# WriteTimer vs OpenNotes

The clearest difference is price: OpenNotes at Free against WriteTimer's $2.99. OpenNotes also leads on ratings volume (25 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). WriteTimer's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

OpenNotes is free to download; WriteTimer costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

WriteTimer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenNotes has 25 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

WriteTimer ships an update every 4 days, OpenNotes every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | WriteTimer | OpenNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writetimer/id6761495669/reviews)** | [4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **25** |
| Positive reviews | — | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 8 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dark Wren Creative, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884609181) | [Mark Miller](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836539324) |

## What reviewers say

### WriteTimer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writetimer/id6761495669)

This app helps writers establish a consistent writing routine through focused sprint sessions and progress tracking. It offers word count logging, achievement milestones, and customizable progress rings without requiring accounts or collecting user data.

**Highlights:** Focused sprint timer with custom durations, Word count tracking with WPM calculation, Daily, weekly, and yearly progress rings, Writing streak and achievement tracking, Session notes and project tags, No accounts or ads, data stays on device

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### OpenNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opennotes-notes-and-pdf-markup/id6771224004)

Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, PDF import and annotation, Folder-based organization, Add images and text, Local-first data storage, Export and share notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is WriteTimer free?

WriteTimer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is OpenNotes free?

OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, WriteTimer or OpenNotes?

WriteTimer is rated higher. WriteTimer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while OpenNotes averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.

### Do WriteTimer or OpenNotes have ads?

Neither WriteTimer nor OpenNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, WriteTimer or OpenNotes?

WriteTimer ships an update every 4 days, and OpenNotes every 5 days. Most recently, WriteTimer was updated on October 10, 2026 and OpenNotes on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*