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Simplenote vs NotePlan Comparison

Last updated:

Simplenote

3.9(25 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Simplenote is the easiest way to keep notes, lists, ideas and more. It's available on computers, phones and tablets.It's available wherever you are, so you can capture fleeting thoughts or write down your next big idea.…

NotePlan

Starting at $4.99 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

NotePlan is full featured yet easy to use note taking software designed specifically for college students. A dual panel view allows students to organize and search their notes in an intuitive way. It will help you rememb…

Simplenote leads on user satisfaction with a 3.9-star rating across 25 reviews.

Simplenote vs NotePlan — at a glance

FeatureSimplenoteNotePlan
Rating3.9 / 5
Reviews25
Starting priceContact for pricing$4.99 /Month
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium BusinessIndividuals, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Simplenote and NotePlan

  • Pricing: NotePlan starts at $4.99 /Month. Simplenote pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: NotePlan offers a free trial; Simplenote does not.
  • Deployment: Simplenote supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; NotePlan supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac.

Simplenote vs NotePlan — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Note Taking Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Simplenote - Note Taking Software
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Talk to an expert
NotePlan - Note Taking Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Simplenote

Best for simple, distraction-free note-taking with seamless cross-device syncing.

Choose if
  • You need a lightweight app for quick note capture and idea jotting.
  • You want effortless syncing of notes across multiple devices and platforms.
  • You prefer a minimalistic interface that reduces distractions and enhances focus.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced note organization, rich text formatting, or media embedding.
  • You need fast performance without slow startup or update delays.

NotePlan

Best for college students needing simple, organized academic note-taking.

Choose if
  • You are a college student seeking an intuitive dual panel note interface.
  • You want to organize and search homework notes efficiently with custom symbols.
  • You prefer a lightweight, easy-to-use tool tailored for individual or small group study.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require collaborative note-taking features for large teams or enterprises.
  • You need integration with project management or extensive workflow tools.

Simplenote: Best for simple, distraction-free note-taking with seamless cross-device syncing. NotePlan: Best for college students needing simple, organized academic note-taking.

Description

Simplenote is the easiest way to keep notes, lists, ideas and more. It's available on computers, phones and tablets.It's available wherever you are, so you can capture fleeting thoughts or ... Read More about Simplenote

NotePlan is full featured yet easy to use note taking software designed specifically for college students. A dual panel view allows students to organize and search their notes in an ... Read More about NotePlan

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $4.99 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.7/10

8.5/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

3.9

(25)

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-200 employees
Individuals1-50 employees
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Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Simplenote has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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How do Simplenote and NotePlan Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Simplenote and NotePlan on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $4.99 , Billed Yearly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Personal

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

      • Business

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

        • Priority support

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      Pricing information not available

      NotePlan pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✗ No

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✗ No

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      Simplenote User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      No reviews available for the product

      Rating Distribution

      10

      7

      1

      2

      0

      No reviews available for this product

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate Simplenote's ease of use and seamless syncing but express frustration over limited features and occasional performance slowdowns.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Cross-platform syncing
      • Minimalistic design

      Common complaints

      • Lack of advanced features
      • Performance issues

      Buyer sentiment

      No user reviews or ratings available to determine buyer sentiment.

      What buyers like

      • Dual panel view for organization
      • Student-focused features
      • Intuitive search functionality

      Common complaints

      • Limited to student use
      • No collaboration features mentioned
      • May lack advanced formatting

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly interface ideal for quick note-taking and collaboration

      • Cross-platform support with seamless syncing across devices

      • Minimalistic design that reduces distractions and enhances focus

      • Lacks advanced features like template customization and reminders

      • Limited organizational capabilities, especially without multiple notebooks

      • Dual panel view for intuitive note organization

      • Customizable symbol library for personalized note-taking

      • Designed specifically to support academic workflows

      • Limited information on pricing and plans

      • No available user ratings or reviews to assess reliability

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      Cult of Mac

      Cult of Mac

      MacStories

      MacStories

      Hosting Advice

      Hosting Advice

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Reminders

      1 Screenshots

      Daily notes

      2 Screenshots

      Videos

      No videos available.

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Simplenote and NotePlan in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Simplenote or NotePlan?
      Simplenote edges out the other on user ratings (3.9 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Simplenote and NotePlan offer a free trial?
      NotePlan offers a free trial. Simplenote does not.
      What is the starting price of Simplenote vs NotePlan?
      Simplenote starts at Contact for pricing. NotePlan starts at $4.99 /Month.
      What are the top alternatives to Simplenote?
      Top alternatives to Simplenote include Evernote, Notes.io, Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote, UpNote.
      What are the top alternatives to NotePlan?
      Top alternatives to NotePlan include Evernote, Amanote, RemNote, Microsoft OneNote, TickTick.

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