Tot
Tot: A focused Apple note app for quick text capture, lists, and snippets. Ranked #131 of 214 in Note-Taking Apps by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for minimal Apple text notes.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMinimal Apple text notes
- Free planYes
- Founded1996 · Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Rich- and plain-text editing with Markdown conversion
- iCloud sync, backups, widgets, and sharing across Apple devices
- Apple Shortcuts actions for storing and retrieving text
Where it doesn't
- Limited to Apple platforms
- Not designed for large structured knowledge bases
- No AI features or open-source edition
Our verdict on Tot
Tot is a lightweight note-taking and text scratchpad app from The Iconfactory for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. It is aimed at people who want a quick place to capture temporary notes, ideas, lists, and text snippets without building a large, structured knowledge base. Notes can use rich text or plain text, and the interface organizes content around color-coded dots. Markdown support, keyboard-focused editing, customizable smart bullets, widgets, sharing, and automatic backups round out the core experience.
Its strongest fit is the Apple ecosystem. iCloud synchronization connects supported Apple devices, while Apple Shortcuts actions can store and retrieve text. Tot also includes share and export actions, widgets, and dark and light modes. The published plan structure includes a free option on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, along with separate apps for macOS, iOS and iPadOS, and Apple Watch through Tot Mini. That makes it a natural choice for users already working across Apple hardware, but it is not suited to people who need broad cross-platform access.
Tot’s narrow focus is both its appeal and its main constraint. Markdown conversion, smart bullets, text dividers, and straightforward editing support fast capture, while automatic backups add protection for stored notes. However, its feature set is oriented toward lightweight text rather than extensive knowledge management, and it does not include AI features or an open-source edition. Choose Tot if you want minimal Apple-native notes with iCloud and Shortcuts support. Consider a broader note-taking app instead if you need deeper organization, more extensive platform coverage, or a larger knowledge-base workflow.
Questions about Tot
Does Tot have a free plan? Yes, there is a free plan.
What does Tot run on? macOS and iOS. It runs as a desktop app and as a mobile app.
What does Tot integrate with? 2 integrations: Apple iCloud and Apple Shortcuts.
Who is Tot built for? Solo users and small businesses (our editorial estimate).
Your product? Our editors can test Tot in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Tot pricing
Tot fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Offline access | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS |
| Note sharing | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Not verified |
| Storage limit | Not verified |
| Integrations | Apple iCloud, Apple Shortcuts |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Apple iCloud, Apple Shortcuts |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | tot.rocks |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Tot integrations
Tot lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Apple iCloud
- Apple Shortcuts
Alternatives to Tot
- Microsoft OneNoteA broad, collaborative note system with strong Microsoft integration and a capable free option.9.3
- NotionA flexible workspace for teams that want notes and knowledge bases alongside databases and collaboration.9.2
- EvernoteA broad note-taking workspace for organizing information, tasks, calendars, and documents.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
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