Comparison

Simple Diary vs PopNotes

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

Head to head
About

Simple Diary

Features
Read full description

Forget the pressure of writing long entries. This app makes journaling simple and fun, letting you quickly jot down a single thought, a quick feeling, or the day's highlight. It's designed to fit seamlessly into your busy life, helping you build a positive habit without the fuss. "What's on your mind today?" "How was that meeting?" "Did something make you smile?" Your one-liners become a personal timeline, a digital scrapbook of your journey. Easily look back at your entries through a clean calendar view or a simple list, and rediscover those small, significant moments that make up your unique story. It's about making mindfulness easy and accessible. If you're looking for a simple way to reflect, track your mood, or just keep a quick record of your days, the "One-Liner Journal" is perfect for you. Start capturing your story, one line at a time!

About

PopNotes

Quickly capture thoughts and ideas with instant access from your Lock Screen or Home Screen widgets. Organize notes into customizable emoji folders for a fast and efficient way to manage your information.

Highlights
  • Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets
  • Instant note capture
  • Customizable emoji folders
  • Organized idea management
  • Minimalist interface
Features
Read full description

Catch the moment it pops into your head and make it cute. Quick notes and a lovely diary, all in PopNotes. โ–  A page a day, decorated your way 160+ puffy stickers, washi tape, handwriting fonts and templates. Place, resize, rotate and layer with your fingertips. Turn your own photos into cut-out stickers. โ–  Widgets that decorate your home screen Sticky note, Today's diary, D-day, Quick memo and 4-folder widgets. Today's decorated page shows right on your home screen, and widgets follow your theme colors. โ–  A mood calendar that fills up Log your mood with one cute bean and watch the month turn colorful. Keep your streak going and celebrate milestones. Share your month as one recap card on Instagram. โ–  Notes that look good and feel easy Lined, grid and manuscript papers, handwriting fonts, checklists and adjustable text size. Keep ideas tidy with emoji folders. โ–  iPad, tablets & pencil Layouts made for big screens, with a two-page diary spread. Handwriting turns into text. โ–  14 themes to match your mood Mongle Cloud, Butter Gingham, Lace & Ribbon, Starlight Post, Jelly Pop, Cherry Letter and more. โ–  Daily reminder A gentle nudge at your chosen time. Skipped on days you've already written. โ–  Your notes stay on your device No sign-up needed. Back up to iCloud or Google Drive. PopNotes+ (optional subscription) All premium themes, sticker packs, fonts and papers, watermark-free exports and no ads. Choose monthly, yearly (7-day free trial) or lifetime. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://nh-juuun.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-3ecee0582b9080829d7bccb21e238bf6

Screenshots

Simple Diary2 screens
PopNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Diary at none against PopNotes's 10. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. PopNotes sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Simple Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simple Diary ships an update every 3 months, PopNotes every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 7 level
Simple Diary versus PopNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimple DiaryPopNotes
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviewsโ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 months โ€” betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
Monetizationโ€”Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS16.615.5 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size8 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKana UchidaHayble

In-app purchases

None

Simple Diary

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

PopNotes

One-time10
  • K-Heritage Stickers$0.99
  • Rainbow Drops Pack$1.99
  • First Love Pack$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Hidden Fortune Pack$1.99
  • Mongle Cloud Pack$1.99
  • Butter Gingham Pack$1.99
  • Lace & Ribbon Pack$1.99
  • Starlight Post Pack$1.99
  • Jelly Pop Pack$1.99
  • Cherry Letter Pack$1.99

Questions

Is Simple Diary free?
Simple Diary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PopNotes free?
PopNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Simple Diary or PopNotes have ads?
Both Simple Diary and PopNotes show ads.
Which is updated more often, Simple Diary or PopNotes?
Simple Diary ships an update every 3 months, and PopNotes every 4 months. Most recently, Simple Diary was updated on October 6, 2026 and PopNotes on October 24, 2026.

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