Simplify Notes vs OpenNotes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simplify Notes
Read full descriptionHide full description
CAPTURE EVERY IDEA. ORGANIZE EVERY SUBJECT. Simplify Notes brings handwritten notes, notebooks and PDFs together in one calm, organized place. Write naturally with Apple Pencil, create notebooks for every subject, organize your work into folders and keep important ideas easy to find. Whether you’re studying for an exam, attending a lecture or planning a personal project, everything stays clear and connected. BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU STUDY • Create unlimited notebooks • Write and draw naturally • Use Apple Pencil on iPad • Import and work with PDFs • Organize notebooks into folders • Add images to your notes • Mark important content with tags and favorites • Search and find notes quickly • Export your work as PDF • Choose from multiple paper formats • Keep courses, projects and ideas together LESS CLUTTER. MORE FOCUS. Simplify Notes helps you reduce the mental load of scattered files, loose pages and disconnected ideas. Give every course, subject or project its own place, so you can focus on learning instead of searching. PERFECT FOR • College and university students • Lecture and class notes • Exam preparation • Research and assignments • Engineering and MBA studies • Personal projects • Everyday ideas and planning No account required. No subscription. Just open the app and start writing. Your ideas deserve a place you’ll actually remember.
OpenNotes
Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.
- Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil
- PDF import and annotation
- Folder-based organization
- Add images and text
- Local-first data storage
- Export and share notes
Read full descriptionHide full description
OpenNotes is a simple, free, open-source notes app built for handwriting, PDFs, and focused organization. Create notebooks, import PDFs, write with Apple Pencil, add images or text, organize notes into folders, and export your work when you need it. OpenNotes is local-first and privacy focused. There are no accounts, no analytics, no tracking, no cloud sync, and your notes never leave your device unless you choose to export or share them.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: OpenNotes at none against Simplify Notes's shown. OpenNotes also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simplify Notes ships an update every 6 days, OpenNotes every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simplify Notes | OpenNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 16 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mario Guzman | Mark Miller |
In-app purchases
Simplify Notes
No in-app purchases
OpenNotes
No in-app purchases









