Comparison

Paper vs Bits

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

Head to head
About

Paper

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Gorgeous writing space
  • Silky-smooth typing
  • Deep personalization (Pro)
  • Markdown or Plain Text support
  • iCloud sync
  • Publish to Medium, WordPress, Ghost
  • Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, ePub
Features
Read full description

“This is a super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.” App Store Review 2020 # STORY Read it here → paper.pro/story # HIGHLIGHTS · Gorgeous writing space · Silky-smooth typing · Deep personalization (Pro) · Markdown or Plain Text · Syncs with iCloud · Integrates with TextExpander · Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.blog · Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, image, or clipboard · Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac # PRO FEATURES Basic adjustments like text size are free in Paper. More advanced personalization can be purchased with Pro Features. You will not be buying anything blindly, though. The trial period for Pro Features is untimed, so you can take your time to decide if they are a worthy investment. While trialing Pro Features, you might occasionally see a popup. Simply press Reset in the popup to get rid of it completely. Pro Features are either a subscription or a one-time purchase. Both the subscription and the one-time purchase unlock Pro Features on all your iPhones and iPads that share the same Apple ID. This subscription (or one-time purchase) applies only to iPhones and iPads. Macs require a separate subscription (or one-time purchase). The one-time purchase is hidden by default. To enable it, go to the Settings app → Apps → Paper → Purchases → toggle "Show Lifetime Option". If you want to upgrade from a Monthly subscription to a Yearly one (or to a Lifetime license), go to Paper’s page in the App Store and press the rounded button with the price next to the Yearly subscription option (or next to the Lifetime in-app purchase). # BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS Businesses, schools, and organizations can use one of the following methods to purchase the Pro version of the app: · Apple Business Manager · Apple School Manager · Volume Purchasing The Pro version of the app can be accessed from this link → paper.pro/get # MARKDOWN FORMATTING SYNTAX # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 **Bold** __Bold__ *Italic* _Italic_ ~Underline~ ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== ::Highlight:: `Inline Code` ``` Code Block ``` [Link Text](http://paper.pro) ![Alt Text](http://image.jpeg) - Bulleted List - Bulleted List - Nested Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Nested Bulleted List 1. Numbered List 2. Numbered List 3. Numbered List 1. Nested Numbered List - [ ] Task List - [x] Task List > Blockquote >> Nested Blockquote >>> 2x Nested Blockquote Text that needs a footnote[^Footnote description] ++ Inline comment ++ /* Inline comment */ %% Comment block | Col 1 | Col 2 | | ------ | ------ | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | | Cell 3 | Cell 4 | --- ← Horizontal Rule \_ ← Markdown Escape ° ← HTML Escape # FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## How do I share my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Share" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar, then tap the round "Share" button in the popup. ## How do I print my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Print" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar. Select "Print" from the menu. ## Can I draw in the app? No. Paper is purely a plain-text editor. ## Can I add pictures? You can only link to public images on the Web. ## Can I password-protect my notes? No. ## Paper changes the font when I switch between alphabetic and non-alphabetic keyboards. How do I prevent it? · Change the keyboard to a non-alphabetic one (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). · Tap the "Settings" button in the top right corner. · Under the "Font" submenu, toggle "Keep for ABC Keyboards". ## Need more help? You can reach me via the in-app chat → "Settings" button in the corner → "Chat with the Maker" # TERMS OF USE paper.pro/terms-of-use

About

Bits

This app helps professional stand-up comedians organize their writing process. Quickly capture ideas, add notes, build and reorder sets, and use on-stage mode for performances. Organize jokes with labels and track their status.

Highlights
  • Quickly capture joke ideas
  • Add detailed notes to each bit
  • Build and reorder performance sets
  • On-stage mode for live shows
  • Organize bits with custom labels
  • Track bit status (draft, done, gold)
  • Estimate and time bit performance
Features
Read full description

Bits is an app for professional stand-up comedians. It’s designed to keep your writing process fast and organized so you can focus on your comedy instead of the tools. Here's what it offers: *WRITE BITS* Whenever a funny thought pops into your brain, you can quickly add it to your infinite bits list. Just open the app, hit that plus button, and start writing. All your bits are saved securely*, instantly, and automatically so you won’t have to worry about that. *ADD NOTES* Writing the perfect bit comes with lots of experimentation and small details to remember. To help you with the ongoing process of adjustments, each bit has its section of notes. Bits and notes always come together so you won’t be able to lose important notes you’ve written to yourself. *BUILD SETS* We all wish for the perfect set. The set will catch the crowd on its first bit and finish with resounding laughter. This glory set is the easiest to build and manage. You can add bits to existing sets or create a new set and add bits to it. Simply drag & drop to reorder the bits and have them ready one by one. Move jokes up and down, remove and add until you find that perfect balance of laughs. *ON STAGE MODE* The old days of paper pages on a stool are over! When you’re up there on stage, you can switch to the on-stage mode and have your set ready for your performance. The screen will remain turned on and all black. While you perform, you can swipe right or left to indicate if the joke did well or not so you can come back to it later and reshape it the way you think best. *ORGANIZE WITH LABELS* Planning a Christmas set? And how about those airport bits? Or where did you put all of your funny bits about your dad? Oh, they’re all labeled! Label each bit with any label(s) you want. Either apply labels from the bit screen or add bits to an existing label from the labels screen. Access by bit the themes you think are most suitable for your next set. *SET STATUSES* Writing a bit is a process. It starts with a thought and moves up the ladder until it’s done. Draft, done, or gold - these are predefined statuses for your bits which will help you plan ahead and easily see which bits need more work, which can be performed and get laughs, and which are so good that you can close and get max cheers from your crowd. *TIME YOUR BITS* You got only 5 minutes, 5:10 at most. Which bits can be squeezed in to fit that time limitation? Oh, that’s easy. Each bit is generated with an approximate time it’ll take you to perform it, but you can always tweak it and make sure you can plan every bit to fit perfectly into its time slot. ---- --- *Please note that material backup, bit feedback, and custom icons are available to paid subscribers only. ---- --- I’d love to answer your questions or just hear what you think about Bits. Find me online at: amitay@thebits.club Twitter: @standUpBitsApp ---- --- Privacy Policy: https://www.thebits.club/privacy-policy Terms & Conditions: https://www.thebits.club/termsnconditions

