Text Editor - HTML Viewer Reviews

by Rooftop001

TextEditor does not do anything unless you pay for their “premium” version. You can open and edit two files before it forces you to either pay up, or uninstall. Reading and writing are the two most basic features a text editor can have, not “premium” features. This is software that’s been around for literally decades, and putting a staggering $52 annual fee for the most basic of tools in this way is dishonest and absurdly expensive. I hope they either remove the premium lock or add features besides “dark mode” to make it an ACTUAL upgrade.

by Plaintiger

When I launched TextEditor for the first time it presented me with a screen that gave me one option only: pay for a subscription. No other option – not even to try TextEditor to see if it's useful for me or whether it functions at all. Between the deceitful design that makes it look like a free app when it has no free functionality at all and the abysmal reviews citing constant crashes and disappearing documents, it appears to me that the entire value in downloading TextEditor is that it allows one to write a review like this, warning others off before they fall victim to this seemingly maliciously crafted software.

I know *I'm* outta here...

by Msteners

I got this on recommendation from Google. There’s a paid version called Text Editor+, but all I really needed was to read a few files. First couple opened with minimal fuss. Now I’m on the fourth file and TextEditor refuses to let me open a file without signing up for me free, cancel-anytime trial of Text Editor+. This is just another scam by a subscription product to get you signed up some something that you then forget about and end up unconsciously paying $1/week for. Sure, I can afford the $1/week, but I’m deleting TextEditor on principle now because of their extremely heavy-handed tactics.

by Uxwbill

The freely downloadable version of TextEditor is identified as having "in app purchases". What that really means is that after working with just three files, you have to subscribe to do any more.

I am not even slightly interested in software by subscription, no matter the price or how well it does the task it was designed to perform. I will be looking elsewhere for something that can be licensed in perpetuity and not by subscription.

Also: popping up a message asking me to rate my experience with the software is nigh unto inexcusable. Doing so and then completely losing the state of what I was working on is squarely in the territory of Just Don't Ever.

I rarely review apps owing to the rage inducing nature of the onscreen keyboard, but this one warrants an exception since a subscription for a text editor and interrupting my work to ask me how I like the application and messing up what I was doing in the process are all beyond the pale. Stay away...hopefully something better is out there.

by G-Mo

Tried to edit a file on OneDrive. The interface is decent, about as good as the Files app, and it's easy to open a file (once you get past the pressure to subscribe), but when I closed the file you've edited, my edits were gone. File appears unmodified (modification timestamp doesn't change) - it's like I was never there. Then, while trying to refresh the screen and reopen the file, I guess I opened it too many times, so TextEditor will only prompt me to subscribe. I'd prefer a non-subscription price, but can't even get to considering the price when it doesn't save my work.

by Squirrels Everywhere

UNLESS you subscribe, ZERO use is allowed, but the trial period and condition of use without subscription is NOT laid out. What is laid out only says “subscribe to enable dark more and unlimited tools” rather than what happens.

No subscription means no access to any files you created during the free use of the tool that you were led to believe was forever unless you wanted the advanced tools.

I’m not saying this was nefarious, but it seems the developer reads/writes english fine, so I’m just guessing it’s another attempt to strongarm subscriptions when you haven’t REALLY used the tool, but thought you could grow into it.

by Rokair

...but really it wouldn’t even be usable if it had been free. My phone is set to dark mode so the application supports dark mode which seems like it would be nice. However, it cannot view and RTF document creates on the MacOS with editing the text colors of the same document. But then that document will not display correctly on the Mac. If the colors are set to undefined for backgrand and text the Mac will correctly set the background to black and the text to white when dark mode is on. However this application will set the background and the text to both black. So, I lost my money and moved on to a different application especially after no replay to my earlier review from the application owner.

by Bill1287

Downloaded because I needed a simple editor to edit some .txt files in iCloud Drive. Thought I’d found the solution. But now, every time I open, it forces me to “claim” my “Free” text edit + upgrade. Which is free for 3 days only then a subscription. I don’t want any of the things the “upgrade” gets me (dark mode, removed ads, etc). I’m find with the free version. But TextEditor is now useless, as I can’t edit ANY document without the “claim your (not) free upgrade” coming up again. There’s no “I don’t want that” choice. App is now useless to me unless I agree to a subscription for upgrade features I don’t want. Uninstalled.

by Gaia Willis

I probably should have payed closer attention to the terms, but it really should be made more clear. If you write something on here without the premium version and then try to access it later you will be locked out of your paper! I wrote a whole paper for my class, and now I’m locked out of it; I’m screwed. I can’t help but feel like my paper is being held hostage, and unfortunately my bank account is empty, so I will miss my deadline for school thanks to TextEditor.

