Comparison

1Writer vs Markdown Maker

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

Head to head
About

1Writer

This app is a powerful text editor for creating, revising, and sharing ideas efficiently. It supports plain text and Markdown, with advanced features like an extended keyboard, photo insertion, and custom URL actions. Sync with cloud services and personalize your writing experience.

Highlights
  • Markdown syntax highlighting and preview
  • Extended keyboard with custom buttons
  • Photo insertion with Dropbox integration
  • Sync with iCloud, Dropbox, and WebDAV
  • Custom URL actions and JavaScript support
  • In-app web browser for research
  • Passcode and biometric app protection
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

1Writer combines all the basic text editing features you would expect with all the advanced features you will ever need. Use 1Writer to write, research, revise, and share your ideas with maximum efficiency. - - - - - - - - - - "The only Dropbox- and Markdown-enabled text editor for iPhone that’s clicked with me has been 1Writer. It’s simple, looks great, and gets the job done." - TheSweetSetup.com "Really great app, really recommend it." - Federico Viticci, MacStories.net "The app interface is beautiful and distraction-free, with loads of other awesome features lurking beneath its simple exterior. It's now my go-to iPhone text editor." - Chris Gonzales, ToolsandToys.net "For users that want a great visual experience paired with great support for custom actions and third party apps, 1Writer is an excellent choice." - iMore.com "1Writer is the most powerful text editor available for iPhone." - Phillip Gruneich - - - - - - - - - - CREATE - Write :: generate and edit plain text or Markdown files. - Preview :: see the formatted results with Markdown syntax highlighting while you write and a full, rich-text preview when you're done. - Extended keyboard :: a convenient row of buttons for navigation, formatting, special characters (customizable--pick the characters you use the most). - Insert photo :: pick a photo or take a new one, and 1Writer will upload it to Dropbox and generate the Markdown-syntax to add it to your document--all in a single action! - Snippets :: TextExpander Touch support. - Custom URL actions :: insert a document template, encode a selection and replace the original text, look up synonyms and much more. - JavaScript :: create even more powerful custom actions using JavaScript—text manipulation, perform a find & replace, interact with the clipboard—the possibilities are endless. IMPORT - Sync with iCloud, Dropbox and WebDAV. - Share extension :: send text to 1Writer from other apps. In Safari, the extension uses the current URL, page title and selected text to create a new document. - Create, append, prepend, or replace text directly from other apps using the 1Writer URL scheme. EXPORT - CloudApp and Dropbox :: generate a link to share your document in plain text or PDF. - Evernote :: pick your notebook, add tags and turn a text selection or the entire document into a new, rich-text note. - Copy HTML :: put the formatted text for your document directly on the clipboard. - Custom actions :: open a web search, tweet a selection, save a series of items in a list and much more. PERSONALIZE - Support Dark Mode on iOS 13. - 2 dark themes for more comfortable reading and writing at night. - Choose from 20 different fonts. - Bookmark and sync the Dropbox/WebDAV folders you want to have quick access to the sub-folders and documents you need. - Use a passcode or Touch ID/Face ID to protect the app from unauthorized users. RESEARCH - In-app web browser :: research, look up information without having to leave the app. - Bookmarks :: create and access your favorite websites. - Save the current text selection to the clipboard in Markdown syntax. - 1Password support :: login to all your accounts using the 1Password extension. EVEN MORE GREAT FEATURES - Drag and drop. - Open in Place. - Multiple windows on iOS 13. - MultiMarkdown. - Search documents from Spotlight. - Find & replace within document. - Photo and PDF preview. - Today widget :: access your recent documents from the Notification Center or create a new document in one tap. - Checklist support :: create a list of things to do or topics to research, and easily check them off. - Full-text search and hashtag support :: search within a folder to find the document you need, and view related documents that have the same tag.

About

Markdown Maker

This app is a powerful yet user-friendly Markdown editor for Apple devices. It offers extensive formatting options, real-time previews, and supports various export formats. Organize, scan documents, and protect your work with security features.

