Kalend is the better app overall, scoring 9.6 to 8.4. Kalend wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Jotter on 0.
People who want tasks, habits and a journal in one private, free app
iPhone and iPad users who want a quick, private notepad with handwriting
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Kalend | Jotter |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #1 of 10 | #8 of 10 |
| Developer | The Big Head | The Big Head |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Kalend
- Four planning tools in one app, with nothing locked
- No account; syncs through your own iCloud
- Habit streaks forgive a missed day
- iPhone and iPad only, no Android, Mac or web app
- No shared lists or team features
Kalend folds a to-do list, a calendar, a habit tracker and a journal into one native iPhone and iPad app, and asks nothing for it. There is no account and no company server: everything syncs through your own iCloud and works offline. It is not as deep as Todoist or Things for complex projects, but for planning a normal day it covers a lot of ground for free.
Full Kalend review
Jotter
- No titles, folders or save buttons to slow you down
- Handwriting and voice notes are searchable on the device
- Free, no account, synced through your own iCloud
- Apple devices only, with no Mac or web app
- No backlinks, plugins or collaboration
Jotter is built around one idea: open it and start typing. The first line names the note and it saves as you go. Checklists, Apple Pencil handwriting, scans and voice notes live in the same note, and search reads the text inside pictures and handwriting on the device. It lacks the linking and plugins of Obsidian, but as a free, private everyday notepad it is quick and pleasant.
Full Jotter review
