# Zoho Writer vs Google Docs

The clearest difference is rating: Google Docs at 4.8 against Zoho Writer's 2.9. Google Docs also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 30%) and ratings volume (3.2M vs 136). Zoho Writer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year. Zoho Writer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Google Docs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.2M ratings behind it against 136, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 30% of Zoho Writer's written reviews are positive against 70% of Google Docs's.

Zoho Writer ships an update every 3 weeks, Google Docs weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zoho Writer | Google Docs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoho-writer-document-editor/id808719064/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 136 | **3.2M** |
| Positive reviews | 29.8% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#9** |
| Size | 132 MB | 348 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zoho Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/388384807) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## 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)


### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Productivity, #57 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaboration, Offline editing, Template library, Multiple file type support, AI-powered drafting, Commenting and action items

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and accessible
- 👍 Seamless collaboration
- 🔒 Automatic saving
- 💡 Offline functionality
- 👍 Versatile for various uses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
- 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
- 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected crashes and document loss
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Issues with image insertion and manipulation

**Requested features**

- Improved document organization with folders
- Expanded font and formatting options
- Better integration with Microsoft Office
- Smoother scrolling and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zoho Writer free?

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

### Is Google Docs free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zoho Writer or Google Docs?

Google Docs is rated higher. Zoho Writer averages 2.9 out of 5 from 136 ratings, while Google Docs averages 4.8 from 3.2M ratings.

### Do Zoho Writer or Google Docs have ads?

Neither Zoho Writer nor Google Docs shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zoho Writer or Google Docs?

Zoho Writer ships an update every 3 weeks, and Google Docs weekly. Most recently, Zoho Writer was updated on September 7, 2026 and Google Docs on September 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.*