The Stylus Labs Write Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Stylus Labs Write in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Stylus Labs Write
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source handwriting word processor for desktop and mobile
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Stylus Labs Write’s own pages.
Made by Stylus Labs · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Stylus Labs Write’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Stylus Labs Write’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Write, from Stylus Labs, is an open-source app that the vendor describes as a word processor for handwriting. It recognizes lines of handwritten text, so inserting space reflows a paragraph and the eraser and selection tools can work a line at a time, and it adds bookmarks, handwritten links and an undo/redo dial. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad and saves documents as SVG files. The desktop and Android versions are free downloads, and the iOS app has a paid full version.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Stylus Labs Write, taken from its own pages and our grades.
If you want typing or sync built in, look elsewhere.
- 1
Best for handwritten notes you can edit like typed text
Stylus Labs Write is a handwriting app where you can insert space and erase a line at a time, so handwritten pages reflow like typed text.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $8.99 one-time for the full iOS version; free on desktop and Android.
- 3
There is a free plan
The Windows, macOS, Linux and Android versions are free downloads. The free iPhone and iPad app shows a watermark on each page until the full version is bought.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
Tools that follow lines of handwriting
Insert Space adds blank lines or room between words and reflows the paragraph, including multicolumn layouts. Ruled erase and select work on whole lines of writing in one pass.
- 6
Bookmarks and handwritten links
A bookmark dropped beside text appears in a bookmark view for navigation. Handwritten links can point to bookmarks, web sites or other documents.
- 7
Undo/redo dial
A dial moves backward and forward through an unlimited undo history with one continuous motion instead of repeated taps.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 129 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Stylus Labs Write you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Stylus Labs Write at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8.99 one-time for the full iOS version; free on desktop and Android
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Stylus Labs
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 301 ratings
The report card
Best for handwritten notes you can edit like typed text
Stylus Labs Write is a handwriting app where you can insert space and erase a line at a time, so handwritten pages reflow like typed text. It's free on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android and $8.99 once on iPhone and iPad. But it can't edit typed text, there's no built-in sync or web app, Google Play updates stopped in 2021, and the free iPad app watermarks every page. If you want typing or sync built in, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free outright on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android, where paid plans in this category sit at $6 a month in the middle. On iPhone and iPad the full version is $8.99 once, about a month and a half of a typical rival, and nothing recurs. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Four of the five platforms are free downloads with nothing held back, and the code is on GitHub under AGPL-3.0. Only the iPhone and iPad app is limited, and only by a watermark on each page until you buy the full version. |
| Features | C | Insert Space reflows a handwritten paragraph, erase and select work a line at a time, a dial winds back through unlimited undo, and there are bookmarks, handwritten links and split view. But the FAQ names two real gaps: it cannot edit typed text at all, and there's no sync built in. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.8 from about 300 App Store ratings, well short of the 1,000 ratings an A needs behind it. Off the iPad there's setup too: sync means pointing a third-party tool at your documents folder, and the current Android build is an APK from the vendor's site rather than Google Play. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad, with documents saved as SVG files any browser can show. No web app, though, and nothing connects the devices for you: the FAQ points you at Syncthing, Nextcloud or cloud folders in the iOS Files app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Stylus Labs Write is for
- Fits if you write by hand with a stylus on Windows, Linux or Android and want SVG files
- Works for people who tidy handwriting afterwards by adding space and moving lines
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to mix typing with handwriting, as it can't edit typed text
- Not for you if you expect sync out of the box, because the FAQ points you to Syncthing, Nextcloud or cloud folders
- Tight if you're on the free iPad app, since every page carries a watermark until you pay $8.99
- Watch out: Google Play updates have been suspended since December 2021, so the current Android build is an APK from the vendor's site
- Not for you if you want your notes in a browser, since there's no web app
Good to know
Good for
- People who take handwritten notes on both a tablet and a desktop computer
- Stylus users on Linux or Windows who want an open file format
- Editing handwriting after the fact: inserting space, moving and reflowing lines
Worth knowing
- Typed text is not supported: the FAQ says Write can display text in an SVG document but cannot edit it.
- There is no built-in sync; the FAQ suggests syncing the document folder with a third-party tool, or saving to cloud folders in the iOS Files app.
- Google Play updates are suspended, and that listing was last updated in December 2021; the current Android build is an APK from the vendor's site.
- The free iOS app watermarks every page until the $8.99 full version is bought.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Stylus Labs Write has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 one-time for the full iOS version; free on desktop and Android.
Only the iPhone and iPad app is limited, and only by a watermark on each page until you buy the full version.
Write for desktop and Android
$0
Windows, macOS, Linux and Android builds downloaded from the vendor's site. The source code is on GitHub under the AGPL-3.0 license.
Stylus Labs Write (iOS)
$0
The free iPhone and iPad app, which the download page calls the trial version. It puts a watermark on each page.
