# Outliner for iPad vs Author

The clearest difference is price: Outliner for iPad at $4.99 against Author's $19.99. Outliner for iPad also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Author's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Outliner for iPad costs $4.99 and Author $19.99 up front. Author sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Outliner for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Outliner for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Outliner for iPad's written reviews are positive against 73% of Author's.

Outliner for iPad ships an update every 4 months, Author every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Outliner for iPad | Author |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outliner-for-ipad/id360659928/reviews)** | [3.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author/id951792010/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **81.5% of reviews** | 73.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 11 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CarbonFin](https://appshunter.io/developer/284455729) | [The Augmented Text Company LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/459748478) |

## What reviewers say

### Outliner for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/outliner-for-ipad/id360659928)

This application is an iPad-exclusive outlining tool. It is a legacy version, with a universal app available for new users. Contact the developer for any inquiries.

**Highlights:** Outlining tool, iPad exclusive

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple, intuitive interface
- 🚀 Fast and responsive performance
- 🔄 Seamless syncing across devices
- 💾 Free cloud backup and sync service
- 📱 Works on iPhone, iPad, and web

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔤 Font size options too limited
- 👁️ Text too small for accessibility needs
- 🎨 No color or formatting options
- 📱 Separate paid apps for iPhone and iPad
- ⌨️ Poor keyboard support and shortcuts

**Reported bugs**

- Font size settings don't include larger options
- Copy and paste functionality lost in recent updates
- OPML export doesn't preserve outline hierarchy in Word
- Text selection and cursor placement issues
- Sync authentication failures causing data loss

**Requested features**

- Larger font size options and accessibility settings
- Color coding and text formatting (bold, italics)
- Folder-based organization for outlines
- Due dates and reminders for tasks
- Password protection and encryption


### Author

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/author/id951792010)

This app serves as a companion to its macOS counterpart, offering a minimalist and powerful writing experience on iOS devices. It allows users to create and manage their written content seamlessly across platforms.

**Highlights:** Minimalist writing interface, Powerful writing tools, iOS companion app, Syncs with macOS version

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Export & AI | Free | one-time |
| Eng | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Clean, minimalist interface design
- 💡 Innovative concept mapping and mind mapping features
- 📚 Excellent citation and reference management
- ⌨️ Useful keyboard shortcuts and productivity features
- 🎯 Powerful outlining and document folding capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and data loss issues
- 📱 iOS/iPad app severely broken and non-functional
- 🔄 Syncing problems between devices
- 🎨 Limited formatting and customization options
- 📊 Poor image handling capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently, causing data loss
- iOS app shows blank screen and won't open documents
- iPad app completely non-functional
- Text disappears or becomes greyed out during iCloud saves
- Vision OS app lacks cursor for text input

**Requested features**

- iPad and iOS app that actually works
- Typewriter scrolling mode
- Variable screen width for large displays
- Complete LaTeX export with full file support
- Markdown support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Outliner for iPad free?

Outliner for iPad costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Author free?

Author costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Outliner for iPad or Author?

Outliner for iPad is rated higher. Outliner for iPad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Author averages 3.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Outliner for iPad or Author have ads?

Neither Outliner for iPad nor Author shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Outliner for iPad or Author?

Outliner for iPad ships an update every 4 months, and Author every 2 months. Most recently, Outliner for iPad was updated on July 24, 2026 and Author on September 22, 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.*