- Price
- $29.99–$49.99 once
- Status
- Active · Android discontinued (2024)
- Maker
- iA (Information Architects)
- Facts checked
Image: iA — official share image, used for identification
iA Writer at a glance: 8.1/10 (Great). A distraction-free Markdown editor you buy once. Price: $29.99–$49.99 once. Best for: Writers who want a distraction-free Markdown editor they pay for once, on Mac, Windows or iPad/iPhone. Biggest drawback: Each platform is a separate purchase, and major updates may cost extra.
Verdict
iA Writer is a writing app that removes nearly everything: no toolbars, no popups, just your text and a Focus Mode that dims all but the current sentence. Its Authorship feature, which separates what you typed from what you pasted or generated, feels newly relevant. You pay once per platform, and Android is gone.
Get it if
You write long-form and want a calm, fast Markdown editor with no subscription.
Skip it if
You need a full word processor, collaboration, or an Android app.
Overview
iA describes itself as a small, bootstrapped company and says Writer has been around for 15 years, named App of the Year four times, and an Apple Design Award finalist in 2025. The editor is plain-text Markdown with a styled preview and export to HTML, PDF and Word via templates.
Two features stand out today. Style Check flags clichés, filler and clutter on-device. Authorship marks what you typed versus what you pasted or got from AI — useful whether you avoid generative AI (as TechRadar’s 2026 roundup of AI-free tools does) or just want to track it.
Pricing is one-time: $49.99 on Mac, $29.99 on Windows, $49.99 on iPhone and iPad, each with a 7-day trial. The Android app was discontinued in 2024 over Google Play policy changes, as Thurrott reported.
What it does
- Focus Mode highlights the current sentence or paragraph
- Authorship: marks typed text versus pasted or AI text
- Style Check flags clichés, fillers and clutter, on-device
- Plain-text Markdown with a styled Preview
- Export to HTML, PDF or Word; custom templates
- Minimal UI: no buttons, popups or title bar
Plans & platforms
| Pricing model | One-time purchase per platform |
|---|---|
| Mac | $49.99 |
| Windows | $29.99 |
| iPhone & iPad | $49.99 |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Data format | Plain-text Markdown |
| Android | Discontinued |
Pricing as listed by iA pricing page (one-time, per platform). Prices change; check before you buy.
The good
- Clean writing environment that gets out of the way; used by several Zapier staff for notes and long articles Zapier
- Stripped-down, very fast, with superb export options and no built-in generative AI TechRadar
- One-time purchase with no subscription on Mac, Windows and iOS iA (Information Architects) (official)
The bad
- Each platform is a separate purchase, and major updates may cost extra iA (Information Architects) (official)
- Fewer features by design; not a full word processor iA (Information Architects) (official)
- No Android support: the app was abandoned over Google Play policy changes Thurrott
What reviewers say
TechRadar picks iA Writer among AI-free tools for real writing, calling it stripped-down and fast with superb export options.
Score breakdown
Five criteria, each 0–10, weighted into the overall score (see weights).
Questions people ask
Is iA Writer worth it in 2026?
We rate iA Writer 8.1/10 (Great). iA Writer is a writing app that removes nearly everything: no toolbars, no popups, just your text and a Focus Mode that dims all but the current sentence. Its Authorship feature, which separates what you typed from what you pasted or generated, feels newly relevant. You pay once per platform, and Android is gone.
How much does iA Writer cost?
Mac: $49.99; Windows: $29.99; iPhone & iPad: $49.99. Prices from iA’s official pricing page, checked Oct 31, 2026.
What platforms does iA Writer run on?
macOS, Windows, iOS, iPadOS.
What are the best alternatives to iA Writer?
Raycast (8.2/10, Free · Pro $10/mo).
Is there a iA Writer discount or coupon?
20% education discount on iA Writer for Mac & Windows.
Sources
- iA Writer Pricing ia.net · accessed Oct 31, 2026
- iA Writer product page ia.net · accessed Oct 31, 2026
- iA Writer Legacy for Android (support) ia.net · accessed Oct 31, 2026
- 7 AI-free writing tools (TechRadar, 2026-02-04) techradar.com · accessed Oct 31, 2026
- Favorite writing apps and tips (Zapier) zapier.com · accessed Oct 31, 2026
- iA Writer abandons Android (Thurrott, 2024-10-05) thurrott.com · accessed Oct 31, 2026
