# 1Writer vs Zavala

The clearest difference is price: Zavala at Free against 1Writer's $4.99. Zavala also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). 1Writer's advantage is chart position (#118 vs unranked) and ratings volume (388 vs 68). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Zavala is free to download; 1Writer costs $4.99 up front. 1Writer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Zavala asks for nothing beyond the download.

Zavala holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Writer has 388 ratings behind it against 68, 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 88% of Zavala's.

1Writer ships an update every 2 months, Zavala every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1Writer | Zavala |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (388 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1writer-markdown-text-editor/id680469088/reviews) | **[4.8 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zavala/id1546457750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **388** | 68 |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | **87.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#118** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ngoc Luu](https://appshunter.io/developer/476810735) | [Vincode, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434335357) |

## What reviewers say

### 1Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1writer-markdown-text-editor/id680469088)

**Currently charting:** #118 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nice Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Massive Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $19.99 | one-time |


### Zavala

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zavala/id1546457750)

This app offers a modern approach to outlining, providing a full suite of features. It supports gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and multiple windows for efficient organization and content creation. Easily import and export in various formats, sync across devices, and customize your outlining experience.

**Highlights:** OPML Import & Export, Markdown Export, iCloud Syncing & Sharing, Nested Tags, Image Embedding, Keyboard Shortcuts, Drag and Drop

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1Writer free?

1Writer costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Zavala free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 1Writer or Zavala?

Zavala is rated higher. 1Writer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 388 ratings, while Zavala averages 4.8 from 68 ratings.

### Do 1Writer or Zavala have ads?

Neither 1Writer nor Zavala shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 1Writer or Zavala?

1Writer ships an update every 2 months, and Zavala every 2 weeks. Most recently, 1Writer was updated on October 16, 2026 and Zavala on October 17, 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.*