Comparison

Write Only vs Just Write

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

Just Write

A minimalist text editor designed to streamline the writing process. It supports both RTF and TXT formats, offering rich text editing and Markdown support. Sync your work across devices with iCloud integration.

Highlights
  • RTF and TXT file support
  • Markdown styling
  • iCloud file syncing
  • Rich text editing tools
  • Multiple themes
  • Smart selection tool (iPad)
Features
Read full description

Just Write text editor aims to simplify writing process. The app is carefully designed so that the only things that are absolutely essential to the writing process are included. Just Write supports RTF (rich text format) and TXT (plain text format) that are cross-platform formats you can open and edit in virtually any platforms. + RTF , a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) format, is best suitable for creating your next big story. + While TXT, supported Markdown styles, is best for notes, outline, to-do list and anything else you do with a plaintext format. Just Write has iCloud support (opt-in) so you can sync your rtf and txt files across all your devices. RTF editing features include: - Font size increase and decrease - Text color selection - Text style editing such as Bold, Italic, Underline and Strikethrough - Text alignments: Left, Right, Center, Justified - Undo, Redo - Move arrow to jump the cursor - Selection tool to select paragraph, sentence and word super fast and easy (iPad only). Using smart selection tool, you can select paragraph, sentence and word in just 1 tap!!!!!! TXT editing features include: - Accessory row includes many characters essential to writing Markdown. - Multiple fonts to choose from - Preview Markdown (in left menu) - Three themes (Light, Dark, Sepia) - Support plain text format extensions: txt, text, md, mmd, markdown, markdn, mdown, mkdn, markd, fountain - Selection tool to select paragraph, sentence and word super fast and easy (iPad only). Using smart selection tool, you can select paragraph, sentence and word in just 1 tap!!!!!! * Note: Just Write is supported by ads, but you can buy an in app purchase to remove the ads.

Screenshots

Write Only3 screens
Just Write4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Just Write at 4.3 against Write Only's 3.6. Just Write also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 33%) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 14). Write Only's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 Just Write sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Just Write holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Just Write has 1.7K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Write Only's written reviews are positive against 67% of Just Write's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, Just Write every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Write Only versus Just Write: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWrite OnlyJust Write
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (14 ratings)4.3 (1.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings141.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer潮激 李Tung Vu

Customer experience

Write Only

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

Just Write

All ratings1,749 ratings
Positive83.8%
Neutral4.7%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews426 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.0%
Negative25.4%

User reviews

Write Only

From 14 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Retro aesthetic
  • ✍️ Focused writing experience
  • 😌 Peaceful typing
  • 💡 Simple and beautiful UI
  • 💡 Accurate typewriter simulation

Room to improve

  • ❌ Cannot delete words
  • ❌ Cannot delete pages
  • ❌ No save/export option
  • ❌ Limited free pages
  • ❌ Ads are distracting

Just Write

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Simple and straightforward interface
  • 📁 Organized folder system
  • ✨ Clean and minimalist design
  • 🆓 Free to use with no ads
  • ⚡️ Offline writing capability

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding/accessing files
  • 🔧 Limited formatting and customization options
  • 🖥️ Lack of syncing/cross-device support
  • 🖋️ No spell check or grammar assistance

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

Just Write

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and data loss
  • Inability to reopen saved documents
  • Unreliable auto-save functionality
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Implement more font and formatting choices
  • Introduce paragraph spacing and indentation controls
  • Integrate spell check and grammar tools
  • Enable file syncing across devices
Show 2 more
  • Add image/multimedia support
  • Provide better file management and organization

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Write Only

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

Just Write

One-time1
  • No Ads$6.99

Questions

Is Write Only free?
Write Only is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Just Write free?
Just Write is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Write Only or Just Write?
Just Write is rated higher. Write Only averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Just Write averages 4.3 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Write Only or Just Write have ads?
Just Write shows ads; Write Only does not.
Which is updated more often, Write Only or Just Write?
Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, and Just Write every 11 days. Most recently, Write Only was updated on September 29, 2026 and Just Write on October 2, 2026.

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