Comparison

JotBox vs Box

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

JotBox is a fast, local-first scratchpad for the notes that don't need a whole filing cabinet. Open the app and start writing. JotBox keeps a blank page ready, stores notes in a simple timeline, and adds just enough structure when you need it. Use JotBox to: - capture quick notes, measurements, reminders, drafts, and lists - format text with bold, italic, underline, colors, highlights, links, bullets, numbered lists, checkboxes, and indentation - add images from your photo library or pasteboard, with camera capture on iPhone and iPad - save text and links from the Share Sheet where supported - pin, reorder, and find notes with full-text search, snippets, filters, and highlights - lock individual notes locally with a JotBox privacy password and optional biometric unlock where available - mark reference notes read-only so they stay viewable without accidental edits - recover deleted notes from the Recycle Bin - export notes as text, Markdown, PDF, or a restorable backup file - optionally sync through your private iCloud account - optionally create iCloud Drive backup snapshots No account is required. Notes stay on your device unless you turn on Apple's private iCloud sync or iCloud Drive backup. JotBox includes a 7-day app-managed trial. After the trial, JotBox Pro is a one-time $3.99 unlock for editing, creating and managing notes, and rich attachments. Existing notes remain viewable, copyable, shareable, and exportable.

About

Box

Features
Read full description

Capture it first. Sort it later. A thought is gone before you get back to it. Box is a small box for keeping it. Put down whatever comes to mind, before you think it through. Shape it later, when you have the time. Box is a native app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. ■ Box, Note, Do ・Box Save thoughts, links, photos, and files. Sorting can wait. ・Note For anything worth more than a line. Every edit is kept in history, so you can always go back. ・Do Today, List, and Buy are ready from the start. Add the lists you need as you go. Inside the app, Inbox is simply "Box" and ToDo is "Do." It's a tool you reach for every day, so the names stay light. ■ What it does ・iPhone, iPad, and Mac (native SwiftUI) ・Private sync over iCloud ・Quick save from the share sheet (iPhone, iPad) ・Quick save from anywhere (Mac / ⌃⌥⌘B) ・Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets ・A focus timer with Live Activity ・Projects, tags, and attachments ・A Trash that keeps items for 30 days ■ Free to start The free version holds up to 10 items across Box, Note, and Do. Every feature is there to try. Box Pro (one-time purchase) ・Unlimited items ・Change the app icon ・Includes Box Pro features added in the future There is no subscription. Buy it once, and it stays yours. ■ About your data Your data lives only in your own private iCloud. No account to create. No ads. No analytics. No tracking. Purchases are handled by Apple, so the developer never sees your data or payment details. Built in Yokohama, by one developer.

Screenshots

JotBox4 screens
Box4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Box at weekly against JotBox's every 5 weeks. 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 Box sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JotBox ships an update every 5 weeks, Box weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
JotBox versus Box: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJotBoxBox
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel BragilevskyBOX LLC (Japan)

In-app purchases

1 purchases

JotBox

One-time1
  • JotBox Pro$3.99
1 purchases

Box

One-time1
  • Hako Pro$5.99

Questions

Is JotBox free?
JotBox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Box free?
Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JotBox or Box have ads?
Neither JotBox nor Box shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JotBox or Box?
JotBox ships an update every 5 weeks, and Box weekly. Most recently, JotBox was updated on October 11, 2026 and Box on October 5, 2026.

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