1Writer vs iA Writer

1Writer

• Writing Markdown on an iPhone or iPad with files kept in Dropbox, iCloud Drive or WebDAV
• People who automate text work with JavaScript actions or URL schemes
• Anyone who wants an editor bought once, with no subscription

iA Writer

• Writers who want a bare Markdown editor with no toolbars
• People who want to see which text they typed and which they pasted from AI
• Buyers who prefer a one-time payment to a subscription

1Writer

• iPhone and iPad only: there is no Android, Windows or web version, and on the Mac it runs only as the iPad app on Apple silicon.
• There is no free version or trial; the app costs $4.99 up front on the US App Store.
• The App Store version history lists only bug-fix releases since April 2021; the most recent is version 3.3.8 from September 2025.

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.

1Writer

Markdown editing with inline preview

Plain-text and Markdown files show their formatting inline while you write, with a full rich-text preview when you are done. MultiMarkdown is supported.

Sync with iCloud Drive, Dropbox and WebDAV

Pick the Dropbox or WebDAV folders to sync, or sync them all. Changes made offline sync at the next connection, and a document started on a Mac in iCloud Drive can be continued in 1Writer.

Custom actions in JavaScript

Built-in actions can be extended with your own, written in JavaScript or built on the onewriter:// URL scheme, which supports the x-callback-url protocol.

Sharing and export

Generate a link to a document as plain text or PDF, email it as plain text, formatted text or PDF, or copy its HTML to the clipboard.

In-app web browser

Look things up without switching apps, and copy a selection from a web page to the clipboard as Markdown in one action.

Customizable keyboard row

An extra row above the keyboard holds navigation, formatting and special characters, and can be assigned the actions you use most.

iA Writer

Focus Mode

Highlights the sentence or paragraph being written and fades the rest of the document, in an interface with no buttons or title bar.

Authorship

Tracks what was typed and what was pasted. Your own words stay black and white, AI text appears in color and other authors in subtle tones.

Style Check

Flags clichés, fillers and clutter and leaves the decision to cut them with the writer. The check runs on the device.

Plain text with Markdown

Documents are plain text formatted with Markdown. A Preview shows the styled result using a template, and links, pictures and tables can be embedded.

Export

Copies a document as HTML or exports it to PDF or Microsoft Word. The iPhone and iPad listing also names WordPress and Medium as export targets.

1Writer

• 1Writer$4.99

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  The full app for iPhone and iPad. The in-app purchases are optional tips from $0.99 to $19.99, and the release notes say no update has been charged for.

iA Writer

• iPhone & iPad$19.99

  one-time payment, App Store only

  The iPhone and iPad app, sold only through the App Store. Requires iOS 15 or later.

• Windows$29.99

  one-time payment

  Bought directly from iA and usable on more than one Windows PC. Requires Windows 10 or later.

• Mac$49.99

  one-time payment

  Bought directly from iA or on the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 10.15 or later.

1Writer

No public discounts listed.

iA Writer

• Education

  20% educational discount on direct purchases

  iA offers a 20% educational discount on the Mac and Windows versions bought directly from it. App Store copies get education pricing on 20 or more licenses through Apple School Manager.