Comparison

Plain Text Editor vs Tempo

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

Tempo

Features
Read full description

Tempo is the simple, beautiful time tracker built for freelancers, consultants, and anyone who needs to know where their hours go. Start a timer in one tap. Run multiple timers across different projects at the same time. See exactly how you spend your workday with clear reports and statistics - all in a privacy-first app with no subscriptions. TRACK TIME YOUR WAY - Start and stop project timers with a single tap - Run multiple timers simultaneously - one per project - See live elapsed time on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island - Quick-start timers from Control Center without opening the app - Use Siri Shortcuts to start, stop, or toggle timers hands-free - Add notes and tags to every time entry for detailed logging ORGANIZE BY PROJECT - Create color-coded projects with custom icons - Tag entries for granular categorization - View your full time entry history grouped by day - Edit past entries to fix mistakes or add details UNDERSTAND YOUR TIME - Daily, weekly, and monthly time reports - See project breakdowns with interactive charts - Track total hours worked and identify patterns - Export-ready statistics to share with clients DESIGNED FOR FOCUS - Shortcuts-style project cards for instant access - Polished native interface with smooth animations - Haptic feedback on every interaction - Full iPad support with adaptive layouts - Works with VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and Reduce Motion PRIVACY FIRST - No account required - your data stays on your device - No analytics, no ads, no invasive tracking FREE TO START, ONE PRICE TO UNLOCK EVERYTHING Tempo is free with one project. Unlock unlimited projects, tags, full history, and detailed statistics with a one-time purchase. No subscriptions. No recurring fees. Pay once, use it forever. Whether you're a freelance designer logging billable hours, a consultant tracking client work, or simply want to understand how you spend your day, Tempo gives you the clarity you need without the complexity you don't. Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Screenshots

Plain Text Editor3 screens
Tempo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tempo at Free against Plain Text Editor's $5.00. Tempo also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Plain Text Editor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#111 vs unranked). On update cadence and ads 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

Tempo is free to download; Plain Text Editor costs $5.00 up front. Tempo 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, Tempo every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Plain Text Editor versus Tempo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlain Text EditorTempo
Price$5.00Free — better
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
Best chart rank#111 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSindre SorhusRemi Herbiet

In-app purchases

None

Plain Text Editor

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tempo

One-time1
  • Tempo Pro Lifetime access$19.99

Questions

Is Plain Text Editor free?
Plain Text Editor costs $5.00, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tempo free?
Tempo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Plain Text Editor or Tempo have ads?
Neither Plain Text Editor nor Tempo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plain Text Editor or Tempo?
Plain Text Editor ships an update every 2 months, and Tempo every 3 months. Most recently, Plain Text Editor was updated on October 16, 2026 and Tempo on October 7, 2026.

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