightning-fast note creation and perfect organization boost your productivity. Professional productivity tool that dramatically streamlines your daily workflow. ■ Simple Notes Powerful note-taking functionality with intuitive operation for instant memo creation. ■ Unlimited Tab Management Create unlimited tabs organized by project or category for perfect organization. ■ Free Rearrangement Drag and drop tabs and memos freely to achieve your ideal workflow. ■ Advanced Search Function Instantly search through all notes to quickly access the information you need. ■ Recently Updated Notes List Return to previous work instantly with update history for dramatically improved efficiency. ■ Notification Feature Receive notifications with custom messages at specified times so you never miss important tasks. ■ Biometric Authentication Enhance app security with biometric authentication to completely protect your valuable data. ■ CSV Export Export all data to CSV for seamless integration with other tools. ■ Tab Notes Leave custom notes on tabs to efficiently manage project details. ■ Offline Support Works completely without internet connection to maintain productivity anywhere, anytime. ■ Dark Mode Support Eye-friendly light and dark mode switching for comfortable long work sessions. ■ No Login Required No tedious registration or login needed - start using immediately after download. ■ Complete Privacy Protection Your data is stored only on your device and never transmitted externally. Privacy Policy: https://naokiotsu.com/privacy-policy Support: info@naokiotsu.com

About

LightNotes

This app offers a fast and private note-taking experience on iOS devices. It supports markdown formatting, secure local storage with Face ID protection, and offline functionality. Ideal for users who prioritize productivity and data privacy.

Highlights
  • Fast note taking
  • Complete privacy with local storage
  • Markdown support with live preview
  • Face ID and passcode protection
  • Offline functionality
  • Export notes to PDF, HTML, and plain text
  • Beautiful themes and dark mode
Features
Read full description

LightNotes is the fastest, most private note taking app for iPhone and iPad. Take smart notes with markdown support, organize your thoughts instantly, and keep your data secure with Face ID protection. Perfect for developers, students, writers, and anyone who values productivity and privacy. FAST NOTE TAKING Instant response, even with large texts. Create, edit, and organize notes without delays. Built with Swift for native iOS performance that outperforms web-based competitors. COMPLETE PRIVACY Your notes stay on your device - no cloud required. No registration, no tracking, no data collection. Complete control over your personal information with local storage only. MARKDOWN SUPPORT Professional text formatting made simple. Full markdown syntax support with live preview. Perfect for technical documentation, code snippets, and structured writing. BEAUTIFUL THEMES Three carefully crafted color palettes plus automatic dark mode. Clean, distraction-free interface that adapts to your preferences and lighting conditions. SECURE NOTES Face ID and passcode protection for sensitive information. Military-grade encryption keeps your private thoughts completely secure from unauthorized access. MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT Full localization in 10 languages: English, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Portuguese and Dutch. Native language support for global users. NATIVE iOS EXPERIENCE Built exclusively for iOS with Swift and SwiftUI. Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem, optimized for all iPhone models. PERFECT FOR DEVELOPERS Code snippets, technical notes, and markdown documentation. Syntax highlighting support and export options for development workflows. IDEAL FOR STUDENTS Quick study notes, research organization, and offline access. No internet required - perfect for classrooms and libraries with limited connectivity. GREAT FOR WRITERS Distraction-free writing environment with markdown formatting. Export to multiple formats including PDF, HTML, and plain text for publishing workflows. PRIVACY-FOCUSED USERS Local storage means complete data ownership. No cloud synchronization, no server uploads, no privacy concerns. Your data never leaves your device. KEY FEATURES • No ads, no subscriptions, no registration required • Works completely offline - no internet connection needed • Export notes - plain text, and more • Minimal app size - won't slow down your device • Regular updates with new features and improvements • Responsive customer support and active development EXPORT AND SHARING Share your notes in multiple formats. Export to PDF for presentations, HTML for web publishing, or plain text for maximum compatibility. Seamless integration with other iOS apps. Download LightNotes today and experience the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and privacy. Your thoughts deserve the best note taking app available.

Screenshots

Simple Notes4 screens
LightNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LightNotes at none against Simple Notes's 1. Simple Notes's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Simple Notes against 4.5 for LightNotes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simple Notes has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Simple Notes versus LightNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple NotesLightNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (11 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developernaoki otsuOppeldt Dmitrii

Customer experience

Simple Notes

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

LightNotes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Simple Notes

One-time1
  • Premium (Pay Once)$4.99
None

LightNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Simple Notes free?
Simple Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LightNotes free?
LightNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Simple Notes or LightNotes?
Simple Notes is rated higher. Simple Notes averages 4.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while LightNotes averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Simple Notes or LightNotes have ads?
Neither Simple Notes nor LightNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Notes or LightNotes?
Simple Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, and LightNotes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Simple Notes was updated on October 9, 2026 and LightNotes on October 6, 2026.

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