Simple IP

Simple IP brings patent and portfolio work into a web-based cloud service. It is a strong fit for organizations that want search, monitoring and invention support without a paid entry plan, but teams with existing databases or immediate self-service shared access may find setup limiting.

Overview

Simple IP combines patent search with portfolio, renewal and filing management, competitor monitoring and tools for developing inventions. Its free entry point makes it worth considering for startups, growing companies and university or accelerator programs that need a broad set of IP tools without a subscription charge. The maker, Dennemeyer TechSys S.A., is based in Howald, Luxembourg.

Key features

Patent search and portfolio tracking

Search spans more than 165 million patents worldwide, and matching filings are grouped into portfolios by patent family. That organization is more useful than a list of disconnected filings when following related applications. Portfolios also show legal status and events across more than 80 offices, a meaningful advantage for organizations monitoring international IP.

Competitor monitoring

Monthly automated scans report competitor activity, publications and what competitors are building. The recurring cadence gives smaller teams a way to keep watch between occasional manual searches, though the monitoring is monthly rather than continuous.

Documents and invention development

Smart File Upload uses AI to attach uploaded documents to the right patent; users can also send files by email and search documents. The Inventions feature supports drafting invention disclosures and assessing prior art, then lets users send drafts to Dennemeyer or a preferred attorney for advice or filing. This can help organize early-stage work, but it is a route to professional advice or filing, not a substitute for it.

Privacy and access

Simple IP says it does not use customer data to train its AI models and states that it is GDPR compliant. Its privacy policy says information in transit is protected with industry-standard TLS encryption. Self-service multi-user accounts are coming soon; for now, the maker can manually arrange team access, which is less convenient for organizations that need to onboard colleagues independently.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is described as 100% free, with no hidden fees and no credit card required. It includes a useful breadth of core capabilities: patent portfolio tracking, renewal management and filing management, alongside the search, monitoring and invention tools. That makes it a practical starting point for small organizations assessing their needs. No paid Simple IP tier is given, so there is no higher plan to compare for expanded capacity or team features.

Platforms

Simple IP runs on the web and is deployed in the cloud. That suits users who want browser-based access rather than a locally installed platform.

Who it's for

Startups and growing companies can use the free plan to bring search, portfolio oversight and competitor monitoring together. Universities, accelerators and incubators are also named audiences; program inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. Organizations moving an existing portfolio should account for a significant setup constraint: direct database import is not available. Users can instead find patents by company name and add documents by drag and drop.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free access with no credit card requirement lowers the barrier to trying portfolio and invention tools.
• Pros: Patent-family grouping, legal-status coverage across more than 80 offices and monthly competitor scans support both portfolio oversight and competitive awareness.
• Pros: AI-assisted document attachment and invention-disclosure drafting bring useful supporting workflows into the same workspace.
• Cons: No direct database import means existing portfolios may take extra work to move.
• Cons: Shared access currently requires manual setup by the maker rather than self-service account creation.

Alternatives

Legal Intellectual Property Management Software is a useful broader category to browse when comparing IP tools.

Choose Lightbringer if you want an alternative with a free Platform plan focused on innovation insights, a patent strategy builder and pre-filing consultation; competitor monitoring is an add-on. TIP Tool may suit teams that value explicit free-plan allowances, including up to 10 users, 5 GB of storage and one portfolio. Tradespace is worth considering for patent drafting: its plan covers two applications free, then charges $149 per application, with no long-term commitment or minimums. For other options, see Patricia, WebTMS, AcclaimIP, DIAMS iQ or ArcPrime.

Verdict

Simple IP is the right choice for startups, growing companies and institutional programs seeking a free, cloud-based workspace that joins patent search, portfolio tracking and invention support. Its broad coverage and no-cost entry are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if direct database migration or immediate self-service team accounts are essential to your rollout.