# Simplenote

> Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform

Simplenote is a free plain-text note app from Automattic for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux and the web. Notes sync automatically between devices, are organized with tags and pins, and keep a history of earlier versions. Markdown, checklists, sharing with other users and publishing a note to a public link are all included, but images and other files cannot be attached.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Automattic
- **Website:** https://simplenote.com
- **Runs on:** iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Web
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Simplenote is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** Everything is free: the apps, backups, syncing and sharing. Automattic says it places no restriction on the number of notes.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0 | Every app and feature, including sync, version history, collaboration and publishing, with a Simplenote account. |

Read from https://simplenote.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Simplenote before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## What people say

- **App Store rating of the iPhone and iPad app:** 4.7 out of 5 from 4,315 ratings in the United States, read Oct 5, 2026. This is the store's rating of the app, not a score from ToolGPA. Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id289429962

## Works with

WordPress.com

**Tags:** Notes, Markdown, Open source, Works offline, Linked notes

## Alternatives

- [Google Keep](https://toolgpa.com/tools/google-keep): Google's app for quick notes, lists and reminders. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/google-keep-vs-simplenote)
- [Apple Notes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/apple-notes): Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apple-notes-vs-simplenote)
- [Standard Notes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/standard-notes): End-to-end encrypted notes app with open source clients. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/simplenote-vs-standard-notes)
- [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/joplin-vs-simplenote)
- [Bear](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bear): Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bear-vs-simplenote)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://simplenote.com
- https://simplenote.com/help/
- https://simplenote.com/developers/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/simplenote/id289429962

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/simplenote
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).