# iA Writer vs SolarWriter

The clearest difference is price: SolarWriter at Free against iA Writer's $19.99. iA Writer's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

SolarWriter is free to download; iA Writer costs $19.99 up front. SolarWriter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iA Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.

iA Writer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iA Writer has 1.5K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of iA Writer's written reviews are positive against 60% of SolarWriter's.

iA Writer ships an update every 2 weeks, SolarWriter every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iA Writer | SolarWriter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ia-writer/id775737172/reviews)** | [3.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solarwriter/id997410577/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **73.0% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#25** | — |
| Size | 70 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Information Architects AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/775737175) | [Cool S, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/997410576) |

## What reviewers say

### iA Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ia-writer/id775737172)

**Currently charting:** #25 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

A distraction-free writing environment designed to help you focus on your words. It offers features like Focus Mode, plain text writing with HTML preview, and robust organization tools. Customize your writing experience and export to various formats.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing environment, Focus Mode for enhanced concentration, Plain text writing with HTML preview, Document organization and search, Customizable keyboard layout, Export to various formats (Word, PDF, HTML, WordPress, Medium)

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Distraction-free writing experience
- 👍 Elegant and minimalist design
- 💡 Helpful syntax highlighting and formatting tools
- 🚀 Seamless sync across devices
- 👍 Reliable and stable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and sync issues
- 🔒 Limited cloud storage integration options
- 👎 Lack of advanced organization and navigation features
- 👎 Subpar text selection and cursor control
- 👎 Dated app icon and visual design

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain files
- Sync issues leading to data loss
- Formatting problems when exporting to other formats

**Requested features**

- Improved cloud storage integration (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
- Enhanced file management and organization tools
- Better text selection and cursor control
- More customization options for appearance and layout
- Integrated outline/table of contents view


### SolarWriter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solarwriter/id997410577)

Transform your e-reader into a portable typewriter for outdoor writing. This app connects your keyboard to your e-reader's screen, allowing you to type comfortably on e-ink displays in bright sunlight. Save and share your work easily.

**Highlights:** E-reader integration, External keyboard support, Outdoor writing on e-ink screens, Text mirroring to e-reader, File saving and sharing, Detailed setup instructions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SolarWriter Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iA Writer free?

iA Writer costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SolarWriter free?

SolarWriter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iA Writer or SolarWriter?

iA Writer is rated higher. iA Writer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while SolarWriter averages 3.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do iA Writer or SolarWriter have ads?

Neither iA Writer nor SolarWriter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iA Writer or SolarWriter?

iA Writer ships an update every 2 weeks, and SolarWriter every 5 months. Most recently, iA Writer was updated on October 29, 2026 and SolarWriter on October 24, 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.*