Notepad Markdown vs StrataWrite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Notepad Markdown
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.
- Lightning-fast note-taking
- Markdown formatting
- Intuitive checklist creation
- Seamless multi-device sync
- Distraction-free interface
- Quick drafting and editing
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# Quick Draft: Your Essential Notepad with Markdown Support Capture your thoughts instantly with this streamlined notes app for iOS. Quick Draft is the lightweight notepad designed to help you document ideas, compose messages, and organize tasks with unprecedented speed and simplicity. ## Lightning-Fast Note-Taking Turn fleeting thoughts into permanent records. Launch and start typing immediately with our distraction-free notepad interface. Create, edit, and manage notes on the go, then seamlessly share your content to any app with a single tap. ## Markdown-Powered Note Organization Elevate your notepad experience with intuitive markdown formatting. Quick Draft transforms simple text into beautifully structured notes, making it the perfect markdown companion for students, writers, and professionals alike. ## Intuitive Checklist Creation Manage tasks effortlessly within your notes: - Convert any line into an interactive checklist item - Tap to toggle completion status - Organize everything from shopping lists to project milestones in your notepad ## Seamless Multi-Device Sync Your notepad travels with you. Quick Draft's iCloud integration ensures your notes are instantly available across all your devices, providing a consistent markdown experience whether you're using iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Quick Draft: The essential markdown notepad that stays out of your way, letting you focus on capturing your thoughts. Also available for macOS - your complete notepad ecosystem for all devices!
StrataWrite
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StrataWrite is a research-first writing app designed for scholars, researchers, and serious writers who need more than just a blank page. Built with Apple’s native frameworks, StrataWrite unites structured note-taking and manuscript drafting in a clean, focused environment that helps you organize complex projects and keep your ideas connected. StrataWrite is for text only. No Table or Image support. StrataWrite is about getting the words out and not formatting. StratWrite is the first step in writing up your research. Get the words out in either Notes or Manuscript Views. When the first draft of your writing is complete, export to Plaintext or Markdown and import it into your favorite Word Processor for formatting. Whether you are preparing a dissertation, drafting a grant proposal, or developing a book chapter, StrataWrite provides a workspace designed to keep your research structured and your writing clear. Research-Driven Writing StrataWrite is built for projects that demand more than linear word processing: • Structured Notes – Capture and organize your research with tags, categories, and backlinks. Notes connect into a system that grows as your ideas develop. • Manuscript Drafting – Write in a distraction-free workspace with daily word count goals, progress tracking, and export options for Markdown, or TXT. • Linking Ideas – Create bidirectional links between notes and manuscripts, building a network of connections that keeps your sources and insights close at hand. Native Apple Experience StrataWrite is built with SwiftUI and designed to feel at home across macOS and iPadOS: • Universal App – Switch seamlessly between Mac and iPad. StrataWrite adapts to your workflow, wherever you are writing. • CloudKit Sync – Keep your notes and manuscripts securely up to date across devices. • Clean, Distraction-Free Interface – A modern, lightweight design emphasizes your writing while keeping structure available when you need it. Designed for Focus & Clarity StrataWrite emphasizes research structure without unnecessary complexity. Notes and manuscripts are part of the same system, allowing ideas to move fluidly between your research base and your drafts. By connecting thoughts through links and tracking progress as you write, StrataWrite helps you transform research into finished work with confidence. Made for Scholars and Writers If your projects depend on clarity, depth, and organization, StrataWrite was built for you. Graduate students writing theses, researchers assembling journal articles, and professionals developing long-form work will all find a workspace that supports rigorous thinking and clear writing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Notepad Markdown at Free against StrataWrite's $9.99. Notepad Markdown also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). StrataWrite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads 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
Notepad Markdown is free to download; StrataWrite costs $9.99 up front. Notepad Markdown sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. StrataWrite asks for nothing beyond the download.
Notepad Markdown ships an update fortnightly, StrataWrite every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Notepad Markdown | StrataWrite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (86 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 86 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | giddyapp | Stance Hurst |
Bugs and requests
Notepad Markdown
Reported bugs
12 issues- 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
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- App crashes periodically, especially when syncing iCloud changes
- Dramatic loss of old notes upon new version installation
- Cursor positioning issues in bullet points on iPhone
- App crashes frequently
- Notes disappear after closing the app
- No synchronization with iPhone (works on iPad)
- iCloud sync not working anymore
Requested features
19 requests- 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
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- Widget option to see part of the note
- More icon options for Mac menu bar
- Search feature
- Ability to have more than one draft
- Share extension for macOS and iOS
- Ability to swipe back and forth between pages
- Dark mode icon variant
- Option to hide word/character counts
- Support for multiple notes
- Less intrusive or disable-able opening animation
- URL schemes with basic x-callback-url
- Adding dates/due dates and alerts
- Option to choose font
- Format selected text to title/subtitle
StrataWrite
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Notepad Markdown
- QuickDraft Pro iOS + iPadOS$4.99
- Quick Draft Pro$7.99
StrataWrite
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Notepad Markdown free?
Is StrataWrite free?
Do Notepad Markdown or StrataWrite have ads?
Which is updated more often, Notepad Markdown or StrataWrite?
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