Comparison

Focalist vs MarkSchrift

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

Head to head
About

Focalist

Manage your tasks efficiently with this fast to-do list app. Set reminders, organize your day, and get notified based on your location. Syncs seamlessly across devices.

Highlights
  • Fast task management
  • Efficient to-do lists
  • Customizable reminders
  • Location-based tasks
  • Cross-platform sync
Features
Read full description

A fast and efficient todo/task manager with reminders. Includes cross-platform sync and location-based tasks. • Edit tasks instantly without getting stuck in an item subscreen. It feels as lightweight as editing a document. • Bring your tasks to you. Everything you need to do is brought to the Now view - like your shopping list when you arrive at the grocery store, or the next task on a project. • Instant sync, with offline-first support. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

MarkSchrift

Features
Read full description

MarkSchrift is the plain-text workspace for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Write your meeting notes, your class handout, your next chapter - rendered live as you type. Plan your week, track your projects; your files go anywhere. Every document is an ordinary Markdown (.md) text file you own outright: readable in any editor, synced through your own iCloud, portable forever. No proprietary format, no lock-in. WRITE - Markdown styles itself as you type; you always see and edit the real text. - Tables you can edit cell by cell, pictures, footnotes, code with syntax coloring, and typeset math. - Wiki links connect your notes; backlinks and mentions show what points back. PLAN - Tasks are plain checkboxes with small tags for due dates, follow-ups, priorities, and people. - The Agenda gathers every open task across your notes: past due, due today, up next. - Projects roll up their notes, tasks, and people onto a home page; a week note plans your days, and recurring tasks come back on schedule. FIND - Search every note by word, phrase, #tag, or project. - The Binder lists your files, tags, and saved views in one sidebar. SHARE (beta) - Live co-editing with end-to-end encryption: the server only ever stores scrambled bytes it cannot read. - Share an editing link or a read-only link; read-only is enforced cryptographically, not by good manners. - Collaboration keeps maturing release by release: hardened key handling, signed changes, and sessions that stay fast over time. EXPORT - Print or export paginated PDF, Word, and HTML that match what you see. SUBSCRIPTION Collab is an optional subscription: $9.99 a year, after a 14-day free trial. You need it only to host a live session or a hosted project. Joining one that someone shares with you is free, and always will be. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm. It renews each year unless you turn it off at least 24 hours before the term ends. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://markschrift.com/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Your files are yours. That is the whole idea.

Screenshots

Focalist4 screens
MarkSchrift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: MarkSchrift at every 5 days against Focalist's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Focalist sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and MarkSchrift sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focalist ships an update every 3 weeks, MarkSchrift every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 10, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Focalist versus MarkSchrift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocalistMarkSchrift
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid RickardRFRMD Word Labs LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Focalist

Subscriptions2
  • Focalist Premium (Monthly)$1.491 Month
  • Focalist Premium (Annual)$12.001 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$46.00
4 purchases

MarkSchrift

Subscriptions1
  • Collab14 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time3
  • Support for Development$1.99
  • Support for Development$4.99
  • Support for Development$9.99

Questions

Is Focalist free?
Focalist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MarkSchrift free?
MarkSchrift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Focalist or MarkSchrift have ads?
Neither Focalist nor MarkSchrift shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focalist or MarkSchrift?
Focalist ships an update every 3 weeks, and MarkSchrift every 5 days. Most recently, Focalist was updated on October 10, 2026 and MarkSchrift on October 10, 2026.

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