Comparison

Paper vs Fortelling

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

Fortelling

This app helps novelists plot and write their books by organizing story elements like characters, locations, and items. It offers tools for world-building, real-time collaboration, and writing statistics, along with weekly challenges to inspire creativity.

Highlights
  • Advanced plotting tools
  • World-building for fictional universes
  • Story element organization
  • Real-time collaboration
  • In-app novel writing
  • Writing statistics
  • Weekly writing challenges
Features
Read full description

Novelist, are you ready to start writing your next amazing novel? Fortelling provides the tools you need to plot & write your book. Plotting Tools Our advanced plotting tools allow you to organize your book and guide you in writing the best version of your story. World-building Tools Create characters, languages, species & items. Keep everything consistent while writing and plotting. Detailed Plotting Create sublocations and document your unique universe. Remove the overwhelm while plotting your book. Create Drafts for your Novel Keeping your story safe is one of Fortelling's top priorities. You can create multiple draft versions of your book chapters. Create an Overview Link all your story elements together to create one giant board with related items. Describe their relations and keep your plotting elements organized. Write your Novel Make the dream of holding your story as a real book a reality. You can even write your novel within Fortelling. Use our writing statistics and version history to stay in control. Collaborate Working together on a story has never been easier. Through our real-time collaboration feature, you can keep the flow going and plot something amazing together. Weekly Writing Challenges Every Friday, we launch a fresh writing prompt to challenge your imagination. Protect your Book and Story. You retain full ownership of your novel. Create your book securely; data will never be shared with 3rd parties.

Screenshots

Paper4 screens
Fortelling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Paper at none against Fortelling's shown. Fortelling's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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 Fortelling sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.39 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 1K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Paper's written reviews are positive against 73% of Fortelling's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paper ships an update monthly, Fortelling every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Paper versus Fortelling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperFortelling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.8K ratings) — better4.5 (1K ratings)
Positive reviews71.6% of reviews72.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.8K — better1K
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB117 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMihhail LapushkinAJP Digital Tools B.V.

Customer experience

Paper

All ratings1,729 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews232 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative19.0%

Fortelling

All ratings1,024 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.5%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews424 reviews
Positive72.6%
Neutral8.5%
Negative18.9%

User reviews

Paper

From 1.8K 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

Fortelling

From 1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Amazing tools
  • 🚀 Interesting prompts
  • 👍 Helpful for planning stories
  • 👍 Detailed character and world-building
  • 👍 Organized and easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Unresponsive save feature
  • 🐛 Difficulty deleting or rearranging content
  • 🔒 Concerns about intellectual property rights
  • 💰 Paid features for desktop version

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

Fortelling

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Blank screen when trying to delete characters
  • Inability to rearrange timeline events
  • Inconsistent behavior when adding images
  • Disappearing projects and lost progress

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to import/export data
  • More customization options
  • Better organization and navigation
  • Offline mode or autosave functionality
  • Collaborative features and social sharing

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
7 purchases

Fortelling

Subscriptions6
  • Fortelling Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$7.391 Month
  • Fortelling Pro - Monthly$7.491 Month
  • Fortelling Pro - Monthly3 Days trial$7.491 Month
Show 3 more
  • Fortelling Pro - Annually3 Days trial$74.991 Year
  • Fortelling Pro - Annually$74.991 Year
  • Fortelling Pro - Annually7 Days trial$74.991 Year
One-time1
  • Fortelling Pro Lifetime$199.99

Questions

Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fortelling free?
Fortelling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paper or Fortelling?
Paper is rated higher. Paper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Fortelling averages 4.5 from 1K ratings.
Do Paper or Fortelling have ads?
Fortelling shows ads; Paper does not.
Which is updated more often, Paper or Fortelling?
Paper ships an update monthly, and Fortelling every 8 days. Most recently, Paper was updated on November 7, 2026 and Fortelling on November 7, 2026.

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