# memono Journal vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is ads: memono Journal at none against Simple Notes's shown. memono Journal also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). Simple Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. memono Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months and Simple Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for memono Journal against 4.7 for Simple Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 301 and 790 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of memono Journal's written reviews are positive against 88% of Simple Notes's.

memono Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, Simple Notes every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | memono Journal | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (301 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memono-journal/id906470619/reviews) | **[4.7 (790 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 301 | **790** |
| Positive reviews | 85.2% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dennis Ebbinghaus](https://appshunter.io/developer/858934149) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### memono Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memono-journal/id906470619)

Create rich multimedia journal entries with text, photos, audio, and location data. Organize notes with color categories, set reminders, and share them easily. Secure your entries with a lock and fingerprint access.

**Highlights:** Multimedia notes (text, photos, audio), Location tagging, Color-coded organization, Reminders and notifications, Secure lock with Touch ID, iCloud synchronization, Note sharing

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 months | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year | $2.99 | per year |
| One-time purchase | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📷 Ability to add photos
- 🎵 Voice recording support
- 📍 Location tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Ads are too frequent
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/searching notes
- 🔤 Small font size
- 📁 Limited organization options

**Reported bugs**

- Photos disappearing after saving
- Syncing issues between devices
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to change font size and style
- Option to add multiple photos per note
- Folder/category organization
- Improved search and sorting functionality


### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-notepad-manager/id1457937396)

This app offers a clean and efficient way to organize your thoughts and ideas. Easily add images, organize notes into colored folders, and secure your entries with a passcode. Customize the look with various themes and fonts, and back up your data to iCloud.

**Highlights:** Add photos to notes, Organize with colored folders, Calendar view for notes, Passcode and biometric lock, Customizable themes and fonts, iCloud backup and sync, Smart search with tags

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Premium Service | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📁 Folder organization and color-coding
- 🔒 Password protection
- 💡 Useful for school and work notes
- 🚀 Fast and responsive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Lack of iCloud sync
- 📐 Limited formatting options (no bold, italics, etc.)
- 🎨 Default folder color cannot be changed
- 🔍 No alphabetical sorting for folders

**Reported bugs**

- No local PC backup and restore feature
- UI looks outdated and childish

**Requested features**

- Add ability to pin notes at the top of a folder
- Implement iCloud sync between devices
- Introduce more text formatting options (bold, italics, underline, etc.)
- Allow changing folder colors


## Frequently asked questions

### Is memono Journal free?

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

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, memono Journal or Simple Notes?

Simple Notes is rated higher. memono Journal averages 4.6 out of 5 from 301 ratings, while Simple Notes averages 4.7 from 790 ratings.

### Do memono Journal or Simple Notes have ads?

Simple Notes shows ads; memono Journal does not.

### Which is updated more often, memono Journal or Simple Notes?

memono Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, and Simple Notes every 3 months. Most recently, memono Journal was updated on October 1, 2026 and Simple Notes on September 28, 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.*