Comparison

1Writer vs c.Notes

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

c.Notes

A CalDAV client for synchronizing notes across devices using the iCalendar VJournal format. Keep your notes on the same servers as your calendar events and contacts.

Highlights
  • CalDAV synchronization
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • iCalendar VJournal format
  • Notes, calendar, and contact integration
  • Server-side note storage
Read full description

c.Notes is a CalDAV client that lets you synchronise your notes across all devices, regardless of platform, using the iCalendar VJournal format on CalDAV servers as backend. Keep your notes on the same servers and in the same format as your calendar events, todo items and contacts.

Screenshots

1Writer4 screens
c.Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 1Writer at 4.6 against c.Notes's 4.0. 1Writer also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 50%) and ratings volume (388 vs 2). c.Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, update cadence, 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

1Writer costs $4.99 and c.Notes $4.99 up front. 1Writer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. c.Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

1Writer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Writer has 388 ratings behind it against 2, 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 50% of c.Notes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

1Writer ships an update every 2 months, c.Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
1Writer versus c.Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter1Writerc.Notes
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating4.6 (388 ratings) — better4.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings388 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#92 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB2 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNgoc Luusubnetz.computing

Customer experience

1Writer

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

c.Notes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

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
None

c.Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 1Writer free?
1Writer costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is c.Notes free?
c.Notes costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 1Writer or c.Notes?
1Writer is rated higher. 1Writer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 388 ratings, while c.Notes averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.
Do 1Writer or c.Notes have ads?
Neither 1Writer nor c.Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 1Writer or c.Notes?
1Writer ships an update every 2 months, and c.Notes monthly. Most recently, 1Writer was updated on October 12, 2026 and c.Notes on September 25, 2026.

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