HotJot Notes vs ZooMark
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.
ZooMark
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ZooMark is a Markdown notes app for macOS. As you type, formatting appears instantly, while your text stays clean and portable. Write lightly and clearly in Markdown — no fussy formatting required. ■ Features · Hybrid Markdown editor — bold, italic, headers, lists, to-dos, and code render like formatting as you type, while the source stays plain Markdown text. · Split preview — Editor / Split / Preview modes. In Split, edit on the left and watch the rendered document (with GFM tables and links) on the right at the same time. · Folders — organize notes like Apple Notes; drag to reorder and nest them, and move multiple notes into a folder at once. · Hashtags & internal links — gather notes with #tags, and connect them with [[Title]] wiki links. · Powerful search — find notes fast with tag:, title:, @todo, and "exact phrase" operators. · Themes — light and dark themes (Honey Bear, Solar Cream, Panda, Tasmanian Devil Black, and more), set inside the app independent of the system appearance. · Note lock — hide sensitive notes behind Touch ID or a password. · Import · Export · Share — import .md files; save notes as Markdown, HTML, TXT, or PDF, or share them to other apps. · iCloud sync & backup — when signed in to iCloud, all folders and notes sync and back up across your devices automatically.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ZooMark at every 2 days against HotJot Notes's every 2 months. HotJot Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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.
HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, ZooMark every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | HotJot Notes | ZooMark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sandstorm Innovations LLC (US) | Sangwook Joo |
In-app purchases
HotJot Notes
No in-app purchases
ZooMark
No in-app purchases









