The ColorNote Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ColorNote in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ColorNote
The Insider’s Guide
Android notepad for color-coded notes and checklists
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from ColorNote’s own pages.
Made by Social & Mobile, Inc. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ColorNote’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ColorNote’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
ColorNote is an Android notepad app with two note types: plain text notes and checklists for to-do and shopping lists. Notes are organized by color, can carry reminders, and can be placed on the home screen as sticky-note widgets or on a calendar. Backup is either to the device's storage or to ColorNote's own online sync service, which also keeps a phone and tablet in step.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about ColorNote, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Two note types, some colours and a widget.
- 1
Best for a plain Android notepad with sticky-note widgets
ColorNote is an Android notepad with text notes, checklists, color groups, reminders and sticky-note widgets, free to install.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
- 3
There is a free plan
Free to install. The Google Play listing names only a writing assistant and grammar checker as premium features and does not say what else the paid version adds.
- 4
It runs on Android
Android.
- 5
Text notes and checklists
Text notes hold free-form writing, and checklists cover to-do and shopping lists whose items are checked off with a tap.
- 6
Color-coding
Notes are sorted into color groups. Each group can be given a name and shows how many notes it holds.
- 7
Reminders and status bar pins
A note can have a time, all-day or repeating reminder, or be pinned to the Android status bar so it stays in view.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 22 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
ColorNote at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Android
- Made by
- Social & Mobile, Inc., since 2008
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a plain Android notepad with sticky-note widgets
ColorNote is an Android notepad with text notes, checklists, color groups, reminders and sticky-note widgets, free to install. It runs on Android and nothing else, notes can't be opened in other programs so email is the only way out, a forgotten master password loses the locked notes, and Google Play lists $1.99 to $15.99 purchases without saying what they are.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | There's no usable price on record. Google Play shows in-app purchases from $1.99 to $15.99 an item, with no billing period and no list of what each one is, and an unpublished price is exactly where this middling grade belongs. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The free install is the notepad itself: text notes, checklists, colour groups, reminders, widgets, note lock and backup, with no cap named anywhere. The only premium features Google Play names are a writing assistant and a grammar checker. |
| Features | C | Notes, checklists, colour groups, repeating reminders, status bar pins, a calendar view, a master password and AES-encrypted online sync. The basics, then the gaps the listing names itself: notes open in no other program, email is the only way out, and a forgotten master password takes the locked notes with it. |
| Ease of use | B | Two note types, some colours and a widget. There's not much here to learn. It isn't on iPhone and we have no store rating on record, so the listing is all we're going on. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system. The FAQ says there's no version for other phones or for PCs and points at the BlueStacks emulator if you want it on a computer. Sync keeps an Android phone and tablet in step, and that's the lot. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ColorNote is for
- Fits if you want a plain notepad on Android and nothing more
- Works for shopping lists that should sit on the home screen as a sticky note
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you own an iPhone, a Mac or a PC, as it only runs on Android, and the FAQ points PC users to an emulator
- Not for you if you might switch apps later, since notes can't be opened in other programs and email is the only way out
- Tight if you want to know what premium costs, as Google Play doesn't say what each $1.99 to $15.99 item is or how it's billed
- Watch out: a forgotten master password can't be recovered, and clearing it loses every note locked with it
Good to know
Good for
- Android users who want a plain notepad with checklists
- Shopping lists and reminders kept on the home screen as widgets
- Keeping notes in step between an Android phone and tablet
Worth knowing
- Android only: the FAQ says there is no version for other mobile systems or for PCs and suggests the BlueStacks emulator on a computer.
- Google Play shows in-app purchases of $1.99 to $15.99 per item without saying what each item is or how it is billed.
- Notes cannot be opened in other programs, and the FAQ's only route to another operating system is sending notes by email.
- A forgotten master password cannot be recovered; clearing it loses the notes that were locked with it.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.99
To start. There is a free plan too
ColorNote has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.99 - $15.99 per item (in-app purchases; billing basis not shown).
The only premium features Google Play names are a writing assistant and a grammar checker.
ColorNote
$0
Free install from Google Play, with text notes, checklists, color groups, reminders, widgets, note lock and backup among the listed features.
