Markdown Notes Editor vs Hocus Focus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Markdown Notes Editor
A privacy-focused markdown editor and writing app that keeps all your files locally. It offers real-time syntax highlighting, AI writing assistance, and robust task management features. Designed for distraction-free writing and secure document handling.
- Markdown editing with syntax highlighting
- AI writing assistant (BYO API key)
- Full offline support
- AES-256 file encryption
- Todo.txt task management
- Version history
- Focus mode with Pomodoro timer
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Markden is a privacy-first markdown editor and writing app designed for people who value ownership of their words. Every file stays on your device. No account required. No cloud lock-in. Just your thoughts in plain text. Markdown editing with real-time syntax highlighting AI writing assistant powered by Claude (bring your own API key) Full offline support with no internet required for core features AES-256 file encryption for sensitive documents Todo.txt task management with priorities, contexts, and projects Version history with up to 50 snapshots per file Focus mode with Pomodoro timer and word count goals 13 file formats supported including Markdown, JSON, YAML, CSV, Org-Mode, and AsciiDoc Dark and light terminal-inspired themes Quick note capture for instant ideas Daily notes with auto-generated templates Find and replace with full regex support Kanban board view for task management Live markdown preview with math (KaTeX) and diagrams (Mermaid) Export to HTML for sharing and publishing Customizable editor with multiple fonts, sizes, and spacing options AI WRITING TOOLS Fix grammar and spelling Rewrite for clarity Summarize long documents Change tone (formal or casual) Continue writing from where you left off Explain code blocks Generate tables and todo lists from text You pay Anthropic directly for AI usage. Markden never touches your API key or data. PRIVACY BY DESIGN All files stored locally in your app sandbox API key secured in iOS Keychain No analytics, no tracking, no telemetry No third-party SDKs that collect data No account or sign-up required Uninstalling removes everything. Nothing persists elsewhere. BUILT FOR PRODUCTIVITY 6 built-in templates: meeting notes, blog post, journal, weekly review, Cornell notes, and project readme Smart auto-save with configurable intervals File browser with favorites, search, and sort options Breadcrumb navigation for nested folders Swipe actions for quick file management Custom keyboard toolbar with format-specific shortcuts DESIGNED FOR IPHONE AND IPAD Sidebar navigation on iPad with split view editor and preview Adaptive layouts that use the full screen on every device Keyboard shortcuts and external keyboard support Markden is free to download with all editing features included. AI features require your own Anthropic API key which you can get at console.anthropic.com. Whether you write meeting notes, journal entries, blog posts, code documentation, or manage daily tasks, Markden gives you a fast, private, distraction-free space to think and write. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Hocus Focus
This app is a productivity tool designed to enforce deep, uninterrupted work through a gamified system that penalizes distractions. It features a focus score, ruthless time management, and integrated task management to help users build discipline and execute tasks effectively.
- Gamified Focus Score engine
- Penalizes distractions and time leaks
- Offline-first operation
- Integrated drag-and-drop task management
- Unlockable elite badges
- Biometric security integration
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Stop bleeding time. You don’t need another pastel-colored, gentle productivity app that rewards you just for showing up. You need a system that holds you relentlessly accountable. Hocus Focus is an elite, offline-first productivity engine engineered for one singular purpose: forcing deep, uninterrupted work. It strips away the noise and replaces it with a brutal, gamified framework that penalizes distractions and permanently records your momentum. If you pause the timer, you bleed points. If you break your streak, the system knows. THE FOCUS SCORE ENGINE Your Focus Score is the ultimate metric of your discipline. It actively compounds as you execute, but it is deeply unforgiving: • Earn massive points for completing tasks and holding daily streaks. • Suffer brutal point deductions for every minute you pause the timer or leak focus. • Watch your live analytics map out your exact execution history over a 7-day rolling window. RUTHLESS TIME MANAGEMENT • Sprint Timer: A stark, zero-distraction interface that tracks your exact output. • Time Leaks: If you pause, the timer records the leak. The system mathematically penalizes your overall score for abandoning the active session. • Offline-First: No cloud reliance, no loading screens. Your data lives on your device and operates seamlessly whether you're connected or completely off the grid. COMMAND CENTER • Fully integrated drag-and-drop task management. • Prioritize your queue and execute tasks directly from the active dashboard. • Automatically tie task completions to your live Focus Score. UNLOCK ELITE BADGES Your consistency unlocks permanent hardware-level badges in your dashboard: • The Flame: Hold a 3-day iron streak. • The Lightning: Execute 3 full sprints in a single day. • The Titan: Maintain a ruthless 7-day streak. • The Ghost: Complete an entire sprint with exactly zero seconds of leaked time. • The Night Owl: Execute a pure deep-work session between midnight and 5 AM. MILITARY-GRADE SECURITY Lock your entire productivity matrix behind a biometric wall. Hocus Focus supports deep integration with Face ID and Touch ID, ensuring your metrics, tasks, and history are exclusively yours. Silence the noise. Lock in. Execute the vision. Download Hocus Focus and start building your foundation today.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Hocus Focus at Free against Markdown Notes Editor's $1.99. Hocus Focus also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Markdown Notes Editor's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On 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
Hocus Focus is free to download; Markdown Notes Editor costs $1.99 up front. Markdown Notes Editor sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Hocus Focus asks for nothing beyond the download.
Markdown Notes Editor ships an update every 3 weeks, Hocus Focus weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Markdown Notes Editor | Hocus Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aneesh Pradeep | Sarfraz Ali Shaher Syed |
Customer experience
Markdown Notes Editor
Hocus Focus
In-app purchases
Markdown Notes Editor
- Small Coffee$1.99
- Big Coffee$4.99
- Generous Supporter$9.99
Hocus Focus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Markdown Notes Editor free?
Is Hocus Focus free?
Do Markdown Notes Editor or Hocus Focus have ads?
Which is updated more often, Markdown Notes Editor or Hocus Focus?
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