# memono Journal vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is ads: memono Journal at none against Simple Notes's shown. Simple Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 6 weeks). 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 $2.39 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 231 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of memono Journal's written reviews are positive against 80% of Simple Notes's.

memono Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, Simple Notes every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 10, 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 (231 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-note-taking-app/id6742007640/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **301** | 231 |
| Positive reviews | **85.2% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dennis Ebbinghaus](https://appshunter.io/developer/858934149) | [Phearoth Phen](https://appshunter.io/developer/925021535) |

## 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-note-taking-app/id6742007640)

Capture ideas, memos, and tasks effortlessly with this fast and minimal note-taking app. Organize notes into notebooks, sync across devices, and access reminders with home screen widgets. Secure backups and powerful search ensure your thoughts are always accessible.

**Highlights:** Ultra-lightweight and fast, Organize with notebooks, Sync across devices, Sticky notes on home screen, Secure backups, Powerful search tool, Easy note sharing

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $2.39 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $15.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Plan | $39.99 | one-time |


## 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 231 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 8 days. Most recently, memono Journal was updated on October 11, 2026 and Simple Notes on October 10, 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.*