# Shift Editor & Quick Lookup vs Ember

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shift Editor & Quick Lookup at none against Ember's 3. Shift Editor & Quick Lookup also leads on ratings volume (11 vs 3) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 26.0). Ember's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 11 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ember sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Shift Editor & Quick Lookup asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ember holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 3 respectively.

Shift Editor & Quick Lookup ships an update every 11 months, Ember every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shift Editor & Quick Lookup | Ember |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-editor-and-quick-lookup/id903319066/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-markdown-notes/id6761983097/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 15 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Lincoln](https://appshunter.io/developer/721184128) | [Rene DeAnda](https://appshunter.io/developer/1414957609) |

## What reviewers say

### Shift Editor & Quick Lookup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-editor-and-quick-lookup/id903319066)

This app streamlines writing and referencing by integrating a browser with customizable text display. It offers smart Markdown shortcuts, multiple customizable presets for editing and viewing, and robust version control for documents. The app prioritizes a clean, distraction-free writing experience with advanced typography options.

**Highlights:** Integrated browser with custom color schemes, Smart Markdown shortcuts, Customizable presets for editing and viewing, HTML preview sync, Dropbox repository browsing, Automatic document versioning, Advanced typography options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ember

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-markdown-notes/id6761983097)

A fast and organized workspace for writing Markdown notes, storing PDFs, diagrams, and voice memos. It offers a vault for reusable prompts and syncs across Apple devices. Start for free with full editor access.

**Highlights:** Rich Markdown editor, Inline PDF and image support, Reusable prompt vault, Daily notes, folders, and tags, Instant search functionality, Private iCloud sync, Share Extension

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ember Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Ember Pro Annual | $34.99 | per year |
| Ember Pro Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shift Editor & Quick Lookup free?

Shift Editor & Quick Lookup is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ember free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shift Editor & Quick Lookup or Ember?

Ember is rated higher. Shift Editor & Quick Lookup averages 4.6 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Ember averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Shift Editor & Quick Lookup or Ember have ads?

Neither Shift Editor & Quick Lookup nor Ember shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shift Editor & Quick Lookup or Ember?

Shift Editor & Quick Lookup ships an update every 11 months, and Ember every 10 days. Most recently, Shift Editor & Quick Lookup was updated on October 21, 2026 and Ember on October 9, 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.*