Comparison

Inkiostro vs Downward

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

Head to head
About

Inkiostro

A distraction-free Markdown editor for Apple devices. Organize files with color labels and tags, and write efficiently with a comprehensive toolbar and live preview. Syncs automatically via iCloud Drive.

Highlights
  • Color Labels for files and folders
  • Custom tags for organization
  • Complete Markdown toolbar
  • Live preview with multiple themes
  • Focus and Typewriter modes
  • Native iCloud Drive sync
  • External folder support
Features
Read full description

Inkiostro is a Markdown editor for people who write — notes, documentation, theses, novels. Plain text files that stay yours, a preview that looks like a finished page, and exports ready to hand over. Write in Markdown, or in the visual editor and never see a symbol. Buy once, no subscription. No account, no tracking. WRITE, SEE, FINISH • Two ways to write: the Markdown editor shows the symbols, the visual editor formats as you type, like a word processor. Either way the file stays plain Markdown. (Visual editor: Pro, free for 7 days) • A complete Markdown toolbar: headings, lists, tables and code blocks, one tap away. • A side-by-side preview that comes back exactly where you left it. • LaTeX formulas typeset by KaTeX, and Mermaid diagrams drawn as you type. • 27 preview styles, 11 of them free: GitHub, Sepia, Nord, Solarized and more. With Pro, Manuscript, Book, Report, Academic and others set the page like print. • Focus and Typewriter modes, a live word count and a daily writing goal. FROM DRAFT TO BOOK • PDF with selectable text, formulas and diagrams included. Free, with a small credit line in the footer. • A professional ePub: real chapters, a cover, ISBN, series, footnotes that open over the page, and the accessibility declaration Europe requires. The export sheet tells you what a store would reject — before you send it. (Pro) • A book made of many files: one chapter per file, in a folder, in the order you choose. Arranging it is free; exporting it as a single ePub is Pro. • Self-contained HTML, and page setup for PDF: paper, margins, headers and page numbers. (Pro) NEVER LOSE A WORD • Version history: Inkiostro saves versions as you write. Search them, compare them line by line, and bring back a single word or a whole draft. (Pro) • Backups of your whole library: a dated zip archive with your version history inside, offered when one is due, while the app is open, in a folder you pick. Open it in the Files app and your Markdown files are right there. (Pro) YOUR FILES, YOUR RULES • Unlimited documents, as plain .md files you can open anywhere. • Folders, color labels and tags, with search that filters by tag. • iCloud Drive sync between iPhone, iPad and Mac, with no setup. • External folders: work directly inside any folder on your device or in iCloud Drive. (Pro) INKIOSTRO PRO — ONE PURCHASE, EVERY DEVICE One purchase unlocks Pro on iPhone, iPad and Mac, forever. Try it free for 7 days. • The visual editor • Version history with search, comparison and a year of versions • Backups of your library • Professional ePub, HTML, and books made of many files • PDF page setup • Focus and Typewriter modes • External folders • 24 app themes, the Pro preview styles and any font installed on your device MADE FOR • Writers: novels and essays in plain text, out as a real ebook • Students and researchers: notes and theses with proper formulas • Developers: READMEs, documentation and technical notes with diagrams • Anyone tired of paying every month for a text editor • Anyone new to Markdown: the visual editor works like a word processor PRIVACY Your documents stay in your iCloud Drive or on your device. No servers of ours, ever. Inkiostro collects only anonymous, aggregated usage statistics — never personal data, never the content of your documents — and you can turn them off in Settings.

About

Downward

Features
Read full description

Downward is a minimal Markdown editor for iPhone, built for focused writing, simple file browsing and a cleaner way to work with Markdown. Browse and edit Markdown files stored locally on your device or in iCloud, without locking your writing into a complicated workspace. Downward keeps your files accessible while giving you a calm, customisable editor for notes, drafts, documentation, journals, writing projects and everyday text editing. The editor is designed to feel simple and quiet. You can work with Markdown syntax visible, or hide formatting characters for a cleaner, more minimal writing experience. This lets you keep the flexibility of Markdown while enjoying an editor that feels closer to a plain, distraction-free writing space. Key features: • Browse local files on your device • Open and edit files stored in iCloud • Minimal Markdown editing for iPhone • Tap to toggle tasks • Long press to quickly copy text from code blocks • Option to hide Markdown syntax for a cleaner look • Custom themes to personalise the editor • Font choices for a writing experience that feels right • Simple interface designed around focus and readability • Great for notes, drafts, documentation, journals and plain text workflows Downward is made for people who like simple tools, portable files and a writing environment that does not get in the way. Supporter Upgrade Downward also includes an optional supporter upgrade. Supporters unlock extra themes, the ability to import and export custom themes, and the option to import their own fonts. Your support helps keep Downward independent, maintained and improving over time. SUPPORT INFORMATION Our Terms and Conditions: https://secondvictor.com/public/projects/downward/downward-terms.html Our Privacy Policy: https://secondvictor.com/public/projects/downward/downward-policy.html EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Inkiostro4 screens
Downward4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Downward at daily against Inkiostro's every 6 days. Inkiostro's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. Inkiostro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Downward sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Inkiostro ships an update every 6 days, Downward daily. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Inkiostro versus Downward: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInkiostroDownward
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarlo Di GiuseppeSecond Victor

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Inkiostro

One-time1
  • Inkiostro Pro$19.99
5 purchases

Downward

One-time5
  • Small Coffee$0.99
  • Large Coffee$2.99
  • Supporter$3.99
Show 2 more
  • Lunch$4.99
  • Dinner$9.99

Questions

Is Inkiostro free?
Inkiostro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Downward free?
Downward is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Inkiostro or Downward have ads?
Neither Inkiostro nor Downward shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Inkiostro or Downward?
Inkiostro ships an update every 6 days, and Downward daily. Most recently, Inkiostro was updated on October 29, 2026 and Downward on October 28, 2026.

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