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Productivity · head to head

iA Writer vs OmniFocus 3

iA Writer logo

iA Writer

Productivity

Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Productivity

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$74.99/mo
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only iA Writer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • They diverge on capability: iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iA Writer and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where iA Writer and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeiA WriterOmniFocus 3
Starting priceFree$74.99/mo
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, WebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
Founded20081993

Identical on both: pricing model (one-time), 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 OmniFocus 3

  • GTD-based task organization
  • Projects and subprojects
  • Contexts and tags
  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation
  • Quick entry
  • Sync across devices
  • Deferred and due dates

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 OmniFocus 3
  • Markdown document creation and editingnot OmniFocus 3
  • Cross-platform writing with iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Windows supportnot OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus 3

  • Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot iA Writer
  • Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot iA Writer
  • Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot 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

OmniFocus 3

  • Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
  • The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
  • Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
  • The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access

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

OmniFocus 3

$74.99/mo
  • Standard License$74.99/mo
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro access
    • All 4.x updates included
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Pro License$149.99/mo
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro access
    • All 4.x updates included
    • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Subscription (all platforms + web)$99.99/year
    • Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, web access
    • All Pro features
  • Web-only Subscription$4.99/month
    • Web access only

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 OmniFocus 3 if

  • You need gtd-based task organization.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
  • You also want projects and subprojects.
OmniFocus 3 review

Questions people ask

Is iA Writer or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. iA Writer starts at Free and OmniFocus 3 at $74.99/mo, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iA Writer or OmniFocus 3?
iA Writer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for iA Writer and $74.99/mo for OmniFocus 3.
Does iA Writer or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
iA Writer runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Android, Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
Can I use iA Writer for free?
Yes. iA Writer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus 3 starts at $74.99/mo.
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 OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
What can iA Writer do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
iA Writer covers Distraction-free writing, Markdown editing, Syntax highlighting, Dark and light themes. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.

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
OmniFocus 3: How much does OmniFocus cost?

OmniFocus offers perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro) for one-time purchase, or subscriptions at $99.99/year for all platforms plus web, or $4.99/month for web-only access.

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
OmniFocus 3: Does OmniFocus offer a free trial?

OmniFocus includes a 14-day free trial for download, and a 30-day money-back guarantee applies to perpetual licenses.

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
OmniFocus 3: What platforms does a single OmniFocus license cover?

A single OmniFocus perpetual license includes access across Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

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
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