Storyist 4 vs Stratword
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Storyist 4
This app provides a robust writing environment for authors and screenwriters. It allows for detailed story outlining, manuscript creation with rich text editing, and seamless revision on any device. Organize all your writing projects in one place for easy access and collaboration.
- Rich text editor with comments and images
- Index card outlining and story sheets
- Manuscript and screenplay formatting
- Cloud storage and collaboration support
- Import/export text and images
- Support for various file formats
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Storyist is a powerful writing environment that lets you create, review, and revise your work wherever inspiration strikes. “If I could have only one screenwriting app on my iPad, Storyist would be it.” – Taz Goldstein, Hand Held Hollywood. “I'm currently traveling in Europe and am just now putting the finishing touches on the book that will be published in September. I'm using the Storyist app for my iPad Mini and it's sensational... a real godsend.” – Michael Brandman, Bestselling Author. With Storyist, you can: • Produce submission-ready manuscripts and screenplays. Storyist provides a rich text editor with support for comments, images, headers, footers, and style sheets so you can create properly formatted manuscripts and screenplays. And Storyist comes with manuscript and screenplay templates so you can focus on the writing, not the formatting. • Work with your story at a high level. Storyist lets you sketch out a story using index cards and then refine it with customizable plot, character, and setting sheets. When you're ready to put words on the page, Storyist can even display your index cards next to your manuscript as you write. • Review and revise on the go. Have a few minutes? Open Storyist and jot down a note, rewrite a few paragraphs, or annotate your manuscript with ideas for future changes. • Keep all your writing organized and accessible. Storyist organizes your novel manuscripts, screenplays, notes, and other project-related writing so you can access them with just a few taps. And the Files app support lets you store your projects where you want and edit them in place. Features at a Glance • Rich text editor with support for fonts, colors, comments, images, headers, footers, and style sheets. • Files interface with the ability to collaborate with other writers, browse version history, and sync with your favorite cloud storage service. • Automatic manuscript and screenplay formatting with familiar tab and return key shortcuts. • Color-coded index cards. • Customizable story sheets. • Easy import and export of text and images. • Support for Storyist for Mac, RTF, Plain Text, Fountain, and Final Draft FDX files. • Ability to export text files as PDF. • Wireless printing with AirPrint. • Courier Prime font for screenplays. Try Storyist 4 for free for 14 days. After the trial period ends, you can purchase Storyist 4 to continue using the editing features or use the app in reader mode for free. Upgrade pricing is available for customers who purchased Storyist 3 for iOS. No subscription required.
Stratword
This app is a mobile screenwriting studio that guides users from initial ideas to a formatted final draft. It offers tools for outlining, character development, and industry-standard formatting, along with a community hub for collaboration and feedback.
- Step-by-step story engine
- Deep character development tools
- Industry-standard formatting
- Community hub for writers
- Script exchange and feedback
- Seamless cloud sync
- Access to study scripts
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Write your screenplay from anywhere. Your pocket-sized writer's room and global community. Stratword is the ultimate mobile screenwriting studio, designed to take you from a single idea to a fully formatted final draft. Whether you are outlining a treatment on your commute, building character bios at a coffee shop, or formatting your dialogue on the couch, Stratword gives you the professional tools you need to finally finish your script. Stop wrestling with margins and focus on what matters: your story. KEY FEATURES: Step-by-Step Story Engine: Don't stare at a blank page. Follow our guided workflow to brainstorm loglines, structure your treatment, and build out your world before you ever write "Fade In." Deep Character Development: Create complex, three-dimensional characters with dedicated profiles for bios, traits, and story arcs. Industry-Standard Formatting: Write naturally while the editor automatically formats your scene headings, action, characters, and dialogue to strict Hollywood standards. The All-New Community Hub: Level up your craft and connect with a global network of screenwriters: The Writers' Room: Browse a directory of writers by genre to find your perfect co-writer and collaborate on your next big project. The Script Exchange: Upload your projects, trade scripts with peers, earn review credits, and receive actionable feedback to polish your draft. Study Scripts: Access a curated library of recommended reading from professional screenplays to study structure and formatting. Writer Profiles & Secure Inbox: Build your custom profile showcasing your top influences, and connect privately via direct messaging. Seamless Cloud Sync: Start writing on your iPhone and finish on your computer! Your Stratword account seamlessly syncs with our brand-new Web Editor, unlocking even more pro tools like Dark Mode, Sprint Timers, Read-Aloud Teleprompters, and exports to PDF and Final Draft (.FDX). STRATWORD PREMIUM Upgrade to Stratword Premium to unlock unlimited screenplays, advanced writing features, and full cross-platform syncing. Monthly Access plans: Monthly: $9.99/Month Payments and Renewal: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Account settings at any time after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active period. PRIVACY All your information on Stratword is secure. You are the only one who has access to your information. Also, you can delete your data at any time if you choose to do so. Privacy Policy: https://stratword.com/privacypolicy Terms of Use: https://stratword.com/termsofuse Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stratword_
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Storyist 4 at none against Stratword's shown. Storyist 4 also leads on ratings volume (396 vs 97). Stratword's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases 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. Storyist 4 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Stratword sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Storyist 4 against 4.4 for Stratword. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 396 and 97 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Storyist 4's written reviews are positive against 47% of Stratword's.
