Comparison

WriteOn Lite vs Margin Writer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

WriteOn Lite

This app helps writers create and manage their writing projects, from novels to short stories. It allows you to track progress, set word count goals, and monitor daily writing statistics. Share your achievements on social media or export your work via email.

Highlights
  • Novel and short story writing
  • Progress tracking
  • Daily word count goals
  • Chapter word count breakdown
  • Social media sharing
  • Customizable day/night modes
  • Project backup and restore
Features
Read full description

WriteOn Lite lets writers use their iPhone or iPad to write their novel, short story, or other writing project and track their progress at the same time. Notebook computer too heavy to lug around? Want to write a scene or chapter while you're out and about sans computer? Have unexpected down time while waiting on someone else? Going to a write-in after work or school and don't have the room to lug your notebook computer? Writing on the go has never been easier! Whether you're writing flash fiction or a novel, on your own or as part of a challenge like NaNoWriMo or the 3-Day Novel Contest, WriteOn Lite can handle your writing needs. Have multiple writing projects going on at the same time? No problem! Have multiple writing projects each with many chapters? Still no problem! But that's not all! WriteOn Lite lets you track your writing progress on each project. Name your project, set a target date and a target word count and the app will calculate how many days you have left until your target date and how many words you need to write each day to meet your goal. The statistics screen tells you at a glance how much you've written, how many days you've written, how many words you wrote each day on average, and the percentage complete for your project. WriteOn Lite also lets you see all the word count for each individual chapter for your project on the Chapters screen. See at a glance which chapter may need beefing up, or which chapter can use a bit of trimming :) Want to send a copy of your project to your friend or loved one? Go right ahead and send it via email! Tweet about your daily writing progress. Or post on Facebook with your daily word count. Keep your various social streams informed. Rub your progress in their faces even! WriteOn Lite also has an option which allows you to switch between customizable day and night modes. You can set the text colour and the background colour you want for each mode and switch to the appropriate one - for instance, when you're working at night while a loved one sleeps next to you. Additionally, WriteOn Lite allows you to backup all your projects via e-mail, to DropBox or any other iOS app which supports receiving data from another app. You can later restore these backups by simply tapping on the attachment on e-mail or selecting the backup file in another app and selecting the option to open the file in WriteOn. Your writing projects are always safe with WriteOn! WriteOn Lite is ad-supported, but has the same functionality as the paid version. If you don't like the ads, there's a one-time in-app purchase which allows you to remove all ads from the app forever!

About

Margin Writer

Features
Read full description

Margin helps you keep writing. Margin is a writing-habit app designed to help you show up consistently. Whether you are working on a first draft or finishing a manuscript, Margin provides the structure, tracking, and motivation needed to build a sustainable daily practice. Protect Your Momentum Consistency is the hardest part of writing. Margin uses a unique Word Bank system to reward your high-output days. When you exceed your daily target, you accumulate words in your bank that can be used to protect your streak on the days you can't make it to the keyboard. A Focused Manuscript Workspace Ditch the messy folders and scattered notes. Margin provides a structured environment for your creative work: Daily Writing Targets: Set a global word count goal and track your daily progress. Chapter Management: Organize your manuscript into clear, manageable chapters. Character & Location Notes: Keep your world-building details and supporting artefacts right alongside your draft. Progress Dashboard: View your streak state, contribution history, and visual progress at a glance. PDF Export: Request a professional PDF export of your active project whenever you are ready. Build the Habit Margin is built to keep your goals top-of-mind: Daily Reminders: Set up to three reminder times to ensure you never miss a session. Mobile Notifications: Get push alerts for analysis updates, rewards, and collaboration events. Seamless Sync: Securely sign in with Email Magic Link, Google, or Apple to keep your work synced across devices. Unlock Margin Pro Take your manuscript further with advanced analysis and writer-to-writer accountability: AI Analysis: Get reflective feedback and high-level overviews of your story, including contradiction surfacing and character analysis. Multi-Project Support: Manage up to 20 active projects simultaneously. Writer Collaboration: Invite friends by email to share goals, join challenges, and stay motivated with a 7-day consistency leaderboard. Premium Rewards: Unlock the premium rewards lane to celebrate your milestones. Import Tools: Quickly start new projects with initial .docx import. Margin is a supportive writing-habit app. Pro features provide reflective AI analysis and feedback; Margin does not autonomously generate content for you.

Screenshots

WriteOn Lite4 screens
Margin Writer4 screens

Verdict

The call

WriteOn Lite and Margin Writer are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. WriteOn Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Margin Writer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
WriteOn Lite versus Margin Writer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWriteOn LiteMargin Writer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB44 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperPink Zombie Studios Inc.Hedley Jackson

In-app purchases

1 purchases

WriteOn Lite

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$4.99
2 purchases

Margin Writer

Subscriptions2
  • Margin Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Margin Pro Annual$39.991 Year

Questions

Is WriteOn Lite free?
WriteOn Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Margin Writer free?
Margin Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do WriteOn Lite or Margin Writer have ads?
Neither WriteOn Lite nor Margin Writer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WriteOn Lite or Margin Writer?
WriteOn Lite ships an update monthly, and Margin Writer monthly. Most recently, WriteOn Lite was updated on September 24, 2026 and Margin Writer on October 5, 2026.

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