Memo App Comparison
Simple Memo vs 16 Popular Apps
Apple Notes, Google Keep, Notion, LINE Keep, Slack, Bear, Note To Self Mail, Email Me App — compared against Simple Memo across launch speed, email integration, offline support, privacy, and more.
What is Simple Memo - for Obsidian?
Simple Memo - for Obsidian is an iOS app built entirely around one goal: capture a thought and send it to email in under one second. It has no folders, tags, or management features — your email inbox is the storage layer. Built with Outbox architecture for offline reliability, AES-GCM encryption, and one-tap send, it was designed as a replacement in the spirit of the discontinued Captio app.
Full App Comparison Matrix
| App | Ready to type | One-Tap Send | Offline | Encryption | Free Plan | Simplicity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Memo | 0.4s* | Yes | Outbox | Direct send | AES-GCM | Yes | ★★★★★ |
| Apple Notes | 1.7s* | No | iCloud sync | Manual share | iCloud E2E | Free | ★★★☆☆ |
| Google Keep | 2.1s* | No | Yes | Manual share | No | Free | ★★★☆☆ |
| LINE Keep | ~2s | No | No | No | No | Discontinued | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Notion | 2.8s* | No | Limited | Manual only | No | Limited | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Slack DM to self | ~2s | No | No | Slack only | TLS | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Bear | 0.9s* | No | Yes | Manual share | Yes | Limited | ★★★☆☆ |
| Note To Self Mail | ~0.5s | Yes | No | Email send | No | Ads | ★★★★☆ |
| Email Me App | ~0.5s | Yes | No | Email send | No | Limited | ★★★★☆ |
| Todoist | ~2s | No | Yes | Manual only | TLS | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| TickTick | ~2s | No | Yes | Manual only | TLS | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| UpNote | ~1s | No | Yes | Manual share | Yes | Limited | ★★★☆☆ |
| GoodNotes | ~2s | No | Yes | Manual share | iCloud | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Day One | ~2s | No | Yes | Manual share | E2E | Limited | ★★★☆☆ |
| Craft | ~2s | No | Yes | Manual only | Yes | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Logseq | ~3s | No | Local | No | Local | Free | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Roam Research | ~3s | No | No | No | E2E | No | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dynalist | ~2s | No | No | No | No | Yes | ★★★☆☆ |
| Drafts | 0.9s* | No | Yes | Actions | iCloud | Limited | ★★★★☆ |
| Stock | ~2s | No | No | Team only | TLS | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Trello | ~3s | No | Yes | Manual only | TLS | Limited | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capacities | ~2s | No | No | No | Yes | Limited | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anytype | ~3s | No | P2P | No | E2E | Free | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Heptabase | ~3s | No | No | No | Yes | No | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Tana | ~3s | No | No | No | Yes | Limited | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Mem | ~2s | No | No | No | Yes | No | ★★☆☆☆ |
* Measured from icon tap to the moment you can actually type (iPhone 16e (A18) / iOS 26.5.2, taps included, median of 4–10 runs, Drafts is its fastest run, 2026-08-11, warm launches). Method and full results: the speed benchmark. Rows without * are editorial estimates and have not been measured.
Individual Comparison Pages
Detailed comparison pages for each app. In-depth analysis of differences, use cases, and migration steps.
Which Memo App Should You Choose?
FAQ
What is the most important criterion when choosing a memo app?
It depends on your use case. For quick capture, launch speed and one-tap sending matter most. For information organization, prioritize folders, tags, and search. For team collaboration, focus on sharing and real-time editing features.
How is Simple Memo different from other memo apps?
Simple Memo is purpose-built for one thing: capture a thought in 0.4 seconds and send it to email with one tap. It has no folders, tags, or management features. Your email inbox is the only storage layer.
Can I use multiple memo apps together?
Yes. Many users use Simple Memo for instant capture and Apple Notes or Notion for long-form writing and organization. Using tools for their strengths is a great productivity strategy.
How is Simple Memo different from LINE Keep Memo?
First, the facts: Keep Memo itself still works — what ended in August 2024 was LINE Keep, the storage feature. Simple Memo provides similar quick-capture functionality with the added benefit of email delivery, creating a permanent record outside of any single service's ecosystem.
Which memo app has the best offline support?
Simple Memo uses Outbox architecture — memos written offline are encrypted with AES-GCM and auto-sent when connectivity returns. Apple Notes also has offline support via iCloud. Google Keep and Notion have limited offline capabilities.
