Alternatives · Writing
iA Writer alternatives
iA Writer compared with 12 alternatives: Ulysses, Typora, 1Writer, Bear, Calmly Writer and 7 more.
iA Writer is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac. 7 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| iA WriterThis tool | Free trial · from $19.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Ulysses | Free trial · from $39.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Typora | Free trial · from $14.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| 1Writer | From $4.99 one-time | No | iOS |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Calmly Writer | Free plan · from $16.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| Cold Turkey Writer | Free plan · from $14.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows |
| FocusWriter | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| ghostwriter | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| JotterPad | Free plan · from $29.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Markdown Monster | Free trial · from $99 one-time | Trial only | Windows |
| MarkText | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Minimal | Free trial · from $4.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from iA Writer
- Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Ulysses
Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
- Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing.
Suits: Writers who work only on Apple devices and want their texts on all of them
- Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Typora
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type
- Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Only Typora lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: People who write Markdown and want to see formatted text as they type
- From $4.99 one-time
1Writer
Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad with scriptable actions
- 1Writer starts at $4.99 one-time on the App Store. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and Windows apps.
- 1Writer also covers notes.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Writing Markdown on an iPhone or iPad with files kept in Dropbox, iCloud Drive or WebDAV
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Bear
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links
- Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Bear has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free plan · from $16.99 one-time
Calmly Writer
Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase
- Calmly Writer starts at $16.99 one-time (Android); $23.90 one-time for Windows, Mac and Linux. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Calmly Writer has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Calmly Writer lists a web app.
- Only Calmly Writer lists Linux and Android apps.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
Suits: Writers who want a blank page and very few controls
- Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Cold Turkey Writer
Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met
- Cold Turkey Writer starts at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro). iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- Cold Turkey Writer also covers focus music.
- iA Writer also covers Markdown and grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who want everything else on the computer shut out until a quota is done
- Free
FocusWriter
Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux
- FocusWriter is free. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- FocusWriter has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only FocusWriter lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and iOS apps.
- FocusWriter is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Writers who want a full-screen page with nothing else on it
- Free
ghostwriter
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
- ghostwriter is free. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ghostwriter lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and iOS apps.
- ghostwriter is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Linux and Windows users who want a free Markdown editor
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
JotterPad
Markdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays
- JotterPad starts at $29.99 per year on the App Store; $3.33 per month billed annually on the web. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- JotterPad has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only JotterPad lists a web app.
- Only JotterPad lists an Android app.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
Suits: Writers who draft in Markdown or Fountain across a phone, a tablet and a computer
- Free trial · from $99 one-time
Markdown Monster
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows
- Markdown Monster starts at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license). iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and iOS apps.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Windows users who write documentation or blog posts in Markdown
- Free
MarkText
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering
- MarkText is free. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- MarkText has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MarkText lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Writers who want Markdown rendered as they type, without a split preview
- Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Minimal
Meditation-inspired writing and notes app for Apple devices
- Minimal starts at $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year. iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Minimal also covers notes and tasks.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who want a quiet, sparse page on Apple devices
Limits worth knowing in iA Writer
- Each platform is a separate purchase: Mac, Windows, and iPhone and iPad are bought individually.
- The Android app was removed from sale in September 2024, and iA says it is not planning a web-based version.
- A one-time payment covers the current version; minor updates are free, but major updates may cost extra.
- The 7-day free trial is offered for Mac and Windows only.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to iA Writer?
The alternatives to iA Writer in this directory are Ulysses, Typora, 1Writer, Bear, Calmly Writer, Cold Turkey Writer, FocusWriter, ghostwriter, JotterPad, Markdown Monster, MarkText and Minimal. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with iA Writer.
Is there a free alternative to iA Writer?
Yes. FocusWriter, ghostwriter and MarkText are free to use. Bear, Calmly Writer, Cold Turkey Writer and JotterPad have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which iA Writer alternatives work on Linux?
The iA Writer listing does not include a Linux app. Typora, Calmly Writer, FocusWriter, ghostwriter and MarkText list one.
Which iA Writer alternatives work on Android?
The iA Writer listing does not include an Android app. Calmly Writer and JotterPad list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to iA Writer?
FocusWriter, ghostwriter and MarkText are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.