Writerly vs Pen to Published
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Writerly
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.
- 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
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Want to write? Start thinking like a writer! Writerly will show you how. Writerly is for everyone interested in creative writing. From first steps to advanced topics, Writerly is loaded with advice, exercises, ideas and prompts to help you develop as a writer, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro. Our new AI Toolkit unleashes the power of Apple Intelligence to bring you tools to spark your creativity, brainstorm your ideas, help you research books and novels, and create characters and writing exercises - it's like having an always-available creative writing friend! Writerly includes a huge amount of unique content that has been extensively tested and trialled by professional authors and creative writing students. So have fun, get inspired and get writing! Key features: - Available for your Mac, iPhone and iPad! - Learn how to observe the world like a writer - AI Toolkit (for research, exercises, brainstorming and more) - Like having an always-available creative writing friend! - Techniques to combat writer's block - Discover techniques to unlock your creativity - Unique 'generators' for Appearance, Mood, Character, Journeys and much, much more - Warm-up exercises - Meet your characters (like speed dating with your characters!) - Ways into Character (in-depth character development tools, techniques and exercises) - A Year of Prompts (a writing prompt for every day of the year) - How to work with sensory detail - Core character development exercises - Built-in timer for exercises - Widgets (daily prompts and character generation right on the home screen) - Progress tracker
Pen to Published
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Pen to Published offers all the tools, strategies and resources you need to write and publish your book/books. Then start speaking about your books online and on live stages. Speak with confidence about your passion, your expertise, your story. Use your book/books to teach from, speak from and to coach from. Pen to Published offers comprehensive training in writing, publishing and public speaking. Self-publishing has never been easier and can be totally FREE! The shortest book you can publish on Amazon (with a spine) is 36 pages. Write and publish the short book first and use it as the outline for your longer book. Pen to Published offers accessible info and resources from A to Z for getting your book/books published ASAP.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pen to Published at none against Writerly's 4. Pen to Published also leads on iOS requirement (18.2 vs 26.0). Writerly's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Writerly sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Pen to Published asks for nothing beyond the download.
Writerly ships an update every 10 months, Pen to Published every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Writerly | Pen to Published |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (112 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 76.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 112 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months — better | Every 12 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 79 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Russell Archer | Mila Johansen |
In-app purchases
Writerly
- A Year of Prompts$0.99
- Ways into Character$1.99
- Meet your Characters$1.99
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- AI Toolkit$2.99
Pen to Published
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Writerly free?
Is Pen to Published free?
Do Writerly or Pen to Published have ads?
Which is updated more often, Writerly or Pen to Published?
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