Storyist 4 ships an update every 4 months, Stratword every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Storyist 4 | Stratword |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (396 ratings) | 4.4 (97 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 44.3% of reviews | 47.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 396 — better | 97 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Storyist Software | Patrick Pierre |
Customer experience
Storyist 4
Stratword
User reviews
Storyist 4
From 396 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Clean, intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Fast iCloud synchronization across devices
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription fees
- 📝 Excellent for organizing long-form writing projects
- 🔄 Seamless Mac-iPad-iPhone sync
Room to improve
- 🐛 Data loss and file deletion issues
- 💔 Upgrade from v3 to v4 requires full repurchase
- 😤 Misleading free trial presentation
- 🔧 Clunky navigation requiring multiple taps
- ⚠️ Significant bugs in version 4 compared to v3
Stratword
From 97 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 User friendly and easy to use
- 👍 Good platform for beginners
- 👍 Helpful for new writers
- 👍 Great for first-time writers
- 👍 Simple and effective approach
Room to improve
- 🐛 Everything deleted/lost work
- 🐛 Distorted conversions to PDF
- 🐛 Unusable PDF exports
- 🐛 Purchase problems/app not installing
- 🐛 Unable to login/sign in issues
Bugs and requests
Storyist 4
Reported bugs
13 issues- Files and projects mysteriously disappear
- App crashes when opening manuscripts
- Freezing during typing sessions
- Auto-capitalization in middle of sentences
- Spell-check suggestions showing duplicate words
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- Index cards losing color after updates
- Styles vanishing when edited on iOS
- Text disappearing from documents while outline remains
- Dropbox connection failures and blank file displays
- Split-screen zoom focusing on wrong area
- Font selection list not loading
- Restore Purchases prompt appearing repeatedly
- Export formatting issues with dark theme
Requested features
11 requests- Footnotes and endnotes support
- Word and Pages format export compatibility
- Better backup system with cloud storage
- Folder tree navigation on mobile
- Non-fiction templates with query tracking
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- Improved dark mode customization
- Cursor support for iPad
- Section-level export functionality
- German language localization
- Extended keyboard shortcuts preservation
- Better page number formatting options
Stratword
Reported bugs
10 issues- Previous projects suddenly deleted
- Conversions result in distorted PDFs
- PDFs are unusable for edits or sharing
- Paid app does not install
- Unable to login
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- App freezes during login attempts
- Confirmation email for account creation not sent
- Work is erased upon next login
- Indents and new lines cause screenplay to look 'wonk'
- Locking steps until previous ones are completed without clear requirements
Requested features
3 requests- Paste text copied from notes within script section
- Add feature of pasting and copying texts
- Option to insert images
In-app purchases
Storyist 4
- Free TrialFree
- Storyist 4 Upgrade$9.99
- Storyist 4$19.99
Stratword
- Weekly Subscription$2.997 Days
- Screenplay Editor Monthly Sub$5.991 Month
- Stratword Premium Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
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- Editor Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Stratword Premium Yearly7 Days trial$99.001 Year
- Upgrade$1.99
- Coverage$29.99
- Lifetime Access$149.99
Questions
Is Storyist 4 free?
Is Stratword free?
Which has better reviews, Storyist 4 or Stratword?
Do Storyist 4 or Stratword have ads?
Which is updated more often, Storyist 4 or Stratword?
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