Tot
Seven small spaces for the text you need now, without building another notebook.
Version 2.1.1 · Requires macOS 14.0
2026-10-10: the Mac App Store lists free download, US$19.99 in-app purchase and macOS 14+. iCloud sync and seven text spaces were checked against the official site. Older reviews describe launch pricing; other sources retain the review date below.
Makers
Craig Hockenberry began Tot as a small Mac scratchpad, with his Iconfactory colleagues shaping its appearance. The product expanded to other Apple devices while keeping its seven-dot idea.
Why consider it
A scratchpad with a limit
Seven colored dots make temporary text easy to find. The constraint suits snippets, rough ideas and short lists better than a growing knowledge archive.
Keep formatting uncomplicated
Switch between rich and plain text, with Markdown conversion when needed. Smart bullets and dividers add just enough structure for small notes.
Carry the scratchpad with you
iCloud sync connects Apple devices, and Shortcuts can store or retrieve text. On Mac it can live in the menu bar or a regular window.
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What People Say
Short excerpts in their original words. Open a source for the full context.
Worth Reading
The idea behind seven dots
John Gruber explains the deliberately limited scratchpad and its Mac-specific details.
The Iconfactory · version historyWhat changed in Tot 2
Follow smart bullets, backups, interface changes and the newer pricing model.
Tot · officialYour tiny text companion
See how the Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watch versions fit together.
Checked · Sources
Prices use the stated currency and storefront. The check date is separate from the app’s release date.