Comparison

Leaffold vs Elm

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

Head to head
About

Leaffold

A focused writing tool offering typewriter mode, curated fonts, and customizable page settings. It prioritizes privacy with no account, tracking, or subscriptions. Ideal for drafting, editing, or thinking in text.

Highlights
  • Typewriter mode for focused writing
  • Seven curated typefaces
  • Adjustable line height and text width
  • Four color themes
  • Plain text support via Files app
  • No account or tracking
Features
Read full description

A focused writing surface with typewriter mode, curated typefaces, and full control over how your page feels. No subscription, no account, no tracking. Leaffold gives you real typographic controls without the price tag or the subscription: a typewriter mode that pins your current line to the centre of the screen, seven hand-picked fonts, adjustable line height and text width, and colour themes tuned for sustained writing. Switch between a minimal setup and a full writing configuration with one tap. TYPEWRITER MODE • Keeps your eyes at a fixed point while text flows upward • Configurable guide line and scroll window • Smooth centering, even at the very first and last lines of a document FIND IN DOCUMENT • Search for words or phrases within any document • Move quickly through every match • Command-F support for hardware keyboards TUNE YOUR PAGE • 7 curated typefaces: serif, sans, and monospace • Precise line height (1.0–2.0×) and font size (8–32pt) • Text width: Full, Classic (~80 chars), percentage, or fixed • Quick presets: Minimal or Writing, one tap FOUR THEMES • System, Paper, Night, High Contrast, each with matched colours PLAIN TEXT, PRIVATE • Works directly with the Files app. Store locally or in iCloud. • No account, no sign-up, no analytics, no tracking • Your text stays on your device Whether you're drafting prose, editing a config file, or simply thinking in text, Leaffold is a page that feels right.

About

Elm

Features
Read full description

Elm is a fast, distraction-free workspace for your notes, docs, and ideas. Write and organize everything in one place — nested pages, a real block editor, and search that actually finds what you're looking for. No bloat, no fifty menus, no forced AI. NOTES & DOCS Write with a clean block editor built for speed. • Headings, checklists, code blocks, images, and multi-column layouts • Slash commands to add anything without touching a mouse • Nest pages as deep as you need — build your own personal wiki STAY ORGANIZED • Star and pin your most-used pages • Recent pages, always one tap away • Fast, full-text search across your entire workspace SHARE WHEN YOU WANT TO • Share any page with a link — view or edit access • Collaborate without giving up your whole workspace YOUR DATA, YOUR CALL • Export everything, any time — Markdown or HTML • Delete your account and all your data whenever you want FREE TO START Unlimited pages and blocks on the free plan — no credit card required. An optional paid plan with more storage is available on our website. LIGHT OR DARK Looks right at home either way. Simple, fast, and yours.

Screenshots

Leaffold4 screens
Elm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Elm at 15.1 against Leaffold's 18.0. 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Leaffold versus Elm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLeaffoldElm
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYixin XiaoJoshua Arnold

In-app purchases

None

Leaffold

No in-app purchases

None

Elm

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Leaffold free?
Leaffold is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Elm free?
Elm is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Leaffold or Elm have ads?
Neither Leaffold nor Elm shows ads.

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