1Writer vs PDF Indexer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
PDF Indexer
This app creates fast navigation for PDFs by turning title-to-page mappings into searchable indexes. It allows you to import mappings from various file formats and opens directly to the mapped page within the PDF. All data is stored locally on your device for privacy.
- Search across multiple indexed PDFs
- Exact, prefix, substring, and alias matching
- Jump directly to mapped pages
- Import mappings from CSV, JSON, XLSX, and text
- Page-offset calibration
- Mapping correction and export
- Local-first data storage
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PDF Indexer turns a separate title-to-page mapping into fast navigation for a PDF. Choose a PDF, add its index, and search titles across your library. On import, the app divides the PDF into private on-device sections at indexed title pages and removes its temporary full-size copy. A result opens only the matching section at the mapped PDF page. Page offsets handle documents whose printed page numbers do not match their PDF positions. Import mappings from CSV, JSON, XLSX, pasted text, or manual entry. Review validation warnings before saving, correct individual rows later, replace a mapping without copying the PDF again, and export a mapping as CSV or JSON. PDF Indexer is local-first. It needs no account and has no publisher-operated analytics or app-run cloud service. Your app library stays in private device storage unless you choose to export a mapping. The free app may show non-personalized banner ads after any required privacy choices. PDFs, mappings, titles, and searches are not sent to the ad service. See the Privacy Policy for operating-system backup details. Highlights: • Search across multiple indexed PDFs • Exact, prefix, substring, and alias matching • Jump directly to mapped pages • CSV, JSON, XLSX, pasted-text, and manual mapping input • Page-offset calibration and bounds validation • Mapping correction, replacement, and export • Missing-file recovery without losing the mapping • Light and dark appearance PDFs and mappings are supplied by the user. PDF Indexer does not include third-party books or indexes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PDF Indexer at Free against 1Writer's $4.99. PDF Indexer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). 1Writer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (388 vs 2). On 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
PDF Indexer is free to download; 1Writer costs $4.99 up front. 1Writer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. PDF Indexer asks for nothing beyond the download.
PDF Indexer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. 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.
1Writer ships an update every 2 months, PDF Indexer every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 1Writer | PDF Indexer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (388 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 388 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #118 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ngoc Luu | MATTHEW BYONG BAE |
Customer experience
1Writer
PDF Indexer
In-app purchases
1Writer
- Small Tip$0.99
- Nice Tip$2.99
- Generous Tip$4.99
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- Massive Tip$9.99
- Amazing Tip$19.99
PDF Indexer
No in-app purchases









