Simplenote
Simplenote is a note-taking app that syncs notes across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web.
What Simplenote is
Simplenote is a note-taking app that syncs notes across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. Notes sync automatically and wirelessly between devices and apps when the app is opened. Tags help organize notes, and search is instant. Writers can create, preview, and publish notes in Markdown. The app supports collaboration on individual notes and view-only sharing through links. Each change is backed up, and the help page says most apps can display previous note versions. Downloaded notes can be edited offline; changes sync after reconnecting. The desktop and web apps can import Evernote exports, while the web app and other apps can import Simplenote JSON, plain text, and Markdown files. Simplenote says its apps are open source and welcomes contributions through GitHub repositories. Notes cannot contain uploaded attachments. The free plan costs nothing and includes notes, backups, syncing, and sharing. Support options include a Help Center, Contact Us page, and Support Forum.
Good
- Free plan includes notes, backups, syncing, and sharing.
- Available on six listed platform types.
- Tags and instant search organize notes.
- Supports Markdown writing, previewing, and publishing.
- Downloaded notes can be edited offline.
Watch out
- Notes cannot contain uploaded attachments.
- Offline editing requires notes downloaded while online.
Who it suits
Simplenote suits people who want a free note-taking app across phones, computers, and the web. It is also a fit for writers who use Markdown or people who need offline editing and note sharing.
Verdict
Simplenote combines cross-device syncing with tags, Markdown, sharing, and offline editing. Its free plan includes backups, but notes do not support uploaded attachments.
Plans and prices
From Simplenote's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Apps, backups, syncing, and sharing are free |
The facts
Each one read from Simplenote's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API status
- The listed legacy Simplenote API was deprecated and the page says it would stop functioning after October 1, 2018.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Content limits
- Notes cannot contain uploaded attachments, and the help page says there is no restriction on the number of notes unless the system is abused.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The desktop and web apps can import Evernote exports, while the web app and other apps can import Simplenote JSON and plain text or Markdown files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Markdown
- Simplenote supports writing, previewing, and publishing notes in Markdown.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Note sharing
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Offline access
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Offline use
- Apps support offline access and editing after notes have been downloaded while online; offline changes sync after reconnecting.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Simplenote says all its apps are open source and welcomes contributions through its GitHub repositories.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Notes can be organized with tags and searched instantly.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Simplenote is a note-taking app that syncs notes across devices.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- The help center has separate answers about encryption in storage and during synchronization, but the opened page did not expose their answer text.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Users can collaborate on individual notes or publish view-only notes for anyone with the link.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Simplenote provides a Help Center, Contact Us page, and Support Forum.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Sync
- Notes sync automatically and wirelessly between devices, the web app, and desktop apps when the app is opened.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Version history
- Notes are backed up with every change, and the help page says most apps support viewing previous note versions.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
The company
- Maker
- The site footer identifies Automattic Inc. as the copyright holder; the opened pages do not state a headquarters or founding year.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Supported platforms
- web,windows,macos,linux,ios,androidchecked 20 Sep 2026
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