# HotJot Notes vs JournalWrite

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HotJot Notes at 15.1 against JournalWrite's 18.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for HotJot Notes against 5.0 for JournalWrite. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HotJot Notes | JournalWrite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotjot-notes/id6746663266/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 38 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sandstorm Innovations LLC (US)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810930745) | [Jacob Kappler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894734920) |

## 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


### JournalWrite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076)

This app offers a private and distraction-free space for writing journal entries. It helps users build consistent habits by tracking streaks and visualizing progress with clear insights, all while remaining fully offline and ad-free.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing experience, Offline journaling, No ads or accounts required, Track journaling streaks, Visualize progress with insights, Explore entry trends

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HotJot Notes free?

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

### Is JournalWrite free?

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

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

HotJot Notes and JournalWrite are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do HotJot Notes or JournalWrite have ads?

Neither HotJot Notes nor JournalWrite shows ads.

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

HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, and JournalWrite every 2 months. Most recently, HotJot Notes was updated on October 24, 2026 and JournalWrite on October 9, 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.*