2025-10-23
A valuable text app
Opens quick, iCloud Files sync. Use as a format cleaner/wiper. Love it. =Peace=
Updating
Description
Simple distraction-free text editor without any rich text nonsense. The simplicity is a feature.
■ Highlights
- No formatting. Just text.
- Edit any plain text file like .txt, .csv, .md, etc
- Optimal line spacing and length
- Word count
- Brain dump mode
■ Known issues
The app does not have the ability to print because of iOS limitations.
Brain dump mode does not work properly with some Asian languages.
■ Brain dump mode
Lets you only write, but not delete or edit. This helps you focus on the actual writing instead of getting distracted with editing and nitpicking.
■ FAQ
‣ Can you add a typewriter mode (centered text)?
I don't plan to add that.
‣ Does it handle huge files?
No. The app is optimized for writing. Use a proper code editor for such files.
■ Support
You can contact me through the feedback button in the app.
What's New in Version 1.8.3
- Bug fixes.
Seller
Name
Sindre Sorhus
Information
Developer
Categories
Version
1.8.3
Size
4.7 MB
Game Center
No
VPP Device Licensing
Yes
Rating
Rated: 4+
Compatibility
iOS 18.4 or later
Devices
iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17, iPhone 17Pro, iPhone 17ProMax, iPhone Air, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro, iPad Pro (Cellular), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (Cellular), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch), iPad Pro (11-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air (Cellular), iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 (Cellular), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini Retina, iPad mini Retina (Cellular), iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 (Cellular), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 4 (Cellular), iPad mini (5th Generation), iPad mini (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi), iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi + Cellular), iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th Generation), iPad (9th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th Generation), iPad mini (6th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M2) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi, iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi, iPad mini (A17 Pro) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (A16) Wi-Fi, iPad (A16) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi, iPad Air 13-inch (M3) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro11M5, iPad Pro11M5Cellular, iPad Pro13M5, iPad Pro13M5Cellular, iPod touch (6th Generation), iPod touch (7th generation), Mac Desktop
Languages
English
App Store: Customer Ratings
Ratings & Reviews
4.3 of 5 (7 Ratings)
App Store: Customer Reviews
2025-09-06
plain text editor experiences
plain text editor experiences
This app has access to your entire file system from the get-go not as a choice after it opens. everything you own is exposed to this app when you first open it.
This app presents files it cannot possibly edit your PNG files as an example.
This app does not offer its own sandboxed storage solution. this apps filing system is your devices filing system and you can't keep them separated.
not an option to limit your devices file access. again everything is wide open from the get go.
Unless this app has access to your entire filing system it will not work, it will not create a new file.
out of the box this app is allowed access to your iCloud and your on my iPhone and cellular data. Think about that an app that doesn't need cellular data is given automatic permission to cellular data. You need to go to settings before you ever open this app and switch off cellular data. Think about that, this app is given free range of your filing system including files it has no ability to edit and cellular data.
Cannot paste into the rename input box. Cannot renamed once file is named from within the app.
The user interface will cover end of file making that inaccessible when the file exceeds screen height.
There is no way to bring up the end of file and start to add text from there without finagling and gestures uncommon, gestures found by accident. I would like to see the end of file so I can place the cursing position and continue after correcting previous edit somewhere mid page but that doesn't happen.
There's no way to hide the user interface in order to allow a better reading/ proof experience.
there is no undo, redo navigation.
this app jumps cursor locations while reading and you will lose your focus in a heartbeat.
I created the the review for this app from within this app and our completion the back nav button is unresponsive. I am unable to go back and create another document I have to close the app down and restart, shame!
The app is AutoCorrect in my work. I'm told this is a simple text editor and it's correct in my work. These corrections are not improvements. These corrections are suggestions that don't relate to what I'm trying to write and I am unable to turn off this behavior.
I tried to save this document I used to create this review and it's not allowed. I get a message telling me there is no location available to write it rather than a prompt asking me where to store it!
after I close and open the app and I can see the documents I create written into the wide open of on my iPhone. No option to place these into a folder. the system to order these files by group into locations I can observe all at once and these settings I have to change the next time I want to observe another specific group of files or just an individual location. There is no context to this behavior.
I wanted a plain text editor and this app is capitalizing words, auto correction I did not ask for.
2025-08-13
Nice app, would be nicer if the text line height can be adjusted
The app is really nice and simple! I really like it. It would be nicer if there are options to adjust the line height. The current behavior is that the line height seems to be fixed no matter what size of the font is, so does the cursor height.
2025-08-12
Another winner from Sindre!
It’s like Christmas Day when Sindre drops a new app because you know it’s going to be something amazing! Plain Text Editor is no exception; it’s head and shoulders above every other app in its class and just delivers. Clean, simple, fast, and lightweight — what more can you ask for? This app immediately became my default text editor after I made a quick two letter shortcut via Alfred.
