Comparison

iVim vs Ask Ferdy

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

Head to head
About

iVim

This app brings the powerful Vim text editor to iOS devices. It offers advanced features like custom font import, an extended and customizable keyboard, multistage language input, and seamless integration with other apps through sharing and document pickers. Advanced functionalities like plugin management and version control are available via in-app purchases or a subscription.

Highlights
  • Custom font import with ligature support
  • Extended and customizable keyboard
  • Multistage language input
  • App sharing and document picker integration
  • External hardware keyboard support
  • Integrated scripting languages (Python, Lua)
  • Plugin management (In-App Purchase)
  • Native version control (iVim Pro subscription)
Read full description

iVim is a project that brings the vim editor to the iOS system. It is open source, please visit the App Support URL. Font management Besides some system and embedded monospace fonts, iVim allows users to import and use their own custom fonts. Moreover, iVim supports to render ligatures if your font provides beautiful ones. Extended keyboard By introducing compact buttons, iVim covers as many keys as possible in its extended keyboard, so that you can input symbols without switching among key groups. Moreover, you can customize it to meet your own special needs. Multistage language input iVim adds support to multistage input languages such as Chinese or Japanese. Sharing Through sharing, iVim makes its editing power available to more apps. Via the share extension, iVim can import text or text files from, or export to other apps. Via the document picker, you can also import or edit files or directories in iCloud Drive or documents providers, without leaving iVim. External hardware keyboard iVim supports external hardware keyboards well, just connect your favorite one to the device and start typing. With the native modifier keys mapping option from the system, you can even make the "caps lock" key act both as "ctrl" and "esc" in iOS 13.4 and above. External commands iVim includes some useful external commands that you are familiar with and integrates powerful scripting languages such as Python and Lua. With +terminal feature enabled and a simple shell named "ivish" included, you can run the commands in terminal windows like on a computer. Plugins management (In App Purchase required) iVim provides a plugins manager, "iplug", for you to install and manage plugins easily. Version control (iVim Pro required) iVim has native version control system integrated into its UI and workflow, you get better idea of what is happening to your files, make changes with more confidence, and collaborate in editing more conveniently than ever. iVim Pro iVim provides a monthly subscription (with an introductory 1 week free trial), named "iVim Pro", enabling extra great features: - native version control Subscriptions will be charged to your Apple ID account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscriptions in Account Settings on App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if any, will be forfeited when the user purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-terms-of-use.md Privacy Policy: https://github.com/terrychou/docs/blob/master/ivim-privacy-policy.md Type ":help ios" in iVim for more detailed information.

About

Ask Ferdy

Features
Read full description

Ferdy is the first AI powered personal lifestyle assistant and productivity co-pilot built to help you find, discover and get things done on the web easily and quickly.

Screenshots

iVim1 screens
Ask Ferdy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ask Ferdy at none against iVim's 5. iVim's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). 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. iVim sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ask Ferdy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, Ask Ferdy every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
iVim versus Ask Ferdy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriVimAsk Ferdy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (167 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings167 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB28 MB
Age rating4+17+
Developer文礼 周Feeda Ltd

Bugs and requests

iVim

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • Keyboard obscures command line and content
  • Keyboard cannot be hidden or dismissed properly
  • Paste function unreliable with Command-V
  • Plus buffer (+) paste not working
  • App loses all data when iOS suspends it
Show 10 more
  • Focus stealing in Split View mode
  • netrw breaks after accessing certain folders
  • relativenumber setting shows zero instead of current line number
  • First character on first line hidden on iPad Pro with rounded corners
  • Pinch/zoom feature too sensitive without dead zone
  • Help mode space and delete keys non-functional
  • Plugin loading errors (e.g., python-mode)
  • Cursor position issues with certain keyboard configurations
  • Key repeat not functioning for Vim movement keys
  • App crashes or becomes unusable without ESC key access

Requested features

16 requests
  • .vimrc functionality that actually works
  • Easier document/file access without multiple clicks
  • Reading mode to hide keyboard while scrolling
  • Better keyboard dismissal mechanism
  • Function keys on the keyboard
Show 11 more
  • Update to Vim 8 or newer version
  • Core git functionality without paywall
  • Better plugin installation process
  • Directory creation capability
  • Backtick (`) character in keyboard shortcuts
  • Improved help system with working space/delete keys
  • File browser integration within the app
  • Donation/tip option via in-app purchase
  • Online documentation outside the app
  • Support for newer iPad Pro display notches
  • Improved external keyboard support (especially folding keyboards)

Ask Ferdy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

iVim

Subscriptions1
  • iVim Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Month
One-time4
  • Small Donation$1.99
  • Auto Restore$3.99
  • Plugins Manager$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Big Donation$9.99
None

Ask Ferdy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iVim free?
iVim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ask Ferdy free?
Ask Ferdy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do iVim or Ask Ferdy have ads?
Neither iVim nor Ask Ferdy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iVim or Ask Ferdy?
iVim ships an update every 5 weeks, and Ask Ferdy every 5 months. Most recently, iVim was updated on September 21, 2026 and Ask Ferdy on May 16, 2026.

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