# Vim vs MWeb

The clearest difference is rating: MWeb at 4.5 against Vim's 2.9. MWeb also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 46%). Vim's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MWeb sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Vim asks for nothing beyond the download.

MWeb holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MWeb has 153 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Vim's written reviews are positive against 67% of MWeb's.

Vim ships an update every 9 months, MWeb every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Vim | MWeb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vim/id492668168/reviews) | **[4.5 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mweb-markdown-writing-notes/id1183407767/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **153** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **66.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Applidium](https://appshunter.io/developer/308674223) | [禄海 区](https://appshunter.io/developer/954188947) |

## What reviewers say

### Vim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vim/id492668168)

A highly configurable text editor with a long history, designed for efficient editing from both command lines and graphical interfaces. It offers extensive customization options for programmers and writers alike.

**Highlights:** Text editing, Command-line interface support, Graphical user interface support, Highly configurable, Free and open source

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ True Vim implementation with authentic commands and features
- ⌨️ Works well with external Bluetooth keyboards
- 🆓 Free application with no cost barrier
- 🔒 Includes encryption functionality for secure editing
- 📝 Supports .vimrc configuration files

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Escape key mapping to backslash is cumbersome and unintuitive
- 🐛 Space bar and other keys don't work with external keyboards
- 🐛 Font rendering is illegible on Retina displays and newer devices
- 🐛 Severe input lag and keystroke delay issues
- 🐛 Window focus problems in multitasking environments

**Reported bugs**

- Escape key not recognized on external keyboards
- Space bar non-functional with external keyboards
- Font illegible on Retina and newer displays
- Significant input lag between keystrokes and display
- Window focus not maintained in multitasking

**Requested features**

- Custom keyboard row with Esc, Tab, Ctrl, and common symbols
- Dropbox and cloud service integration
- iOS copy/paste and clipboard integration
- File browser and file management system
- Better font rendering and scaling options


### MWeb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mweb-markdown-writing-notes/id1183407767)

A powerful writing and note-taking application focused on Markdown. It offers a robust editor, document management, and publishing capabilities for efficient text creation and organization.

**Highlights:** Markdown editor with CommonMark and GFM support, Document management via Folders mode, Note-taking with Library mode and tagging, Publishing and sharing functions, Cross-device synchronization, Image and math formula preview

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MWeb Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| MWeb for iPhone/iPad | $14.99 | one-time |
| MWeb for Mac | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Vim free?

Vim is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MWeb free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Vim or MWeb?

MWeb is rated higher. Vim averages 2.9 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while MWeb averages 4.5 from 153 ratings.

### Do Vim or MWeb have ads?

Neither Vim nor MWeb shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Vim or MWeb?

Vim ships an update every 9 months, and MWeb every 3 weeks. Most recently, Vim was updated on October 4, 2026 and MWeb on October 7, 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.*