# SimpleLists vs Notes by Color

The clearest difference is ads: Notes by Color at none against SimpleLists's shown. Notes by Color also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). SimpleLists's advantage is iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SimpleLists against 5.0 for Notes by Color. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

SimpleLists ships an update every 6 weeks, Notes by Color every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleLists | Notes by Color |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplelists-checklists/id6711347262/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-by-color-toono/id6762279647/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.6** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joe Edwards](https://appshunter.io/developer/1770032816) | [Two Moon Tree](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893631516) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Notes by Color

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-by-color-toono/id6762279647)

This app uses color as its primary organizational tool, allowing users to create custom color labels for notes. It offers instant filtering and sorting by color, providing a visual system for quick access and organization. Features include AI-powered summaries, iCloud sync, and full-text search.

**Highlights:** Custom color labels, Instant color filtering, AI-powered note summaries, iCloud sync, Full-text search, Pin important notes

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Premium | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleLists free?

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

### Is Notes by Color free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SimpleLists or Notes by Color?

SimpleLists and Notes by Color are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do SimpleLists or Notes by Color have ads?

SimpleLists shows ads; Notes by Color does not.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleLists or Notes by Color?

SimpleLists ships an update every 6 weeks, and Notes by Color every 3 weeks. Most recently, SimpleLists was updated on October 6, 2026 and Notes by Color on October 5, 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.*