Comparison

Plain Org vs Folio Writer

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

Folio Writer

This writing studio allows you to work on long-form projects like books and manuscripts on your iPhone and iPad. It supports plain text formats like Markdown and Typst, syncing seamlessly with its Mac counterpart. Features include a special keyboard bar, project organization, and citation management.

Highlights
  • Plain-text writing (Markdown, Typst)
  • iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Files integration
  • Special Markdown key bar
  • Typewriter scrolling and sentence focus
  • Binder for project organization
  • Snapshots for version control
  • Project-wide search
  • BibTeX citation support
Features
Read full description

Folio Writer is a plain-text writing studio for long-form work — scholarly manuscripts, books, and novels. This is its iPhone and iPad companion: the same projects, the same files, in your pocket. Open a project from iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or any Files location and pick up exactly where you left off on the Mac. Everything you write is a plain Markdown or Typst file you own, synced through your own cloud — no accounts, no lock-in. WRITE ANYWHERE - A Markdown key bar puts #, *, links, code, and $math$ one tap away — no hunting through the keyboard. - Typewriter scrolling and sentence focus for drafting on the go. - Live word count and writing targets for each document, the whole draft, and each session. - Hardware-keyboard shortcuts on iPad. YOUR WHOLE PROJECT - The full binder: browse, open, rename, reorder by dragging, indent and outdent, and create new documents from templates. - Snapshots you can take, browse, compare, and restore — nothing you write is quietly lost. - Project-wide search across every document, title, synopsis, and note. CITATIONS & PREVIEW - Insert citations from the project's BibTeX files by author, year, or key. - Preview the rendered document — headings, tables, images, and LaTeX math typeset with KaTeX — right on the device. - Preview a single section or assemble the whole manuscript. MADE TO SYNC WITH THE MAC - Opens the exact same .folio projects as Folio Writer for Mac, byte-for-byte. - Automatic, conflict-safe syncing: edits made on two devices merge when they don't overlap, and a losing copy is always preserved and recoverable. - Compiling to PDF and Word stays on the Mac (those tools are desktop-only) — but your writing is always in sync. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No analytics, no trackers, no accounts. Your manuscripts never leave your own devices except through the cloud service you choose. Folio Writer for Mac is required to compile finished documents. The companion is for writing, organizing, and reviewing your projects wherever you are.

Screenshots

Plain Org4 screens
Folio Writer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Folio Writer at Free against Plain Org's $14.99. Folio Writer also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Plain Org's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (156 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Folio Writer is free to download; Plain Org costs $14.99 up front. Folio Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Plain Org asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Folio Writer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plain Org has 156 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Plain Org ships an update every 2 months, Folio Writer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Plain Org versus Folio Writer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlain OrgFolio Writer
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (156 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings156 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXenodium Ltd.Bin Chen

Customer experience

Plain Org

All ratings156 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative7.6%

Folio Writer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Folio Writer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Plain Org

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Folio Writer

One-time1
  • Unlock Pro Features$39.99

Questions

Is Plain Org free?
Plain Org costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Folio Writer free?
Folio Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Plain Org or Folio Writer?
Folio Writer is rated higher. Plain Org averages 4.7 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while Folio Writer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Plain Org or Folio Writer have ads?
Neither Plain Org nor Folio Writer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Plain Org or Folio Writer?
Plain Org ships an update every 2 months, and Folio Writer every 4 days. Most recently, Plain Org was updated on October 13, 2026 and Folio Writer on October 4, 2026.

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