And of course it has Dark Mode, so my eyes are happy too. Thanks Sindre!
2025-05-15
Essential
Intuitive and useful.
2025-05-11
macOS autocorrect doesn’t work
I like the concept of this app, and it’s beautifully designed and executed. But macOS autocorrect and word completion don’t work in it, which seems odd, since it’s a native app.
2025-05-07
Very good
I like having a modern execution of a good old text editor. Well engineered!
2025-04-05
Great replacement for Apple’s TextEdit
Simple, opens quickly, does the job.
While I like editing Markdown in a more fully-featured editor with formatting and styles, I always end up needing a super fast app for plain text notes. Apple’s TextEdit has become slower and slower to open, and I just want something I can click on and (ideally, immediately) start typing. Plain Text Editor is about as perfect as I’ve found so far!
Thank you so much.
2025-03-14
Practical Dev
Developer appreciates little things. He’ll make your life easier, and a few bucks contribution is worth that!
2025-03-09
Works ok…
…but crashes trying to open a 10MB json file for me. That’s not even that big, honestly. Should be able to handle a 10MB json file if it wants to be taken seriously. Sorry :/
2025-02-27
great private text editor without baggae
Been wanting a plain text app that doesn’t track you for a long time and it doesn’t disappoint 👍
2025-02-20
Plain and Simple
I use this every day. I love Apple Notes, but sometimes I just need a no frills text editor that isn’t going to save everything I write down when I just need to make quick notes.
2025-01-24
Simply beautiful.
This is exactly what a simple text editor should be. The interface is beautiful and unobtrusive. The only nitpick I have is that when I configure the title bar to stay hidden, it often still shows up. Not a big deal, though. The app looks especially nice in translucent mode.
2025-01-01
de-fancifies styled text
use mostly to create recipes copied from the internet. Scalable Text is clean and uncluttered ready for transfer to a WP doc as desired. REALLY looking forward to the iOS incarnation =Peace=
2024-08-27
Excellent App
what an amazing app, simple, fast elegant, perfect when you need just a place to dump text, quick note, finally I found a simple text editor.
Big thank you.
2024-08-22
Thanks for a simple text editor
Apple's default text editor is for RTF formatted docs, so if you want to edit simple .txt files, Plain Text Editor is the tool.
2024-08-07
NIce, simple interface
Wide range of text editing features, and text editing only.
2024-06-02
Wow....
First time an app is so good I searched for the delevoper. And I found a list of the most elegant apps I've ever seen.
This notes app is nicer looking than anything I've seen on any device. It reminded me of a video called "Day of Glass" where everything was futuristic (despite this just taking notes).
Amazing work my friend, keep going strong!
2024-05-07
Can't print
App works, looks pretty good, but doesn't have printing capabilities. That's lame
2024-03-10
What I want where I want
Hallelujah. Simple, plain text. No muss, no fuss, and I can save txt files where I need them instead of in some weird SQL library. Thank you.
2024-01-03
Great App!
This note-taking app is very beautiful and lightweight！
2023-12-30
Works great... just one more thing
can you add an option for the spacing and or changing the word wrap
2023-10-23
Perfect
This is a perfect little app. It is free, does what it says it will do too. I use it all the time. I wish there was an iPadOS version too.
2023-06-08
The beauty of simplicity
Reminds me of my old Olympia typewriter when I use a monospaced font. It is beautifully simple just like a piece of white paper and the only thing that I would like is to be able to change text width instead of using Optimal line length which is a bit narrow.
2023-05-04
Awesome App
The app is awesome. Light, fast, simle, handsome.
2023-05-04
Very much appreciated.
Close to my ideal lightweight combination of "essential" features for plain text: a comfortably wide window padding, a comfortably relaxed line height, a comfortably narrow column, the ability to hide all chrome, and use of the system's monospace font – and lacking common features that can feel arbitrary or cluttering (typewriter mode, sidebars, Markdown support).
2023-04-04
thank god
i hate TextEdit this is what i wanted.
2023-03-31
Do you want a plain text app with no features? I do
I very much like the ability to compose a quick note that I can edit before I paste into a chat application. So I want a plain text app that is just about as featureless as you can imagine. The default textEdit in Mac has a bunch of features and it is difficult to get the text to wrap to the window size. This does exactly what I need and offers very little features, which is what I want for a quick way to edit things and then toss them after I paste them. Sometimes less is more.
Note to the developers: Don't touch it; don't work on the app; don't improve it. Many people need an app like this.
2023-01-04
Great little text editor
Really like the "Vibrant" look. Great for distraction free writing and works well with kindaVim
2022-11-07
太棒了。
居然有我一直想有无脑写作不能删除的方式。我的小说应该能写完。