Comparison

A4Pad vs Private Writer Markdown Editor

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

Head to head
About

A4Pad

Easily create A4 documents from various sources like screenshots, photos, and scans. Add blank pages for notes, organize content into notebooks, and export as PDFs. This tool is ideal for annotating, collecting, and structuring information.

Highlights
  • Automatic A4 formatting
  • Import screenshots, photos, scans, PDFs
  • Add blank, ruled, squared, or dotted pages
  • Markup with Apple Pencil & PencilKit
  • Organize into notebooks and collections
  • Offline and private operation
  • PDF export, print, and share
Features
Read full description

Combine images, PDF, Scans, everything into one clean document — then write all over it. Handwrite notes on real A4 pages with Apple Pencil, place images anywhere, and mark up any page. No account, no cloud — everything stays on your iPhone or iPad. A4Pad is the fast, private way to bring the files you already have into one tidy document. Combine existing PDFs, photos, and screenshots — plus fresh camera scans when you need them — into a single organized notebook. Or open one existing PDF just to annotate and highlight it directly, no merging required. No sign-up, no learning curve, no clutter. Arrange the pages exactly how you want, mark them up, and export a single polished PDF — all on device. **A notebook that starts from your documents.** Most note apps give you a blank page. A4Pad gives you a blank A4 page too — plain, ruled, squared, or dotted — but it also lets you write straight onto the scans, PDFs, and screenshots you already have, in the same notebook. Handwrite with Apple Pencil on iPad, or with your finger on iPhone. Strokes stay on their own layer, so you can erase and adjust them later without ever touching the page underneath. **COMBINE & ORGANIZE** • Combine existing PDFs, photos, and screenshots into one document • Reorder, duplicate, and organize pages with a tap • Convert images to PDF automatically on export • Create portrait or landscape documents — your choice per notebook **PLACE IMAGES ON A PAGE** • Drop photos, logos, or screenshots onto any page • Move, resize, rotate, duplicate, and reorder them like objects on a slide • Rotation snaps to straight angles, so things line up without fiddling • Paste straight from the clipboard • Your notes stay on their own layer, always above the images **HANDWRITTEN NOTES & ANNOTATION** • Take handwritten notes on blank A4 pages — plain, ruled, squared, or dotted • Or write directly onto your scans, PDFs, photos, and screenshots • Full Apple Pencil support on iPad — pen, pencil, marker, highlighter, and eraser • Finger-friendly on iPhone, with the same tools • Notes stay on their own layer — erase or adjust strokes later, the page underneath is never altered • True A4 format on every page, so notes stay clean and print-ready **IMPORT FROM ANYWHERE** • Drop in existing PDFs — pages are merged in automatically • Import photos and screenshots from your Photo Library or the Files app • Send into A4Pad from any app with the system Share Sheet • Scan paper documents with your camera when you need to **EXPORT** • One tap to export a single, print-ready PDF at a clean 150 DPI • Share via Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or any app **PRIVATE BY DESIGN** • Everything stays on your device — no account, no cloud, no login • No trackers, no ads, no data collection • You're always in control of your files **NO LIMITS, NO FRICTION** • Unlimited Collections, Notebooks, and Pages • Every feature is available the moment you open the app • Organize into Collections and Notebooks for a clear structure across every project Fast, private, and focused — on iPhone and iPad.

About

Private Writer Markdown Editor

A fast, distraction-free writing application focused on privacy and security. It offers a clean interface for writing in Markdown or plain text with live formatting and auto-save. All your notes are stored locally and can be locked with a PIN.

Highlights
  • Markdown and plain text writing
  • Live formatting
  • Auto-save
  • Local data storage
  • PIN app lock
  • PDF export
  • Search and pin notes
Features
Read full description

▶ Private Writer – Write. Lock. Own your notes. ▶ Private Writer is a fast, distraction-free writing app built for people who care about privacy and focus. ▶ No account. No cloud. No tracking. Just write. ▶ Fast & Clean Writing ▷ Write in Markdown or plain text ▷ Live formatting while you type ▷ Smooth, lag-free editing ▷ Auto-save instantly — never lose your work ▶ Beautiful Preview ▷ Switch to a clean full preview ▷ Perfect for reading and reviewing ▷ Distraction-free layout ▶ Stay Organized ▷ Search by title and content ▷ Pin important notes ▷ Find everything instantly ▶ Private by Default ▷ Lock app with a 6-digit PIN ▷ All data stored locally ▷ No account • No cloud • No tracking ▶ Export Anytime ▷ Export notes as clean PDF ▷ Share or save anywhere ▶ Built for Focus Private Writer removes everything you don’t need. • No setup • No clutter • No distractions Just a calm space to think and write. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

A4Pad4 screens
Private Writer Markdown Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A4Pad at none against Private Writer Markdown Editor's 1. Private Writer Markdown Editor's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, ratings volume, 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. Private Writer Markdown Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. A4Pad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Private Writer Markdown Editor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

A4Pad ships an update weekly, Private Writer Markdown Editor daily. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
A4Pad versus Private Writer Markdown Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterA4PadPrivate Writer Markdown Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyWeeklyDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe LucarielloHai Nam Trinh

Customer experience

A4Pad

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Private Writer Markdown Editor

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

A4Pad

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Private Writer Markdown Editor

One-time1
  • Unlock Premium$1.99

Questions

Is A4Pad free?
A4Pad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Private Writer Markdown Editor free?
Private Writer Markdown Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, A4Pad or Private Writer Markdown Editor?
Private Writer Markdown Editor is rated higher. A4Pad averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Private Writer Markdown Editor averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do A4Pad or Private Writer Markdown Editor have ads?
Neither A4Pad nor Private Writer Markdown Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, A4Pad or Private Writer Markdown Editor?
A4Pad ships an update weekly, and Private Writer Markdown Editor daily. Most recently, A4Pad was updated on October 15, 2026 and Private Writer Markdown Editor on October 14, 2026.

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