Screenshots

Paper4 screens
Bits4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Paper at 1.7K against Bits's 228. Paper also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Paper sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Bits sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Paper against 4.7 for Bits. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper has 1.7K ratings behind it against 228, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Paper's written reviews are positive against 79% of Bits's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paper ships an update monthly, Bits fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Paper versus Bits: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperBits
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings)4.7 (228 ratings)
Positive reviews72.5% of reviews79.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.7K — better228
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB263 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMihhail LapushkinAmitay Tweeto

Customer experience

Paper

All ratings1,703 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews229 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative18.8%

Bits

All ratings228 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral1.3%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive79.0%
Neutral6.5%
Negative14.5%

User reviews

Paper

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💗 Fantastic app
  • 🎀 Great tool for writers
  • 👍 Clean writing app
  • 🤩 Awesome app
  • 👍 Cute animations

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
  • 💰 Paywalled features
  • 🐛 Lost files and documents
  • 🐛 Cursor issues
  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable

Bits

From 228 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
  • 📝 Excellent for organizing comedy bits and sets
  • ⏱️ Built-in time tracking for jokes
  • 🎯 Comedy gym feature with daily writing prompts
  • 🏷️ Flexible labeling and categorization system

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paywall implementation frustrates long-time free users
  • 🔒 Data deletion for non-paying users feels like ransomware
  • 🐛 Sync issues between desktop and mobile platforms
  • 🗑️ Unexpected data loss and material deletion
  • 📱 Web version needs improvement

Bugs and requests

Paper

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files randomly disappearing
  • Cursor issues causing freezes
  • Syncing and iCloud integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add image support
  • Improve file management and recovery
  • Expand font and customization options
  • Implement team/collaborative writing features
  • Add text formatting options like italics and bold

Bits

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App fails to save edits and loses material
  • Cross-platform synchronization not working properly
  • Entire joke libraries deleted without warning
  • Writing streak counter resets unexpectedly
  • Bits randomly dropped from sets
Show 6 more
  • Text formatting jumps to bottom of page when adding line breaks
  • Sets page pops up repeatedly when trying to navigate back
  • Gags stuck scrolled to top when editing
  • Keyboard stays on screen blocking text visibility
  • Showtime swipe function has unintuitive directional logic
  • Data loss on app updates or device transfers

Requested features

17 requests
  • Font size adjustment for visually impaired users
  • Better web version functionality
  • iPad-optimized version
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to record and playback jokes
Show 12 more
  • Keyword search functionality for set building
  • Performance tracking with worked/didn't work indicators
  • Gag title feature for better organization
  • Bullet points and checkbox formatting within gags
  • Drag-and-drop custom gag organization
  • Social component to connect with other comedians
  • Timer with toggle visibility during showtime
  • Better text formatting and color highlighting
  • Improved showtime display with larger text
  • Filter and sort gags by status (drafts, completed, etc.)
  • Ability to edit gags while in a set
  • Auto-correct and spell-check functionality

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Features — Discounted$14.991 Month
  • Pro Features$29.991 Month
  • Pro Features — Discounted$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Features$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features — Discounted$99.99
  • Pro Features$199.99
14 purchases

Bits

Subscriptions14
  • Monthly Written Back Up7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Monthly Written Back Up7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Monthly Written Back Up7 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 11 more
  • Yearly Written Back Up1 Month trial$9.991 Year
  • Monthly Written Back Up7 Days trial2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Written Back Up3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Written Back Up7 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Yearly Written Back Up1 Month trial$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up14 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up1 Month trial2 variants$39.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up1 Month trial$49.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Yearly Written Back Up1 Month trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Bits free?
Bits is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paper or Bits?
Paper and Bits are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.7K and 228 ratings respectively.
Do Paper or Bits have ads?
Neither Paper nor Bits shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Paper or Bits?
Paper ships an update monthly, and Bits fortnightly. Most recently, Paper was updated on September 23, 2026 and Bits on August 21, 2026.

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