Comparison

Primary Writer vs Co

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

Co

This app provides advanced word prediction and spelling support for students. It offers grammar-smart suggestions and access to millions of topic-specific dictionaries to aid in writing. Built-in text-to-speech functionality helps users review their work.

Highlights
  • Grammar-smart word prediction
  • Millions of topic-specific dictionaries
  • Flexspell™ technology for spelling errors
  • Built-in text-to-speech
  • Personalized vocabulary and settings
Features
Read full description

Co:Writer® Universal app and third-party keyboard gives students easy access to word prediction on iPad, iPad Pro, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Students simply sign in to their Co:Writer Universal accounts to write with their personal settings and vocabulary. ABOUT CO:WRITER UNIVERSAL This version is for schools with a Co:Writer Universal license only. Users without a Co:Writer Universal license must purchase the Co:Writer app. HOW DOES CO:WRITER WORK? As letters are typed, Co:Writer predicts the intended word with a selection of word suggestions using powerful grammar-smart word prediction. These suggestions can be read aloud with a swipe. Selecting the intended word places it into the writing document. For feedback while writing (and after writing) built-in text to speech can be used to read letters, words, sentences, and the entire document. 4+ MILLION TOPIC-SPECIFIC DICTIONARIES Co:Writer has access to a main prediction dictionary (that includes core words) and Topic Dictionaries (that includes topic specific words). Co:Writer can access over 4 million topic-specific dictionaries which are activated based on the writing task. A small sampling of the variety of topic dictionaries: - America's Cup - Apple II - Compare and Contrast - Dinosaurs - Grumpy Cat - History of the Peloponnesian War - Mahatma Gandhi - My Dog - Pig Latin - Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - SpongeBob SquarePants - Tommy (album) - Wonders of the World SPELLING SUPPORT Co:Writer handles the widest range of spelling mistakes through its Flexspell™technology including phonetic spelling and inventive spelling errors (letter omissions, word ending omissions, letter reversals, etc). Examples of how Co:Writer aides with phonetic and/or inventive spelling: Before Co:Writer The blk jargon flu over the bra lfnt. R u hpy to ce me? I no hw to nor the fone. After Co:Writer The black dragon flew over the gray elephant. Are you happy to see me? I know how to answer the phone. GRAMMAR SUPPORT Co:Writer bases its prediction off of proper grammar, and uses its understanding of grammar to accurately predict words within the framework of valid sentence structures. Examples of how Co:Writer aides with grammar: Dogs are furry. (noun, verb, adj.) - When you typed d-o, you get plural noun choices Three very mangy dogs ran down the street. (adj., adv., adj., noun, verb… etc.) - After typing three, very, mangy, you get plural noun choices, then you get plural verb tenses. OTHER FEATURES - Built-in Text to Speech - Export

Screenshots

Co4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Primary Writer at 75% against Co's 8%. Primary Writer also leads on rating (4.0 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Co's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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. Primary Writer sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Co asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Primary Writer holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Primary Writer's written reviews are positive against 8% of Co's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Primary Writer ships an update every 2 months, Co every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Primary Writer versus Co: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrimary WriterCo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings) — better2.6 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better8.3% of reviews
Number of ratings517 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWinztech Services LLCDon Johnston Incorporated

Customer experience

Primary Writer

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

Co

All ratings17 ratings
Positive29.4%
Neutral23.5%
Negative47.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive8.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative75.0%

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

Co

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Primary Writer free?
Primary Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Co free?
Co is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Primary Writer or Co?
Primary Writer is rated higher. Primary Writer averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Co averages 2.6 from 17 ratings.
Do Primary Writer or Co have ads?
Neither Primary Writer nor Co shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Primary Writer or Co?
Primary Writer ships an update every 2 months, and Co every 4 months. Most recently, Primary Writer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Co on November 1, 2026.

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