HotJot Notes vs Grid Notes App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Text-to-Save workflow
- Organize into Stacks
- Visual Timelines
- Total Privacy
- Export to Markdown
- No ads
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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.
Grid Notes App
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Instead of lists and folders, you get a zoomable grid where you can place notes wherever they feel right - cluster related ideas together, spread a project across the canvas, or keep a corner just for quick thoughts. FEATURES - Large canvas — pan and zoom freely across a grid canvas - Place notes anywhere — long press anywhere on the canvas to drop a note - Rich notes — add a title, body text, color, images, videos, and PDF attachments - Pin notes — lock important notes in place so they don't move while you pan - Search — find any note instantly by title or content - Export & import — back up all your notes as a single JSON file - Fully offline — everything stays on your device, nothing is sent anywhere DESIGNED FOR FOCUS No accounts. No subscriptions. No ads. No cloud sync. Just you and your canvas. Grid Notes is built for people who think spatially - writers mapping out a story, developers tracking ideas across a project, students connecting concepts, or anyone who finds flat lists too limiting. PRIVACY All your notes, images, and files are stored locally on your device. Grid Notes does not collect any personal data and has no internet connection.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Grid Notes App at 13.0 against HotJot Notes's 15.1. On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | HotJot Notes | Grid Notes App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sandstorm Innovations LLC (US) | Jimmy Nordstrom |
In-app purchases
HotJot Notes
No in-app purchases
Grid Notes App
No in-app purchases