by DKesser

I just wanted a simple app to edit txt files. This let me edit a file once, then refused to open it again and just kept popping up the free trial to their weekly subscription upgrade when the basic version would do everything I need. I couldn't even view the file anymore while this was installed because Files just tried to open it in here and this would do nothing until I signed up for the subscription.

by Warrior Rabbit

This is not made clear, but you can’t use the product unless you upgrade. They hype the upgrade as “use dark mode,” and have rich text, etc., but I didn’t want that. I just wanted a text editor. The assumption from how it’s described is that you can use the basic version without upgrading if you don’t want those features. Mmm, but no. After creating two rudimentary files, I couldn’t create a third unless I upgraded. Plus the first two now seem inaccessible.

by Catspaw10

Got rid of this thing almost immediately. Tried to find a one word text string to get to where I wanted to edit. It initiated the search after one letter, guess what there were many thousands of hits. Then it got hung, I couldn’t cancel, the Done button was dead. What did work perfectly? The pop up saying the free version only allows 10 files per week. Guess we know where the dev’s priorities are. I’d happily pay if this thing actually worked. But it’s useless for longer files. Too bad, there’s a need for a tool like this.

by Micheal Washboard

IOS is the land of disappointing propriety software built upon a propriety OS that hates to open its gates to third-party software devs who are not greedy — now this is added to that list. TextEditor tries to bait you by allowing the user to edit ONLY a few files before putting everything behind a pay-wall, holding the software hostage until you pay up for the subscription. Don’t be a sucker and say no to anti-consumer practices. Linux is the land of the free, and has Xed, Gedit, Kate, Tea, Vim, ect as simple text editors in its repos for FREE, and you can pay for the software you want — for “this land was made for you and me”. If you want people to pay for your software, just make it 5-10$ up-front before the download, don’t try to hide by having a “upgrade” subscription for a offline app. Subscriptions are for monthly magazines or to access a online service on some-one else’s server, not for simple office software users run on THEIR OWN OS.

by Svordicus

Don’t bother with this offensive app. After the first few days, it will no longer open documents, it just goes to an upgrade page. It will let you upgrade to a paid subscription or exit TextEditor , but it won’t let you open your existing docs with the free version.

This isn’t an app, it’s a trap! Word to the authors: you have to actually give value in the free version; that’s what motivates people to upgrade.

by Jebediahhughes

I downloaded TextEditor in a pinch because I wanted to work with some .txt files that I already had. I was able to open one of them and edit it as I needed to. I chose to save but when I went to open the document it wouldn’t allow me to without subscribing to their “premium” offering. I did this so that I could access the file only to find that my changes had not been saved.

This is the worst kind of app and I highly recommend choosing another for your text editor needs.

by Bawsin Itup

What a stupid app. I used it for 5 minutes then I was prompted to buy it to use it again. There’s no escape or way to get out of the stupid Lock Screen without closing TextEditor entirely. Horrible business practice by a crappy company. I will say, in the 5 minutes I used it I liked what it offered. But its ridiculous to even download TextEditor as it does nothing and then forces you to buy the paid app and subscribe.

by Bollwerk

Tried to edit a text file on OneDrive. It let me open it, make edits, but there is no option to save the file, as far as i could find. I tried poking around a bit and quickly got blocked by a paywall. If you want me to pay for your app, at least make a functional trial long enough where I can verify it does what I want. All you did is succeed in getting me to delete TextEditor and find something else. Well done.

by Belikemichael

TextEditor on its own is completely useless…you create a text file, then you can’t reopen it without getting (buying) the plus version!!

Then, to top things off, the price is 99 cents PER WEEK!!! I hate the software subscription model to begin with, but to pay weekly for a flippin’ text editor is ridiculous. At vest this would be a one-time $3-$5 app.

And: if you look at the In-App Purchases list in TextEditor Store, it simply states “Text Editor+ $.99”, but neglects to mention that it’s per week. Apple has to prevent these developer tricks and encourage transparency.

Kudos on the no-tracking of personal info. Too bad everything else you do is suspect.

