Write Only vs Narrative
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Write Only
This app offers a distraction-free writing experience, mimicking a typewriter to help users focus on generating ideas. All content is saved permanently as a PDF, preserving formatting and layout. It features a fixed cursor for reduced errors and an extended keybar for easier access to common symbols.
- Typewriter-like writing experience
- Permanent PDF saving
- Fixed cursor for accuracy
- Extended keybar
- Focus on idea generation
- Customizable fonts
Read full descriptionHide full description
Write Only allows you to use your iPad/iPhone in the exact same way as a good old typewriter. It is a special app designed for people who just want to focus on writing. By separating writing from editing, it helps you focus more on getting your ideas out. Using it is like sitting in front of a typewriter and letting words flow out of your finger tips. Everything you put down on the page is permanent. All the typing is saved as a PDF file, including the positions, the font size, and the colors that the texts come out with. No matter where and when you are going to view these pages, they will be kept exactly same as the time you typed them. Fixed cursor sits right above the keyboard, therefore your eyes will be close both to the text you're typing and the fingers, and that can help to reduce typing errors. You can start typing on the page at any place by tapping on that location and use any margin you want by moving the page. It is very easy to type aligned texts. An extension keybar includes frequently used keys like ' or ; that are difficult to access in iOS' default keyboard. Write Only is good for writing the first version of any work, especially diary or journal. When you come back to your writings years later, the shapes of the text and the errors you made will help you remember the moments of the writing. Tips: - To delete a page, slider your finger from right to left over the page you want to remove; - To send one or more pages, long press on the page you want to send, after the toolbar shows up, you can select more than one pages. More pages means more time to prepare. Sending multiple pages will combine pages into one single PDF document first. - To select a different font, go to Settings app -> Write Only, choose your favorite font, then return back to Write Only, start a new page or simply restart.
Narrative
This app provides a distraction-free writing environment with a sleek interface and advanced editing tools. It offers seamless project synchronization across devices and robust security features. Goal-setting and customizable options enhance the creative process for writers of all levels.
- Distraction-free writing environment
- Seamless project synchronization
- Precision editing tools
- Word count goals and progress tracking
- Import/export in multiple formats
- Customizable fonts
- Flexible notes system
Read full descriptionHide full description
How do you like to write? Do you curl up on your sofa with your iPad, sit at a proper desk with a laptop and coffee, or draft on the go with your iPhone? You never know when you might have a great idea! Narrative gives you a calm, focused space to write, wherever you are. • Sync across your devices Your work saves as you type, and syncs to the cloud in real time. It works offline too, syncing again once you're back on a network. • A focused writing environment A clean, minimalist interface with focus mode, dark mode, and customizable fonts. No pop-ups, no productivity pressure — just room to think. • Proofreading that respects your voice Grammar, spelling, and style checks across multiple languages. It highlights issues and makes suggestions — but you decide what to use and what to ignore. Bend the rules however you like. • Word count goals and progress tracking Set goals and watch your progress build, one word at a time. Small, steady motivation for finishing what you start. • Notes alongside your writing Attach notes to your whole project or individual chapters, right next to the page you're working on. • Private, even on a shared device Sign out, and your writing is removed from the device. Sign back in on any device, and it's downloaded fresh from the cloud. Handy if it's not just your eyes that get access to your phone. • Import and export freely Bring existing work in from DOCX or TXT. Export in DOCX, TXT, or EPUB whenever you're ready to share. • Real help, from a real person Need a hand — or just fancy a chat? Our in-app help is a person, not a bot. Start with a free 14-day trial, then keep writing on a free plan or subscribe for unlimited access. Whether you're deep in a novel, shaping short stories, or just getting started — Narrative was made with you in mind. • Contact Us: We love feedback! Please feel free to get in touch using the in-app help chatbox, or email: hello@gonarrative.app • Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ • Privacy policy https://gonarrative.app/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Narrative at 4.4 against Write Only's 3.6. Narrative also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 33%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). Write Only's advantage is iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Write Only sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Narrative sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Narrative holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Write Only's written reviews are positive against 56% of Narrative's.
Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, Narrative every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Write Only | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (14 ratings) | 4.4 (50 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 56.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 | 50 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 5.1.1 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 77 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 潮激 李 | Mark Muhleder |
Customer experience
Write Only
Narrative
Bugs and requests
Write Only
Reported bugs
13 issues- Cannot backspace to remove words
- Cannot delete pages or erase
- Cannot save or export
- App crashes and deletes work
- Crashes with each delete
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Doesn't work on iOS8
- UI and accessibility issues
- App freezes and crashes
- Cannot delete old pages
- Space bar bug (types adjacent letter)
- Text moves and becomes jumbled
- Kicks user off at inconvenient times
- Upgrade prompts reappear after purchase
Requested features
10 requests- Add copy/paste functionality
- Add export to text option
- Add PDF conversion
- Add Russian language support
- Add Korean keyboard
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Add typewriter key sound
- Add dark mode
- Add print option
- Add email functionality
- Make it free without upgrade limitations
Narrative
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Write Only
- Unlimited Fonts$0.99
- Unlimited New Pages$1.99
Narrative
- Narrative Monthly14 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Narrative Monthly$4.991 Month
- Narrative Annual$47.991 Year







