Simple Memo vs Dynalist
Which Should You Choose?
Dynalist organizes ideas in nested outlines. Simple Memo captures short text on iPhone for a configured email address. Choose by where you want the note to end up and how you will organize it later.
Reviewed . Written by Simple Memo’s developer using official feature, pricing, and help documentation. This is not a measured launch-speed comparison.
If you already review Dynalist regularly, try capturing directly into that outline first. Simple Memo is an option when your email inbox is where you revisit short notes. If you use both, include the time needed to review email and move useful items into Dynalist.
Compare features, free scope, and pricing
On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally to see all columns.
| Aspect | Dynalist | Simple Memo |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Organize nested lists and checklists | Send short iPhone text to your inbox |
| Devices | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | iPhone, with Apple Watch capture support |
| Free scope | Unlimited items and documents; 5 bookmarks | Up to 3 sends per day |
| Paid additions | Pro: calendar integration, attachments, history, daily backup, and more | More sending capacity and other options; check the in-app purchase screen |
| Email workflow | Import email at a dedicated Pro address | Send email to a configured, verified recipient |
| Taking data with you | Export HTML, plain text, or OPML | Keep delivered messages with your email provider; additional Obsidian storage requires setup |
Dynalist’s pricing page lists Pro at US$9.99 monthly or US$95.88 billed annually, equivalent to US$7.99 per month. Import and export are included in Free. You may not need Pro if the free scope fits your use.
Device support is listed on Dynalist’s feature page; export formats are covered in its export guide. See the Simple Memo pricing FAQ for sending plans.
How does email capture into Dynalist work?
Dynalist Pro provides a dedicated address for email capture. The official instructions place it in Settings → Dynalist Pro → Email to inbox. Configure the destination under Your inbox first, then try a short message from an ordinary email app.
The subject becomes the item title; the body becomes its note. Check the resulting location and text. Keep the address private because anyone who knows it can send items there.
This feature works without a Simple Memo forwarding workflow. If you add forwarding rules, test the subject/body mapping and duplicate handling before depending on them.
To capture into your own inbox, start with recipient setup in Simple Memo. Free: up to 3 sends per day.
Using both: move the notes you need
- Configure and verify your recipient in Simple Memo, then confirm a small test email arrives. See first setup.
- Type and send a short note while out. An item waiting in the Outbox has not necessarily arrived; check your inbox after reconnecting.
- When ready to organize, copy useful text into Dynalist items and arrange the hierarchy or checklist there.
This is a manual workflow example. Simple Memo does not migrate an entire Dynalist outline. If direct capture into Dynalist already works for you, adding an email step may not help.
If you choose Obsidian as a destination, grant vault access and set the target on iPhone separately. See the Obsidian introduction and Simple Memo integration setup.
Check export and backup before a move
Use Export… from an item’s menu or by right-clicking a document to export HTML, plain text, or OPML. The Export visible items only setting excludes hidden completed items and search-filtered content. Check that option if you need the whole document. See the export guide.
Download backup in the main menu covers data already synced to the server. If changes have not synced, export the affected document before closing or refreshing it. See backup scope and saving unsynced work.
Try a small transfer first and inspect nesting, line breaks, and non-English text. Delivered email and exported files can still be deleted or become inaccessible. Keep separate copies of important material rather than treating either route as a permanent-storage guarantee.
Official Dynalist and Obsidian information
See the official Dynalist changelog for major feature changes and About Obsidian for its principles and team. Historical updates alone do not establish Dynalist’s current maintenance frequency or a future shutdown date. Before adopting or moving tools, test the operations you need on your device and confirm that you can take your data with you.
Frequently asked questions
Has Dynalist development ended, and should I move to Obsidian?
Old update posts do not establish current maintenance or a shutdown date. Dynalist and Obsidian serve different purposes. Test the features you need and verify export before choosing.
How does Dynalist Pro email capture work?
Open Email to inbox under Dynalist Pro settings to find your dedicated address, and configure the destination. The email subject becomes the item title and the body becomes its note. Test a short message and keep the address private.
Which should I use for quick notes on my phone?
Try direct input in Dynalist if that is where you review outlines. Simple Memo is an option if you want text in your email inbox. This article does not measure which app launches faster.
Can I migrate a Dynalist outline into Simple Memo?
Simple Memo is not a whole-outline migration tool. For a combined workflow, manually move useful text from received email into Dynalist. Check export-format compatibility when moving to another outliner.
What are Dynalist Free’s limits?
Free includes unlimited items and documents, with 5 bookmarks. Pro adds attachments, history, daily backup, and other features. Simple Memo’s free tier permits 3 sends per day; it is a different pricing model.
On desktop? Scan with your phone