Writing apps for Mac and iPhoneHead to head
Scrivener vs iA Writer
Scrivener ranks #2 and iA Writer ranks #3 in our guide to the best writing apps for Mac and iPhone. Scrivener is the better pick for most people.
ScrivenerPick Scrivener if you're writing a novel, script or thesis and need sections you can rearrange beside your research.$59.99 once#3 in the guide
iA WriterPick iA Writer if you want a calm screen, plain Markdown files and a nudge when you lean on filler words.From $19.99What decides it
- iA Writer costs less over 3 years: $19.99, against $59.99 for Scrivener.
- Both run on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Side by side
Prices are checked every day.
| At a glance | Scrivener | iA Writer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 once for the Mac, with a 30-day free trial | $49.99 once on Mac, $19.99 on iPhone and iPad. 7-day free trial on Mac |
| How you pay | Pay once | Pay once |
| 3 years of use | $59.99 | $19.99 Cheaper |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| Where to buy | Developer, App Store | App Store, Developer |
| Rating | Too few ratings | 4.6 1.5K ratings |
| Features | Free trial, Family Sharing, Privacy | Family Sharing, Free trial |
| Made by | Literature & Latte | Information Architects AG |
| Last updated | 19 Dec 2025 | 29 Oct 2026 |
Who should get which
Get Scrivener if
You are writing a book, script or thesis and 1 long document has become hard to steer.
Get iA Writer if
You write long blog posts, essays or a book and want a calm screen and plain Markdown files.
Skip Scrivener if
You write blog posts and emails, where Pages or a plain Markdown editor gets you there faster.
Skip iA Writer if
You only jot quick notes, and Apple Notes does that free without a $49.99 price tag.
Our verdicts
Scrivener
If you are writing a novel, screenplay or thesis in 1 unwieldy document, Scrivener splits it into sections you shuffle like index cards, with research beside the draft. Word targets, snapshots and EPUB export round it out, but for blog posts and short essays it is far more app than you need. It is $59.99 once on the Mac, and the iPhone and iPad app costs $23.99 more and syncs only through Dropbox.
iA Writer
Write with everything but the current sentence dimmed, then run Style Check to flag clichés, filler words and clutter. iA Writer keeps every draft as a plain Markdown file and can show which text you typed and which you pasted or got from AI. You pay per platform, $49.99 on the Mac and $19.99 on iPhone and iPad, so Typora at $14.99 or the free MarkEdit cost far less for plain Markdown.
What each one helps you do
Scrivener
- Break a long manuscript into movable sections
- Keep research notes next to your draft
- Hit a daily word count target
- Export a finished book as EPUB or Word
iA Writer
- Write without toolbars and menus in the way
- Catch filler words and clichés before publishing
- See which text you typed versus pasted
- Keep every draft as a plain Markdown file
Where to get them
Scrivener
$59.99 once for the Mac, with a 30-day free trial
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From the developer30-day free trial that only counts the days you use it$59.99Get it
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Mac App Store$59.99Mac App Store
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iPhone and iPad appCompanion app on the App Store$23.99App Store
iA Writer
$49.99 once on Mac, $19.99 on iPhone and iPad. 7-day free trial on Mac
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App Store, iPhone and iPad$19.99App Store
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Mac App Store$49.99Mac App Store
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From the developer7-day free trial with no credit card; the Mac version is sold on the Mac App Store$49.99Get it
Neither one quite right?
The other picks in our guide to the best writing apps for Mac and iPhone.
UlyssesPick it if you run a blog or write long pieces and want every draft in 1 library that syncs.From $5.99
TyporaPick this if you write in Markdown but want the page to look finished while you type.$14.99 once
MarkEditPick it if you want a free Markdown editor that opens as fast as TextEdit, even with huge files.Free, open source
CraftPick this if your writing ends up as shared docs for clients, with tasks and AI alongside.Free to start
DraftsPick it if you need a blank page in under a second for ideas, then send them elsewhere to finish.Free to start
Read the full guideAll Scrivener alternativesAll iA Writer alternatives