Comparison

Werdsmith vs Ellipsus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Werdsmith

This writing studio helps overcome writer's block with AI-powered suggestions and builds a daily writing practice through goal setting and tracking. It automatically formats your work, allowing you to focus on creativity across multiple Apple devices.

Highlights
  • AI writing prompts to beat writer's block
  • Daily writing ritual and goal tracking
  • Automatic formatting and chapter numbering
  • Cross-device support (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, Watch)
  • Project organization and idea management
  • Novel Mode for immersive writing
Features
Read full description

Writing is hard. Werdsmith makes it easier.  Werdsmith turns your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro and Apple Watch into a powerful writing studio that helps you break through writer's block and motivates you to write. BEAT WRITER’S BLOCK Add your project to Werdsmith and whenever you get stuck, the app can suggest the next line of your story for you, in your own writing style. BUILD YOUR WRITING PRACTICE Tell us when you write best and Werdsmith will help you build a daily writing ritual. You can set daily or per-project writing goals and track them as you write. You’ll be writing more than ever. FOCUS ON WRITING Instead of formatting options that distract you from writing, Werdsmith formats your work as you write – automatically adding fonts, chapter titles and even keeping your chapter numbers in order. Werdsmith can fit into your existing writing process, or you can treat it like a fresh start. It's up to you. We’re writers from 175 countries who’ve written over 4 million projects using Werdsmith. Join us! --- Things you might want to know: You can use all of Werdsmith's features for free, but there are limits, for example in the number of projects you can add, the number of writing prompts you can create, or the amount of time you can spend in Novel Mode or using app themes. You can increase or remove these limits by becoming a Werdsmith member. Sync, backup and sharing features are optional, but require a free Werdsmith account. If you choose to become a member, you’ll be charged through your iTunes account at the end of your one-week free trial period, unless you cancel your membership at least 24 hours before it begins. Your subscription will renew automatically, unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage, upgrade, downgrade or cancel your subscription in the app's Settings or by going to your App Store account settings. Keep in mind that any unused portion of your free trial period is forfeited if you purchase a membership before the end of the trial. Please read our Privacy Policy at werdsmith.com/privacy and our Terms of Use at werdsmith.com/terms. Feel free to contact us if you need help! A big thanks to the writers who've supported Werdsmith over the years. We couldn't do it without you.

About

Ellipsus

This creative writing tool facilitates seamless collaboration for authors, editors, and co-writers. It offers real-time co-authoring, robust draft management with version control, and distraction-free writing environments. Easily share and export your work in various formats.

Highlights
  • Unlimited documents, drafts, folders, and collaborators
  • Real-time collaboration with commenting and chat
  • Version history and version control for drafts
  • Built-in writing sprints and timers
  • Import from Markdown, export to PDF/AO3
  • Distraction-free minimalist design
  • Privacy-focused with no generative AI or tracking
Features
Read full description

Writing together is hard. We think it should be easier. Ellipsus is a creative writing tool built by writers, for writers—whether you’re flying solo, working with betas and editors, or co-authoring something epic. In Ellipsus, you'll find: Creativity without limits: Create unlimited documents, drafts, folders, and collaborators. Real-time collaboration: Comment, chat, manage permissions, and keep track of every change with version history and version control. Draft management with version control: Experiment freely, and merge drafts when you're ready. Collaborators can suggest edits without changing your main document, Writing sprints and timers: Stay focused and creative with built-in sprint timers. Easy sharing and exports: Import from Markdown. Export to PDF or AO3. Share highlights with our Snippets feature. Distraction-free writing—anywhere: Minimalist design and themed workspaces keep you inspired. Write seamlessly on any device. Privacy-first, always: No generative AI. No creepy tracking. Your words stay yours.

Screenshots

Werdsmith4 screens
Ellipsus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Werdsmith at 8.1K against Ellipsus's 173. Ellipsus's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days) and chart position (#101 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Werdsmith sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Ellipsus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Werdsmith against 4.8 for Ellipsus. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Werdsmith has 8.1K ratings behind it against 173, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Werdsmith's written reviews are positive against 85% of Ellipsus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Werdsmith ships an update every 10 days, Ellipsus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Werdsmith versus Ellipsus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWerdsmithEllipsus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (8.1K ratings)4.8 (173 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.9% of reviews84.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8.1K — better173
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#101 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB36 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperWerdsmith Pty LtdEllipsus

Customer experience

Werdsmith

All ratings8,075 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral3.3%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews647 reviews
Positive81.9%
Neutral7.9%
Negative10.2%

Ellipsus

All ratings173 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral8.5%
Negative6.8%

Bugs and requests

Werdsmith

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Ellipsus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Werdsmith

Subscriptions7
  • Membership7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Ghostwriter (150 prompts)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Ghostwriter (300 prompts)1 Month trial$14.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Membership7 Days trial$24.996 Months
  • Membership7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Ghostwriter (150 prompts)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Ghostwriter (300 Prompts)7 Days trial$149.991 Year
1 purchases

Ellipsus

One-time1
  • Ellipsus Lifetime$99.00

Questions

Is Werdsmith free?
Werdsmith is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ellipsus free?
Ellipsus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Werdsmith or Ellipsus?
Ellipsus is rated higher. Werdsmith averages 4.7 out of 5 from 8.1K ratings, while Ellipsus averages 4.8 from 173 ratings.
Do Werdsmith or Ellipsus have ads?
Neither Werdsmith nor Ellipsus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Werdsmith or Ellipsus?
Werdsmith ships an update every 10 days, and Ellipsus every 3 days. Most recently, Werdsmith was updated on November 14, 2026 and Ellipsus on November 13, 2026.

Other comparisons