JotBox vs Motif
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
JotBox
A fast, local-first scratchpad for quick notes, drafts, and lists. Offers rich text formatting, image attachments, and powerful search. Notes are private by default, with optional iCloud sync and backups.
- Rich text formatting
- Image and camera capture
- Full-text search and filters
- Note locking and read-only mode
- Export to multiple formats
- Optional iCloud sync and backup
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Your thoughts, minus the filing cabinet. JotBox is a fast, private scratchpad for the thoughts you need to catch before they disappear. Open the app and start typing. A blank page is always ready, notes live in one simple timeline, and structure appears only when it helps. WRITE AND FORMAT - Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, text color, and highlight - Headings (H1, H2, H3) with # shortcuts and a collapsible outline for jumping through long notes - Bullets, numbered lists, and checklists you can tick without raising the keyboard - Left, center, justified, and right alignment, plus indent and outdent - Links, and inline images from your photo library, camera, pasteboard, or the Share Sheet - Rearrange the formatting bar to put your favorite tools first PASTE AND COPY CLEANLY - Formatted paste keeps headings, emphasis, links, and lists while dropping foreign fonts and colors - Paste from Markdown turns Markdown into real formatting - Copy a whole note or a selection as Markdown FIND AND ORGANIZE - Full-text search with snippets and highlights - Pin notes, reorder them, or sort by most recent - Lock private notes with a password and optional Face ID - Mark reference notes read-only - Keep tags protect important notes from automatic Recycle Bin cleanup - Undo a delete, or restore notes from the Recycle Bin KEEP YOUR NOTES YOURS - No account required - Optional live sync through your private iCloud account - Separate iCloud Drive backups and a restorable backup file - Export as text, Markdown, or PDF - No ads and no analytics JotBox runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with keyboard shortcuts throughout. Try everything free for 7 days. JotBox Pro is a one-time $3.99 unlock for editing, creating and managing notes, and rich attachments. No subscription. Your existing notes always stay viewable, copyable, shareable, and exportable.
Motif
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Focus without burnout. Motif helps you stay present, start faster, and finish meaningful work with simple focus sessions for studying, deep work, and everyday productivity. Most productivity apps feel overwhelming. Too many tasks, alerts, dashboards, and streaks can make it harder to actually begin. Motif is built to feel calm, minimal, and intentional. Open the app, start a session, and give your attention to one thing at a time. WHY MOTIF FOCUS SESSIONS Create focused work blocks for studying, coding, writing, reading, planning, and creative work. POMODORO TIMER Use structured Pomodoro sessions to work with clarity, take better breaks, and avoid burnout. DEEP WORK MODE Build longer distraction-free sessions when you need serious concentration. STUDY TIMER Perfect for students preparing for exams, completing assignments, or building a consistent study routine. ADHD-FRIENDLY DESIGN A clean and simple experience that reduces overwhelm and helps you start without overthinking. CALM PRODUCTIVITY Motif is designed for people who want to be productive without feeling pressured, cluttered, or distracted. USE MOTIF FOR • Pomodoro focus sessions • Study sessions • Deep work • Exam preparation • Reading • Writing • Coding • Task focus • Building better routines • Staying consistent Whether you are studying for exams, working on a project, building a habit, or trying to focus more consistently, Motif helps you create better work sessions one timer at a time. Privacy Policy: https://www.notion.so/Privacy-Policy-for-Motif-3572378461d58027bb03cd2610a7e6e6?source=copy_link Terms Of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: JotBox at 17.0 against Motif's 26.0. 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
Both are free to download. JotBox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Motif sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | JotBox | Motif |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Daniel Bragilevsky | Dhruv Pujara |
In-app purchases
JotBox
- JotBox Pro$3.99
Motif
- Motif Pro$4.99








