Comparison

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) vs Plain Markdown

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

Head to head
About

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)

A minimalist note-taking and word processing app focused on simplicity and effectiveness. It offers a clean interface, background iCloud sync, and a textual analyzer without collecting any user data or displaying ads.

Highlights
  • Zero data collection
  • Ad-free experience
  • Clean user interface
  • Textual analyzer
  • Background iCloud sync
  • Cross-device support
Read full description

TL;DR - Inkblot is a note and word processing application. - Zero data collected - No advertisements - No in-app purchases - Clean user interface - Textual analyzer - iCloud storage with background sync - Multiple application types (iOS & MacBook) L;WR - The Long(er) Explanation Inkblot originally started from an open and free source code project. The goal with Inkblot is to make it better, eventually free sourcing it for learners, coders, and entrepreneurs alike. The philosophy for this application is simple: reduce excess functionality to a bare minimum in order to make use simpler but still effective. While customization is good for a lot of people and for a lot of projects, most people just want something to work so they can get on and off it quicker, gaining the productive traction necessary to save time. Inkblot is meant for writers. Inkblot is also an advertisement-free application. What is the point of gaining one benefit only to lose it somewhere else? The world and productivity is not a zero sum game. Advertisements should not even be an option in productivity applications. You should be lauded for trying to organize your life - not punished.

About

Plain Markdown

Features
Read full description

Plain Markdown Read your .md files in place. Pick a folder on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive. The app lists every .md file inside — nothing more, nothing less. Tap a file to read it; the markdown is rendered with quiet, weight-driven typography that gets out of the way. The app uses Apple's standard folder picker, so it works with iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, and any third-party Files app provider (Dropbox, Google Drive, Working Copy, etc.). Pick once, and the app remembers — drill into subfolders, come back, switch folders. No accounts. No sync engine. No editor. Just a reader. · Folder picker with iCloud Drive and Files-app provider support · Drill into subfolders — back-button navigation · Inline images (jpg, png, gif, webp, svg, heic, heif, bmp, avif) · GitHub-flavored markdown: tables, blockquotes, code blocks, task lists, strikethrough · Adjustable text size (5 steps) · Light & dark mode · Mono body font option for code-style reading · Local only — your files never leave your device Privacy This app does not collect data, display ads, or communicate with any server. The folder picker is Apple's. Files are read on-device only. There are no analytics, no third-party SDKs, no telemetry. Less, but better.

Screenshots

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)4 screens
Plain Markdown4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) at Free against Plain Markdown's $2.99. Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) also leads on device support (4 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) is free to download; Plain Markdown costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) versus Plain Markdown: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInkblot (Minimalist Notes)Plain Markdown
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.3 (28 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.014.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthew BenchimolYongmin Ji

In-app purchases

None

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)

No in-app purchases

None

Plain Markdown

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) free?
Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plain Markdown free?
Plain Markdown costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) or Plain Markdown have ads?
Neither Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) nor Plain Markdown shows ads.

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