iA Writer has shaped what a calm writing app looks like since 2010. klar. comes from the same idea. So the honest question isn’t which one is better, but which one fits you.
The short answer
iA Writer, if…
- you also write on iPhone, iPad or Windows
- you want help editing: parts of speech, Style Check
- you want to design your own templates for preview and PDF
- you publish straight to your blog
klar., if…
- you write on the Mac and want an app made only for it
- you want every draft kept: a snapshot every five minutes
- you keep a daily note or a journal
- you care how typing feels
At a glance
iA Writer details from ia.net, as of 25 October 2026. Prices change – check ia.net/pricing. iA Writer is a trademark of Information Architects Inc.
Where iA Writer is stronger
More devices
If you start on an iPad on the train and finish on a Windows PC at work, iA Writer comes along. klar. is Mac only.
Help with editing
iA Writer can highlight adjectives, adverbs or filler words, and Style Check flags clichés, filler and redundancies. klar. has nothing like it – on purpose, but if you want that, it is a real gap.
Publishing and templates
Refined since 2010: templates in HTML and CSS for preview, print and PDF, Word export, and publishing straight to WordPress, Ghost, Medium and Micro.blog.
What klar. does differently
klar. does fewer things, and goes deeper on a few.
Versions
A snapshot every five minutes. Compare earlier drafts and restore any of them.
Daily notes
Today’s note is one shortcut away – a file named after the date.
Outline & goals
Drag headings to reorder whole sections. Writing goals from 250 to 2,000 words.
How words arrive
A caret on a spring, ink that dries – or no motion at all.
Six rooms
Six themes and an accent colour of your own.
Reader mode
The page without syntax – read aloud, if you like.
Price
iA Writer costs $49.99 once on the Mac; Windows ($29.99) and iPhone/iPad ($49.99) are sold separately, and there is a 7-day free trial. klar. starts as a free demo – the full editor, but nothing is saved. To keep your writing, choose a subscription or a single purchase that includes Family Sharing and future Mac updates.
Switching from iA Writer
There is nothing to import. Both apps read the same Markdown files.
- 1Open klar. and choose Settings › General › Change…
- 2Pick the folder iA Writer uses – in iCloud Drive it’s the one called “iA Writer”. Your files stay where they are.
- 3Keep writing. iA Writer can still open the same files.
iA Writer’s own syntax, such as content blocks, shows up as plain text in klar.
Common questions
Is klar. an alternative to iA Writer?
Yes, if you write on the Mac. Both are calm Markdown editors that work with ordinary files. klar. adds versions, daily notes and its typing feel; iA Writer adds other platforms, editing tools and templates.
Is klar. cheaper than iA Writer?
To buy once on the Mac: klar. costs $24.99 (launch price until 31 December 2026), iA Writer $49.99. klar. can also be rented for $3.99 a month or $22.99 a year; iA Writer has no subscription.
Can I use both side by side?
Yes. Point both at the same folder – they read and write the same .md files.
Does klar. run on iPhone, iPad or Windows?
No. klar. is made for the Mac only and needs macOS 26 or later.
Does either app use AI?
klar. has no AI features. iA Writer doesn’t write for you either; its Authorship feature marks text that came from an AI.
Rather see for yourself?
The full editor runs right here in your browser. Nothing you type is saved.