Compare software

Apple NotesSimplenote
Free

Free, bundled with macOS and iOS.

 Free

The software is free under its open-source licence. Hosting, hardware and external…

macOS, iOS Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
  • Comes preinstalled and free on every Apple device
  • OCR lets you search text inside scanned images and photos
  • Syncing is free and unlimited across every platform, notes keep a version history, and the whole thing stays…
  • Tied to the Apple ecosystem with no native Windows or Android app
  • Lacks the structured databases and linking found in dedicated knowledge-base apps
  • There is no encryption of note contents on Automattic's servers, and no attachments, folders or rich formatting.
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Closed source Open source
License not stated License: GPL-2.0
Not stated if an account is needed Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked September 22, 2026

Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.