Notable vs Simplenote (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Notable if

• Fits if you want your notes as plain Markdown files you can open in other editors
• Works for people who sync a notes folder through Dropbox or Git themselves

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you need your notes on a phone, as there is no mobile app yet
• Not for you if you want sync built in: today it means Dropbox or Git over the folder
• Watch out: the site says the mobile and web versions, when they come, will need a paid subscription
• Too light for a team, since nothing in the pages read covers sharing

Pick Simplenote if

• Fits if you want plain notes on your phone, your computer and a browser for nothing
• Works for people who'd rather tag and search than build folders

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you keep photos, PDFs or scans in your notes, as it's text only
• Not for you if your notes are sensitive, since they aren't encrypted at rest and Automattic advises against it
• Too light for sharing a whole notebook, because notes are shared one at a time
• Watch out: you can't use it at all without a Simplenote account
• Tight if you want it connected to other tools, as WordPress.com is the only integration on the listing

Notable

• Desktop only: the site lists mobile apps and a web app as work in progress that will need a paid subscription.
• Built-in sync, version control and plugins are marked as future features on the site.
• Sync today means using a third-party service such as Dropbox or Git over the notes folder.

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.

Notable

Markdown editor

Notes are written in Markdown with KaTeX math and Mermaid diagrams, in an editor with multi-cursors and a minimap.

Notes stored as files

Notes and attachments sit on your disk as ordinary files, so Dropbox, Git or a third-party editor can work with them.

Nestable tags and links

Tags can be nested without limit, and notes can link to other notes and to attachments.

Split editor and zen mode

A split view shows the rendered note while you edit, and zen mode hides everything but the text.

Import and export

Import notes from Evernote or Boostnote, and export to Markdown, HTML or PDF.

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.

Notable

• Desktop app$0

  Free desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux; notes are stored as files on your disk.

Simplenote

• Free$0

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