Tot

Tot is a text scratchpad with exactly seven slots, each a coloured dot in the toolbar. There is no file management, no list of documents to prune — just seven places for the things you are holding onto right now: a draft reply, a code snippet, a shopping list, notes from a call.

Why it makes the list

Tot is from The Iconfactory, and it is a small masterclass in constraint. The seven-dot limit sounds arbitrary until you use it and realize it is the whole point — enough room to be useful, little enough that it stays tidy. It handles both plain text and rich text, syncs instantly across devices, and lives in the menu bar a keystroke away.

Standout features

• Seven fixed pads, switchable by click or keyboard shortcut

• Plain-text or rich-text per dot, with Markdown shortcuts

• Menu-bar and global hotkey access from anywhere

• Instant iCloud sync with iPhone and iPad

• Word and character counts, dark mode, and system-wide services

• Deliberately no accounts, no clutter, no settings maze

Pricing

Free on the Mac. The iPhone and iPad app is a separate one-time purchase.