# Penzu vs Werdsmith

The clearest difference is rating: Werdsmith at 4.7 against Penzu's 4.2. Werdsmith also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 52%) and ratings volume (8K vs 2.5K). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Werdsmith sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Werdsmith holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.5K and 8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Penzu's written reviews are positive against 82% of Werdsmith's.

Penzu ships an update weekly, Werdsmith fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | Werdsmith |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews) | **[4.7 (8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werdsmith-writing-app/id489746330/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.5K | **8K** |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **81.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 62 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Werdsmith Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/469842974) |

## What reviewers say

### Penzu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732)

This app provides a secure and private space for journaling, note-taking, and storing personal thoughts. It offers robust security features like password and PIN locks, encryption, and cloud syncing across devices. Users can also add photos and tags to their entries, making it a comprehensive digital diary.

**Highlights:** Unlimited journaling, Cloud sync for free, Password and PIN locks, Journal encryption, Add photos to entries, Search and tag entries, Offline writing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Penzu Pro Upgrade | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 📝 Convenient journaling on the go
- 🗓️ Helpful reminders and date tracking
- 💻 Syncs across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔑 Password issues and lockout problems
- 📁 Syncing and data loss issues
- 📱 Limited functionality on mobile app
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard disappearing during use
- Entries not saving or syncing properly
- Inability to access account after updates

**Requested features**

- More customization options for fonts, themes, and layouts
- Ability to export/backup journal entries
- Improved mobile app stability and features
- Better customer support and communication


### Werdsmith

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werdsmith-writing-app/id489746330)

This app transforms your devices into a writing studio, helping you overcome writer's block with AI-powered suggestions and build a consistent writing practice. It automatically handles formatting, allowing you to focus on your creative process.

**Highlights:** AI-powered writing suggestions, Daily writing practice builder, Automatic formatting, Project and goal tracking, Cross-device sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Ghostwriter (150 prompts) | $9.99 | per month |
| Ghostwriter (300 prompts) | $14.99 | per month |
| Membership | $24.99 | per 6 months |
| Membership | $49.99 | per year |
| Ghostwriter (150 prompts) | $99.99 | per year |
| Ghostwriter (300 Prompts) | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📝 Helpful for writing stories and ideas
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- ⏱️ Tracks writing progress and goals
- 🧠 Inspires creativity with writing prompts
- 📚 Organized projects and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features, need to pay for full access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 💻 Syncing issues between devices
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🖌️ Limited formatting options

**Reported bugs**

- Losing written work after updates
- Cursor jumping issues while typing
- Inconsistent behavior on different devices

**Requested features**

- Add ability to add images to stories
- Improve chapter/section organization
- Implement a dark mode theme
- Allow more free projects/ideas
- Integrate with other writing tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is Werdsmith free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Penzu or Werdsmith?

Werdsmith is rated higher. Penzu averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Werdsmith averages 4.7 from 8K ratings.

### Do Penzu or Werdsmith have ads?

Neither Penzu nor Werdsmith shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penzu or Werdsmith?

Penzu ships an update weekly, and Werdsmith fortnightly. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 15, 2026 and Werdsmith on October 16, 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.*