Comparison

JotBox vs Motif

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Motif

Features
Read full description

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

JotBox4 screens
Motif4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
JotBox versus Motif: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJotBoxMotif
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel BragilevskyDhruv Pujara

In-app purchases

1 purchases

JotBox

One-time1
  • JotBox Pro$3.99
1 purchases

Motif

One-time1
  • Motif Pro$4.99

Questions

Is JotBox free?
JotBox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Motif free?
Motif is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JotBox or Motif have ads?
Neither JotBox nor Motif shows ads.

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