Comparison

HotJot Notes vs XLFlow

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HotJot Notes

Capture ideas, photos, and thoughts quickly using a familiar text thread interface. Organize your life into chronological "Stacks" for focused streams of consciousness. Export your data easily in universal Markdown format.

Highlights
  • Text-to-Save workflow
  • Organize into Stacks
  • Visual Timelines
  • Total Privacy
  • Export to Markdown
  • No ads
Features
Read full description

Stop overthinking your notes. HotJot is the fastest way to capture ideas, photos, and thoughts using an interface you already know: a text thread. Organize your life into Stacks. These are focused, chronological streams of consciousness that feel like texting yourself. Whether it’s a fleeting thought, a photo of a receipt, or a project log, HotJot keeps it organized by time and topic without the heavy feel of other note-taking apps. Why HotJot? • The "Text-to-Save" Workflow: No friction. Just pick a Stack and start typing. • Visual Timelines: Every entry is automatically timestamped. Scroll back to see exactly when an idea struck. • Total Privacy: Your data never leaves your device or your personal iCloud backup. It’s in your control. • Own Your Data: Don’t get locked in. Export any Stack (or your entire library) into a clean .zip file containing universal Markdown files and your original photos or videos. • No ads: We hate ads as much as you do. HotJot is completely free for an introductory period, and if you get it while it's free you'll get upgraded for free later. Perfect for: • Project Tracking: Document progress with photos and quick notes. • Quick Capture: Save links, quotes, book recommendations, and "to-dos" before they vanish. • Personal Journaling: A space for your daily thoughts. • Shopping & Lists: Text your family’s requests into a dedicated Stack.

About

XLFlow

Features
Read full description

Looking for a fast, lightweight way to edit XLIFF files on the go? Meet XLFlow, the SwiftUI-powered XLIFF editor designed to handle even large localization files with ease. Built natively for iPhone and iPad, XLFlow is 100% offline, with no servers, no subscriptions, and no hidden costs. Just one purchase and you're set—forever. Key features - Blazingly fast, built entirely with SwiftUI - One-time purchase — no subscriptions or in-app purchases - Offline by design — no internet connection or servers required - Handles large files smoothly, with optimized performance - Filter and manage translations by status, language, or empty strings - Supports over 35 languages, including English, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, and more - Full support for both XLIFF 1.x and XLIFF 2.x formats - Import and export via the native Files app or drag-and-drop (iPad) Whether you're a professional translator, a developer managing localizations, or just need a quick way to edit .xlf files — XLFlow gives you a clean, efficient interface to get the job done. Who it's for - Freelance and professional translators - iOS/macOS developers managing multilingual apps - Localization managers and QA testers - Tech writers working with structured content - Project managers needing lightweight XLIFF inspection - Anyone looking for a fast, offline XLIFF editor with no strings attached

Screenshots

HotJot Notes4 screens
XLFlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HotJot Notes at Free against XLFlow's $8.99. On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

HotJot Notes is free to download; XLFlow costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, XLFlow every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 18, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
HotJot Notes versus XLFlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotJot NotesXLFlow
PriceFree — better$8.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSandstorm Innovations LLC (US)Marco Tini

In-app purchases

None

HotJot Notes

No in-app purchases

None

XLFlow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HotJot Notes free?
HotJot Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is XLFlow free?
XLFlow costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do HotJot Notes or XLFlow have ads?
Neither HotJot Notes nor XLFlow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotJot Notes or XLFlow?
HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, and XLFlow every 3 months. Most recently, HotJot Notes was updated on September 18, 2026 and XLFlow on September 18, 2026.

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