# Scrivener vs Writing Space

The clearest difference is price: Writing Space at Free against Scrivener's $23.99. Writing Space also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Scrivener's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Writing Space is free to download; Scrivener costs $23.99 up front. Writing Space sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Scrivener asks for nothing beyond the download.

Writing Space holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.6K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Scrivener's written reviews are positive against 44% of Writing Space's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, Writing Space monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scrivener | Writing Space |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $23.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrivener/id972387337/reviews) | **[4.4 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-space-books-and-scripts/id1532954998/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | **45.6% of reviews** | 43.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Literature & Latte](https://appshunter.io/developer/418889514) | [Mealico LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532841768) |

## What reviewers say

### Scrivener

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrivener/id972387337)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Paid · Productivity, #90 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app is a comprehensive writing tool designed for long-form manuscripts. It allows users to compose text in any order, manage research materials alongside their writing, and export to various formats. It supports flexible outlining and restructuring of content.

**Highlights:** Manuscript composition in sections, Research material integration, Flexible outlining and reorganization, Export to multiple formats, Interactive tutorial, Project-wide search

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Writing Space

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-space-books-and-scripts/id1532954998)

This app is a distraction-free word processor designed for writers. It offers customizable themes, rich formatting, and progress tracking to help users finish projects faster. Share or publish your work online with ease.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing mode, Customizable themes and templates, Rich text formatting options, Progress tracking with word count, Automatic backups and cloud sync, Inline notes for thoughts, Dark mode

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Full Access | $1.99 | per month |
| Discounted Full Access | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Unlimited Full Access | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Unlimited Full Access | $11.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Organized writing
- 👍 Customizable book covers and fonts
- 🚀 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Great for beginners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and glitches
- 🔒 Inability to access or recover lost work
- 👎 Limited free chapters
- 👎 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Syncing and backup issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to upgrade
- Chapters and writing disappearing
- Inability to type after using backspace
- Bluetooth keyboard compatibility issues

**Requested features**

- Add ability to import/export files
- Implement cursor movement and text selection
- Integrate grammar/spelling checks
- Allow more than 5 free chapters
- Add option to share/publish stories


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scrivener free?

Scrivener costs $23.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Writing Space free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scrivener or Writing Space?

Writing Space is rated higher. Scrivener averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Writing Space averages 4.4 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Scrivener or Writing Space have ads?

Neither Scrivener nor Writing Space shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scrivener or Writing Space?

Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, and Writing Space monthly. Most recently, Scrivener was updated on November 11, 2026 and Writing Space on November 7, 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.*