Comparison

vanilla.txt vs Text2File

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

Head to head
About

vanilla.txt

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vanilla.txt is a minimalist editor purpose-built for plain text (.txt) on iPhone and iPad. Open or create files directly from the iOS Files app (including iCloud Drive), write with a clean, responsive editor, and your changes save automatically. It’s ideal for notes, drafts, outlines, logs, and code snippets you want to keep portable and future-proof. Features: - Real .txt files via the iOS Files app (incl. iCloud Drive) - Autosave while you type for reliable editing - Simple, distraction-free text layout - Readable typography with a default monospace font - Dark Mode support - System share sheet (Share / Open In…) - Appears in the iOS Share Sheet; save shared text as .txt - No analytics or tracking - Works offline; no account required Plain text stays lightweight, easy to back up, and compatible with every platform. Keep your writing simple, portable, and under your control.

About

Text2File

Features
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Created for people who need control over file extensions and seamless integration with the iOS Files app. Unlike Apple Notes, Text2File gives you complete control over where your plain-text files live and what they're named. Save directly to project folders, sync to specific iCloud directories, or organize files alongside related documents – all through seamless Files app integration. No proprietary database, no locked-in format, just standard plain-text files exactly where you need them. The interface is intentionally minimal. Open a file or create a new one, edit the text, save it with any extension you need (.txt, .js, .csv, .md, whatever). No formatting toolbars, no feature creep, no distractions from the core function. Two features make it particularly useful for developers working on the go: Line numbers can be toggled on or off, making the app functional for quick code edits when you're away from your laptop. Need to fix a JavaScript file on your phone? Text2File handles it. Word wrap can similarly be enabled or disabled depending on whether you're writing prose or working with code that benefits from showing only unwrapped lines. That's it. No markdown rendering, no syntax highlighting, no collaboration features. Just a clean, functional text editor that integrates properly with iOS's file system. No ads, no data tracking, no in-app purchases.

Screenshots

vanilla.txt4 screens
Text2File2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Text2File at Free against vanilla.txt's $0.99. On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Text2File is free to download; vanilla.txt costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
vanilla.txt versus Text2File: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parametervanilla.txtText2File
Price$0.99Free β€” better
Update frequencyEvery 2 daysEvery 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 β€” better18.5
Further details β€” not scored
Size4 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAQPARD LLCStanley Bontrager

In-app purchases

None

vanilla.txt

No in-app purchases

None

Text2File

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is vanilla.txt free?
vanilla.txt costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Text2File free?
Text2File is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do vanilla.txt or Text2File have ads?
Neither vanilla.txt nor Text2File shows ads.
Which is updated more often, vanilla.txt or Text2File?
vanilla.txt ships an update every 2 days, and Text2File every 2 days. Most recently, vanilla.txt was updated on September 7, 2026 and Text2File on September 18, 2026.

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