# Werdsmith vs Permanote

The clearest difference is rating: Werdsmith at 4.7 against Permanote's 3.5. Werdsmith also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (82% vs 50%). Permanote's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Werdsmith sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Permanote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Werdsmith holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Werdsmith has 8K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Werdsmith's written reviews are positive against 50% of Permanote's.

Werdsmith ships an update fortnightly, Permanote every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Werdsmith | Permanote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werdsmith-writing-app/id489746330/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/permanote/id1485954738/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 36 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Werdsmith Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/469842974) | [Screenplay & Script Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1175555980) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Permanote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/permanote/id1485954738)

This app allows writers to organize ideas and edit text files directly within Dropbox, synchronizing across devices. It offers a distraction-free writing environment and extensive customization options, with advanced features available through a Pro subscription.

**Highlights:** Dropbox file synchronization, Customizable macro key strip, Distraction-free writing mode, Multiple file preview formats, TextExpander support, Customizable themes and fonts

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Pro Subscription | $17.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Werdsmith free?

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

### Is Permanote free?

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

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

Werdsmith is rated higher. Werdsmith averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8K ratings, while Permanote averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Werdsmith or Permanote have ads?

Permanote shows ads; Werdsmith does not.

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

Werdsmith ships an update fortnightly, and Permanote every 10 months. Most recently, Werdsmith was updated on October 16, 2026 and Permanote on September 30, 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.*