Calmly Writer vs iA Writer
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Calmly Writer
Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase
iA Writer
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode
Where they differ
- 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.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
At a glance
| Calmly Writer | iA Writer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $16.99 one-time (Android); $23.90 one-time for Windows, Mac and Linux | $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac |
| Free plan | Calmly Writer Online: a free browser editor with no signup, with auto-save in the browser, word count, typewriter sounds, dark mode and Markdown. It has only a subset of the apps' features. | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of the desktop app with all features. Afterwards documents open and export, but editing needs a license. | 7-day free trial for Mac and Windows, no credit card required. No trial is listed for iPhone and iPad. |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Calmly Studio | Information Architects AG |
| Price read from | calmlywriter.com | ia.net |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Calmly Writer
- Writers who want a blank page and very few controls
- People who like Markdown but not seeing its syntax
- Buyers who prefer a single payment to a subscription
- Households that mix Windows, Mac and Linux computers
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
Worth knowing
Calmly Writer
- The desktop license does not cover Android; the Android app is a separate purchase on Google Play with no trial.
- No iPhone or iPad app is listed.
- Files are local with no cloud service of its own; the site suggests saving into a Dropbox or Google Drive folder to sync.
- The free online version is a limited preview without backups, comments, writing targets or PDF export.
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.
Key features
Calmly Writer
- WYSIWYG Markdown
- Markdown is rendered as it is typed, so the syntax is never on screen: headings, tables and lists look formatted. Selecting text brings up a toolbar.
- Focus mode and full screen
- A focus mode and a full-screen mode, each with a keyboard shortcut, strip the window down to the text being written.
- Counts and writing targets
- Shows word and character counts with custom targets, plus reading time and a table of contents built from the document's headings.
- Tabs, autosave and backups
- Several documents stay open in tabs. Each is saved automatically and gets its own permanent backups and previous versions.
- File formats
- Opens and saves HTML, plain text, Markdown and its own .calmly format, imports Word .docx files and exports to .docx and PDF.
- Typewriter sounds and themes
- Optional typewriter sounds, smart punctuation, a customizable caret and five color themes, with an Open Dyslexic mode and right-to-left support.
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.
Plans
Calmly Writer
Calmly Writer Online$0
A lightweight browser version for quick edits, with no account. It lacks backups, previous versions, writing targets, comments and PDF export.
Android app$16.99
one-time purchase on Google Play
The full app for Android 7.0 or later phones, tablets and Chromebooks. No trial; a 30-day money-back guarantee applies.
Desktop license$23.90
one-time purchase
One license for Windows, Mac and Linux on up to three computers at once, with all future updates and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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.
Ways to pay less
Calmly Writer
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.
