Verdict
1Writer is a markdown editor built around syncing to your own storage (Dropbox, iCloud, WebDAV, Nextcloud) rather than a proprietary cloud, which is why people use it alongside apps like Obsidian without paying for another sync service. Reviews consistently praise the file import/export and sync flexibility, though a minority report syncing bugs and occasional crashes with Dropbox.
Best for
Someone already using Dropbox, iCloud, or a self-hosted WebDAV/Nextcloud setup who wants a markdown editor that plugs into that storage without adding another subscription for sync.
Dealbreaker
A recurring minority of reviewers report sync breaking or files failing to stay connected, especially with Dropbox and iCloud folders, plus occasional crashes when switching files.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$4.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.6★ (392)
Version
3.3.8
Last updated
Sep 24, 2025
Released
Aug 14, 2013
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Productivity, Utilities
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Import and export72 reviews
Sync and multi-device54 reviews
Ease of use and design15 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls5 reviews
Works offline2 reviews
Notifications and reminders2 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Complained about
Sync and multi-device8 reviews
Crashes and stability3 reviews
Import and export3 reviews
Confusing interface2 reviews
Where this comes from
72 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
54 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
54 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Works offlineApp Store reviews ›
Listed at $4.99 once on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
Note-taking apps you buy once ›Writing and note apps with no monthly charge.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is a single purchase. None of them can start charging you monthly for what you already bought. Also with a catch.
$19.99 once · 4.6★ (1,543) · Updated Oct 25, 2026
Verdict. iA Writer is a clean, focused Markdown editor with iCloud sync that many reviewers call calm and distraction-free. Some users report crashes and freezing, especially with non-iCloud cloud drives or long documents.
Best for. Someone writing Markdown documents on iPhone or iPad who keeps everything in iCloud Drive and wants a plain, clutter-free editor rather than a full word processor.
Dealbreaker. Several reviewers report freezing, crashing, or scroll-sync problems when working with non-iCloud cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive.
$23.99 once · 4.2★ (2,605) · Updated Sep 29, 2023
Verdict. Scrivener is a serious long-form writing tool with real organizational depth, but its mobile syncing via Dropbox is unreliable for a large share of users, and crashes on iPad are common enough to worry about.
Best for. A novelist or screenwriter who structures long manuscripts on a Mac and mainly wants the iPad app as a secondary writing tool, not their primary workspace.
Dealbreaker. Syncing between devices via Dropbox frequently breaks or causes conflicts, and a meaningful number of reviewers report crashes that make the iPad app unusable for periods of time.
$5.99 once · 4.4★ (180) · Updated Apr 9, 2020
Verdict. The plainest of these. Markdown, a clean sheet, and files that live in iCloud or Dropbox rather than inside the app.
Best for. A writer who already keeps plain-text files in a folder and wants a tidy place to edit them on a phone.
Dealbreaker. Syncing is where it falls down — nineteen of the last two hundred reviews describe it hanging on download or crashing when opening a file it did not create itself.