Comparison

HotJot Notes vs Grid Notes App

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

Grid Notes App

Features
Read full description

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

HotJot Notes4 screens
Grid Notes App2 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
HotJot Notes versus Grid Notes App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotJot NotesGrid Notes App
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSandstorm Innovations LLC (US)Jimmy Nordstrom

In-app purchases

None

HotJot Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Grid Notes App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HotJot Notes free?
HotJot Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Grid Notes App free?
Grid Notes App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HotJot Notes or Grid Notes App have ads?
Neither HotJot Notes nor Grid Notes App shows ads.

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