Comparison

Plain Text Editor vs Flow

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

Head to head
About

Plain Text Editor

A minimalist text editor focused on pure writing without any formatting options. It allows editing of standard plain text files and includes features like word count and a unique 'brain dump' mode for focused writing.

Highlights
  • No formatting, just text
  • Edit .txt, .csv, .md files
  • Optimal line spacing
  • Word count
  • Brain dump mode
Features
Read full description

Simple distraction-free text editor without any rich text nonsense. The simplicity is a feature. ■ Highlights - No formatting. Just text. - Edit any plain text file like .txt, .csv, .md, etc - Optimal line spacing and length - Word count - Brain dump mode ■ Known issues The app does not have the ability to print because of iOS limitations. Brain dump mode does not work properly with some Asian languages. ■ Brain dump mode Lets you only write, but not delete or edit. This helps you focus on the actual writing instead of getting distracted with editing and nitpicking. ■ FAQ ‣ Can you add a typewriter mode (centered text)? I don't plan to add that. ‣ Does it handle huge files? No. The app is optimized for writing. Use a proper code editor for such files. ■ Support You can contact me through the feedback button in the app.

About

Flow

Features
Read full description

Focus with intention. Not with friction. Session Flow is a minimalist Pomodoro and focus timer that helps you structure deep work, follow flexible session flows, and take meaningful breaks without turning productivity into another complicated system. No accounts. No subscriptions. No noise. Just press start. HOW IT WORKS ▸ Pick a flow: classic Pomodoro or your own custom sequence ▸ Combine focus, break, prep, and reflection blocks ▸ Press start. Session Flow handles the rest. That's it. No onboarding maze. No overloaded settings screen. WHY PEOPLE SWITCH TO SESSION FLOW ▸ Starts fast, with almost no setup friction ▸ Gentle transitions between blocks, not jarring alarms ▸ Beautiful in both light and dark mode ▸ Thoughtful, native-feeling design with privacy at the center ▸ No account required and no data harvesting SEE YOUR PROGRESS WITHOUT THE PRESSURE ▸ Track focused time by day and week ▸ View session history and consistency over time ▸ Review notes and patterns without turning focus into a game ▸ Honest progress data, not gamification traps DESIGNED FOR iOS, NOT PORTED TO IT ▸ Apple-native SwiftUI with smooth animations and haptics ▸ Home Screen widgets and Live Activities support ▸ Works beautifully on iPhone and iPad ▸ Supports Dynamic Type, VoiceOver, and Reduce Motion FREE VS. FLOW PRO Free: ▸ Classic Pomodoro sessions ▸ Basic session history ▸ Full timer experience with no ads Flow Pro: pay once, keep forever ▸ Unlimited custom session flows ▸ Block distracting apps and websites ▸ Detailed statistics and session insights ▸ Home Screen widgets ▸ Session reminders No subscriptions. No trials that auto-renew. One price. Done. BUILT FOR ▸ Students during exam season ▸ Developers in deep code sessions ▸ Writers, designers, and makers ▸ Anyone with ADHD who needs gentle structure ▸ Knowledge workers who are tired of overbuilt productivity apps

Screenshots

Plain Text Editor3 screens
Flow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Flow at Free against Plain Text Editor's $5.00. Flow also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Plain Text Editor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Flow is free to download; Plain Text Editor costs $5.00 up front. Flow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Plain Text Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plain Text Editor ships an update every 2 months, Flow every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Plain Text Editor versus Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlain Text EditorFlow
Price$5.00Free — better
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSindre SorhusRemi Herbiet

In-app purchases

None

Plain Text Editor

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Flow

One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$24.99

Questions

Is Plain Text Editor free?
Plain Text Editor costs $5.00, with no in-app purchases.
Is Flow free?
Flow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Plain Text Editor or Flow have ads?
Neither Plain Text Editor nor Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plain Text Editor or Flow?
Plain Text Editor ships an update every 2 months, and Flow every 4 months. Most recently, Plain Text Editor was updated on October 16, 2026 and Flow on October 7, 2026.

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