Apps and tools for a calm, enjoyable life

iA Writer

$29.99

iA Writer is a writing app that provides a clean, distraction-free interface with a focus mode and markdown support to simplify writing tasks.

Our take

Simplicity meets functionality.

Alright, so let's talk about iA Writer. At first glance, it’s a super clean and minimalist text editor, which is both refreshing and a bit, I dunno, stark? It’s like walking into a room with white walls and a single chair. It’s great if distractions drive you nuts. No bells and whistles here, just you and the text. However, if you're the type who loves having a million features at your fingertips, you might feel a bit starved for options.

The interface is straightforward. You open it, and you're greeted by a blank canvas. The focus mode is pretty neat, too—it dims everything except the sentence you're working on. I found this handy for getting into a writing groove without my eyes wandering. But let's be real, if you're someone who likes to have multiple tabs open or needs to flip through research, you might find switching back and forth a little clunky.

One of iA Writer's standout features is the Markdown support. If you’re into Markdown, you’ll love how it handles formatting without breaking your flow. It’s like you’re writing in plain text, but when you export it, everything looks polished. But if Markdown is Greek to you, there might be a bit of a learning curve. It's not impossible to learn, but you’ve got to be willing to put in a bit of time to get the hang of it.

Now, let's talk about organization. iA Writer isn’t really built for managing tons of documents. You can make folders and stuff, but if you’re looking for an app that helps you tag, categorize, and search through a library of work, this might not be your best bet. It’s more for those who just want to write and worry about the rest later. So if you're okay with a simpler approach to keeping track of your docs, you’ll probably be fine.

Overall, iA Writer is a solid choice if you're looking for a distraction-free writing environment. It strips away the excess and gives you a nice, focused space to work in. But remember, it’s not about having all the tools—it's about having the right ones for what you need. If minimalism and Markdown are your thing, you'll probably dig it. Otherwise, you might find yourself wishing for a bit more substance in the features department.

Free with Premium Options

Free with in-app purchases