# TextEdit vs WriteTex

The clearest difference is rating: WriteTex at 5.0 against TextEdit's 3.7. WriteTex also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). TextEdit's advantage is ratings volume (379 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. TextEdit sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and WriteTex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WriteTex holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TextEdit has 379 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

TextEdit ships an update weekly, WriteTex every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | TextEdit | WriteTex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (379 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textedit-text-editor/id1070883678/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writetex-math-ocr-and-latex/id6747911928/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **379** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 17.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 580 MB | 14 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) | [星宇 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823348720) |

## 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 (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| TextEdit+ Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| TextEdit+ Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| TextEdit+ Full Unlock | $14.99 | 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


### WriteTex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writetex-math-ocr-and-latex/id6747911928)

Instantly convert handwritten math equations into LaTeX, Markdown, or TikZ code. This app uses advanced AI to recognize complex formulas, matrices, and diagrams, integrating seamlessly with desktop editors like VS Code and Obsidian.

**Highlights:** Handwritten math to LaTeX conversion, AI-powered OCR for complex formulas, Markdown and TikZ code output, Desktop sync for VS Code, Obsidian, Word, BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) for data control, High privacy options

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly AI Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly AI Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Custom API | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is TextEdit free?

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

### Is WriteTex free?

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

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

WriteTex is rated higher. TextEdit averages 3.7 out of 5 from 379 ratings, while WriteTex averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do TextEdit or WriteTex have ads?

Neither TextEdit nor WriteTex shows ads.

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

TextEdit ships an update weekly, and WriteTex every 10 days. Most recently, TextEdit was updated on October 18, 2026 and WriteTex on October 10, 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.*