Comparison

1Writer vs Notelane

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
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

Notelane

This app allows you to write and edit notes using markdown with live formatting. It stores your notes as standard .md files in any folder you choose, including cloud storage, and offers features like wikilinks, tags, revision history, and note statistics.

Highlights
  • Live markdown rendering
  • Supports local and cloud storage
  • Wikilinks for note connection
  • Tag-based organization
  • Revision history
  • PDF export
  • Note statistics
Features
Read full description

Write in markdown and see your formatting come to life as you type — headings, bold, italic, links, code blocks, checklists, and more — all rendered inline. Your files. Your folders. Your way. Notelane works directly with the files on your device. On first launch, pick any folder — local storage, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or any connected cloud provider visible in the Files app. Your notes stay as standard .md files, fully portable and never locked in. Write with clarity A distraction-free editor with live formatting that renders your markdown as you type. No toggle between "edit" and "preview" — just write. Store notes anywhere Pick any folder on your device or in the cloud. Notelane works with iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or any storage provider visible in the Files app. Connect your thinking Link notes together with [[wikilinks]] and organize with #tags to build your own personal knowledge base — no complex setup required. Stay in control Revision history lets you restore previous versions of any note. PDF export and sharing are built in. A trash bin keeps deleted notes recoverable. Organize your way Nested folders, pinning, and tag-based filtering keep everything tidy. A clean sidebar puts your entire library one tap away. Note statistics Word count, character count, paragraphs, and estimated reading time — always available at a glance. Your writing deserves a home that respects simplicity. Notelane is that home.

Screenshots

1Writer4 screens
Notelane4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Notelane at Free against 1Writer's $4.99. Notelane also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). 1Writer's advantage is ratings volume (393 vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notelane holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Writer has 393 ratings behind it against 5, 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 100% of Notelane's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

1Writer ships an update every 2 months, Notelane every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
1Writer versus Notelane: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter1WriterNotelane
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (393 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings393 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB19 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperNgoc LuuAsterios Digital GmbH

Customer experience

1Writer

All ratings388 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews330 reviews
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative11.5%

Notelane

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
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

Notelane

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 1Writer free?
1Writer costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Notelane free?
Notelane is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 1Writer or Notelane?
Notelane is rated higher. 1Writer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 393 ratings, while Notelane averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do 1Writer or Notelane have ads?
Neither 1Writer nor Notelane shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 1Writer or Notelane?
1Writer ships an update every 2 months, and Notelane every 2 weeks. Most recently, 1Writer was updated on November 1, 2026 and Notelane on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons