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8.7

SpotScore

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Simplenote - Note Taking Software

Simplenote Review: Is It The Right Note Taking Software For Your Team?

Best for SMB teams · Mid-market

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Spotsaas Analysis for Simplenote

Simplenote is a note-taking application favored by individual contributors and small collaborative teams, particularly those in remote work settings. With a rating of 3.9 out of 5 from 25 reviews, it suggests a generally positive reception, though with some room for improvement.

Users commend Simplenote for its user-friendly interface and cross-platform capabilities, which make it an excellent choice for freelancers and small businesses needing quick, distraction-free note capture. However, a notable limitation is its lack of advanced features like template customization and rich text formatting, which may hinder users with more complex organizational needs.

Quick facts about Simplenote

Rating3.9/5 (25 reviews) | SpotScore: 8.7/10Best forIndividual contributors, small collaborative teamsPricingFree with premium optionsDeploymentBrowser Based, Mobile, InstalledTop strengthUser-friendly, cross-platform integrationWatch-outLimited organizing capabilities with many notes

What is Simplenote?

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. With Simplenote, your notes are always with you—safe and synced across all of your devices.

Best For

Built for growing teams, from small businesses to mid-market

Security & Compliance

GDPR
  • Data residency:Global

Platform

  • Web + mobile app (iOS & Android)

  • Installed - Windows

  • Installed - Mac

Simplenote Screenshots

Simplenote was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.

Who should consider Simplenote

Use cases
Freelancers needing quick note capture, Small businesses managing simple shared notes, Individuals seeking distraction-free note-taking
Team types
Individual contributors, Remote workers
Company size
1-50 employees, 51-200 employees
Workflow style
Simple and streamlined
Setup complexity
Low

Why teams choose Simplenote

  • 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

Is Simplenote right for you?

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

Choose Simplenote 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.

What buyers should know before shortlisting Simplenote

Simplenote stands out as a straightforward and user-friendly note-taking app, offering seamless sharing and collaboration features. Users appreciate its ease of use across various devices, enabling convenient access to notes on the go.

The app's focus on simplicity is praised, allowing for quick and efficient note creation without unnecessary distractions. While some users find the lack of advanced formatting options and organizational features limiting, the minimalist design appeals to those seeking a no-fuss note-taking experience.

Simplenote's ability to sync notes effortlessly between devices and its free-to-use model are highlighted as key strengths. Overall, Simplenote excels as a practical solution for those prioritizing efficient note-taking without the complexities of elaborate features.

Its emphasis on simplicity, cross-platform accessibility, and real-time collaboration make it a valuable tool for individuals and teams in need of a streamlined note-taking experience.

Pros and cons

Simplenote pros and cons

  • Simplenote pros
  • 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

  • Simplenote cons
  • Lacks advanced features like template customization and reminders

  • Limited organizational capabilities, especially without multiple notebooks

3.9/5 rating
20 verified reviews
Free plan available

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Compare Simplenote side-by-side with top Note Taking Software alternatives.

Evernote
Notes.io
Google Keep
+6 more
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What is the pricing of Simplenote?

Free TrialNot available
Free Plan✓ Included
Pricing Model
Freemium

Simplenote reviews and ratings

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

3.9

Very Good

Based on 25 ratings & 20 reviews

Are you using Simplenote?

Rating Distribution

Excellent

(10)

Very Good

(7)

Good

(1)

Poor

(2)

Terrible

(0)

What users are saying

AK

Ashok K

09/08/20

4 out of 5

This note taker is actually very simple

What do you like best? The most beautiful feature is that this app is straightforward to use and is very user friendly. Plus, sharing a note with ...

Read more

SS

Shikshya S

06/30/20

4 out of 5

Very simple & free to use note taker

What do you like best? The best thing is this app is entirely free to use. Also, this app is straightforward to use and can be accessed from mobile ...

Read more

UI

User in Marketing and Advertising

06/27/20

5 out of 5

helpful integration from desktop to mobile

What do you like best? able to use on both mobile and desktop. it is convenient and can be used on the go, or for transferring information from ...

Read more

AC

Ali C

04/25/20

4.5 out of 5

Simple and effective note-taking app with markdown language

What do you like best? Simplenote is like its name says - it is a simple, basic note taking app where you can add notes which are synced to your ...

Read more

JP

Jonathan P

01/02/20

4.5 out of 5

A note maker without distractions.

What do you like best? This application is really very simple, this can be a way to avoid distractions and just go to the point, is a quick way to ...

Read more

JS

Jeani S

12/18/19

5 out of 5

Simple notes without going through any process.

What do you like best? Simplenote is a way to create simple but more secure, allows you to have a place online where to store all kinds of basic ...

Read more

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What are the features of Simplenote?

17%

Feature coverage

4 of 24 tracked features

Real-time collaboration is a software feature that enables multiple users to work together on a project simultaneously, regardless of their…

Share Link is a revolutionary feature that allows users to easily share their files, documents, and other types of content with others. With…

The method involves identifying, monitoring, and progressing the work that has to be done during the day is known as task tracking or task m…

A To-do List is a software feature that helps individuals or teams keep track of tasks and activities that need to be completed. It is a pow…

Security & Compliance

Simplenote security and data handling

Key compliance certifications and security features for IT and security teams evaluating Simplenote.

Certifications

GDPR✓ Certified
HIPAA✗ Not certified

Security features

Single Sign-On (SSO)✗ No
Multi-Factor Authentication✗ No
Data Encryption✓ Yes
Audit Logs✗ No

Developer & data

Data residency
🌐

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9.8

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8.2

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9.0

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Compare Simplenote vs Google Keep

Unleash your productivity with OneNote.

8.6

Very Good

Compare Simplenote vs Microsoft OneNote

Organize your thoughts, unleash ...

8.3

Compare Simplenote vs UpNote

Streamline teamwork and ...

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Compare Simplenote vs Notion

Take notes effortlessly with ...

8.4

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Compare Simplenote vs Notesnook

Take notes with privacy and ease.

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Compare Simplenote vs Justnote
Help & Contact

Simplenote Support Options

Customer ServiceOnline
LocationSan Francisco, California

Connect with Simplenote

Frequently Asked Questions About Simplenote

Common questions buyers ask before choosing Simplenote.

Simplenote is a Note Taking Software. Simplenote offers To-do List, Share Link, Real-time Collaboration and many more functionalities.

Simplenote is a strong fit if: You need a lightweight app for quick note capture and idea jotting.; You want effortless syncing of notes across multiple devices and platforms.. Consider alternatives if: You require advanced note organization, rich text formatting, or media embedding.; You need fast performance without slow startup or update delays..

Buyers commonly note the following limitations of Simplenote: Lacks advanced features like template customization and reminders; Limited organizational capabilities, especially without multiple notebooks; Slow updates and startup times impacting user experience.

Some top alternatives to Simplenote includes Evernote, Notes.io, Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote and Justnote.

Simplenote offers Freemium pricing model

We don't have information regarding integrations of the Simplenote as of now.

The starting price is not disclosed by Simplenote. You can visit Simplenote pricing page to get the latest pricing.

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About the reviewer

Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.

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