Comparison

Write Only vs Smart Note Notepad

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

Smart Note Notepad

Create visually appealing notes and memos using professionally designed coloring paper styles. This app offers a simple gallery interface for easy management and editing of your digital creations.

Highlights
  • Gallery interface
  • Customizable paper styles
  • Pinch to zoom
  • Edit cells
  • Draw memos
Features
Read full description

with simple and awesome gallery interface. make beautiful notes and memos with professionally designed coloring paper styles. thank you for your support ! relax and wonderful digital experience on iPhone and iPad ! How to use. pinch And stretch fingers to zoom, press hold or swipe to edit cells in collection, The Creativity Never Ends ! appreciate your encouragement with good comments.

Screenshots

Write Only3 screens
Smart Note Notepad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Write Only at 3.6 against Smart Note Notepad's 1.0. Write Only also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (33% vs 10%). 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 Smart Note Notepad 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

Write Only holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Write Only has 14 ratings behind it against 1, 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 10% of Smart Note Notepad's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, Smart Note Notepad every 5 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Write Only versus Smart Note Notepad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWrite OnlySmart Note Notepad
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (14 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews — better10.4% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS5.1.1 — better14.1
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer潮激 李JIN HWAN KIM

Customer experience

Write Only

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

Smart Note Notepad

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive10.4%
Neutral7.8%
Negative81.8%

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

Smart Note Notepad

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
1 purchases

Smart Note Notepad

One-time1
  • upgrade to pro$3.99

Questions

Is Write Only free?
Write Only is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Note Notepad free?
Smart Note Notepad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Write Only or Smart Note Notepad?
Write Only is rated higher. Write Only averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Smart Note Notepad averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Write Only or Smart Note Notepad have ads?
Smart Note Notepad shows ads; Write Only does not.
Which is updated more often, Write Only or Smart Note Notepad?
Write Only ships an update every 6 weeks, and Smart Note Notepad every 5 months. Most recently, Write Only was updated on September 29, 2026 and Smart Note Notepad on September 29, 2026.

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