iWriter 2 vs SMSReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iWriter 2
A minimalist Markdown text editor designed for distraction-free writing. It offers advanced features like MultiMarkdown support, live preview, Wikilinks, and seamless export to various formats. Built with TextKit 2 for enhanced performance and a smooth user experience.
- Distraction-free minimalist writing environment
- MultiMarkdown support with live preview
- Wikilinks and Wiki-Embeds
- Built-in document manager with search
- Export to HTML, PDF, EPUB, DOCX, LaTeX
- LaTeX syntax highlighting and Mermaid diagrams
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iWriter 2 is an elegant and minimalist Markdown text editor designed for distraction-free writing. # iWriter 2 is the next generation of the beloved iWriter text editor. "Simple & beautiful" App Store Review, 2019 "Terrific Writing and Notes App" App Store Review, 2015 "Great simple text editor" App Store Review, 2014 Immerse yourself in a minimalist writing environment designed to enhance focus and productivity. Say hello to structured, professional documents that effortlessly transform your ideas. ## MultiMarkdown Support iWriter 2 is a full-featured Markdown editor built for precision and flexibility. - MultiMarkdown support with live preview and syntax highlighting. - Wikilinks and Wiki-Embeds for connected notes. - Task lists and code blocks made simple. - Keyboard shortcuts for fast inline formatting. ## Built-in Document Manager A built-in document manager that lets you easily organize, browse, and manage all your files in one place — complete with powerful document search to quickly find exactly what you need. ## Rebuilt with TextKit 2 iWriter 2 has been completely rebuilt from the ground up using Apple’s modern TextKit 2 framework, delivering faster performance, smoother scrolling, and a more responsive writing experience. ## Multiple Export Options A refined, user-friendly interface designed for focus and productivity, offering intuitive formatting options and seamless export to multiple formats including HTML, PDF, EPUB, DOCX (Microsoft Word), and LaTeX. ## LaTeX and Mermaid Diagrams iWriter 2 offers LaTeX syntax highlighting, making complex math expressions easy to read and edit as you write. It also supports Mermaid diagrams, letting you create flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and more using simple text-based syntax. Both integrate seamlessly into your Markdown workflow, keeping technical writing and visual documentation in one place. --- Terms of Use: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://serpensoft.com/privacy-policy/
SMSReader
This app offers a fast and comfortable reading experience for digital books and documents. It supports various file types like PDFs and EPUBs, with features for easy navigation, text customization, and annotation. It also includes text-to-speech and translation capabilities.
- Fast page turning with multiple speeds
- Customizable text and layout options
- Read Aloud text-to-speech functionality
- Integrated translation and summarization
- Search and annotation tools
- Organized bookshelf with folder support
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SMSReader is a reader for digital books and documents, built to be fast and comfortable. Even in a book of thousands of pages, the next page appears the moment you tap the edge, and holding the edge flips through pages at speed. BUILT FOR THE LATEST DEVICES • A comfortable PDF viewer on iPad and iPhone, and on iPhone Duo too • Extensive accessibility support (VoiceOver and more) FAST PAGE TURNING • Tap the left or right edge to turn the page instantly, or choose a slide animation • Hold an edge to flip continuously (7 speeds, from 6 to 60 pages a second) • Flick, drag the slider, or type a page number to move • Pinch in for an overview of the pages EASY TO READ • Home View: keep the zoomed area and move it along one view at a time. Self-scanned books and two-column pages become easy to read • Right to left (vertical Japanese), left to right, or top to bottom. Two-page spreads and a cover shown alone are set automatically from the PDF • Tall pages fit the screen's width, handy for web page screenshots EPUB • Read reflowable and fixed-layout EPUBs, turning pages as fast as with PDFs • Vertical Japanese, ruby, tate-chu-yoko and emphasis marks, in the book's own fonts if you like • Choose the text size, font, margins, line spacing and paper for each book • Press and hold an illustration to see it over the whole screen, and pinch to zoom. Pictures larger than the page are fitted to it • Vertical books can show their contents vertically LISTEN AND SPEAK • Read Aloud: reads the text, leaving out running heads and page numbers, and follows the ruby in Japanese. The word being read is highlighted; start from any word, or move a paragraph back or forward • Turn Pages by Voice: say "next", "previous" or "page 12". Speech is recognized on the device • Or hear an online speech service's voice, with your own API key: ElevenLabs API / Aivis Cloud API / Amazon Polly • Siri and Shortcuts: "Continue reading in SMSReader", "Read aloud in SMSReader" and more SEARCH AND ANNOTATE • Search the text of a book or of your whole library, without missing words split across lines • Select text to copy, look up or share, including vertical text and ruby • Pages without text, such as scanned books, are read on the device and can be searched, selected, translated and read aloud • Annotate and highlight pages with Apple Pencil or your finger (iPadOS 26 or later). The file itself is never changed TRANSLATION AND SUMMARIES • Open the translation panel beside the page to see a translation of each paragraph. Tap a paragraph to match the original and the translation • For translation and summaries, use Apple Translate or Apple Intelligence (on device) • Or an online translation or AI service, with your own API key: Claude / DeepL / PLaMo / OpenAI-compatible BOOKSHELF • Organize your library in folders, and folders within folders • Keep the library on this device, in iCloud Drive, or in a folder the Files app can open, such as Dropbox. Books in the cloud are downloaded when you open them • Drop a whole folder to import its PDFs and EPUBs • Sync where you are, bookmarks, annotations, shelves and more across your devices with iCloud • Join several books to read them on as one • Password-protected PDFs open with their password • Shelves, one for each shelf tag, work across folders, and a folder can be filtered by shelf tag • Use any page or image as a cover. Books can also be hidden • Lock the whole app or single books with a passcode and Face ID PRIVACY • No ads, no account, no analytics • Books, bookmarks, annotations and settings stay on your device; with sync on, they are kept in your own iCloud • Text is sent to an outside service only when you have set your own API key, confirmed where it goes and agreed, and then run a translation, summary or read-aloud with it • Text selection and AI features such as translation and summaries are off for PDFs that forbid copying For iPad and iPhone (Duo), iPadOS / iOS 18 or later (some features need 26 or later).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SMSReader at 100% against iWriter 2's 40%. SMSReader also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26). iWriter 2's advantage is price ($6.99 vs $9.99) and chart position (#196 vs unranked). 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
iWriter 2 costs $6.99 and SMSReader $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iWriter 2 ships an update fortnightly, SMSReader every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iWriter 2 | SMSReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (10 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #196 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Serpensoft Group | Kotatsu RIN |
Customer experience
iWriter 2
SMSReader
In-app purchases
iWriter 2
No in-app purchases
SMSReader
No in-app purchases









