Simplenote: Fast, Plain-Text Notes That Stay in Sync
Simplenote is a note-taking application built around plain text: you type, the note saves, and the change appears on every other device signed into the same account without a sync button. The interface stays out of the way, showing a list of notes on one side and the open note on the other, with instant search filtering the list as you type. Notes are plain text by default but can be switched to Markdown individually, which turns headings, bold, lists, and checkboxes into formatted output once the preview is toggled on. Tags at the bottom of a note provide the only hierarchy Simplenote needs. The result is a fast place to capture to-dos, meeting notes, drafts, and reference snippets.
Note history is where Simplenote earns trust: every change is backed up, so you can walk back through versions of a note and restore an earlier one after an accidental edit or deletion. Deleted notes go to the Trash rather than vanishing, and the Trash tag lets you put them back. Sorting covers the rest, with options for date modified, date created, or name in either direction, and tags can be searched directly with a tag prefix. Some writers outgrow flat lists once a knowledge base needs real structure, and a hierarchical tool such as CherryTree handles that case while Simplenote stays the quick-capture layer.
Benefits of Using Simplenote
Simplenote is worth installing because it removes almost every decision from note-taking. There is no format to choose, no folder to file things into, and no save command; you open the app, type, and the note is already synced to your other devices. Tags let you group related notes without building a tree, and instant search means a half-remembered phrase is usually enough to find a note months later. Features other apps bury, such as note history, version restore, and a Trash you can recover from, protect the writing already done rather than adding ceremony around new writing. Markdown and checklists turn a plain text file into a formatted page or a nested to-do list whenever a note needs it, and keyboard shortcuts plus a focus mode keep the editor comfortable for long sessions. Export, import, and printing cover the moments when notes have to leave the app.
Simplenote Software Information
- Developer: Automattic, Inc.
- Current Version: 2.24.0
- File Size: 103 MB
- License: Open Source
- Language: en-US
- Downloads: 12.9K
- Platform: Windows Desktop
System Requirements
- Processor: 2-core CPU
- RAM: 4 GB RAM
- Storage: 2 GB available storage
- Graphics / GPU: Not required
Visit the official Simplenote website
Simplenote Features
Instant Sync Without a Save Button
Notes are written to a local store and pushed to every other signed-in device automatically, so there is no sync button to press and no version to reconcile by hand. Edits made offline are queued and sent as soon as the connection returns.
Tags Instead of Folders
A note can carry any number of tags, added at the bottom of the editor, and the tag list in the sidebar filters the notes below it. Tags can be renamed, deleted, or reordered by dragging, and typing a tag prefix in the search box shows every matching note.
Instant Search Across Everything
Typing in the search field narrows the note list immediately, matching words anywhere inside the text rather than only in titles. Combined with tags, it means a large archive stays usable: you rarely need to remember where a note lives, only something it said.
Note History and Restore
Every change is backed up, and the history panel walks through previous versions of the current note so you can compare what it said last week or last month and roll back to an earlier state. Accidental deletions land in the Trash instead of disappearing.
Optional Markdown Formatting
Markdown can be switched on per note from the info panel, which turns headings, bold and italic text, blockquotes, code blocks, tables, and links into formatted output in the preview. Images can be embedded by URL, and a preview toggle flips between source text and rendered page.
Checklists and Focus Mode
Checklist items can be inserted from the Format menu, ticked off as work is done, and nested when a task breaks into subtasks. Focus mode hides the note list so only the text remains on screen, and font size controls adjust the editor for long reading or writing sessions.
Collaboration and Publishing
The collaborate panel accepts one or more email addresses so other Simplenote users can open and edit the same note from their own accounts. Publishing is the read-only alternative: it creates a public page behind a simp.ly link that anyone holding the address can view.
Import, Export, and Print
Simplenote exports, plain text or Markdown files, and Evernote exports can be imported from the desktop menu, with an option to treat every imported file as Markdown. Export writes all notes into a zip file, and printing works from the desktop and web apps.
Simplenote Old Versions
Version 2.23.2 Updated: March 7, 2025 Download
Version 2.18.0 Updated: January 3, 2025 Download
Version 2.19.0 Updated: January 3, 2025 Download
Version 2.20.0 Updated: January 3, 2025 Download
Version 2.21.0 Updated: October 15, 2021 Download
Simplenote FAQs
Can I attach images or files to a note?
No. Notes hold text only, and attachments such as PDFs cannot be added. An image can still appear in a Markdown note by linking to a picture that is already hosted on the web, which is the supported way to include one.
Does the app work offline?
Yes. Once you have signed in and your notes have been downloaded, the desktop and mobile apps can be used without a connection. Edits made offline are stored locally and synchronize to other devices after the connection returns, so a note written on a plane arrives later.
How do I organize notes without folders?
Use tags, which are added at the bottom of each note and then listed in the sidebar for filtering. Searching with a tag prefix shows only notes carrying that tag, and tags can be renamed, deleted, or dragged into a different order whenever the scheme changes.
Is there a limit on how long a note can be?
There is no hard cap on note length or on the number of notes, but very long notes are discouraged because they slow processing both in the browser and on the device. Splitting a long document into several notes and joining them with internal links is the recommended approach.
Can I change the font or theme?
Font size can be adjusted through the zoom and font size options in the desktop and mobile apps, and the web app follows browser zoom. The typeface itself cannot be swapped, which keeps the writing area consistent no matter which device you open.
How do I get my notes out of the app?
Notes and tags can be exported from the desktop and web apps as a zip file in which each file is named after the first line of the note. Importing works the other way, accepting Simplenote exports, plain text or Markdown files, and Evernote exports.