# TextEdit vs Simpletext

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simpletext at 73% against TextEdit's 18%. Simpletext also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (4.1 vs 3.7). TextEdit's advantage is price (Free vs $14.99) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

TextEdit is free to download; Simpletext costs $14.99 up front. TextEdit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Simpletext asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simpletext holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextEdit has 377 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of TextEdit's written reviews are positive against 73% of Simpletext's.

TextEdit ships an update every 3 weeks, Simpletext every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextEdit | Simpletext |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (377 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textedit-text-editor/id1070883678/reviews) | **[4.1 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpletext/id1319340670/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **377** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | 17.9% of reviews | **73.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#169** |
| Size | 513 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) | [Yeow Jin Gan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241352692) |

## What reviewers say

### TextEdit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textedit-text-editor/id1070883678)

A fast and versatile text editor for mobile devices, offering compatibility with various file formats and editors. It provides a distraction-free writing experience with advanced formatting, organization, and sharing features.

**Highlights:** Supports TXT, RTF, Markdown, TeX, and PDF formats, Cross-device and computer syncing via iCloud/Files, Distraction-free writing interface, Customizable keyboard extension for faster typing, Visual rich text formatting and one-tap options, Syntax highlighting for Markdown and TeX, Instant statistics and counters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TextEdit+ Unlock AI Assistant | $4.99 | per month |
| TextEdit+ Unlock AI Assistant | $29.99 | per year |
| TextEdit+ Full Unlock | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 📝 Simple and clean text editor
- 🔗 Integrates well with iCloud
- 👍 Useful for basic document editing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription for full functionality
- 🔒 Locks users out of previously purchased content
- 🚫 Prevents access to app without subscription
- 🤖 Forced AI integration that users don't want

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain file types
- Formatting issues when copying/pasting text
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Allow users to choose iCloud directory
- Offer one-time purchase option instead of subscription
- Restore previous paid versions without AI


### Simpletext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpletext/id1319340670)

**Currently charting:** #169 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers a minimalist writing experience, focusing solely on plain text. It provides a distraction-free environment with beautiful typography and native performance across Apple devices. Ideal for those who want to concentrate on their words without unnecessary features.

**Highlights:** Zero clutter interface, Beautiful typography with professional fonts, Plain text only support, Fully native Apple app, Supports custom fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextEdit free?

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

### Is Simpletext free?

Simpletext costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, TextEdit or Simpletext?

Simpletext is rated higher. TextEdit averages 3.7 out of 5 from 377 ratings, while Simpletext averages 4.1 from 23 ratings.

### Do TextEdit or Simpletext have ads?

Neither TextEdit nor Simpletext shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, TextEdit or Simpletext?

TextEdit ships an update every 3 weeks, and Simpletext every 3 months. Most recently, TextEdit was updated on September 25, 2026 and Simpletext on September 22, 2026.

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