Key takeaways
- Industry-standard focused writing app with 2+ million users since 2010
- One-time purchase ($50 Mac, $30 Windows, $20 iOS) with no subscription
- Unique AI Authorship feature tracks AI-generated vs human-written text
FAQ
What is iA Writer?
iA Writer is a minimalist markdown writing app designed for distraction-free writing, available on Mac, iOS, Windows, with Focus Mode and syntax highlighting features.
How much does iA Writer cost?
iA Writer costs $49.99 for Mac, $29.99 for Windows, and $19.99 for iOS/iPad as one-time purchases with no subscription.
Who competes with iA Writer?
Key competitors include Ulysses, Bear, Obsidian, and Byword in the markdown writing app space.
Executive Summary
iA Writer is the benchmark markdown writing app, first released in 2010 for iOS and now available across Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad. Created by Information Architects (iA), a Swiss-Japanese design agency founded in 2005, the app pioneered distraction-free writing with features like Focus Mode, syntax highlighting, and a signature blue cursor. John Gruber, creator of Markdown, has called it his "favorite iOS app for writing in Markdown."
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Information Architects AG |
| Founded | 2005 (iA Writer: 2010) |
| Funding | Bootstrapped |
| Employees | ~15-20 |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland & Tokyo, Japan |
Product Overview
iA Writer separates writing from formatting, letting users focus entirely on words rather than styling. The app uses plain text with Markdown syntax, exporting to PDF, Word, HTML, and other formats when needed. Its minimalist philosophy—fewer features by design—has earned it four Apple App of the Year awards and a 2025 Apple Design Award finalist nomination.
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Focus Mode | Highlights current sentence/paragraph, fades everything else |
| Syntax Highlight | Color-codes adjectives, nouns, verbs to improve writing |
| Style Check | Flags clichés, fillers, and redundant words |
| AI Authorship | Tracks and displays AI-generated vs human-written text |
| Content Blocks | Include images, tables, and other files in documents |
Product Surfaces / Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Native Mac app | GA |
| iOS/iPadOS | iPhone and iPad app | GA |
| Windows | Windows app via Microsoft Store | GA |
| Android | Discontinued in 2024 | Discontinued |
Technical Architecture
iA Writer is built natively for each platform—Objective-C for Apple platforms, C for Windows. All processing happens locally on-device with no cloud backend required.
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Storage | Local files + iCloud/Dropbox/Google Drive sync |
| Format | Plain text Markdown (.md, .txt) |
| Export | PDF, DOCX, HTML, WordPress, Micropub |
| Open Source | No (Proprietary) |
Strengths
- Benchmark design — The original distraction-free writing app, refined over 15+ years with exceptional typography
- One-time purchase — No subscription; buy once and own it forever per platform
- AI transparency — Unique Authorship feature visually distinguishes AI-pasted text from human writing
- Cross-platform — Native apps for Mac, iOS, and Windows with consistent experience
- Professional endorsement — Used by journalists, authors, and academics worldwide; praised by Markdown creator John Gruber
Cautions
- Separate purchases — Must buy each platform separately ($50 Mac + $30 Windows + $20 iOS = $100 total)
- No Android — Android app discontinued in 2024 due to Google API policy issues
- Limited organization — Lacks advanced features like tags, linking, or knowledge graphs found in Obsidian
- No templates — Minimal document templates compared to full word processors
- Not for collaboration — Single-user focused; no real-time collaboration features
Pricing & Licensing
| Platform | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | $49.99 | One-time purchase |
| iOS/iPadOS | $19.99 | One-time purchase |
| Windows | $29.99 | One-time purchase |
Licensing model: One-time purchase per platform; major version upgrades may require repurchase
Hidden costs: Multi-platform users pay for each platform separately; future major versions not guaranteed free
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Ulysses | iA Writer is one-time purchase vs Ulysses subscription; Ulysses has more organizational features |
| Bear | iA Writer is cross-platform including Windows; Bear is Apple-only |
| Obsidian | iA Writer is simpler and more focused; Obsidian has linking, plugins, and knowledge graphs |
When to Choose iA Writer Over Alternatives
- Choose iA Writer when: You want a focused, premium writing experience without subscription
- Choose Ulysses when: You need advanced organization and don't mind subscription
- Choose Obsidian when: You want linking, plugins, and knowledge management
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Professional writers, journalists, and bloggers
- Users who want focused writing without feature bloat
- People who prefer one-time purchase over subscription
Poor fit:
- Android users (no longer supported)
- Users needing advanced note organization or linking
- Teams requiring collaboration features
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Strong (Bootstrapped, profitable) |
| Market Position | Leader |
| Innovation Pace | Steady |
| Community/Ecosystem | Established |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive |
iA has been operating profitably since 2005 without outside funding, combining product revenue with design consulting services. The company's philosophy of sustainable, bootstrapped growth suggests strong long-term viability.
Bottom Line
iA Writer remains the gold standard for focused markdown writing—the app that defined the category and continues to refine it. Its opinionated design trades features for focus, making it ideal for writers who want their tools to disappear.
Recommended for: Professional writers, bloggers, and anyone who values a premium, distraction-free writing experience.
Not recommended for: Android users, knowledge workers who need linking/organization, or users wanting all platforms for one price.
Outlook: Stable leader in focused writing apps; AI Authorship feature positions it well for the AI writing era.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology