Comparison

Simplio Notepad vs Notely

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

Head to head
About

Simplio Notepad

A minimalist notepad designed for quick note-taking without unnecessary features. It offers a clean interface, essential editing tools, and home screen widgets for easy access. Notes are stored locally and can sync via iCloud.

Highlights
  • One-tap opening
  • Fast text editor
  • Markdown support
  • Home Screen widgets
  • iCloud sync
  • Export as text/PDF
Features
Read full description

A notepad that opens in one tap and then stays out of your way. If you have watched the notes app you used for years grow into a database with AI panels, sign-in screens and a sidebar of features you never asked for, Simplio Notepad is the calm alternative. It is a minimal notepad for jotting quick notes, drafting an email, capturing a meeting line or thinking out loud — no account to create, no cloud you cannot turn off, no friction between the thought and the page. Open the app and you are already in a fast text editor with the cursor blinking. Type, paste, or dictate. Markdown, simple lists and checkboxes are there when you need structure, pin and archive keep the important notes within reach, and search finds the half-remembered line in seconds. Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets surface today's note at a glance, so the scratchpad you started on the train is still one tap away when you sit down at the desk. Export any note as text or PDF when you need to hand it off to a document, an email or a colleague. The interface ships in 39 languages with full VoiceOver support, and the writing app stays deliberately quiet: no ads, no analytics, no engagement loops, no nudges trying to turn a notebook into a productivity system. A simple notepad for journalers, students, meeting note-takers and anyone who wants sticky notes, voice notes and markdown notes in one place that respects their time.

About

Notely

Capture and organize your thoughts instantly with this fast, private notepad. Create, edit, and manage notes with ample space for titles and descriptions. Organize entries into custom categories with visual flair and enjoy a distraction-free, offline experience.

Highlights
  • Lightning fast note capture and editing
  • Customizable categories with pastel colors
  • Offline functionality with no account needed
  • Secure local data storage
  • Distraction-free, native dark mode UI
  • List and grid view options
Features
Read full description

Notely is a simple, fast notepad for everything you want to remember. Open the app and start writing: no account, no ads, and your notes stay on your device. WRITE WITH STYLE • Headings, bold, italic, underline and strikethrough • Bulleted and numbered lists • Left, center or right alignment • Undo and redo • Automatic saving as you type ORGANIZE WITH COLORFUL FOLDERS • Sort your notes into categories with the color of your choice • See at a glance how many notes each folder contains • Pin your most important notes and categories to the top • Switch between list and grid view FIND EVERYTHING INSTANTLY • Search all your notes by typing a few words • Browse your notes by category in one tap PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account and no sign-up • No ads • Your notes are stored on your device and work offline NOTELY PRO: ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Private vault: lock your most personal notes behind a 6-digit code • Custom app icons for your home screen • Pay once, keep it forever. No subscription. MADE FOR EVERY DAY • Light and dark mode • Available in 11 languages • Optimized for iPhone and iPad Shopping lists, ideas, journal, meeting notes, reminders: Notely keeps everything clear, fast and in one place.

Screenshots

Simplio Notepad4 screens
Notely4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simplio Notepad at none against Notely's 1. Simplio Notepad also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Notely's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating 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. Notely sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simplio Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Simplio Notepad against 4.8 for Notely. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notely has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Simplio Notepad ships an update every 3 weeks, Notely every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 3 level
Simplio Notepad versus Notely: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimplio NotepadNotely
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings)4.8 (15 ratings) — better
Number of ratings315 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBahattin DuranKamel Djaber

Customer experience

Simplio Notepad

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Notely

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%

In-app purchases

None

Simplio Notepad

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Notely

One-time1
  • Premium Notely$4.99

Questions

Is Simplio Notepad free?
Simplio Notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notely free?
Notely is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Simplio Notepad or Notely?
Notely is rated higher. Simplio Notepad averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Notely averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.
Do Simplio Notepad or Notely have ads?
Neither Simplio Notepad nor Notely shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Simplio Notepad or Notely?
Simplio Notepad ships an update every 3 weeks, and Notely every 2 months. Most recently, Simplio Notepad was updated on October 30, 2026 and Notely on November 5, 2026.

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