Comparison

Athena Editor vs Boreal Markdown Editor

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

Head to head
About

Athena Editor

A code editor for iOS that supports various cloud storage services and syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages. It also offers special support for Bluetooth keyboards with Zawgyi input for Myanmar users.

Highlights
  • File opening via iOS Document Picker
  • Integration with Google Drive, iCloud, Git2Go
  • Syntax highlighting for Markdown, Swift, C#, Java, XML
  • Bluetooth keyboard support with Zawgyi input
  • Control + Shift keyboard switching
Features
Read full description

Athena is code editor that support opening file iOS Document Picker. It's supporting Google Drive, iCloud Document, Git2Go, etc. It's supporting syntax highlighting for markdown, swift, C#, java, XML,etc. Special feature for Myanmar people is "SUPPORTING BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD". Yes, you can type with Zawgyi in Athena Editor. Using Control + Shift to change the keyboard.

About

Boreal Markdown Editor

Features
Read full description

Boreal Markdown is a focused iOS document tool for people who already keep notes, drafts, specs, and reports in plain Markdown files. Open a .md or .markdown file from Files, read the rendered preview, edit the source, then save intentionally or export a clean PDF. Boreal Markdown is built around the small document loop, not a new notes database or cloud workspace. Included for everyone: - Open Markdown and plain text files through iOS file access - Read a rendered Markdown preview with clear document typography - Switch between preview and source editing - Apply headings, bold, italic, links, lists, and code to the cursor or selected text - See saved and unsaved states near the document title - Choose Save, Discard, or Cancel before leaving a document with unsaved edits - Save changes back to the opened file when iOS file access allows it - Export the rendered document as a PDF with paper, theme, text size, and title options - Share the PDF or save it back to Files - Persist appearance, accent, editor text, and PDF defaults between launches Boreal Pro is an optional one-time purchase. It unlocks: - Document outline navigation - Find and replace - Markdown cleanup - Split editing and preview on supported layouts - Advanced PDF themes, margins, table of contents, page numbers, headers, footers, and reusable presets Boreal Markdown is local-first. There is no account, subscription, hosted sync service, AI processing, backend document storage, or collaboration system. Use Boreal Markdown when you want a quiet iPhone and iPad workbench for opening, editing, saving, and sharing Markdown files as PDFs.

Screenshots

Athena Editor4 screens
Boreal Markdown Editor3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Athena Editor at none against Boreal Markdown Editor's 1. Athena Editor also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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. Boreal Markdown Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Athena Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Athena Editor ships an update monthly, Boreal Markdown Editor fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Athena Editor versus Boreal Markdown Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAthena EditorBoreal Markdown Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCOMQUAS Co., LtdBorealbit Technology Limited

In-app purchases

None

Athena Editor

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Boreal Markdown Editor

One-time1
  • Boreal Markdown Editor Pro$6.99

Questions

Is Athena Editor free?
Athena Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Boreal Markdown Editor free?
Boreal Markdown Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Athena Editor or Boreal Markdown Editor have ads?
Neither Athena Editor nor Boreal Markdown Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Athena Editor or Boreal Markdown Editor?
Athena Editor ships an update monthly, and Boreal Markdown Editor fortnightly. Most recently, Athena Editor was updated on November 2, 2026 and Boreal Markdown Editor on October 31, 2026.

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