# HotNotes vs CandyMind

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CandyMind at 100% against HotNotes's 0%. CandyMind also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 28 months). HotNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CandyMind sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. HotNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

CandyMind holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of HotNotes's written reviews are positive against 100% of CandyMind's.

HotNotes ships an update every 28 months, CandyMind fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HotNotes | CandyMind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnotes-good-schedules-take/id1607635694/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candymind-pomodoro-timer/id6740718060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 28 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 5 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Samsuddin Ahmed Sohag](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566910709) | [轶 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789562919) |

## What reviewers say

### HotNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotnotes-good-schedules-take/id1607635694)

Organize your daily tasks and appointments with a stylish and intuitive note-taking app. Create to-do lists, break down tasks into smaller steps, and set reminders for important events. No sign-in is required to start planning your life.

**Highlights:** Daily to-do lists, Task breakdown, Shapes tool for drawing, Elegant design, Appointment planning, Daily diary creation, Event reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CandyMind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candymind-pomodoro-timer/id6740718060)

This app helps you boost personal efficiency and self-discipline with modular time management tools. It tracks focus sessions, provides data visualization, and offers a unique focus evaluation system to refine your habits.

**Highlights:** Multiple timing modes (Countdown, Count-up, Pomodoro), Modular timer templates with custom properties, Focus evaluation system with feedback loop, Smart project organization and classification, Multi-level data visualization (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly), Theme level system for progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HotNotes free?

HotNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CandyMind free?

CandyMind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HotNotes or CandyMind?

CandyMind is rated higher. HotNotes averages 3.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while CandyMind averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do HotNotes or CandyMind have ads?

Neither HotNotes nor CandyMind shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HotNotes or CandyMind?

HotNotes ships an update every 28 months, and CandyMind fortnightly. Most recently, HotNotes was updated on November 3, 2026 and CandyMind on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*