Comparison

CheckBox vs HotJot Notes

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

Head to head
About

CheckBox

Manage your tasks with a simple list that supports sub-tasks. Customize the appearance with themes and adjust text size via system settings. Share tasks easily via email or messages, and sync with reminders.

Highlights
  • Simple task list management
  • Sub-task support
  • Task sharing via Mail/Messages
  • Customizable themes
  • System text size integration
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

With CheckBox, you can manage your tasks in a simple way. CheckBox offers you a simple task list. A task can have sub tasks. You can edit sub tasks in the task list view. Tasks are shared with Reminder, and changes are reflected immediately. You can select a theme, and make your list what you like. The text size is changed by the system settings. Tasks are displayed with the text size you prefer. You can send a task with Mail or Messages. This app supports Apple Watch. You can manipulate reminders and add a new reminder on your Apple Watch.

About

HotJot Notes

Capture ideas, photos, and thoughts quickly using a familiar text thread interface. Organize your life into chronological "Stacks" for focused streams of consciousness. Export your data easily in universal Markdown format.

Highlights
  • Text-to-Save workflow
  • Organize into Stacks
  • Visual Timelines
  • Total Privacy
  • Export to Markdown
  • No ads
Features
Read full description

Stop overthinking your notes. HotJot is the fastest way to capture ideas, photos, and thoughts using an interface you already know: a text thread. Organize your life into Stacks. These are focused, chronological streams of consciousness that feel like texting yourself. Whether it’s a fleeting thought, a photo of a receipt, or a project log, HotJot keeps it organized by time and topic without the heavy feel of other note-taking apps. Why HotJot? • The "Text-to-Save" Workflow: No friction. Just pick a Stack and start typing. • Visual Timelines: Every entry is automatically timestamped. Scroll back to see exactly when an idea struck. • Total Privacy: Your data never leaves your device or your personal iCloud backup. It’s in your control. • Own Your Data: Don’t get locked in. Export any Stack (or your entire library) into a clean .zip file containing universal Markdown files and your original photos or videos. • No ads: We hate ads as much as you do. HotJot is completely free for an introductory period, and if you get it while it's free you'll get upgraded for free later. Perfect for: • Project Tracking: Document progress with photos and quick notes. • Quick Capture: Save links, quotes, book recommendations, and "to-dos" before they vanish. • Personal Journaling: A space for your daily thoughts. • Shopping & Lists: Text your family’s requests into a dedicated Stack.

Screenshots

CheckBox4 screens
HotJot Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: HotJot Notes at 5.0 against CheckBox's 1.0. HotJot Notes also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). CheckBox's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HotJot Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CheckBox ships an update every 4 months, HotJot Notes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CheckBox versus HotJot Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCheckBoxHotJot Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpace ElephantSandstorm Innovations LLC (US)

Customer experience

CheckBox

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative66.7%

HotJot Notes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CheckBox

No in-app purchases

None

HotJot Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CheckBox free?
CheckBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HotJot Notes free?
HotJot Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CheckBox or HotJot Notes?
HotJot Notes is rated higher. CheckBox averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while HotJot Notes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do CheckBox or HotJot Notes have ads?
Neither CheckBox nor HotJot Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CheckBox or HotJot Notes?
CheckBox ships an update every 4 months, and HotJot Notes every 2 months. Most recently, CheckBox was updated on October 4, 2026 and HotJot Notes on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons