Jot vs DeskState
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Jot
Capture ideas and tasks instantly with voice or text, then organize them later. Designed for those who need quick entry without friction, it helps clear your mind and manage thoughts efficiently.
- Instant capture via typing or speaking
- Hands-free voice control for on-the-go notes
- Brain dump organization into categories
- Smart subnotes for tasks and lists
- Apple Watch integration for wrist capture
- Extract content from links
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Don't let your best ideas vanish. Capture them in seconds, not minutes. Rated 5.0 Stars by fast thinkers, Jot is the anti-procrastination tool designed specifically for ADHD minds and anyone overwhelmed by bloated productivity software. Jot lets you capture now and organize later, transforming the chaos of a "brain dump" into structured clarity.We know the anxiety of the "working memory" gap. You have a brilliant thought, a grocery item, or an urgent task, but by the time your standard note app loads, the thought is gone. Standard apps force you to organize before you write, creating friction that kills creativity. Why Users Love Jot: • "Very nice for when a thought just pops into your head." • "Helpful for busy people... especially to recite all the things I need to do." • "Merges notes and tasks nicely." Key Features: • Instant Capture: The fastest entry on the App Store. Launch and type (or speak) immediately. No loading screens, no folders first. • Hands-Free Voice Control: Driving? Walking? Cooking? Speak your notes on the go and let Jot transcribe and list them. Perfect for when your hands are full. • Brain Dump Organization: Clear your mental RAM instantly. Group messy thoughts into categories only when you are ready. • Smart Subnotes: Break complex projects into bite-sized morsels or manage grocery lists with ease. • Apple Watch Integration: Capture ideas and set reminders directly from your wrist... never take your phone out of your pocket. • Extract Content from Links: Save that perfect recipe link from social sites and have Jot extract the contents for you when you're ready. Who is Jot For? • The ADHD Mind: Struggle with object permanence or "doom piles" of ideas? Jot keeps them visible and safe. • The Commuter: Use voice notes to capture tasks while driving safely. • The Student & Teacher: Quickly recite to-do lists between classes. Stop fighting your phone to clear your mind. Download Jot today and turn your brain dumps into done deals.
DeskState
Transform your iPhone into a focused external workspace. This app creates a windowed environment on a monitor with floating panels, keyboard/mouse support, and customizable layouts. Pin favorite web panels to maintain a consistent and efficient setup.
- External display workspace
- Floating windows
- Keyboard and mouse support
- Pin favorite web panels
- Customizable backgrounds
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iOS mirrors your iPhone with black bars. DeskState gives you a desktop instead: plug into a monitor, TV or projector and get windows, a Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight and Mission Control at the display's full resolution. Your iPhone becomes the trackpad and keyboard. A REAL DESKTOP • Windows you move, resize and snap to halves or quarters of the screen • A Dock you arrange yourself, Launchpad, Spotlight with quick sums, and Mission Control • A web browser with tabs, bookmarks, history and downloads, and any site as an app in your Dock • Notes, documents, console, calculator, focus timer and more • Your desktop remembers: windows come back where you left them YOUR IPHONE IS THE TRACKPAD • Swipe, tap, two-finger scroll, double-tap and hold to drag, three fingers for all your windows • Type with the iPhone keyboard and see what you type; arrow keys, Tab and Esc above it • Works with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse too CONNECT • iPhone 15 and later: any USB-C to HDMI cable • Earlier iPhones: Lightning Digital AV Adapter • Apple TV and AirPlay displays PLANS Your first five desktop sessions are Pro, free. After that the free plan gives you 20 minutes of desktop a day. DeskState Pro removes the limit and adds quarter snapping, a desktop for each display, themes and wallpapers, Pro tools and iCloud sync, monthly, yearly or once. Streaming services with copy protection show video only over a cable, not over AirPlay. DeskState is a desktop inside the app: it runs its own apps and websites, not other iOS apps. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Jot at 89% against DeskState's 0%. Jot also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (45 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Jot sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DeskState sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Jot holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jot has 45 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Jot's written reviews are positive against 0% of DeskState's.
Jot ships an update weekly, DeskState every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.
| Parameter | Jot | DeskState |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (45 ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 89.5% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 45 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | HiroCloud | Abraham Rubio |
Customer experience
Jot
DeskState
In-app purchases
Jot
- Lifetime Pro Plan$14.99
DeskState
- Monthly subscription$2.991 Month
- Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Year
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- Yearly subscription$14.991 Year
- Yearly subscription$24.991 Year
- Lifetime subscription$29.99
- Lifetime$59.99









