# Zoho Writer vs ShelfNest

The clearest difference is rating: ShelfNest at 5.0 against Zoho Writer's 2.9. Zoho Writer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (136 vs 2). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ShelfNest sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Zoho Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ShelfNest holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zoho Writer has 136 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zoho Writer | ShelfNest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoho-writer-document-editor/id808719064/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfnest/id6759811767/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **136** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 132 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Zoho Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/388384807) | [7 Forge Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874058834) |

## What reviewers say

### Zoho Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoho-writer-document-editor/id808719064)

Create and edit documents with a clean, distraction-free interface. Collaborate with others in real-time, import and export various file formats, and access your work across all devices. Your changes are automatically saved and synced.

**Highlights:** Create and edit documents, Real-time collaboration, Import/export MS Word, PDF, ODT, Sync across devices, Offline access, Automatic saving

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface design
- 🔒 Privacy-focused alternative to Google Docs
- 📝 Good font variety and formatting options
- 💾 Automatic document saving
- 🌐 Cross-platform functionality (desktop, mobile, web)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- ⚠️ Severe data loss issues
- 🐢 Significant lag and slow typing response
- ❌ Missing core formatting features on mobile
- 🔐 Permission and access errors

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on document open
- Cursor jumps randomly in document
- Keyboard disappears during typing
- Punctuation disappears after saving
- Text erased or goes missing

**Requested features**

- Dark mode for mobile app
- Text wrapping around images
- Adjustable image sizing
- Cover page and page formatting options
- Document list view (not just icon view)


### ShelfNest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfnest/id6759811767)

Organize your physical book collection with this fast, simple home library tracker. Scan books with your camera to instantly add details, create custom lists, and track books by child or room. Designed for parents and book lovers to bring calm order to their shelves.

**Highlights:** ISBN barcode scanning, Auto-fill book details, Custom library lists, Track books by child/room, Personal notes and favorites, Light & dark mode, iCloud sync (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Pro | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zoho Writer free?

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

### Is ShelfNest free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zoho Writer or ShelfNest?

ShelfNest is rated higher. Zoho Writer averages 2.9 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while ShelfNest averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Zoho Writer or ShelfNest have ads?

Neither Zoho Writer nor ShelfNest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zoho Writer or ShelfNest?

Zoho Writer ships an update every 3 weeks, and ShelfNest every 3 weeks. Most recently, Zoho Writer was updated on October 16, 2026 and ShelfNest on October 1, 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.*