iA Writervs
Todoist
Todoist: The world's #1 task manager and to-do list app
iA Writer
Distraction-free markdown writer with powerful focus mode
As of 30 August 2026, iA Writer has a free plan and paid plans start at $29.99/one-time. iA Writer is a minimal and focused markdown editor designed for writers. Softwr lists it under Productivity. iA Writer is made by iA, launched in 2008, available on macOS, iOS, Android, Web.
Overview
What iA Writer does
iA Writer is a minimal and focused markdown editor designed for writers. With simple yet powerful tools, syntax highlighting, and intelligent features, iA Writer helps you focus on writing without distractions. Available on all platforms with seamless sync.
What people use it for
- Distraction-free writing and note-taking application
- Markdown document creation and editing
- Cross-platform writing with iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Windows support
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of iA Writer
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- iA WritervsOmniFocus 3
OmniFocus 3: Professional task management for complex workflows
- iA WritervsThings 3
Things 3: The award-winning personal task manager
- iA WritervsBrain.fm
Brain.fm: Scientifically-designed music to enhance focus and productivity
Pricing
What iA Writer costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Free Trial
Free
- 7-day free trial
- Mac and Windows
- No credit card required
- Full write, edit, and export access
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
Capabilities
Features
Distraction-free writing
Markdown editing
Syntax highlighting
Dark and light themes
Cross-platform sync
Typewriter mode
Focus mode
Statistics
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceWhat 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.
SourceDo 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.
SourceAre 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.
SourceBehind it
Who makes iA Writer
- Company
- iA
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
Keep looking
Where to go from iA Writer
- iA Writer alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- iA Writer pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- iA Writer badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Productivity softwareThe full category
- Best Productivity softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Productivity software for
Compare iA Writer with
- Todoist
- Brain.fm
- Things 3
- OmniFocus 3
- Ulysses
- Bear Notes
- TickTick
- Coggle
- Any.do
- Forest
- Lazy
- Reflect
- Gamma
- Granola
- Habitica
- LibreOffice
- MeetGeek
- Lazy
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for iA Writer, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on iA Writer
iA Writer alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
iA Writer pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
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