Simplenote
Project Overview
Simplenote is a free, lightweight, and cross-platform note-taking application developed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress. It’s designed for users who want a fast, distraction-free way to capture ideas, notes, tasks, and more — without the complexity found in heavier apps like Evernote or Notion. Simplenote is completely free and open source, with no ads or premium tiers. It’s ideal for writers, developers, students, and minimalists who want a clean and effective way to manage text-based content.
Minimalist Design Built for Focus
Simplenote offers a clean, elegant user interface where the content is the hero. It eliminates all the noise — no intrusive toolbars, popups, or complex folder systems. Instead, it uses tags and search for fast organization and retrieval. Markdown support allows users to format notes with headings, lists, and code blocks, perfect for developers, bloggers, and technical writers. Every edit is automatically saved, and previous versions can be restored with a simple timeline slider — ensuring peace of mind and focus for long writing sessions.
Open Source
Simplenote is developed and maintained by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, making it a product backed by a strong commitment to open-source values and user privacy. Its full source code is available on GitHub, welcoming community contributions and full transparency. Unlike many commercial note apps, Simplenote is completely free — no ads, no upselling, and no paywalls. It’s a rare example of a utility built not for profit, but to genuinely improve productivity through elegant design and open technology.
Technology & Tools
