TaskNote VS Simplenote

Compare TaskNote VS Simplenote and see what are their differences

TaskNote Notes list with notebooks and pinned notes (Windows app)

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Freemium $19.99 / Monthly (Pro (web); Windows Lifetime $49 one-time)

Alternatives Is it good?

Rating: 3.5 · 2 reviews
Pricing: Open source

Alternatives Is it good?

PrivacyNotes

Zero-knowledge encrypted notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords in one app. Your keys never leave your device. One-time price, no subscription. Hosted in Switzerland. 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: 0 vs 83
Task Management popularity: 2% vs 98%
alternatives listed: 13 vs 240+

Base details

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

	TaskNote	Simplenote
Website	task-note.com	simplenote.com
Pricing	Freemium $19.99 / Monthly (Pro (web); Windows Lifetime $49 one-time) Official pricing	Open source
Platforms	Windows Web Browser	—
Company	Startup from Vietnam · 1 - 9 employees · 2025	Startup from the United States
Listed in	Note Taking Task Management Kanban Boards Todos Notes Personal Notes +3	Note Taking Task Management Project Management Personal Notes +1

About TaskNote and Simplenote

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

TaskNote

Simplenote

TaskNote keeps notes, a kanban board and reminders in one app built for one person rather than a team. Notes. A rich-text editor with headings, checklists, tables, columns, images and highlights. Notes are saved as Markdown, so they open anywhere. Full-text search, a command palette (Ctrl+K),...

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

TaskNote 8 features

Simplenote 6 features

Encryption
End-to-end, AES-GCM on your device; the server stores only ciphertext
Offline
Windows app works fully offline, stores everything in a local file
Account
Not required for the Windows app
Kanban board
Cards with due dates and checklists; notes attach to cards
Reminders
Desktop notifications at the time you set
Editor
Rich text saved as Markdown: headings, tables, columns, images, highlights
Import
Evernote, Google Keep, Notion, Simplenote, Markdown; Chrome web clipper
Free plan
No time limit: 50 notes, 50 tasks, 10 folders, 3 boards, 10 reminders

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.

Analysis

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

TaskNote

Simplenote

No analysis of TaskNote yet.

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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

TaskNote 0 videos + Add

Simplenote 2 videos + Add

No TaskNote videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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

TaskNote

Simplenote

2% 2%

Task Management

98% 98%

1% 1%

Note Taking

99% 99%

100% 100%

Kanban Boards

0% 0%

Todos

100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing TaskNote and Simplenote.

What makes your product unique?

TaskNote's answer

Notes, a kanban board and reminders live in one app, and the whole thing is built for one person rather than a team workspace. The Windows app keeps everything in a local file and runs with no account at all; the web version syncs with end-to-end encryption, so the server only ever holds ciphertext. Any note can become a task or be attached to a card, and notes are saved as Markdown, so nothing is locked in.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

TaskNote's answer

Windows app: Go with Wails, a React and TypeScript front end, SQLite for local storage. Web: Next.js, React, Supabase (Postgres) with AES-GCM encryption in the browser. Chrome extension for web clipping.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

TaskNote's answer

Notion and ClickUp are built for teams and sold by the seat; TaskNote has no seats, no databases to design and no empty workspace to set up: it opens straight into an editor. Evernote and OneNote keep notes readable on their servers; TaskNote encrypts them on your device. Joplin and Standard Notes are private too, but do not have a kanban board and reminders built in. The free plan has no time limit, and the Windows app is a one-time purchase instead of a subscription.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

TaskNote's answer

Individuals who keep their own notes and tasks and care where the data lives: freelancers, writers, students, developers, and people leaving Notion or Evernote for something simpler and encrypted. Mostly Windows users, with the web version for the phone and other devices.

What's the story behind your product?

TaskNote's answer

It started as a personal tool: one place for notes and the tasks that come out of them, without an account and without a team plan for a team of one. The Windows app came first, built to keep everything in a local file and work offline. The web version followed with client-side encryption, because syncing should not mean handing the notes to a server in the clear. It has been in active development since 2025, with a public changelog and a feedback channel inside the app.

User comments

Share your experience with using TaskNote and Simplenote. 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.

TaskNote no reviews yet

Simplenote 3.5 · 2 reviews

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

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.

Social recommendations and mentions

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

TaskNote 0 mentions

Simplenote 83 mentions

Tracking TaskNote since Sep 2026.

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 / almost 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 / about 2 years ago

Alternatives to TaskNote and Simplenote

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

Notion
All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

Compare Notion to TaskNote or Simplenote:

Notion vs TaskNote Notion vs Simplenote
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 TaskNote or Simplenote:

Evernote vs TaskNote Evernote vs Simplenote
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 TaskNote or Simplenote:

OneNote vs TaskNote OneNote vs Simplenote
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 TaskNote or Simplenote:

Google Keep vs TaskNote Google Keep vs Simplenote
Joplin
Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

Compare Joplin to TaskNote or Simplenote:

Joplin vs TaskNote Joplin vs Simplenote
Standard Notes
A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Compare Standard Notes to TaskNote or Simplenote:

Standard Notes vs TaskNote Standard Notes vs Simplenote