Softwr

Productivity · head to head

iA Writer vs Kahoot

iA Writer logo

iA Writer

Productivity

Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kahoot logo

Kahoot

Productivity

Make learning awesome with game-based quizzes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: iA Writer pricing varies by platform: Windows $29.99 while Mac/iPhone/iPad cost $49.99, creating $20 premium for Apple platforms; Kahoot no free tier available; all plans are paid subscriptions starting at $19/month
  • They diverge on capability: iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, Kahoot covers Quiz games.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iA Writer and Kahoot actually diverge.

Attributes where iA Writer and Kahoot differ
AttributeiA WriterKahoot
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, WebCloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
Founded20082012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in iA Writer

  • Distraction-free writing
  • Markdown editing
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Dark and light themes
  • Cross-platform sync
  • Typewriter mode
  • Focus mode
  • Statistics

Only in Kahoot

  • Quiz games
  • Surveys
  • Puzzles
  • Word clouds
  • Live games
  • Self-paced challenges
  • Reports
  • Question bank

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

iA Writer

  • Distraction-free writing and note-taking applicationnot Kahoot
  • Markdown document creation and editingnot Kahoot
  • Cross-platform writing with iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Windows supportnot Kahoot

Kahoot

  • Interactive quizzes and learning assessments for educationnot iA Writer
  • Employee training and development programsnot iA Writer
  • Conference and event audience engagementnot iA Writer
  • Team building and company-wide meetingsnot iA Writer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

iA Writer

  • Pricing varies by platform: Windows $29.99 while Mac/iPhone/iPad cost $49.99, creating $20 premium for Apple platforms
  • One-time purchase model means major version updates may require additional payment beyond initial purchase
  • Update schedule uncertain, making it unclear when new versions become available and whether paid upgrades will be required

Kahoot

  • No free tier available; all plans are paid subscriptions starting at $19/month
  • Participant limit increases significantly with plan tier, from 50 to 5,000 maximum

Pricing, plan by plan

iA Writer

Free
  • Free TrialFree
    • 7-day free trial
    • Mac and Windows
    • No credit card required
  • Windows$29.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees
  • Mac$49.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees
  • iPhone & iPad$49.99/one-time
    • One-time purchase via App Store
    • Own it forever
    • No subscription fees

Kahoot

Free
  • Kahoot! 360 Pro Start$19/month
    • Up to 50 participants per session
    • Interactive quizzes and polls
    • Basic hosting
  • Kahoot! 360 Pro Standard$25/month
    • Up to 200 participants per session
    • Brainstorms and word clouds
    • Slide syncing and Q&A
  • Kahoot! 360 Pro Plus$49/month
    • Up to 1,000 participants per session
    • Courses with certificates
    • NPS surveys
  • Kahoot! 360 Pro Max$69/month
    • Up to 2,000 participants per session
    • Custom theming
    • Immersive branding

Which should you pick?

Choose iA Writer if

  • You need distraction-free writing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want markdown editing.
iA Writer review

Choose Kahoot if

  • You need quiz games.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android).
  • You also want surveys.
Kahoot review

Questions people ask

Is iA Writer or Kahoot better?
Neither clearly leads. iA Writer starts at Free and Kahoot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iA Writer or Kahoot?
iA Writer starts at Free and Kahoot at Free.
Does iA Writer or Kahoot run on more platforms?
iA Writer runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web. Kahoot runs on Cloud-based SaaS, Mobile apps (iOS, Android).
Can I use iA Writer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is iA Writer best used for?
iA Writer is most often used for distraction-free writing and note-taking application, markdown document creation and editing, cross-platform writing with ipad, iphone, mac, and windows support. Of those, distraction-free writing and note-taking application and markdown document creation and editing are not what Kahoot is typically brought in for.
What can iA Writer do that Kahoot cannot?
iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown editing, Syntax highlighting, Dark and light themes. Kahoot covers Quiz games, Surveys, Puzzles, Word clouds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iA Writer: How much does iA Writer cost?

iA Writer costs $29.99 one-time for Windows, $49.99 one-time for Mac, and $49.99 one-time for iPhone & iPad. A 7-day free trial is available with no credit card required.

Source
Kahoot: What is the cheapest Kahoot plan and what audience size does it support?

Kahoot! 360 Pro Start is $19 per month (or $228 annually) and supports up to 50 participants per session. It includes interactive quizzes, polls, basic hosting, and AI kahoot creation.

Source
iA Writer: What is iA Writer's licensing model?

iA Writer uses a one-time purchase model where customers pay once per platform and own the software forever with no subscription required, though major updates may require additional payment.

Source
Kahoot: Which Kahoot plan supports the largest audience, and what is its participant limit?

Kahoot! 360 Pro Ultra is the top tier at $79 per month (or $948 annually) and supports up to 5,000 participants per session. It includes full AI assistant access, event consultation, commercial licensing, and large document processing up to 500 pages.

Source
iA Writer: Do minor updates cost extra for iA Writer?

Minor updates are included with the one-time purchase, while major updates may require additional payment. The update schedule is uncertain.

Source
Kahoot: How much does a Kahoot plan cost annually if I pay upfront?

Annual pricing is available for all plans and includes a discount: Pro Start is $228/year ($19/month), Pro Standard is $300/year ($25/month), Pro Plus is $588/year ($49/month), Pro Max is $828/year ($69/month), and Pro Ultra is $948/year ($79/month).

Source
iA Writer: Are there educational discounts for iA Writer?

Educational customers receive a 20% discount on Mac and Windows purchases made directly from iA, equaling approximately $39.99 for Mac and $23.99 for Windows.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on iA Writer

More on Kahoot

Keep looking

Other head to heads