Comparison

TextEdit vs Instink Handwritten Notes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TextEdit

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
Read full description

TextEdit+ gives you the control of a capable word processor without the clutter of a full desktop office suite. Create plain-text and rich-text documents, work with Markdown and LaTeX, improve your writing with AI, and keep your files organized in Files and iCloud Drive. You can also open, edit and sync documents created with macOS TextEdit, Microsoft WordPad, Microsoft Word, and Scrivener RTF files directly on your device. WRITE IN THE FORMAT YOU NEED • Create and edit TXT, RTF, RTFD, Markdown, and LaTeX files • Open your documents directly from Files and iCloud Drive • Organize your work with folders and subfolders • Choose where you want to keep your files WRITE AND EDIT WITH AI • Turn your ideas or prompts into a first draft • Rewrite, improve, or summarize any selected text • Adjust the tone, clarity, grammar, and structure of your writing • Use AI without leaving your document FORMAT YOUR DOCUMENT YOUR WAY • Choose your fonts, styles, colors, highlights, and alignment • Create lists and adjust line, paragraph, and document spacing • Use superscript and subscript • Add images and tables to supported document formats • Stay focused with a clean, distraction-free editor WORK WITH MARKDOWN AND LATEX • Preview your Markdown while you write • Write and compile LaTeX directly on your device • Switch easily between your source and the rendered result EDIT FASTER • Find and replace text throughout your document • Check your word, character, sentence, paragraph, and page counts • See the estimated reading time for your text • Use keyboard shortcuts when you work with a hardware keyboard • Move the cursor and select text more precisely with the extended keyboard EXPORT AND SHARE YOUR WORK • Export your documents to PDF, DOCX, RTF, Markdown, plain text, and PNG • Print, email, or send your files to other apps • Keep your documents in Files or cloud storage and continue working with compatible apps on your other devices Whether you’re writing a quick text file, preparing a formatted document, taking Markdown notes, or working on a LaTeX project, TextEdit+ gives you more control than a notes app without overwhelming you with the complexity of a traditional office suite. Privacy Policy https://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Instink Handwritten Notes

Features
Read full description

An idea shows up. By the time you've unlocked your phone, found your notes app and opened a new page, it's gone. Instink is a blank sheet on your Home Screen. Tap it and you're already writing — by hand, in your own handwriting. Tap Done and you're back where you were. One second. WHY PEOPLE KEEP IT • Ready in under half a second. No account, no sign-up, nothing to choose before you write. • Your handwriting, not a font. Finger or Apple Pencil, with ink that follows your hand. • Saved from the very first stroke. Put the phone away mid-sentence: the note is already safe. • Hands busy? Type, snap a photo or record your voice from the same sheet. • Phone locked? Ask Siri to add a note to Instink and dictate it. No unlocking. EVERY WAY IN Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Control Center, the Action button, Back Tap and Shortcuts. Use the one closest to your thumb. THEN, WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE • Sort new notes like cards: swipe right to send, left to keep, down to delete. Ten seconds. • Send any note to Notion, Notes, Google Keep, Obsidian, Mail or Messages — as text, with your handwriting attached. • Search your handwriting. Instink reads it on your device. • Wrote "dentist tomorrow at 10"? Instink offers to put it in your calendar. • Once a day an old note resurfaces — "a week ago today" — so good ideas don't get buried. • At night the sheet turns dark, so it won't blind you in bed. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account. No ads. No tracking. Your notes stay on your device and never pass through a server of ours. Handwriting and voice are recognized on your iPhone. WHAT INSTINK IS NOT It's not a notebook with folders and pages. It's the pen for the notes system you already use. Questions or ideas: hello@instink.app — a real person reads every message.

Screenshots

TextEdit4 screens
Instink Handwritten Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Instink Handwritten Notes at none against TextEdit's 4. Instink Handwritten Notes also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. TextEdit sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Instink Handwritten Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TextEdit versus Instink Handwritten Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTextEditInstink Handwritten Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (378 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews17.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings378 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size573 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKairoos Solutions SLpaolo aru

Bugs and requests

TextEdit

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Instink Handwritten Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

TextEdit

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$1.997 Days
  • TextEdit+ Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • TextEdit+ Annual3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • TextEdit+ Full Unlock$14.99
None

Instink Handwritten Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TextEdit free?
TextEdit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Instink Handwritten Notes free?
Instink Handwritten Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TextEdit or Instink Handwritten Notes have ads?
Neither TextEdit nor Instink Handwritten Notes shows ads.

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