Comparison

Just Start vs Linote

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Just Start

This app helps you overcome procrastination by providing a simple, focused timer. It features a virtual companion, unlimited categories, and historical statistics to track your progress. Connect with others through a unique 'starlight' feature that shows past user efforts.

Highlights
  • Minimalist timer interface
  • Virtual companion for focus
  • Unlimited custom categories
  • Full history and trend charts
  • Starlight mode for shared effort visualization
  • Pro features unlocked for free
Features
Read full description

【About Just Start】 We believe that "Starting" is the greatest action of all. Just Start is not just a timer; it’s your launchpad to beat procrastination. We stripped away the clutter so you can do one thing the moment you open the app: Act Now. 【Why Just Start?】 1. A Companion from the Stars: Laika Remember Laika, the first dog in space? She didn't disappear; she traveled to your phone. When you focus, Laika waits by your side on the screen. Whether you're studying late or working early, she is there. It’s not just a timer; it’s a warm, silent guardianship. 2. Pro Features Unlocked (Yes, Free) We believe your growth data belongs to you. No paywalls for self-reflection. 3. Unlimited Categories: Coding, Reading, Meditation—create as many tags as you need. Free. 4. Full History Stats: Your every minute counts. Access all history records, duration stats, and trend charts without paying a cent. Visualize your achievements. 5. Starlight Mode: A Connection Across Time Focusing can feel lonely, but not here. When you start the timer, you will see the glimmering starlight left by others who have traveled this path before you. Just like looking at the night sky, these lights are echoes of past efforts from people around the world. It’s a subtle "cloud companionship" that tells you: someone else has worked hard right here, just like you.

About

Linote

Read full description

Linote is inspired by Andrej Karpathy’s append-and-review note-taking approach. One continuous note. Append new thoughts at the top. Review occasionally. Let unimportant ideas naturally sink. This simple model works remarkably well, but managing it inside a generic notes app eventually creates friction. Linote is a purpose-built single-page notebook that keeps the same philosophy while making it faster and more practical for daily use. With Linote, every note lives on one flat page. You can quickly append ideas, move important ones back to the top with a swipe, select multiple notes to merge or clean up, and search instantly by keyword. No folders. No hierarchy. No context switching. Linote helps you unload thoughts quickly, trust that nothing is lost, and review when you are ready. It follows the original method, optimized for real-world use. Privacy Policy: https://empty.mt/privacy_policy_linote Terms of Use: https://empty.mt/termsofuse_linote

Screenshots

Just Start4 screens
Linote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Linote at 3 against Just Start's 1. Just Start's advantage is iOS requirement (16.2 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Just Start against 5.0 for Linote. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Just Start versus Linote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJust StartLinote
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.2 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer江涛 丁Empty Studio

In-app purchases

None

Just Start

No in-app purchases

None

Linote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Just Start free?
Just Start is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Linote free?
Linote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Just Start or Linote?
Just Start and Linote are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Just Start or Linote have ads?
Neither Just Start nor Linote shows ads.

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