# Werdsmith vs Decode

The clearest difference is update cadence: Werdsmith at fortnightly against Decode's every 2 months. Werdsmith also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Werdsmith sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Decode sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Werdsmith ships an update fortnightly, Decode every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Werdsmith | Decode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werdsmith-writing-app/id489746330/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Werdsmith Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/469842974) | [Mohan Agoramoorthy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1849585942) |

## 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 (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Membership | $4.99 | 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


### Decode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decode-ai-document-reader/id6763841848)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decode Private | $4.99 | per month |
| Decode Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Decode Power | $19.99 | per month |
| Decode Private (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Decode Pro (Annual) | $59.99 | per year |
| Decode Power (Annual) | $119.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Werdsmith free?

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

### Is Decode free?

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

### Do Werdsmith or Decode have ads?

Neither Werdsmith nor Decode shows ads.

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

Werdsmith ships an update fortnightly, and Decode every 2 months. Most recently, Werdsmith was updated on October 1, 2026 and Decode on September 17, 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.*