Congrats, guys: a new low in scamming people.

by Sandstone_Joe_YT

I’m not gonna lie I was pretty excited to get this and be able to edit some txt files however once I figured out I could only edit 3 before I would have to purchase a subscription is just a massive turn off. I understand that the company has to make a profit but I’m not paying a dollar weekly just to edit a couple files. Overall the quality seems great and it’s sad that I feel the need to write a negative review because this is a useful app with a purpose but since I would have to pay a subscription for editing a few files I don’t see this as a great investment for my time and money

by Billy'n'holly

TextEditor hides that you can’t open a 2nd file without being forced to give feedback via a non-closeable pop up. Upon the 3rd file being opened, the user gets a no -close able pop up that demands you start the “free trial of paid features” with no way to use TextEditor until you accept their terms to run as a paid subscription of $52/year. Very deceptive, very expensive, and WAY too little value nor features when so many 100% free options exist. But … it was usable for the first 2 text files I opened.🤣

by XM_sux

I am new to the iPad and was surprised to find there is no simple text editor (?!) I wanted to fix an error in a CSV file so I d/l this one. Total surprise #2: it is a subscription based payment plan that kicks after 3 days. Oooookay! Credit card required just to kick the tires? Ugh! But then, this goofy text editor could not even handle opening the file (much less copy + paste one line to fix the poorly written CSV). Oh well… it’s probably great for RTF stuff.

by TylerGill

This could be a great app. It should be a 1-time purchase but instead they went for the monthly fee.

The basic features work very well. Many of the features you’d expect require payment and you must pay weekly.

I have found many better apps that are newer and free so will be uninstalling this now.

by Pickles R Awesome

With a app name as generic as "text editor" you'd be pretty surprised to see a paywall show up after only FIVE minutes of tasks that you feel like you shouldn't need to download an app for.

This thing better be one banger of a text editor if I'm being asked to pay for a mobile version of windows notepad.

Just get the EasyEditText app instead. It's basically just a free version of TextEditor.

by Rich&Big

Nice little text editor. One issue I found is that on some files, after editing and closing, the changes are saved with no option to not save the changes. On another file it saved a copy and did not overwrite the original. This is inconsistent and can be confusing.
Then, after closing the file, I could not delete it because the editor didn’t close the file properly.

by Lunatiktik

I hate leaving bad reviews because they seem really mean, but I just wrote out a very long document in a complete state of flow. that's a positive, good UI facilitates flow. Unfortunately I didn't think to save, which is on me..

But it shouldn't be so easy to delete everything. I accidentally hit the wrong part of the screen and closed the document. Everything was gone.

I wish there was a warning, or less surface area available to mess things up. The way it's set up now, it's effectively a live document surrounded by a delete button.

by Suspense_Comix

Okay, by “free trial” I mean the free period you get with TextEditor once you, well, install it. I have only edited one document one time and then when I tried to edit it again, it gave me a message saying “3 day trial and then $0.99 per month subscription”.

It’s a well-made app but I can’t use it again…not unless I reinstall it to trick it-I mean DON’T DO IT.

by Orthane

Edit: Thanks so much for fixing the problem! It works perfectly now! TextEditor is awesome and has been so useful for writing my stories. Great job.

The dark mode feature is not working. Whenever I try to use any of my files, the dark mode feature is applied but the font also stays black as well. In order to write, I have to change the font color to white so that I could see the words better. Very tedious task to do for all my files.

by GamingFury37

Recently installed TextEditor for BP editing on SFS, allows me to edit zipped app files directly without jailbreaking my 14 and voiding my warranty.

5 stars! Though I would appreciate a file search and open feature in TextEditor , you can pop files out of the IOS "Files" app.

by Akmahaja

It looks like my trial for text editor ended, but I was surprised to found that I couldn’t access documents I’d already written in the past. While I understand that this may have been included in the terms somewhere, it really would have been nice if this was made clearer, or if TextEdit had stopped us from creating new documents and made the files read only. I hope I’m mistaken, and am happy to revise my rating if someone can explain how I can open my old files (and preferably copy/paste them into some other file).

Edit: Nevermind, if you’ve saved the files on the iCloud you can open them. Not sure what the situation is if you haven’t saved them. Sorry for the confusion.

by HempyDn

I like TextEditor because when I enter something on my MacBook Air, I can find it and open it quickly on my iPad. That feature isn’t always as readily available with some other apps.

by Happy Camper 32

I love it! I am not tech savvy at all. I wanted a basic iOS word processing app that could easily be opened in other OS platforms. The user interface is perfect for my needs and it works flawlessly for my simple needs.

by Autumnaaliyahjohnson

TextEditor is amazing, keeps me with my studies, work, and task I need to remember! If you haven’t downloaded TextEditor I suggest you should. This is more easier took keep notes. Papers can get lost easily but or phone or tablet can’t get lost forever!