Comparison

GTW vs Formalize

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

Head to head
About

GTW

A plain text and Markdown editor optimized for fast editing of local and remote files. Supports cloud storage, FTP, SFTP, and offers advanced features like syntax highlighting, snippets, and markdown preview.

Highlights
  • Edit local and remote files (Dropbox, OneDrive, FTP, SFTP)
  • Markdown preview, convert, and export (PDF, DOCX, HTML)
  • Syntax highlighting for popular coding languages
  • Snippets with placeholder support
  • Focus Mode for distraction-free editing
  • External keyboard and iPad Pro support
Features
Read full description

Gogo's Type Writer is a plain Text and Markdown Editor. It is optimized for fast opening and editing local and remote files (Dropbox, OneDrive, FTP, SFTP/SSH) on your iOS Device. FEATURES: ------------------------------ • Universal App (use it on your iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch) • No in app purchases / no subscriptions • Full iPad Pro support (including smart keyboard support, shortcut, split-screen multitasking) • Extra keybar with swipe functions and trackball to precisely move the cursor and select text • Find and Replace support (incl. Regex find pattern) • Different themes and adjustable font-sizes • NEW! Focus Mode / fade out alle other lines and keep focused • Import / export / open files from iCloud Drive and other file providers • Snippets -- use short fragments of text again and again ( with filed and placeholders support ) • Markdown Preview, Convert & Export ( PDF / DOCX / HTML Export ) • Preview Browser (for images / websites) • Connect to your servers via SFTP, FTP, ONEDRIVE or DROPBOX New with OneDrive 365 and OneDrive for Business support • Upload and Download files/folders • Very fast reconnect and recover of open files after restart • Live editing - edit files directly on your Server/Dropbox/Onedrive without download • Supporting features like textselection by cursor, Splitview, Slide-Over and Drag & Drop • 3D Touch support - Show/move cursor by 3D touch the keyboard • Taptic Feedback ( on devices with Taptic Engine ) • External/Bluetooth keyboard support ( all iOS shot-cut keys are supported + lots of shortcuts available ) • Syntax highlighting for the most popular coding languages / also in Markdown codeblocks (css, fortran, html, javascript, latex, mathematica, markdown, orgmode, perl, php, python, sql, xml, yaml)

About

Formalize

Type mathematical equations and symbols directly on your iPhone or iPad. This keyboard extension offers intuitive one-handed access to over 100 symbols, producing professionally typeset formulas. Easily export your creations as PNG or TeX to use in any app.

Highlights
  • Mathematical keyboard extension
  • Over 100 symbols
  • One-handed operation
  • Professionally typeset formulas
  • PNG export
  • TeX export
Features
Read full description

Do you wish you could properly type math on your iPhone or iPad? With Formalize, you can! Formalize is a keyboard extension for mathematical content. It provides intuitive one-handed access to more than 100 symbols and produces professionally typeset formulas. Easily convert your formulas to PNG or TeX and insert them anywhere, in any app!

Screenshots

GTW4 screens
Formalize4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GTW at 3.1 against Formalize's 2.6. GTW also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). Formalize's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $5.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

GTW costs $5.99 and Formalize $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GTW holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of GTW's written reviews are positive against 25% of Formalize's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GTW ships an update every 3 weeks, Formalize every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
GTW versus Formalize: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGTWFormalize
Price$5.99$1.99 — better
Rating3.1 (32 ratings) — better2.6 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings32 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristoph GogolinBen Hambrecht

Customer experience

GTW

All ratings32 ratings
Positive46.9%
Neutral12.5%
Negative40.6%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive55.3%
Neutral7.9%
Negative36.8%

Formalize

All ratings10 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

GTW

No in-app purchases

None

Formalize

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GTW free?
GTW costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Formalize free?
Formalize costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GTW or Formalize?
GTW is rated higher. GTW averages 3.1 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Formalize averages 2.6 from 10 ratings.
Do GTW or Formalize have ads?
Neither GTW nor Formalize shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GTW or Formalize?
GTW ships an update every 3 weeks, and Formalize every 9 months. Most recently, GTW was updated on October 24, 2026 and Formalize on October 24, 2026.

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