# iA Writer

> Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode

iA Writer is a plain-text Markdown writing app with a deliberately bare interface: no toolbars or popups, only the text. Focus Mode dims everything but the current sentence or paragraph, Style Check flags clichés and filler words, and Authorship marks which text was typed and which was pasted in from AI or another author. It is sold as a one-time payment per platform for Mac, Windows, and iPhone and iPad.

- **Category:** Writing Tools
- **Made by:** Information Architects AG (since 2010)
- **Website:** https://ia.net/writer
- **Runs on:** macOS, Windows, iOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

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.

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** 7-day free trial for Mac and Windows, no credit card required. No trial is listed for iPhone and iPad.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. |

Read from https://ia.net/writer/pricing on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with iA Writer before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **20% educational discount on direct purchases** (Education): 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. Source: https://ia.net/writer/pricing

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

- 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.

## What people say

- **App Store rating of the iPhone and iPad app:** 4.6 out of 5 from 1,538 ratings in the United States, read Oct 5, 2026. This is the store's rating of the app, not a score from ToolGPA. Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id775737172

## Works with

WordPress, Medium

**Tags:** Markdown, One-time purchase, Grammar & style

## Alternatives

- [Ulysses](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ulysses): Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ia-writer-vs-ulysses)
- [Typora](https://toolgpa.com/tools/typora): Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ia-writer-vs-typora)
- [1Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/1writer): Markdown editor for iPhone and iPad with scriptable actions. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/1writer-vs-ia-writer)
- [Bear](https://toolgpa.com/tools/bear): Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/bear-vs-ia-writer)
- [Calmly Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/calmly-writer): Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/calmly-writer-vs-ia-writer)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://ia.net/writer/pricing
- https://ia.net/writer
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ia-writer/id775737172
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ia-writer/id775737590
- https://ia.net/writer/support/basics/faq
- https://ia.net/writer/support/help/writer-classic

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/ia-writer
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).