Comparison

Just Write vs Happy Squid

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

Head to head
About

Just Write

A minimalist text editor designed to streamline the writing process. It supports both RTF and TXT formats, offering rich text editing and Markdown support. Sync your work across devices with iCloud integration.

Highlights
  • RTF and TXT file support
  • Markdown styling
  • iCloud file syncing
  • Rich text editing tools
  • Multiple themes
  • Smart selection tool (iPad)
Features
Read full description

Just Write text editor aims to simplify writing process. The app is carefully designed so that the only things that are absolutely essential to the writing process are included. Just Write supports RTF (rich text format) and TXT (plain text format) that are cross-platform formats you can open and edit in virtually any platforms. + RTF , a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) format, is best suitable for creating your next big story. + While TXT, supported Markdown styles, is best for notes, outline, to-do list and anything else you do with a plaintext format. Just Write has iCloud support (opt-in) so you can sync your rtf and txt files across all your devices. RTF editing features include: - Font size increase and decrease - Text color selection - Text style editing such as Bold, Italic, Underline and Strikethrough - Text alignments: Left, Right, Center, Justified - Undo, Redo - Move arrow to jump the cursor - Selection tool to select paragraph, sentence and word super fast and easy (iPad only). Using smart selection tool, you can select paragraph, sentence and word in just 1 tap!!!!!! TXT editing features include: - Accessory row includes many characters essential to writing Markdown. - Multiple fonts to choose from - Preview Markdown (in left menu) - Three themes (Light, Dark, Sepia) - Support plain text format extensions: txt, text, md, mmd, markdown, markdn, mdown, mkdn, markd, fountain - Selection tool to select paragraph, sentence and word super fast and easy (iPad only). Using smart selection tool, you can select paragraph, sentence and word in just 1 tap!!!!!! * Note: Just Write is supported by ads, but you can buy an in app purchase to remove the ads.

About

Happy Squid

This intelligent website blocker allows you to block distracting sites while enabling access to specific content through custom exceptions. It helps users focus on their work by blocking unrelated websites and allows scheduling of focused work sessions.

Highlights
  • Block any website
  • Add intelligent exceptions
  • Block by category
  • Lock blocks for duration
  • Schedule free time
  • Focus on specific tasks
Features
Read full description

Happy Squid is the world’s first intelligent website blocker. Traditional blockers are designed to block websites without exceptions. When you need to watch a lecture for class or want to find a recipe, they won’t let you. Happy Squid understands the difference between distractions and the content you need. Say you want to block YouTube, Reddit, Netflix, or any other site that distracts you too often. When setting up your blocks, you can add your own exceptions for each site. Happy Squid makes sure the content you see when visiting the site fits the exception you picked. This way you can block addictive sites while preserving access to the content that’s worthwhile. Happy Squid’s Features: • Block any website • Add intelligent exceptions to blocked websites so you can still access what you need. Happy Squid makes sure the content you visit fits the exception. • Explain to Happy Squid what you want to work on. Happy Squid blocks all unrelated websites while allowing the ones you need. • Block entire categories of websites by choosing from predefined lists • Lock your blocked websites for a set duration • Schedule Free Time in advance and enjoy a break while keeping your blocks in place Learn more about every feature at https://happy-squid.com/documentation and about how we process your information at https://www.happy-squid.com/privacy. Our Terms of Service can be found at https://www.happy-squid.com/terms. Any questions or feedback? Send us a message at support@happy-squid.com. We would love to hear from you. If you enjoy Happy Squid, we would appreciate a 5-star review. It helps others discover Happy Squid too.

Screenshots

Just Write4 screens
Happy Squid4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Happy Squid at none against Just Write's shown. Happy Squid also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). Just Write's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 1) and rating (4.3 vs 4.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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. Just Write sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Happy Squid sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Just Write holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Just Write has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Just Write's written reviews are positive against 100% of Happy Squid's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Just Write ships an update every 11 days, Happy Squid every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Just Write versus Happy Squid: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJust WriteHappy Squid
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.8K ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.8K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTung VuBrunnel Maar Zinn GbR

Customer experience

Just Write

All ratings1,749 ratings
Positive83.8%
Neutral4.7%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews426 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.0%
Negative25.4%

Happy Squid

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Just Write

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and data loss
  • Inability to reopen saved documents
  • Unreliable auto-save functionality
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Implement more font and formatting choices
  • Introduce paragraph spacing and indentation controls
  • Integrate spell check and grammar tools
  • Enable file syncing across devices
Show 2 more
  • Add image/multimedia support
  • Provide better file management and organization

Happy Squid

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Just Write

One-time1
  • No Ads$6.99
2 purchases

Happy Squid

Subscriptions2
  • Happy Squid Pro7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Happy Squid Pro7 Days trial$35.991 Year

Questions

Is Just Write free?
Just Write is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Happy Squid free?
Happy Squid is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Just Write or Happy Squid?
Just Write is rated higher. Just Write averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Happy Squid averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Just Write or Happy Squid have ads?
Just Write shows ads; Happy Squid does not.
Which is updated more often, Just Write or Happy Squid?
Just Write ships an update every 11 days, and Happy Squid every 9 days. Most recently, Just Write was updated on November 11, 2026 and Happy Squid on October 31, 2026.

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