Comparison

HotJot Notes vs ZooMark

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

ZooMark

Features
Read full description

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

HotJot Notes4 screens
ZooMark4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, ZooMark every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
HotJot Notes versus ZooMark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotJot NotesZooMark
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSandstorm Innovations LLC (US)Sangwook Joo

In-app purchases

None

HotJot Notes

No in-app purchases

None

ZooMark

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HotJot Notes free?
HotJot Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZooMark free?
ZooMark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HotJot Notes or ZooMark have ads?
Neither HotJot Notes nor ZooMark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotJot Notes or ZooMark?
HotJot Notes ships an update every 2 months, and ZooMark every 2 days. Most recently, HotJot Notes was updated on October 24, 2026 and ZooMark on October 24, 2026.

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