JotStay vs Decoy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JotStay
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JotStay is the fastest way to put a note on your lock screen. Open the app, type your thought, tap Send — done. Your note instantly appears as a notification on your lock screen. No timers, no categories, no setup. Just type and go. Perfect for: • Reminders you need to see right now — "Take out the trash", "Call mom" • Quick thoughts you don't want to forget • Shopping lists, one item at a time • Anything you want front and center on your phone Every note is saved in your history. Tap any past note to send it again as a new notification. Swipe to delete what you no longer need. Key features: • Instant notifications — your note appears on the lock screen the moment you send it • Full history — every note is saved and ready to reuse • One-tap resend — tap any past note to send it again • Zero friction — the keyboard is ready the moment you open the app • Dark Mode support • No account required, no sign-up, no internet connection needed • Your notes stay on your device — nothing is collected or shared JotStay does one thing and does it well. No bloat, no distractions.
Decoy
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The iPhone's own Notes app can't live on your Lock Screen. Decoy can, and nobody else can read it. Appointments, medication, errands you'd rather not explain. The Lock Screen is the surface you glance at most, and it's also the one other people see most. So some things never made it there. While your phone is locked, Decoy looks like a blank card, or whatever text you chose in advance. The moment Face ID passes, your real notes appear. ■ Made for ・Writing things down and then never looking at them again ・Living or working around people who glance at your screen ・Appointments and errands you'd rather keep to yourself ■ What it does ・Works as a to-do list, or as plain notes ・Reminders at the time you set ・Repeats daily, on weekdays, weekly, monthly ・Separate lists for separate parts of your life (Pro) ■ How it's built ・No ads ・Everything stays on your device by default. iCloud sync is there if you want it ・No accounts, no sign-in A note on what this is not: once Face ID or your passcode has been entered, anyone holding your phone can read your notes. Decoy hides things from the people around you, not from someone with your unlocked phone. Keep passwords and PINs in a dedicated password manager. Decoy Pro is a one-time purchase. It removes the note limit and adds per-note reminders, separate lists, and control over how things look while locked. Terms of Use: https://suzukimari.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://suzukimari.com/privacy-policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JotStay at none against Decoy's 1. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Decoy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. JotStay asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | JotStay | Decoy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jiri Syrovy | Mari Suzuki |
In-app purchases
JotStay
No in-app purchases
Decoy
- Decoy Pro$4.99









