Software Alternatives & Startups

Simple Calendar VS NotePlan

Compare Simple Calendar VS NotePlan and see what are their differences

Simple Calendar

A simple calendar with events (optional recurring and reminders), week numbers and a customizable...

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
NotePlan

Make plans inside an individual markdown note for every day in your calendar. Use it as a journal for your daily tasks and plan todos in advance. For Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Simple Calendar should be more popular than NotePlan. It has been mentioned 100 times since March 2021.

social mentions
100 vs 36
Calendar popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
226 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Simple Calendar
NotePlan
Website simplemobiletools.com noteplan.co
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Simple Calendar 7 features
NotePlan 7 features
  • Open Source
    Simple Calendar is open source, meaning the source code is publicly accessible. This transparency allows users to verify the security of the app and contribute to its development.
  • Privacy-Focused
    The app does not collect or share user data, which ensures a high level of privacy for users.
  • Ad-Free Experience
    Simple Calendar does not display ads, providing a cleaner and more user-friendly experience.
  • Offline Functionality
    The app can function fully offline, making it useful for users without consistent internet access.
  • Customizable
    Users can customize the look and feel of the calendar, including themes and colors, to suit their preferences.
  • Lightweight
    Simple Calendar is lightweight and does not consume significant device resources, ensuring smooth performance on a wide range of devices.
  • Integration with Other Simple Mobile Tools Apps
    It integrates well with other apps from Simple Mobile Tools, like Simple Contacts and Simple Notes, creating a more cohesive user experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some paid calendar apps, Simple Calendar lacks advanced features such as task management, event templates, and detailed recurring event options.
  • No Cloud Sync
    Simple Calendar does not offer built-in cloud synchronization across devices, which may be a drawback for users who want to access their calendar from multiple devices.
  • Lack of Integration with Popular Calendar Services
    The app does not offer seamless integration with popular calendar services like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook by default.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    While the app is customizable, the process to set it up according to personal preferences can be confusing and time-consuming for some users.
  • Basic User Interface
    The user interface is simple and functional but may appear too basic and less aesthetically pleasing to users accustomed to more polished apps.
  • Markdown Support
    NotePlan supports Markdown, allowing users to write notes in a clean and easy-to-format manner.
  • Calendar Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with your calendar, providing a consolidated view of notes, tasks, and events.
  • Task Management
    Users can manage tasks and to-do lists directly within the app, making it great for productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Sync
    NotePlan offers cross-platform syncing, enabling access to notes on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
  • Daily Notes
    The concept of daily notes helps in journaling and keeping track of daily activities.
  • Tagging System
    An efficient tagging system helps in organizing and finding notes quickly.
  • Quick Capture
    The quick capture feature enables jotting down thoughts and tasks swiftly.

Possible disadvantages

  • Price
    NotePlan is not free and may be considered expensive for casual note-takers.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive features might require some time for new users to learn and adapt.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    It’s only available on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, leaving out Windows and Android users.
  • No Web Access
    There is no web access, which can be a limitation for some users who prefer browser-based tools.
  • No Collaboration Features
    NotePlan lacks robust collaboration features, which makes it less suitable for team projects.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Simple Calendar
NotePlan

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Simple Calendar by Simple Mobile Tools is generally considered a good app.

Why this product is good

  • Open Source: It is an open-source application, which means the code is available for anyone to inspect, providing more transparency and security.
  • Privacy-Focused: Simple Calendar doesn't require unnecessary permissions or internet access, ensuring user privacy.
  • No Ads: The app is ad-free, providing a cleaner user experience.
  • User-Friendly: Designed to be straightforward, it's easy to navigate and use.
  • Customizable: Offers various customization options such as themes and widgets.

Recommended for

  • Users who value privacy and want a calendar app without data tracking.
  • Individuals looking for an ad-free scheduling experience.
  • Those who prefer customizable features to tailor the app to their liking.
  • Open-source enthusiasts who support community-driven projects.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, NotePlan is a good choice for those who prefer a minimalist yet powerful tool for managing notes and tasks. It effectively caters to individuals looking for a cohesive system that integrates note-taking with scheduling, making it a viable option for personal and professional productivity needs.

Why this product is good

  • NotePlan is a well-regarded productivity tool because it combines the functionalities of note-taking, to-do lists, and a calendar in a single application. Its strengths include seamless integration with macOS and iOS, Markdown support for note formatting, and an intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage tasks and notes. Users appreciate its focus on personal productivity and the ability to link notes with tasks and calendar events, which aids in organizing projects and daily plans efficiently.

Recommended for

    NotePlan is particularly recommended for users who are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prefer using apps that offer robust integrations with iOS and macOS. It is ideal for people who like using Markdown for note-taking and those who want a lightweight app that can manage tasks and notes simultaneously in a linked manner. Additionally, individuals who value a clean, distraction-free interface for productivity will likely find NotePlan to be a good fit.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Simple Calendar 2 videos + Add
NotePlan 4 videos + Add

Simple Calendar Android App Review (Widget)

More videos

  • - Simple Calendar Pro Promo Video

NotePlan 3 Review

More videos

  • - Noteplan 3 - Link your Notes with Apple's Reminder and Calendar App
  • - Walkthrough of NotePlan 3 — Notetaker, calendar, digital bullet journal all in one app
  • - The Best Bullet Journal App | NotePlan 3 Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Simple Calendar
NotePlan
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Simple Calendar no reviews yet
NotePlan no reviews yet

We have no reviews of NotePlan yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Simple Calendar 100 mentions
NotePlan 36 mentions

View more

  • Ask HN: YAML or Markdown for Personal Notes?
    Https://noteplan.co, if you're on a macOS/iOS device. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What Process/Applications Do You Use for Todo/Knowledge Management?
    I'm using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) and loving it. It's a macOS/iOS app (there's a somewhat limited Web version). IMO, the best balance between PKM and task manager/calendar management. I've also tried Amplenote... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: How do you manage ideas, tasks, notes and other stuff?
    I've been using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) with the Projects + Reviews plugin. It's been a game changer for me. The (almost) perfect combination of tasks + notes. I also manage my personal stuff with it. It's a paid macOS app but,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

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Alternatives to Simple Calendar and NotePlan

When comparing Simple Calendar and NotePlan, you can also consider the following products.