Comparison

Write Only vs LivingWriter

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

LivingWriter

This powerful word processing app allows users to create stories, blog posts, poems, and memoirs. It syncs with the cloud-based version, enabling writing on the go for authors of all levels.

Highlights
  • Create stories, blog posts, poems, memoirs
  • Cloud synchronization
  • Mobile word processing
  • Write anywhere
  • Suitable for dabblers and published authors
Read full description

The trusted writing app lets you create stories, blog posts, poems, memoirs and whatever else you want to write. Have LivingWriter on the go with this powerful word processing app that accompanies LivingWriter, the #1 writing app on the cloud. With LivingWriter, your words move with you. Whether you’re a dabbler or a published author, LivingWriter is as handy as you want it to be.

Screenshots

Write Only3 screens
LivingWriter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LivingWriter at none against Write Only's 2. LivingWriter also leads on review sentiment (53% vs 33%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks). Write Only's advantage is iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 14.0). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Write Only sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. LivingWriter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LivingWriter holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Write Only's written reviews are positive against 53% of LivingWriter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, LivingWriter every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Write Only versus LivingWriter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWrite OnlyLivingWriter
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (14 ratings)3.8 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews52.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1417 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB127 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer潮激 李LivingWriter LLC

Customer experience

Write Only

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

LivingWriter

All ratings17 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral8.8%
Negative38.2%

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

LivingWriter

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
None

LivingWriter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Write Only free?
Write Only is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LivingWriter free?
LivingWriter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Write Only or LivingWriter?
LivingWriter is rated higher. Write Only averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while LivingWriter averages 3.8 from 17 ratings.
Do Write Only or LivingWriter have ads?
Neither Write Only nor LivingWriter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Write Only or LivingWriter?
Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, and LivingWriter every 11 days. Most recently, Write Only was updated on October 23, 2026 and LivingWriter on October 23, 2026.

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