Comparison

Plain Org vs AreaderZ

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

Head to head
About

Plain Org

Manage your org mode tasks and notes on the go. This app offers a rich editing experience with support for various markup features, filtering, and cloud syncing. It allows for outline-style editing, task management, and customization of display modes.

Highlights
  • Rendered org markup
  • Filter by keyword, tag, priority
  • Cloud file syncing
  • Outline-style editing
  • Interactive checkboxes
  • Light/dark mode
Features
Read full description

View and edit your org mode tasks while on the go. Org is a wonderfully rich markup language, so **please check** if your favorite feature is supported below (or check https://plainorg.com/#faq): - Beautifully rendered org markup. - Filter by keyword, tag, and priority. - High fidelity org roundtripping. - Sync your org files using your favorite cloud provider. - Control your display between regular and compact mode. - Toggle visibility for scheduling, tags, and stars. - Toggle recurring tasks. - Log state transitions. - Optimize wrapping using paragraph fill. - Regroup your tasks so active ones bubble up. - Create new files. - Outline-style editing with toolbar - Keywords - Indent - Priority - Tags - Formatting: bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, verbatim, and code. - Open files via the iOS Files app using its "Share" menu. - Add links from Safari via share extension. - Add new tasks via Spotlight. - Reorder headings via drag/drop. - Checkboxes - Interactive toggling. - Quickly reset multiple checkboxes. - Open local links (including id links). - Render latex src blocks (experimental). - Render LOGBOOK. - Show inline images. - Show property drawers. - File-local keywords and visibility. - Filter open/closed tasks. - Edit raw text. - Light/dark mode. - Open either .org or .txt files. - Quickly switch between open file and recently open (tap on title). NOTE: Cloud syncing support varies across providers. Please check for compatibility https://plainorg.com/#cloud-providers

About

AreaderZ

Features
Read full description

AreaderZ turns any webpage into a calm, readable article — then uses AI to summarize it or translate it in real time. All from inside Safari, on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. THE READER Ads, pop-ups, and clutter disappear. You get the article, beautifully formatted, with adjustable summary length and one-tap access from the toolbar or keyboard shortcuts. Read it in Safari, which is first-class citizen in AreaderZ. Or use the companion app. Features to help you quickly understand the article and get the essence with summary or Ask feature. PRIVACY FIRST: AI THAT RUNS WHERE YOU CHOOSE Most AI tools send every word you read to their own servers. AreaderZ lets you decide where the intelligence happens: • On-device — With Apple Intelligence, AreaderZ uses Apple's Foundation Model right on your device. Summaries work offline. Nothing ever leaves your Mac or iPhone. • Fully local — Connect to Ollama, LM Studio, oMLX, llama.cpp and more running on your own machine. Private, free, and under your control. • Your own key — Bring your own key for any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Your key is stored securely, encrypted in Apple Keychain, and never shared with us. POWERFUL, FOCUSED FEATURES • Distraction-free Reader View for any article • One-click AI summaries with adjustable length • Ask questions about what you are reading • Real-time, streaming translation of entire pages into 20+ languages • Streaming output — results appear as they generate • Quick access: use keyboard shortcut to open the extension; or add quick access button to any website you choose • Offline caching of recent summaries, translations, and AI conversations • Built entirely on your device's Keychain for credential storage • Save the article and summary to PDF beautifully and cleanly formatted READ IT LATER • Save an article to Collection and access it later in companion app • Organize saved articles with folders, favorites • Free user limited to 50 saved articles • Synced over iCloud (preferences and optionally API keys) NO ACCOUNT REQUIRED TO USE AreaderZ has no sign-up, no credits to buy, and no usage quota. We don't collect your browsing history, article content, or API keys. There is no AreaderZ server in the middle of your reading. WHO IT'S FOR • Researchers and students racing through papers and long reads • Readers of foreign-language news who want instant, natural translation • Privacy-conscious users who won't send their reading habits and history to a third party cloud (we use iCloud to store your data privately and not on our server) • Anyone with Apple Intelligence who wants AI that works offline GETTING STARTED Install, open the app once to enable the extension in Safari, and pick your provider. On Apple Intelligence devices you're done — no key, no setup. Otherwise paste one API key or point AreaderZ at your local model. Note: On-device AI requires a device with Apple Intelligence. Apple M3 or iPhone 16 and above recommended. Local and bring-your-own-key modes require access to a compatible server or provider; availability and costs depend on the service you choose. Read faster. Translate anything. Keep your reading to yourself. ONE TIME PRO PURCHASE • Pro users enjoy unlimited use of key features that never expires, and is unlocked with one time purchase SUPPORTER SUBSCRIPTION • Consider our Supporter subscription which supports our development and gain access to all features, including planned features not available to Pro • Go to our website for latest comparison of features table for Free, Pro, and Supporter tiers OPTIONAL PAY AS YOU GO AI USAGE For most users, it is not worth it to subscribe to an expensive AI subscription. Coming soon: low cost, pay as you go AI summary. Terms of Use (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Plain Org4 screens
AreaderZ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AreaderZ at Free against Plain Org's $14.99. AreaderZ also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Plain Org's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.6). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

AreaderZ is free to download; Plain Org costs $14.99 up front. AreaderZ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Plain Org asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plain Org ships an update every 2 months, AreaderZ every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Plain Org versus AreaderZ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlain OrgAreaderZ
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (156 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings156 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB86 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperXenodium Ltd.Jeremy Yan

Bugs and requests

Plain Org

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Text disappears when closing keyboard without saving
  • Copy and paste doesn't work reliably
  • Pasting from external sources fails
  • Roam links fail to resolve
  • 'What's New' dialog won't close when opening files via shortcuts
Show 6 more
  • Sync hiccups requiring app restart
  • File editing impossible on recent iOS versions
  • Keyboard features missing in raw text editing mode
  • Headings always start collapsed
  • App automatically adds logbook entries to todos
  • App auto-inserts 'Plain Org' text in new files

Requested features

17 requests
  • Widget support for home screen
  • Agenda view across multiple files
  • Apple Watch support
  • Tag filtering and display
  • Schedule/deadline date picker button
Show 12 more
  • Clock-in/clock-out time tracking
  • Template system for new files
  • Keyboard shortcuts for iPad
  • Refile functionality
  • Todo state support
  • Color support for text and headers
  • Dropbox sync integration
  • Animations when opening subheadings
  • Settings screen (instead of context menus)
  • Fullscreen mode for iPhone
  • Table formulas and calculations
  • Attached files viewer

AreaderZ

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Plain Org

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

AreaderZ

Subscriptions2
  • Supporter - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Supporter$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • AreaderZ Pro$5.99

Questions

Is Plain Org free?
Plain Org costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AreaderZ free?
AreaderZ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Plain Org or AreaderZ have ads?
Neither Plain Org nor AreaderZ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plain Org or AreaderZ?
Plain Org ships an update every 2 months, and AreaderZ every 3 days. Most recently, Plain Org was updated on October 13, 2026 and AreaderZ on October 9, 2026.

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