# Minipad vs Writerly

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Minipad at none against Writerly's 4. Minipad also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months) and review sentiment (86% vs 76%). Writerly's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Writerly sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Minipad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Writerly holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 402 and 111 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Minipad's written reviews are positive against 76% of Writerly's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Minipad ships an update every 4 months, Writerly every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minipad | Writerly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (402 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minipad/id1023598911/reviews) | **[4.6 (111 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writerly/id1143101981/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **402** | 111 |
| Positive reviews | **85.5% of reviews** | 76.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Davidson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1023194687) | [Russell Archer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1112550413) |

## What reviewers say

### Minipad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minipad/id1023598911)

A straightforward text editor designed for users of all ages, including children. It offers a distraction-free writing environment for creating stories, notes, and exploring language. Features include customizable font sizes and secure deletion to prevent accidental data loss.

**Highlights:** Focus on writing, Sort entries by date or title, Adjustable font sizes, No spell check or autocorrect, Accident-prevention delete, Voice dictation and emoji support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Allows writing without distractions
- 🚀 Efficient battery usage
- 🤩 Great for young writers
- 🙌 Encourages creativity and imagination

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional data loss issues
- 💬 Lack of formatting options (italics, bold)
- 🔍 No search functionality
- 📁 Inability to organize notes/stories into folders
- 🔤 No spell check or autocorrect

**Reported bugs**

- Reported issues with data loss and deletion of stories
- Some users unable to export or share their writings

**Requested features**

- Add spell check and autocorrect
- Implement formatting options (italics, bold)
- Include a search feature
- Allow organizing notes/stories into folders
- Provide an option to change font size and style


### Writerly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writerly/id1143101981)

This app guides aspiring and experienced writers through creative writing with advice, exercises, and AI-powered tools. It offers features to spark creativity, brainstorm ideas, research, and develop characters, acting as a constant writing companion.

**Highlights:** AI Toolkit for research and brainstorming, Character development tools and exercises, Daily writing prompts, Techniques to combat writer's block, Sensory detail guidance, Built-in timer for exercises, Home screen widgets

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Year of Prompts | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ways into Character | $1.99 | one-time |
| Meet your Characters | $1.99 | one-time |
| AI Toolkit | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minipad free?

Minipad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Writerly free?

Writerly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Minipad or Writerly?

Writerly is rated higher. Minipad averages 4.3 out of 5 from 402 ratings, while Writerly averages 4.6 from 111 ratings.

### Do Minipad or Writerly have ads?

Neither Minipad nor Writerly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minipad or Writerly?

Minipad ships an update every 4 months, and Writerly every 10 months. Most recently, Minipad was updated on September 20, 2026 and Writerly on September 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*