Highlights
  • Markdown syntax highlighting
  • Real-time preview
  • Support for extra markups (tables, footnotes, MathML)
  • Export to PDF, HTML, PNG, TXT
  • iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive sync
  • Document organization
  • PDF reader and scanner
Features
Read full description

Markdown Maker is an innovative, flexible and powerful, yet easy to use, Markdown text editor for iPad and iPhone (and macOS with Apple Silicon). Our Markdown engine supports the standard syntax and it has been extended to include very useful extra markups items (MultiMarkdown): tables, footnotes, lists, images, links, highlight, strikethrough, superscript, MathML and more. Markdown Maker is compatible with MacDown, Ulysses, IA Writer, Mou, etc. documents on your computer too. + WRITE. FORMAT · Markdown Maker offers formatting assistance, such as syntax highlighting and coloration, to point out markup errors or missing markup elements. · Highly efficient Markdown rendering · Quick preview of the rendered document in real time when writing or editing · Extra markups: tables, footnotes, lists, images, links, highlight, strikethrough, superscript and MathML · Find and replace · Syntax highlighting · Insert special symbols arrows, parentheses, maths, bullets/stars, GPS location, etc. · Over 30 languages typing support including Japanese, Chinese, Arabic & Hebrew · Extra keys: tab, forward delete, cursor up/down/left/right, etc. · Live counters: characters, words, sentences, words per sentence & reading time · Dictation lets you speak text instead of typing + SHARE. EXPORT · Export, share and print your documents to multiple formats like Markdown, PDF, HTML, PNG, TXT, etc. · Auto-sync documents with other devices and computers via iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive or Box · Import/Export from iCloud, Dropbox, Box and Google Drive support · Zip folders/notebooks and email them as an attachment + ORGANIZE. STRUCTURE. FIND · Organize your work in unlimited notebooks, folders and subfolders · Design the cover of your notebooks + RESEARCH. SCAN. PDF LIBRARY · Full PDF reader and manager included for reference files, ebooks, articles, resources, papers, etc. · Use the camera of your iPad/iPhone to scan documents, notes, recipes, tickets, etc. as PDF · Use split-screen and multitasking side by side with other apps while writing + BE SAFE. PROTECT YOUR WORK · Protect your work with an app security passcode · Protect any folder or project with a passcode · Automatic Backups of your documents and projects Privacy Policy http://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html EULA https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

1Writer4 screens
Markdown Maker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Markdown Maker at Free against 1Writer's $4.99. Markdown Maker also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). 1Writer's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (84% vs 45%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Markdown Maker is free to download; 1Writer costs $4.99 up front. 1Writer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Markdown Maker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

1Writer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Writer has 388 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of 1Writer's written reviews are positive against 45% of Markdown Maker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

1Writer ships an update every 2 months, Markdown Maker every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
1Writer versus Markdown Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter1WriterMarkdown Maker
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (388 ratings) — better3.9 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings388 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#44 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB162 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNgoc LuuKairoos Solutions SL

Customer experience

1Writer

All ratings388 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews329 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative11.6%

Markdown Maker

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%

In-app purchases

5 purchases

1Writer

One-time5
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Nice Tip$2.99
  • Generous Tip$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Massive Tip$9.99
  • Amazing Tip$19.99
2 purchases

Markdown Maker

Subscriptions1
  • Markdown Unlock All and AI3 Days trial$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Markdown Maker Upgrade$3.99

Questions

Is 1Writer free?
1Writer costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Markdown Maker free?
Markdown Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 1Writer or Markdown Maker?
1Writer is rated higher. 1Writer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 388 ratings, while Markdown Maker averages 3.9 from 12 ratings.
Do 1Writer or Markdown Maker have ads?
Neither 1Writer nor Markdown Maker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 1Writer or Markdown Maker?
1Writer ships an update every 2 months, and Markdown Maker every 2 weeks. Most recently, 1Writer was updated on September 22, 2026 and Markdown Maker on August 26, 2026.

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