Alternatives · Note-Taking
Tot alternatives
Tot compared with 10 alternatives: Drafts, SideNotes, Antinote, Heynote, Apple Notes and 5 more.
Tot has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform. 5 of the 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
10 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| TotThis tool | Free plan · from $19.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Drafts | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| SideNotes | Free trial · from $9.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Antinote | Free trial · from $5 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| Heynote | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Apple Notes | Free | Free | Web, macOS, iOS |
| Gravity | From $9.99 one-time | No | macOS, iOS, Android |
| Notchkin | From $4.99 one-time | No | macOS |
| Noticky | Free plan · from $4.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Quick Note | Free trial · from $12.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Stickier | Free plan · from $4.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Tot
- Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Drafts
Quick-capture notes app for Apple devices with text actions
- Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
- Tot also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Jotting text down quickly on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch
- Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
SideNotes
Screen-edge notes panel for Mac, with a separate iPhone app
- SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- SideNotes also covers tasks.
Suits: Mac users who want notes at hand without switching apps
- Free trial · from $5 one-time
Antinote
Mac scratchpad for temporary notes, quick math and checklists
- Antinote starts at $5 one-time purchase. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot has a free plan. Antinote does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Tot lists an iOS app.
- Antinote also covers Pomodoro timer and calculator.
- Tot also covers Markdown.
Suits: Mac users who want a throwaway pad beside their main notes app
- Free
Heynote
Block-based scratchpad for developers on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Heynote is free. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Only Heynote lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Tot lists an iOS app.
- Tot can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Heynote also covers calculator.
Suits: Developers who need a holding place for JSON, logs and code snippets
- Free
Apple Notes
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web
- Apple Notes is free. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Tot can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Apple Notes also covers transcription and linked notes.
- Tot also covers Markdown and menu bar app.
Suits: People who use only Apple devices
- From $9.99 one-time
Gravity
Single-stream notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android
- Gravity starts at $9.99 one-time per platform. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot has a free plan. Gravity does not.
- Only Gravity lists an Android app.
Suits: People who jot quick notes and do not want to file them
- From $4.99 one-time
Notchkin
Local notes panel that drops down from the MacBook notch
- Notchkin starts at $4.99 one-time. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot has a free plan. Notchkin does not.
- Only Tot lists an iOS app.
- Tot also covers Markdown and menu bar app.
Suits: MacBook users who want a scratchpad without another window
- Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Noticky
Sticky notes for Mac that stay on top, even in fullscreen
- Noticky starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $9.99 one-time for Mac. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Noticky also covers templates and screenshots.
Suits: Keeping a note in view above a fullscreen app on the Mac
- Free trial · from $12.99 one-time
Quick Note
Menu bar sticky notes that float above other Mac windows
- Quick Note starts at $12.99 one-time. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot has a free plan. Quick Note does not, though it has a free trial.
- Tot also covers Markdown.
Suits: Mac users who want a note visible on top of the window they work in
- Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Stickier
Sticky notes for Mac with iCloud sync and an iPhone companion app
- Stickier starts at $4.99 one-time purchase for the iPhone and iPad app. Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform.
- Tot also covers Markdown.
Suits: Mac users who want floating sticky notes that sync through iCloud
Limits worth knowing in Tot
- The site lists apps for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch only; there is no Windows, Android or web version.
- Notes are fixed at seven dots of up to 100,000 characters each, and the vendor says more cannot be added.
- Premium features are bought separately on the Mac and on iOS at $19.99 each, and the Apple Watch app costs another $1.99.
- Sync runs through iCloud only, and automatic backups are unencrypted JSON files; the vendor advises against storing secrets in Tot.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Tot?
The alternatives to Tot in this directory are Drafts, SideNotes, Antinote, Heynote, Apple Notes, Gravity, Notchkin, Noticky, Quick Note and Stickier. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Tot.
Is there a free alternative to Tot?
Yes. Heynote and Apple Notes are free to use. Drafts, Noticky and Stickier have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Tot alternatives work on Windows?
The Tot listing does not include a Windows app. Heynote lists one.
Which Tot alternatives work on Linux?
The Tot listing does not include a Linux app. Heynote lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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