# Writer! vs Narrative

The clearest difference is rating: Narrative at 4.4 against Writer!'s 4.0. Narrative also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 34%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 weeks). Writer!'s advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Writer! sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Narrative sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Narrative holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 118 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Writer!'s written reviews are positive against 56% of Narrative's.

Writer! ships an update every 4 weeks, Narrative every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on July 5, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Writer! | Narrative |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writer/id1419254875/reviews) | **[4.4 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narrative-novel-writing-app/id1492724959/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **118** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | **56.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 10 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Binary Kitchen, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/348779830) | [Mark Muhleder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492724958) |

## What reviewers say

### Writer!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writer/id1419254875)

This application provides a straightforward platform for writing and organizing your thoughts. It allows users to manage entries with tags and folders, search content, and export their work. Customize your writing experience with various themes and accent colors.

**Highlights:** Simple user interface, Organize with tags and folders, Search entries by content or tags, Export entries, Light and dark themes, Customizable accent colors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Giant Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| Enormous Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Pro | $5.99 | one-time |


### Narrative

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/narrative-novel-writing-app/id1492724959)

This app provides a distraction-free writing environment with a sleek interface and advanced editing tools. It offers seamless project synchronization across devices and robust security features. Goal-setting and customizable options enhance the creative process for writers of all levels.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing environment, Seamless project synchronization, Precision editing tools, Word count goals and progress tracking, Import/export in multiple formats, Customizable fonts, Flexible notes system

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Narrative Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Narrative Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Narrative Annual | $47.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Writer! free?

Writer! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Narrative free?

Narrative is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Writer! or Narrative?

Narrative is rated higher. Writer! averages 4.0 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Narrative averages 4.4 from 50 ratings.

### Do Writer! or Narrative have ads?

Neither Writer! nor Narrative shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Writer! or Narrative?

Writer! ships an update every 4 weeks, and Narrative every 9 days. Most recently, Writer! was updated on July 5, 2026 and Narrative on September 16, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*