# Subtext vs Simple_TextEdit

The clearest difference is rating: Simple_TextEdit at 5.0 against Subtext's 4.5. Simple_TextEdit also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 83%). Subtext's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple_TextEdit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Subtext asks for nothing beyond the download.

Simple_TextEdit holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subtext has 79 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Subtext's written reviews are positive against 100% of Simple_TextEdit's.

Subtext ships an update every 3 weeks, Simple_TextEdit every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subtext | Simple_TextEdit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtext/id1606625287/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-textedit/id6478072145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **79** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 83.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Best chart rank | **#89** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charcoal Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/325046949) | [Seung-Un Ham](https://appshunter.io/developer/447543367) |

## What reviewers say

### Subtext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtext/id1606625287)

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

A straightforward text editor for iPhone and iPad, allowing direct creation and editing of files within iCloud. It offers advanced controls for line endings and character encoding, ideal for on-the-go code or data file modifications.

**Highlights:** Direct iCloud file editing, No import/export required, Line ending control, Character set encoding control, Quick edits for code and data

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and efficient
- 🚀 Fast and lightweight
- 🆓 Free and no ads
- ✨ Clean and intuitive UI
- 📂 Seamless Files app integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Fails on network drives
- 🐛 Data corruption risk
- 🐛 Difficulty unselecting text
- 🐛 Buggy Chinese input method
- 🐛 Random capitalization issues

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to save work
- Jumps to top of document on blank lines
- Poor network behavior leading to data corruption
- Cannot open or create new text files
- Error when saving to network drive

**Requested features**

- Add 'Unselect all' option
- Add 'Replace all' function
- Add font size settings
- Add tab key
- Allow editing of non-text files


### Simple_TextEdit

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-textedit/id6478072145)

This app provides a native plain text editing experience for iOS devices. It allows users to open, edit, and save plain text files like .txt, .md, and .json directly from the Files app, offering a streamlined alternative to rich text editors.

**Highlights:** Native plain text editing, Opens and saves .txt, .md, .json, Integrates with Files app, Prettify JSON functionality, Clipboard integration, Supports 39 languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subtext free?

Subtext is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Simple_TextEdit free?

Simple_TextEdit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Subtext or Simple_TextEdit?

Simple_TextEdit is rated higher. Subtext averages 4.5 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Simple_TextEdit averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Subtext or Simple_TextEdit have ads?

Simple_TextEdit shows ads; Subtext does not.

### Which is updated more often, Subtext or Simple_TextEdit?

Subtext ships an update every 3 weeks, and Simple_TextEdit every 3 months. Most recently, Subtext was updated on September 26, 2026 and Simple_TextEdit on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*