Simplenote
Cloud-based, open-source note-taking app supporting plain text notes, lists, and ideas with real-time sync, multi-device support, version history, markdown, tagging, collaborative editing, no ads, and free registration required for all cloud features.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source (GPL-2.0)
Application types
Alerts
- Discontinued
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Features
Properties
- Clean design
- Lightweight
- Distraction-free
- Minimalistic
Features
- Cross-device syncing
- Support for MarkDown
- Search by tags
- Simple text editor
- Protected by Password
- Text Based Format
- Tagging
Android Sync- Dark Mode
- Web Access
- Full-Text Search
- Publish notes online
- Tag based
- Share notes
- Portable
- Works Offline
- File Versioning
- No Tracking
- Ad-free
- Live Preview
- Automatic Backup
- Note organization
- Integrated Search
- Fast motion
- Electron based
- Rewind the changes
Simplenote News & Activities
Recent News
- Fla published news article about Simplenote
Simplenote MCP server adds Windows and Linux support with write featuresThe Simplenote MCP server is now available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, expanding its functionali...
- Fla published news article about Simplenote
Simplenote announces beta MCP Server for AI-powered natural language searchSimplenote has launched the beta MCP Server, enabling users to search and manage notes using natura...
- POX published news article about Simplenote
Automattic ends Simplenote active development, only basic maintenance continuesAutomattic has formally confirmed that active development for Simplenote, its established note-taki...
Recent activities
- Robin_P liked Simplenote
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Loquit added Simplenote as alternative to Quick Notes — Offline Notepad
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deempa added Simplenote as alternative to Cyanote
AliNoCoder added Simplenote as alternative to QuickNotepad
Featured in Lists
A list of interesting and open source [Android](/software/android/) apps.
Alternative to Pinterest
Free, Free, Freemium and Commercial Windows, Web, Self Hosted and Chrome
What is Simplenote?
Made by the company behind 
WordPress, Simplenote enables users to take notes, lists, and ideas. These notes are stored on the cloud and are accessible across multiple devices.
Simplenote's both client and server components are free and open-source. However, the service component of Simplenote requires free registration and accepting the terms of service.
Simplenote information
Developed by
Automattic Inc. Licensing
Open Source (GPL-2.0) and Free product.Written in
Rating
Average rating of 3.6Alternatives
184 alternatives listedNews
4 news article related to SimplenoteSupported Languages
- English
- Arabic
- Dutch
- French
- German
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Persian
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Chinese
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Welsh
AlternativeTo Categories
Office & Productivity, Backup & SyncApple AppStore
- Updated
- 4.75 avg rating
GitHub repository
- 5,257 Stars
- 586 Forks
- 276 Open Issues
- Updated
Comments and Reviews
I see that there is a bit of misunderstanding about Simplenote and its licensing model. The Simplenote client is indeed free and open-source, under the terms of GPL v2. (See simplenote-electron on GitHub) It connects to server components that are also free and open-source. But Simplenote is more a service than an app; in the end, you entrust other people with your data in exchange for achieving mobility. That means you must study the terms of service.
All things considered, I like Simplenote.
Everywhere you turn, Simplenote is celebrated as wonderfully convenient and brilliant for productivity. Oh, and it's free, didn't you know? But in truth, it's not very private - at least in principle. Your information is stored with a 3rd party in a form they can read and which they can give away to others (in fact they have to if the NSA asks). In that respect, your Simplenote data is every bit as vulnerable as it is in Dropbox or Evernote (both of which have been hacked before: see here for Dropbox, here for Evernote).
The alternative is Turtl. All the same and - in many cases - better features and, crucially, it's end-to-end encrypted. That means your data is encrypted using your password (don't forget it!) before it leaves your computer. The server responsible for syncing and the admins responsible for Turtl can't read your notes. If hackers get it they won't be able to read your data. And if the NSA asks for it, it won't matter: it's encrypted.
Not convinced?
Things that Simplenote and Turtl BOTH have:
What Turtl has that Simplenote doesn't:
What Simplenote has that Turtl doesn't:
Compare the privacy policies: Here for Turtl, here for Simplenote. Then think about where you want your notes to live.
Turtl for Android has only "Semi-offline mode" while SimpleNote has the full-fledged offline. Turtl blog (http://turtlapp.tumblr.com/): Semi-offline mode is here, with one exception: you must be connected to log in to or join Turtl. Other than that, all changes you make to your profile will be queued up and synced to the server the next time you connect. Simplenote help (https://simplenote.com/help/): Can I search notes without a connection to the internet? Yes, using Simplenote for iOS and Android, you can search your notes even when you’re offline. Searching from our web app, however, currently requires a connection to the internet. Also, Turtl always shows you his icon in notification bar (i didn't found way to disable it)
Turtl can be self-hosted --- solving the "sync hosted in US" issue.
Isn't this supposed to be a review for simplenote not turtl
Whatever!
Well said. It seems Turtl is no longer being developed, but you can achieve the same thing with any open-source app by firewalling it and keeping the documents in a veracrypt folder (or other encryption service) inside or cloned to any cloud folder.
This would technically be safer than trusting how some writing app implements their encryption.
Still the benchmark for getting out of the way: open it, type, done. I wish Automattic gave it more attention these days, but for pure speed and zero ceremony nothing else comes close.
I cannot attach images? Sorry but this is impossible for me to use this :(
Thanks here to open this ways and be in the relation to update the wiriting doc in the small time to got the image Screen Ecran Agent user
Simplenote is missing simple functions such as selecting multiple notes. The help page shows how to select multiple notes. I have tried it on Firefox, Edge and desktop app but it never worked! Also, Simplenote desktop app is built on Electron, which is resource-heavy and slow. Simplenote is so terrible that Google Keep is more usable than this. Why Simplenote keeps being recommended is a mystery.
If you just need some something to store text quick, simple and smart, then simplenote is the way to get that done. Also, it is cross-platform (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, or in your browser).
Simplenote doesn't offer folders or subfolders, notebooks, sections, stacks, or other organizational tools. It does not have image or video attachment function.
It's all tag based navigation. I can't recommend it enough. I use this every single day.