Comparison

Primary Writer vs SymbolSupport

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

Head to head
About

Primary Writer

This app allows children and adults to create and customize stories with various backgrounds and colors. Once complete, users can share their creations as PDFs or print them directly from their iPad.

Highlights
  • Story writing interface
  • Customizable paper backgrounds
  • Color customization options
  • PDF export
  • AirPrint direct printing
  • Kid-friendly design
Features
Read full description

Primary Writer is an app for kids (or the kid at heart) who like to write. Write your story, choose your paper's background and further customize the look with color and other choices. When you're done, you can share the pdf version of your creation to your friends or relatives. If you have access to an AirPrint printing device, you can print it out directly from your iPad.

About

SymbolSupport

This iPad utility app enhances text by automatically adding symbols above typed or pasted content. It features text-to-speech with word-by-word highlighting and offers extensive symbol libraries. Documents can be easily shared as PDFs or in a proprietary format.

Highlights
  • Automatic symbol addition to text
  • Text-to-speech with highlighting
  • Pre-loaded and searchable symbol libraries
  • Image import from camera roll and internet
  • Customizable symbol assignment
  • Document sharing via AirDrop, email, and cloud storage
Read full description

SymbolSupport is an iPad utility app that effortlessly adds symbols to text. As textis typed, symbols are automatically added above it. Text can also be copied from pre-existing written materials and pasted into SymbolSupport where symbols are instantly added. Documents are read with a high-quality text-to-speech voice and include word-by-word highlighting. This support helps students better understand class assignments.Symbols from Slater Literacy Support Pictures™ and Attainment’s Image Library are included. Plus, there is easy access to your camera roll and a built-in internet image search.Easy-to-use editing tools include changing auto-assigned symbols to other symbols or imported images and removing symbols from text to reduce the number of symbols on a page. SymbolSupport is designed to create symbolized text quickly and easily. Sharing these documents is equally important. Share documents via AirDrop, email, or send to any cloud storage setup on the iPad. Documents can be sent as a PDF for studentportfolios or shared with parents. Documents can also be sent as a SymbolSupport file which can be opened by SymbolSupport or SymbolSupport Lite apps. SymbolSupport Lite is a separate and free app. It can receive, read aloud, and print documents that have been created with the SymbolSupport app. SymbolSupport Lite cannot create or edit documents.

Screenshots

SymbolSupport3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Primary Writer at Free against SymbolSupport's $59.99. Primary Writer also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 50%). SymbolSupport's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and rating (4.0 vs 3.7). On ratings volume, update cadence 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

Primary Writer is free to download; SymbolSupport costs $59.99 up front. Primary Writer sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. SymbolSupport asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SymbolSupport holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Primary Writer's written reviews are positive against 50% of SymbolSupport's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Primary Writer ships an update every 2 months, SymbolSupport every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Primary Writer versus SymbolSupport: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrimary WriterSymbolSupport
PriceFree — better$59.99
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB293 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWinztech Services LLCAttainment Company

Customer experience

Primary Writer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

SymbolSupport

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Primary Writer

One-time8
  • Animals 1$0.99
  • Valentine Fun$0.99
  • Halloween Treat$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Spring Faves$0.99
  • We Love Mom$0.99
  • We Love Dad$0.99
  • Summertime$0.99
  • Christmas$0.99
None

SymbolSupport

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Primary Writer free?
Primary Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SymbolSupport free?
SymbolSupport costs $59.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Primary Writer or SymbolSupport?
SymbolSupport is rated higher. Primary Writer averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while SymbolSupport averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Primary Writer or SymbolSupport have ads?
Neither Primary Writer nor SymbolSupport shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Primary Writer or SymbolSupport?
Primary Writer ships an update every 2 months, and SymbolSupport every 5 weeks. Most recently, Primary Writer was updated on October 3, 2026 and SymbolSupport on October 1, 2026.

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