Comparison

Write Only vs Narrative

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Typewriter-like writing experience
  • Permanent PDF saving
  • Fixed cursor for accuracy
  • Extended keybar
  • Focus on idea generation
  • Customizable fonts
Features
Read 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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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

Write Only3 screens
Narrative4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Write Only versus Narrative: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWrite OnlyNarrative
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (14 ratings)4.4 (50 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews56.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1450 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer潮激 李Mark Muhleder

Customer experience

Write Only

All ratings14 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral6.5%
Negative60.2%

Narrative

All ratings50 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral2.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive56.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative31.3%

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

2 purchases

Write Only

One-time2
  • Unlimited Fonts$0.99
  • Unlimited New Pages$1.99
3 purchases

Narrative

Subscriptions3
  • Narrative Monthly14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Narrative Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Narrative Annual$47.991 Year

Questions

Is Write Only free?
Write Only is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Narrative free?
Narrative is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Write Only or Narrative?
Narrative is rated higher. Write Only averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Narrative averages 4.4 from 50 ratings.
Do Write Only or Narrative have ads?
Neither Write Only nor Narrative shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Write Only or Narrative?
Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, and Narrative every 9 days. Most recently, Write Only was updated on September 29, 2026 and Narrative on October 3, 2026.

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