# Notepad Markdown vs Writer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notepad Markdown at 86% against Writer's 50%. Notepad Markdown also leads on ratings volume (86 vs 1) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). Writer's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notepad Markdown sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Writer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notepad Markdown has 86 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Notepad Markdown's written reviews are positive against 50% of Writer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Notepad Markdown ships an update fortnightly, Writer every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad Markdown | Writer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-markdown-quick-draft/id1496067471/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writer-notes-lists-editor/id1539194160/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **85.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 7 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [giddyapp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437204507) | [Michal Jach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474348197) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad Markdown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-markdown-quick-draft/id1496067471)

Capture thoughts instantly with this lightweight notes app. It offers a distraction-free interface for quick drafting, supports markdown formatting for structured notes, and includes intuitive checklist creation. Seamless iCloud sync ensures your notes are available across all your devices.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast note-taking, Markdown formatting, Intuitive checklist creation, Seamless multi-device sync, Distraction-free interface, Quick drafting and editing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QuickDraft Pro iOS + iPadOS | $4.99 | one-time |
| Quick Draft Pro | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick launch and fast note-taking
- 👍 Simple and minimalistic design
- 🔄 Seamless iCloud syncing
- 💡 Great for quick capture of ideas
- 📱 Cross-platform availability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Frequent prompts to buy Pro version
- 🗑️ Data loss and sync issues
- ⚠️ No backup function
- 🚫 Limited to one note
- 🪲 Annoying pop-ups

**Reported bugs**

- Data not synchronizing or being deleted/overwritten
- New pop-up on each load about buying premium version
- App prompts to purchase Pro every day
- iCloud syncing not working
- Dropdown pad disappears when using with PopClip

**Requested features**

- Widget view with settings for font, size, and color
- Option to hide from dock
- Allow choosing file location
- Additional page and bullet point options
- Apple Watch app


### Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writer-notes-lists-editor/id1539194160)

A fast, secure, and elegant text editor and notes app for Apple devices. It offers Markdown support, cross-device syncing, customizable typography, and widgets. Purchase is a one-time fee with no subscriptions.

**Highlights:** Secure CloudKit syncing, Markdown support, iOS 14 Widgets, Multiple folder organization, Customizable typography and icons, One-time purchase

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version One-time Payment | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad Markdown free?

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

### Is Writer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notepad Markdown or Writer?

Writer is rated higher. Notepad Markdown averages 4.6 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while Writer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Notepad Markdown or Writer have ads?

Neither Notepad Markdown nor Writer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad Markdown or Writer?

Notepad Markdown ships an update fortnightly, and Writer every 6 days. Most recently, Notepad Markdown was updated on October 8, 2026 and Writer on October 2, 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.*