Full version (iOS)
$8.99
one-time in-app purchase (US App Store)
Removes the watermark from the free iPhone and iPad app.
Stylus Labs Write Pro
$8.99
one-time purchase (US App Store)
The iPhone and iPad app sold as a paid download instead of an in-app upgrade. Family Sharing covers up to six people.
The free plan
The Windows, macOS, Linux and Android versions are free downloads. The free iPhone and iPad app shows a watermark on each page until the full version is bought.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Full version”, against $8.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $11.99 | $8.43 | 6% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 599.00 | $9.54 | 6% more |
| Indonesia | Rp 179ribu | $10.01 | 11% more |
| Turkey | ₺499,99 | $10.17 | 13% more |
| Germany | 9,99 € | $11.19 | 25% more |
| United Kingdom | £8.99 | $11.89 | 32% more |
| Brazil | R$ 59,90 | $11.97 | 33% more |
| South Africa | R199.99 | $12.10 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Open-source handwriting word processor for desktop and mobile. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, real-time collaboration, notes, whiteboard.
But the FAQ names two real gaps: it cannot edit typed text at all, and there's no sync built in.
- Tools that follow lines of handwriting
- Insert Space adds blank lines or room between words and reflows the paragraph, including multicolumn layouts. Ruled erase and select work on whole lines of writing in one pass.
- Bookmarks and handwritten links
- A bookmark dropped beside text appears in a bookmark view for navigation. Handwritten links can point to bookmarks, web sites or other documents.
- Undo/redo dial
- A dial moves backward and forward through an unlimited undo history with one continuous motion instead of repeated taps.
- SVG documents
- The native format is SVG, which any modern web browser can display. Documents are plain files that can also be saved as HTML or exported to PDF.
- Shared whiteboarding
- Several people can work on a document in real time through a whiteboard server. The vendor publishes the server and recommends running it on your own network.
- Split view, clippings and pens
- Two documents, or two parts of one, can be open side by side. Frequently used content is saved as clippings, and pens, page size, color and ruling can be customized.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- iCloud
- Syncthing
- Nextcloud
- Apple Pencil
Stylus Labs Write is made by Stylus Labs.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
129/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Stylus Labs Write's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Stylus Labs Write’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 147
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Stylus Labs Write you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade. It costs $8.99, paid once. Stylus Labs Write is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- An endless canvas that stays smooth with hundreds of things on it.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- Hooks into the device itself: handwriting.
What this rests on. Stylus Labs Write’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Xournal++, Rnote, Saber, Linwood Butterfly and Squid
The 5 tools Stylus Labs Write is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Xournal++
Free
Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop.
- Only Stylus Labs Write lists iOS and Android apps.
- Stylus Labs Write also covers whiteboard.
- 3.0GPA
Rnote
Free
Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus.
- Only Stylus Labs Write lists iOS and Android apps.
- Stylus Labs Write also covers whiteboard.
- 3.0GPA
Saber
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs.
- Saber is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Stylus Labs Write also covers whiteboard.
- 3.2GPA
Linwood Butterfly
Free
Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas.
- Only Stylus Labs Write lists an iOS app.
- Only Linwood Butterfly lists a web app.
- Linwood Butterfly is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Squid
Free plan · from $1.00
Handwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks.
- Only Stylus Labs Write lists Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS apps.
- Stylus Labs Write is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Stylus Labs Write free?
Stylus Labs Write has a free plan. The Windows, macOS, Linux and Android versions are free downloads.
How much does Stylus Labs Write cost?
Stylus Labs Write lists 4 plans. Write for desktop and Android: $0.
What platforms does Stylus Labs Write work on?
Stylus Labs Write is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
How is Stylus Labs Write rated?
Stylus Labs Write's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 301 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Is Stylus Labs Write open source?
Yes. Stylus Labs Write is open source, according to its own site.
What does Stylus Labs Write integrate with?
Stylus Labs Write's listing names iCloud, Syncthing, Nextcloud and Apple Pencil.
Who makes Stylus Labs Write?
Stylus Labs Write is made by Stylus Labs.
What are the alternatives to Stylus Labs Write?
The closest alternatives to Stylus Labs Write in our directory are Xournal++, Rnote, Saber, Linwood Butterfly and Squid.
How does Stylus Labs Write compare with other note-taking apps?
Stylus Labs Write's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of Stylus Labs Write?
The plain part of Stylus Labs Write you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Stylus Labs Write’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Stylus Labs' own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-21.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Stylus Labs. Prices change, so check styluslabs.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Stylus Labs Write, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/stylus-labs-write
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Stylus Labs Write: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/stylus-labs-write
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/stylus-labs-write/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Stylus Labs Write, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Stylus Labs Write’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Stylus Labs Write is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Stylus Labs. Prices and plans change: check styluslabs.com before you buy.