Premium (in-app purchases)
$1.99 - $15.99
per item; the billing basis is not shown on Google Play
The listing's release notes place a writing assistant and grammar checker in the premium version. The individual items are not itemized.
The free plan
Free to install. The Google Play listing names only a writing assistant and grammar checker as premium features and does not say what else the paid version adds.
Read from play.google.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Android
Android notepad for color-coded notes and checklists. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: notes, linked notes, tasks, calendar.
Notes, checklists, colour groups, repeating reminders, status bar pins, a calendar view, a master password and AES-encrypted online sync.
- Text notes and checklists
- Text notes hold free-form writing, and checklists cover to-do and shopping lists whose items are checked off with a tap.
- Color-coding
- Notes are sorted into color groups. Each group can be given a name and shows how many notes it holds.
- Reminders and status bar pins
- A note can have a time, all-day or repeating reminder, or be pinned to the Android status bar so it stays in view.
- Home screen widgets
- Sticky-note widgets put individual notes on the Android home screen.
- Calendar view
- Notes can be attached to dates on a calendar, and the app raises a reminder for a note on the date it was assigned to.
- Note lock and backup
- A master password locks individual notes. Notes back up to device storage or to the online sync service, which encrypts them with AES before upload.
Where it runs
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
ColorNote is made by Social & Mobile, Inc., and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
ColorNote's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. ColorNote’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 147
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of ColorNote for yourself: notes, tasks, calendar and linked notes. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call.
What you could make
- Notes, tasks, calendar and linked notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. ColorNote’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Google Keep, Samsung Notes, WeNote, Simplenote and Inkpad Notepad
The 5 tools ColorNote is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Google Keep
Free plan · from $7/mo
Google's app for quick notes, lists and reminders.
- Only Google Keep lists a web app.
- Only Google Keep lists an iOS app.
- Only Google Keep lists a browser extension.
- 3.2GPA
Samsung Notes
Free
Samsung's free note app for Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book.
- Only Samsung Notes lists a Windows app.
- ColorNote also covers linked notes, tasks and calendar.
- Samsung Notes also covers templates.
- 2.6GPA
WeNote
Free plan · from $0.99
Color notes, to-do lists and a reminder calendar for phones.
- Only WeNote lists an iOS app.
- ColorNote also covers linked notes.
- 3.4GPA
Simplenote
Free
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform.
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- Only Simplenote lists iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Simplenote is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Inkpad Notepad
Free plan · from $5/mo
Simple synced notepad for notes and to-do lists, with AI chat.
- Only Inkpad Notepad lists a web app.
- Only Inkpad Notepad lists an iOS app.
- ColorNote also covers linked notes and calendar.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ColorNote free?
ColorNote has a free plan. Free to install.
How much does ColorNote cost?
ColorNote lists 2 plans. ColorNote: $0.
What platforms does ColorNote work on?
ColorNote is available on Android.
Does ColorNote have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. ColorNote is listed for Android.
Does ColorNote have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. ColorNote is listed for Android.
Is ColorNote open source?
ColorNote is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Who makes ColorNote?
ColorNote is made by Social & Mobile, Inc. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to ColorNote?
The closest alternatives to ColorNote in our directory are Google Keep, Samsung Notes, WeNote, Simplenote and Inkpad Notepad.
How does ColorNote compare with other note-taking apps?
ColorNote's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 27.
Could I make my own version of ColorNote?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of ColorNote for yourself: notes, tasks, calendar and linked notes.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ColorNote’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ColorNote's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-26.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Social & Mobile, Inc. Prices change, so check colornote.com before you buy.
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note&hl=en_US&gl=US
- colornote.com
- colornote.com/feature-overview/
- colornote.com/download/
- colornote.com/about-us/
- colornote.com/faq-question/are-there-colornote-versions-for-other-os-besides-android/
- colornote.com/faq-question/what-is-colornotes-online-backup-service-online-sync/
- colornote.com/faq-question/can-i-transfer-my-notes-to-other-os-devices-besides-android-such-as-iphone/
- colornote.com/faq-question/can-i-read-a-colornote-note-in-other-word-processing-programs/
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ColorNote, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/colornote
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ColorNote: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/colornote
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/colornote/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after ColorNote, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ColorNote’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ColorNote is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Social & Mobile, Inc. Prices and plans change: check colornote.com before you buy.