TabulaDB vs Amethyst Writer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TabulaDB
Create custom databases to track anything, from collections to personal projects. Offers pre-built templates or design your own with various field types. Data syncs via iCloud and can be exported for portability.
- Custom database creation
- Pre-built templates
- 15 field types
- iCloud sync
- Data export (CSV, JSON)
- Reports and charts
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TabulaDB – Build Your Own Database Track anything — your way. TabulaDB lets you create fully custom databases right on your iPhone, with exactly the fields you need and none you don't. Whether you're cataloging a wine collection, logging workouts, managing a home inventory, or building something entirely your own, TabulaDB gives you the structure to stay organized without locking you into someone else's template. Start in seconds with built-in templates Choose from seven ready-to-use templates — Home Inventory, Book Library, Movie Watchlist, Wine Collection, Fitness Tracker, Record Collection, and Contacts — or start from a blank database and design it yourself. 15 field types for every kind of data - Text, Integer, Decimal, Date and Date & Time, Checkbox, Rating, Picklist, Currency, URL,, Email, Phone, Image, Color and File Mix and match to capture exactly what matters. iCloud sync, automatically Your databases sync across all your devices via iCloud. Add a wine to your collection on your iPhone and it's there on your iPad. Your data is also protected by iCloud Backup. Reports and insights See your data come to life with charts and summaries. Built-in templates include tailored reports; track workout trends, see your reading pace, visualize your collection by category and custom databases get auto-generated summary cards. Your data, always portable Export any database as a CSV file to open in Numbers, Excel, or any spreadsheet app. Full JSON backups let you export and restore everything — all databases, fields, records, and images — in a single file. TabulaDB Pro — One-time purchase, no subscription The free version gives you 2 databases with up to 100 records each to explore the app. Upgrade once to unlock everything: - Unlimited databases - Unlimited records - Backup and restore - CSV export - Reports and charts - Custom templates A 7-day free trial gives you full access before you decide. TabulaDB is built for iPhone and requires iOS 17 or later.
Amethyst Writer
A minimalist writing app designed for novelists, offering a private and distraction-free environment to craft stories. Organize your work, preview your manuscript, and export your finished novel with ease, all on your mobile device.
- Scene-by-scene or chapter writing
- Organize work into Parts and Acts
- Add front matter
- Full manuscript preview
- Search across all writing
- Project organization for characters/locations
- Absolute privacy and local storage
- Automatic iCloud backups
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Simple. Private. Always with you. Amethyst is a minimalist writing app for novelists. We give you the tool and remove the friction, so you can just write. Built mobile-first, so there is nothing standing between your idea and the blank page. Write any time the idea strikes, preview your novel with beautiful formatting, and export your finished product. All on the go. Your readers are waiting: • Write scene by scene, or open a whole chapter and write straight through. • Organize your work into Parts and Acts. Reorder your outline whenever the shape of the book changes. • Add front matter — title page, dedication, epigraph — when you're ready for it. • Preview the finished manuscript end to end in a single view. • Search across everything you've written. • Keep characters and locations in Projects, so you stop losing track of eye colors and birth dates. Amethyst is built for novelists by novelists: • Absolute privacy. We don't collect personal information. No account, no login, no telemetry, no keystroke tracking. • Every word is written to local storage the moment you type it — no connection needed, ever. When you're connected, Amethyst backs up automatically. • Quiet metrics. Daily and weekly word counts, streaks, and your most productive days at a glance. Set a goal app-wide or per novel — or ignore all of that and just write. • Your words, exportable. Send a draft out through the iOS Share Sheet, AirDrop, or Files, to a beta reader, an editor, or a publisher. Nothing is locked in. Your data is yours: Amethyst never sends your novels or projects to third parties, and Shinano Labs will never sell or share your usage data. Your backups are store securely in your own iCloud storage, always available but always private. You can delete your account securely at any time (though we'd be sad to see you go!). Shinano Labs never has access to your writing or your profile data. Your stories deserve a home that respects your time and your privacy. Start your next chapter today. LEGAL STUFF • Privacy: https://www.shinanolabs.com/privacy-policy • Terms: https://www.shinanolabs.com/terms-of-service • Our Stance on Generative AI: https://www.shinanolabs.com/our-position-on-ai
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TabulaDB at 5.0 against Amethyst Writer's 2.0. Amethyst Writer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. TabulaDB sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Amethyst Writer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
TabulaDB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
TabulaDB ships an update every 9 days, Amethyst Writer every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | TabulaDB | Amethyst Writer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brigg Thorp | Damien Anthony Lavizzo |
In-app purchases
TabulaDB
- TabulaDB Pro$4.99
Amethyst Writer
- Amethyst Plus - Monthly$0.991 Month
- Amethyst Plus - Yearly$12.991 Year
- Amethyst Plus - Lifetime$19.99









