iA Writer vs JotterPad

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

JotterPad

• Writers who draft in Markdown or Fountain across a phone, a tablet and a computer
• Students formatting APA or MLA papers with BibTeX citations
• Screenwriters who need Final Draft (.fdx) 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.

JotterPad

• Cloud sync, Fountain and LaTeX files, Word and Final Draft export and blog publishing need a paid plan, and free PDFs carry a watermark.
• No Windows or Linux app is listed: there are apps for Android, iPhone, iPad and Mac, and a web editor for other computers.
• Prices depend on where you buy: the website lists $3.33 a month billed annually, the US App Store $29.99 a year or $6.99 a month.
• The vendor says canceled subscriptions and the lifetime purchase are not refunded.

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.

JotterPad

Markdown, Fountain and LaTeX editing

Documents are written in lightweight markup and shown formatted as you type. LaTeX support is labeled beta, and Fountain files need a paid plan.

Templates for papers, books and scripts

Templates lay a document out as an APA or MLA paper, a novel, a screenplay, a report, a letter or presentation slides when it is printed to PDF.

Cloud sync and offline work

Pro Cloud syncs files with Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive, plus iCloud on Mac and iOS. The apps keep working offline and sync once back online.

Citations with BibTeX

Citations are added by uploading Bib files or pasting BibTeX into a Markdown document, then printed as references in APA, MLA, Chicago or AMA style.

Export and blog publishing

Exports to Word, PDF, Final Draft (.fdx), HTML and ePub, and can send a piece to Ghost, WordPress or Tumblr as a draft or a published post.

Plugins and Wizard A.I.

Plugins add mind maps, Mermaid diagrams, music notation and TeX or chemistry equations. Wizard A.I., built on GPT-3, drafts outlines, summaries and paraphrases.

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.

JotterPad

• Free$0

  Limited access: Markdown editing, file import and Unsplash images. PDFs print with a watermark, and cloud sync and Fountain files are not included.

• Pro Cloud (App Store)$29.99

  per year, or $6.99 per month, as an in-app purchase

  The Pro Cloud subscription bought inside the iPhone, iPad and Mac app, at the prices on the US App Store listing.

• Pro Cloud (web)$3.33

  per month, billed annually

  Sold on jotterpad.app. Unlocks the Android, iOS, Mac and web apps with cloud sync, Fountain and LaTeX files, and Word and Final Draft export.

• Pro$24.99 - $49.99

  in-app purchase on the App Store; basis not shown

  Two purchases named Pro on the US App Store listing. The help center describes Pro and Creative as lifetime licenses for one platform, without cloud sync.

• Pro Cloud (Lifetime)$159.99

  one-time purchase

  Pro Cloud without a subscription, sold on jotterpad.app. The vendor says it cannot be canceled or refunded.

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.

JotterPad

• Lifetime license

  Pro Cloud lifetime purchase for $159.99

  The Pro page sells Pro Cloud (Lifetime) as a single $159.99 payment in place of the subscription. It cannot be canceled or refunded.

• Annual discount

  About 64% less with annual billing on the App Store

  The US App Store listing prices Pro Cloud at $29.99 per year or $6.99 per month, which comes to $83.88 over twelve months.