Simplenote

Executive Summary

Simplenote is exactly what its name suggests: a simple note-taking app with instant sync across all your devices. Backed by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, and WooCommerce), Simplenote is completely free — no premium tier, no ads, no hidden costs. It's open source, available on every major platform, and just works. For users who want basic notes without complexity, Simplenote is hard to beat.

Attribute	Value
Company	Automattic
Founded	2008 (acquired by Automattic 2013)
Funding	Parent company well-funded ($927M+)
Employees	Part of Automattic (~2000 employees)
Headquarters	Distributed (Automattic is fully remote)

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Product Overview

Simplenote focuses on the basics: create notes, organize with tags, sync everywhere. There are no folders, no notebooks, no elaborate organization systems. You write, you tag, you search. Notes sync instantly — there's no "sync button" to press.

Markdown support lets you format text, preview it, and even publish notes as public web pages. Version history means you can see what a note looked like at any point in the past.

Key Capabilities

Capability	Description
Instant Sync	Notes update across devices in real-time
Tags	Simple organization with tags
Markdown	Write and preview markdown formatting
Version History	See any previous version of a note
Publishing	Share notes as public web pages
Collaboration	Share notes with other Simplenote users

Editions

Surface	Description	Availability
Mac App	Native macOS app	GA
iOS App	iPhone and iPad	GA
Android App	Native Android	GA
Windows/Linux	Electron app	GA
Web App	Browser-based	GA

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Technical Architecture

Simplenote uses Automattic's Simperium sync platform for real-time synchronization. Notes are stored in the cloud, not as local files — this enables instant sync but means you're dependent on Simplenote's service.

All client apps are open source under GPL v2, which means the community can inspect the code and potentially contribute.

Key Technical Details

Aspect	Detail
Sync	Simperium (Automattic's sync platform)
Storage	Cloud-based (not local files)
Export	Plain text, markdown
Open Source	Yes (GPL v2) — all clients
API	Simperium API available

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Strengths

• Completely free — No premium tier, no ads, no catch; backed by Automattic's resources
• Universal availability — Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and web — one of the widest platform support in the category
• Instant sync — Notes appear on other devices immediately, no manual sync required
• Open source — All apps are GPL v2, providing transparency and community oversight
• Backed by Automattic — Financial stability from WordPress.com's parent company
• Version history — See and restore any previous version of a note

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Cautions

• Cloud-dependent — Notes stored on Simplenote servers, not as local files; if service shuts down, you need exports
• Minimal features — No folders, wiki links, or rich formatting beyond markdown
• Security concerns — Some users uncertain about encryption level for sensitive data
• Basic markdown only — No tables, diagrams, or advanced markdown extensions
• No offline-first — While offline access exists, it's not the primary design

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Pricing & Licensing

Tier	Price	Includes
Free	$0	Everything — all features, all platforms, unlimited notes

Licensing model: Free (Automattic-subsidized)

Hidden costs: None. Genuinely free.

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Competitive Positioning

Direct Competitors

Competitor	Differentiation
Apple Notes	Simplenote is cross-platform; Apple Notes is Apple-only
Google Keep	Simplenote has markdown and longer notes; Keep is more visual/sticky-note style
Obsidian	Simplenote is simpler and free sync; Obsidian has more power features
Bear	Bear has better design and organization; Simplenote is free and cross-platform

When to Choose Simplenote Over Alternatives

• Choose Simplenote when: You want free, cross-platform notes with instant sync and no complexity
• Choose Obsidian when: You need local files, wiki links, and power features
• Choose Bear when: You want beautiful design and are Apple-only
• Choose Apple Notes when: You're all-Apple and want deep OS integration

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Ideal Customer Profile

Best fit:

• Users who want simple, cross-platform notes without paying
• Writers who need basic markdown support
• Collaborators who share notes with others
• Users transitioning from paid apps who want to reduce subscriptions

Poor fit:

• Users who need local file storage (not cloud)
• Knowledge management / PKM enthusiasts
• Users with strict security requirements
• Anyone who needs rich organization (folders, notebooks)

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Viability Assessment

Factor	Assessment
Financial Health	Strong — Automattic is well-funded and profitable
Market Position	Solid — established free option with loyal users
Innovation Pace	Slow — feature-complete, minimal updates
Community/Ecosystem	Moderate — open source with contributors
Long-term Outlook	Positive — Automattic continues to maintain it

Simplenote has been around since 2008 and under Automattic's ownership since 2013. While it doesn't get frequent feature updates, it remains maintained and stable. The open-source nature provides some insurance against abandonment.

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Bottom Line

Simplenote is the best free note-taking app for users who want simplicity and cross-platform sync without any cost. It won't compete with Obsidian for power users or Bear for design enthusiasts, but it doesn't try to.

Recommended for: Users who want free, reliable, cross-platform notes with markdown support and nothing more.

Not recommended for: Power users, PKM enthusiasts, or anyone who needs local file storage.

Outlook: Simplenote will continue as a no-frills option backed by Automattic's resources. Don't expect major new features, but do expect continued reliability.

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Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology