Simplenote VS Derive Notes

Compare Simplenote VS Derive Notes and see what are their differences

Rating: 3.5 · 2 reviews
Pricing: Open source
: Promote on VibeVoted

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Paid Free trial
: Promote on VibeVoted

PrivacyNotes

Notes, tasks, passwords, journal, files, calendar, contacts and bookmarks, with mood and medication tracking. Encrypted on your device. Open source, no ads, no trackers. Free forever; Pro is a one-time purchase. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Simplenote seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 83 times since March 2021.

social mentions: 83 vs 0
Note Taking popularity: 99% vs 1%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 4

Base details

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

	Simplenote	Derive Notes
Website	simplenote.com	derivenotes.com
Pricing	Open source	Paid Free trial Official pricing
Platforms	—	iOS Web Mac Windows +1
Company	Startup from the United States	Startup from Australia
Listed in	Note Taking Task Management Project Management Personal Notes +1	Education Tools Note Taking Math Tools

About Simplenote and Derive Notes

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Simplenote

Derive Notes

No description of Simplenote yet.

Derive is a handwriting notebook for maths, science and engineering students. You write on an infinite canvas with your pen and it reads the working as actual maths. Each line gets checked against the one above, so if you drop a negative on line three you find out on line three. If you get stuck,...

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Simplenote 6 features

Derive Notes 0 features

Ease of Use
Simplenote offers a very straightforward and minimalistic interface, making it easy for new users to pick up and start using immediately.
Free of Cost
Simplenote is completely free to use, which makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious users.
Real-time Sync
Notes are automatically synchronized across all devices in real-time, providing a seamless experience across multiple platforms.
Multi-platform Support
Simplenote is available on various platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and through a web browser.
Version History
Simplenote provides version history for notes, allowing users to revert to previous versions if needed.
Markdown Support
Simplenote supports Markdown, enabling users to format their notes with ease.

Possible disadvantages

Limited Features
Simplenote’s minimalist approach means it lacks some advanced features found in other note-taking apps, such as rich-text formatting, attachments, and integrations.
No Offline Access
Although notes sync seamlessly online, Simplenote has limited functionality without an internet connection, especially on the web version.
Security Concerns
Simplenote does not offer end-to-end encryption, which may be a concern for users who prioritize security and privacy.
No Task Management
Simplenote is focused solely on note-taking and lacks built-in task management features such as to-do lists and reminders.
Limited Customization
Users have limited options for customizing the appearance and organization of their notes.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

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

Simplenote

Derive Notes

Overall verdict

Simplenote is a great choice for anyone looking for a straightforward and efficient note-taking app. Its minimalistic design and cross-platform availability make it particularly appealing to users who prioritize functionality over complex features. However, it may not be suitable for those who require extensive formatting options or integration with other productivity tools.

Why this product is good

Simplenote is highly regarded for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers a clean user interface that allows users to quickly jot down notes without any distractions. The app is available across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux, with seamless sync across devices. It also supports features like note sharing, version history, and markdown support, making it versatile for both personal and professional use.

Recommended for

Individuals who prefer a minimalistic and distraction-free note-taking experience.
Users in need of a lightweight app for quick notes and lists.
People who want a note-taking app with cross-platform compatibility and seamless syncing.

No analysis of Derive Notes yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Simplenote 2 videos + Add

Derive Notes 0 videos + Add

Simplenote 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

Simplenote

Derive Notes

99% 99%

Note Taking

1% 1%

100% 100%

Task Management

0% 0%

Education Tools

100% 100%

Todos

0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Simplenote and Derive Notes. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

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

Simplenote 3.5 · 2 reviews

Derive Notes no reviews yet

Basic
SaaSHub review

· Jul 2026

I've started with Simplenote years ago, at the time I was happy but it became clear pretty quickly that it was too basic. But to be fair, it's basic and free. Keep in mind it's unencrypted.
11 Best Google Keeps Alternatives for 2024
upbase.io · Apr 2024

While SimpleNote is completely free to use, it offers a subscription option called Simplenote Sustainer for those who want to support the app. Sustainer costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
20 Obsidian Alternatives: Top Note-Taking Tools to Consider
clickup.com · Feb 2024

Simplenote is an excellent alternative to Obsidian thanks to its simplicity and clutter-free interface. It also features powerful syncing functionality to help you access your notes anytime.

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Simplenote 83 mentions

Derive Notes 0 mentions

Ask HN: What will the WordPress meltdown mean for Automattic's other products?
I've been looking to migrate away from https://simplenote.com to something else and I've been dragging my feet. However, what's happened in the past 2 weeks with the CEO was the push I needed to resume looking for another solution. I've... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Ask HN: What note taking app do you use and why?
I use https://simplenote.com - Syncs across multiple platforms. - Plaintext based (with MD support). - Search + edit UI similar to https://notational.net and https://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt - Simple to publish/share notes - Free... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
Anybody have problems with bookmark organization like me?
Bookmarks serve two purposes: - Quick access to commonly used links. For this, I built https://multi-launch.leftium.com - Saving a link for future reference. Often I want to also save plain text notes for future reference, so find myself... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

Tracking Derive Notes since Oct 2026.

Alternatives to Simplenote and Derive Notes

When comparing Simplenote and Derive Notes, you can also consider the following products.

Evernote
Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

Compare Evernote to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

Evernote vs Simplenote Evernote vs Derive Notes
Notability
Combine handwriting, photos and typing in a single note to bring your projects to life. Use a wide range of note-taking and sketching tools to capture every detail. You can even add and annotate PDFs in Notability.

Compare Notability to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

Notability vs Simplenote Notability vs Derive Notes
OneNote
Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Compare OneNote to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

OneNote vs Simplenote OneNote vs Derive Notes
GoodNotes
GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Compare GoodNotes to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

GoodNotes vs Simplenote GoodNotes vs Derive Notes
Google Keep
Capture notes, share them with others, and access them from your computer, phone or tablet. Free with a Google account.

Compare Google Keep to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

Google Keep vs Simplenote Google Keep vs Derive Notes
Standard Notes
A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Compare Standard Notes to Simplenote or Derive Notes:

Standard Notes vs Simplenote Standard Notes vs Derive Notes