Heynote vs Simplenote

Heynote

• Developers who need a holding place for JSON, logs and code snippets
• Quick calculations and unit conversions next to working notes
• People who want scratch notes kept as plain files on their own disk

Simplenote

• Plain-text notes synced across phone, desktop and browser at no cost
• People who prefer tags and search over folders
• Publishing a note to a public web link

Heynote

• Desktop only: there is no mobile app, and the author says one is out of scope for now.
• No sync of its own. The docs suggest a file-syncing service such as Dropbox and warn that editing one buffer on two machines at once can cause conflicts.
• The Windows build is not code-signed, so Windows may show a warning when installing it.
• The code is under the MIT license with the Commons Clause, which does not allow selling the software.

Simplenote

• Notes are text only: images, PDFs and other files cannot be attached, though Markdown can embed an image hosted elsewhere.
• Notes are encrypted in transit but not at rest, and Automattic advises against storing particularly sensitive information.
• An account is required; Simplenote cannot be used without one.
• Notes are shared one at a time, and an individual note cannot be hidden.

Heynote

Buffers divided into blocks

A buffer is a persistent stretch of text split into blocks. One keystroke adds a block, and select-all picks the current block first, then the whole buffer.

A language for each block

Each block has its own language, detected automatically or set by hand, with syntax highlighting for more than 30 languages and auto-formatting for JSON, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Markdown.

Math blocks

A math block works as a calculator pad with variables, functions and unit and currency conversion. It is built on Math.js expressions.

Multiple buffers

Besides the default Scratch buffer you can create any number of buffers, open them in tabs, sort them into directories and search across them. Each one is a .txt file on disk.

Inline images with markup

Images pasted or dropped into a buffer appear inline, can be resized and annotated with a freehand drawing tool, and copied back to the clipboard.

Keyboard control

Default, Emacs-like or custom key bindings, a command palette, multi-cursor editing and an optional global hotkey that shows or hides the app.

Simplenote

Automatic sync

Notes stay updated across phones, computers and the web app automatically and in real time, with no sync button to press.

Tags, pins and instant search

Notes are organized with tags and pins, and search finds them as you type with keyword highlighting.

Version history

Notes are backed up with every change, so you can look back at what a note said last week or last month.

Markdown

Notes can be written, previewed and published in Markdown. The help center lists Markdown support on the web, Android, iOS, Windows and Linux apps.

Collaboration and publishing

A note can be shared with another person by email address so both can edit it, or published to a public simp.ly link for read-only viewing.

Checklists and internal links

Notes can contain checklists with nested items, and internal links jump from one note to another.

Heynote

• Heynote$0

  The full app as Mac Universal, Arm and Intel builds, a Windows installer, and an AppImage or Snap for Linux.

Simplenote

• Free$0

  Every app and feature, including sync, version history, collaboration and publishing, with a Simplenote account.