Should I Build It Should I Build It
11 Apr 2025
Notes Productivity

Note taking app for ios that is simpler than notes

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space: minimalist note-taking apps. We found 16 similar products, which means high confidence in understanding the market, but also significant competition. The good news is that these apps see high engagement, with an average of 12 comments per launch, indicating user interest in this category. The core challenge, as a freemium product, is converting user interest into revenue. Many people will happily use a free, simple note-taking app, but convincing them to pay for extra features requires careful consideration and a well-defined value proposition. Competitors face criticism around data security, lack of clear purpose, and uncertain differentiation from existing solutions, so be wary of these.

Recommendations

  1. Given the concerns around data security in similar apps (like DraftOnn), prioritize robust security measures and transparently communicate them to users. This can be a key differentiator in a crowded market, especially for users who are wary of storing sensitive information in the cloud.
  2. Many similar note-taking apps have been criticized for unclear value proposition and missing a free trial. You must have a clear description of what you're building, and explain how it's different from Apple Notes and other notes apps. If the goal is simplicity make sure you show that on the landing page!
  3. Since you're in the freemium space, you should identify which users get the most value from the free version of your app. Understand their needs and usage patterns to inform the design of premium features that directly address their pain points, making the upgrade a no-brainer.
  4. Build premium features that cater to those high-value users. This could include advanced organization tools, collaboration features, or enhanced security options. Features that save time or improve productivity are often strong selling points.
  5. Consider charging teams or businesses rather than individuals. Businesses may be more willing to pay for features that improve team collaboration and knowledge management. This can provide a more sustainable revenue stream compared to individual subscriptions.
  6. Offer personalized help or consulting services to larger teams. This can provide an additional revenue stream and help onboard users to the platform. Providing dedicated support can justify a higher price point.
  7. Launch a beta with a small group of users to test different pricing approaches. Gather feedback on what they're willing to pay for and adjust your pricing accordingly. Focus on finding the price point that maximizes revenue without sacrificing user growth.
  8. Actively collect feedback from your users to understand what features they would be willing to pay for. This will help you prioritize development efforts and ensure that you're building features that resonate with your target audience. Leverage in-app surveys and user interviews to gather this feedback.
  9. Address the need for cross-platform availability. While focusing on iOS initially is fine, consider a web version or desktop apps in the future to cater to users who want access to their notes on multiple devices. This can increase the app's stickiness and appeal to a broader audience.

Questions

  1. Given the existing competition, what specific, unique problem does your app solve for users that isn't adequately addressed by current solutions like Apple Notes, Google Keep, or even texting yourself? Are you solving an actual problem, or is it an aesthetic preference?
  2. Considering the criticism around data security and privacy in similar note-taking apps, how will you ensure user data is protected and handled responsibly, and how will you communicate this effectively to build trust with your users?
  3. If the core value is simplicity, how will you balance adding premium features for monetization without compromising the minimalist user experience that attracts users in the first place?

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space: minimalist note-taking apps. We found 16 similar products, which means high confidence in understanding the market, but also significant competition. The good news is that these apps see high engagement, with an average of 12 comments per launch, indicating user interest in this category. The core challenge, as a freemium product, is converting user interest into revenue. Many people will happily use a free, simple note-taking app, but convincing them to pay for extra features requires careful consideration and a well-defined value proposition. Competitors face criticism around data security, lack of clear purpose, and uncertain differentiation from existing solutions, so be wary of these.

Recommendations

  1. Given the concerns around data security in similar apps (like DraftOnn), prioritize robust security measures and transparently communicate them to users. This can be a key differentiator in a crowded market, especially for users who are wary of storing sensitive information in the cloud.
  2. Many similar note-taking apps have been criticized for unclear value proposition and missing a free trial. You must have a clear description of what you're building, and explain how it's different from Apple Notes and other notes apps. If the goal is simplicity make sure you show that on the landing page!
  3. Since you're in the freemium space, you should identify which users get the most value from the free version of your app. Understand their needs and usage patterns to inform the design of premium features that directly address their pain points, making the upgrade a no-brainer.
  4. Build premium features that cater to those high-value users. This could include advanced organization tools, collaboration features, or enhanced security options. Features that save time or improve productivity are often strong selling points.
  5. Consider charging teams or businesses rather than individuals. Businesses may be more willing to pay for features that improve team collaboration and knowledge management. This can provide a more sustainable revenue stream compared to individual subscriptions.
  6. Offer personalized help or consulting services to larger teams. This can provide an additional revenue stream and help onboard users to the platform. Providing dedicated support can justify a higher price point.
  7. Launch a beta with a small group of users to test different pricing approaches. Gather feedback on what they're willing to pay for and adjust your pricing accordingly. Focus on finding the price point that maximizes revenue without sacrificing user growth.
  8. Actively collect feedback from your users to understand what features they would be willing to pay for. This will help you prioritize development efforts and ensure that you're building features that resonate with your target audience. Leverage in-app surveys and user interviews to gather this feedback.
  9. Address the need for cross-platform availability. While focusing on iOS initially is fine, consider a web version or desktop apps in the future to cater to users who want access to their notes on multiple devices. This can increase the app's stickiness and appeal to a broader audience.

Questions

  1. Given the existing competition, what specific, unique problem does your app solve for users that isn't adequately addressed by current solutions like Apple Notes, Google Keep, or even texting yourself? Are you solving an actual problem, or is it an aesthetic preference?
  2. Considering the criticism around data security and privacy in similar note-taking apps, how will you ensure user data is protected and handled responsibly, and how will you communicate this effectively to build trust with your users?
  3. If the core value is simplicity, how will you balance adding premium features for monetization without compromising the minimalist user experience that attracts users in the first place?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 16
  • Engagement: High
    • Average number of comments: 12
  • Net use signal: 3.9%
    • Positive use signal: 13.2%
    • Negative use signal: 9.3%
  • Net buy signal: -5.6%
    • Positive buy signal: 1.1%
    • Negative buy signal: 6.7%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

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