Comparison

AI Writer vs Buffer

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

Head to head
About

AI Writer

This AI writing assistant generates emails, posts, and replies directly on your device using on-device AI. It offers features like a writing chat for revisions, a reply assistant for understanding messages, and summarization tools. Save, search, and export your creations in various formats.

Highlights
  • On-device AI writing
  • Writing chat for revisions
  • Reply assistant
  • Summarize long texts
  • Template library
  • Personalized writing style
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
  • Export to Word, Markdown, text
Features
Read full description

AI Writer writes emails, posts, replies and rewrites on your device, with Apple Intelligence. No account, no server, nothing leaves your device. Writing requires Apple Intelligence on a supported device with iOS 26 or later. On other devices your saved texts stay readable. WRITE ANYTHING • Three versions of every text, written live, so you can pick the angle you like • Writing Chat: write something, then ask for changes in your own words. Shorter, warmer, add a deadline. Every version is kept • Emails, posts for X, blog posts, rewrites, continued texts and grammar fixes with a word-by-word diff REPLY AND UNDERSTAND • Reply Assistant: paste a message, get the gist, what needs an answer and three replies • Summarize: a long email or article becomes the key points, what it asks of you and the jargon explained • Meeting notes: rough notes become a summary, decisions and a to-do list with owners and dates TEMPLATES Short messages, out-of-office replies and headlines. Plus: cover letters, job posts, product descriptions, LinkedIn About, review replies and bios. YOUR VOICE Paste a few things you wrote. AI Writer learns your style on your device and writes every text the way you would. Only the style is kept, never your texts. SIRI AND SHORTCUTS Draft a reply, rewrite text or write a post without opening the app. Send any text to AI Writer from the Shortcuts app. YOUR LIBRARY Every text you save gets a title. Search, filter, edit, copy, share, or export as a Word, Markdown or text file. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything is written on your device. AI Writer has no account and no server, and it never sees what you write. AI WRITER PLUS Writing is free. Plus adds Pro templates and Meeting notes, unlimited Writing Chat, more voices, your whole library and export. Monthly, yearly, or once for a lifetime. If you ever subscribed to AI Writer before, Plus is free for you, forever. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://www.termsfeed.com/live/cb1ecc3f-0b1e-4520-9cef-f4aec66e7ca7

About

Buffer

Features
Read full description

Buffer helps you pause before opening distracting apps. Select apps, set a cooldown, and require a deliberate confirmation before temporary access is granted. Buffer is designed for people who want a simple friction step before opening apps they use too often. Features: - Select apps using Apple's Screen Time picker - Add cooldown shields to selected apps - Require manual confirmation before temporary access - Keep rules and app selections on your device - No account required Buffer uses Apple's Screen Time APIs. Your selected apps and Screen Time settings stay on your device and are not uploaded to a server.

Screenshots

AI Writer4 screens
Buffer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Buffer at none against AI Writer's 3. AI Writer's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads 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. AI Writer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Buffer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
AI Writer versus Buffer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAI WriterBuffer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (125 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews54.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings125 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndras Molnar世军 邹

Bugs and requests

AI Writer

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • App doesn't generate articles
  • Key is invalid after generation
  • Help request errors
  • "Something went wrong" error message
  • API key not working
Show 8 more
  • Internet access error message
  • App doesn't work at all
  • Keeps saying API key doesn't work
  • Asking for a key without explanation
  • App failed first time, API error
  • API is not working
  • Too many steps to use API key
  • Doesn't generate content beyond a period

Requested features

2 requests
  • Make the app free or more affordable
  • Provide clear instructions on obtaining API keys

Buffer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

AI Writer

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Plus Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Plus Lifetime$49.99
None

Buffer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AI Writer free?
AI Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Buffer free?
Buffer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do AI Writer or Buffer have ads?
Neither AI Writer nor Buffer shows ads.

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