# HotJot Notes vs Scout

The clearest difference is rating: HotJot Notes at 5.0 against Scout's 1.0. HotJot Notes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scout sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. HotJot Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

HotJot Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, Scout every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HotJot Notes | Scout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotjot-notes/id6746663266/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-zettelkasten-notes/id6758234466/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 38 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sandstorm Innovations LLC (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810930745) | [CHIYODA NAME PLATE SEISAKUSHO, K.K.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871667493) |

## What reviewers say

### HotJot Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotjot-notes/id6746663266)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Scout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scout-zettelkasten-notes/id6758234466)

This app offers a frictionless note-taking experience using the Zettelkasten method. It focuses on quick idea capture and instant linking to build a connected web of knowledge, optimized for mobile use.

**Highlights:** Zero-friction note capture, Superconductive idea linking, iPhone-first design, Minimalist interface, Zettelkasten method implementation

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scout Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Scout Premium Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Lifetime VIP pass | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HotJot Notes free?

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

### Is Scout free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HotJot Notes or Scout?

HotJot Notes is rated higher. HotJot Notes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Scout averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do HotJot Notes or Scout have ads?

Neither HotJot Notes nor Scout shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HotJot Notes or Scout?

HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Scout every 5 weeks. Most recently, HotJot Notes was updated on October 6, 2026 and Scout on October 2, 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.*