iA Writer
Plain text. Full ownership. Total focus.
Shepherd
Meeting notes, agendas & tasks - in Google Calendar & Meet
Updated February 2026
| iA Writer | Shepherd | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8★ | 5.0★ |
| Reviews | 12 | 17 |
| Pros | 10 | 21 |
| FactScore™ | 53.8 | 62.8 |
FactScore™ Comparison
FactScore™ weighs both quality (rating) and popularity (reviews) for a fairer ranking than stars alone.
Pros & Cons
Only in iA Writer — Pros
Simple interface Markdown support Minimalist design Distraction-free writing Attention to detail Cross-platform Export options Focus mode Real-time previewBoth tools — Pros
Easy to useOnly in Shepherd — Pros
Improved meeting productivity Collaborative notes Time-saving Easy note sharing Google Meet integration Meeting minutes capture Fast product improvement Google Calendar integration Meeting notes storage No multi-tabs Productivity app integrations Remote team collaboration Structure meetings Agenda management Assign action items Custom agendas Email sharing Export to Notion Streamlined processes Task allocationOnly in iA Writer — Cons
Limited visual handlingBoth tools — Cons
—Only in Shepherd — Cons
Lack of home page for previous meeting notesDetails
| iA Writer | Shepherd | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Productivity, Note and writing apps, Writing assistants | Productivity, Chrome Extensions, Meeting software |
| Platforms | Web · iOS | Web |
| Became Popular | September 11, 2015 | March 3, 2022 |
| Website | ia.net | www.meetshepherd.com |
Who Should Pick Which?
Choose iA Writer if...
- Simple interface
- Markdown support
- Minimalist design
Choose Shepherd if...
- Improved meeting productivity
- Collaborative notes
- Time-saving
With a FactScore™ of 53.8 vs 62.8, Shepherd leads in community reception. iA Writer uniquely offers Simple interface and Markdown support, while Shepherd stands out for Improved meeting productivity and Collaborative notes.
What Users Say
iA Writer
iA Writer is where all written copy begins, and it also serves as my project management system and PKM. I have over 25 Markdown documents that begin with the word "Mattebox," ranging from to-do lis...
Simple, clean, and pleasant writing experience.
Beautiful, simple, flawless
Shepherd
Amazing product, I especially love taking meeting notes and exporting to Notion with a click. Also love the integrations.
I use shepherd as an individual and not necessarily with my team as they are all very much physical presence meeting people. This product has helped structure my thoughts before and during meetings...
I have been an early user of Shepherd for a few weeks now, and it has already improved the meetings I host. It helps with ensuring an agenda before a meeting, because I have a clear place in my cal...
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, iA Writer or Shepherd?
Based on FactScore™, Shepherd leads with a score of 62.8 vs 53.8. Shepherd has a higher rating of 5.0★ compared to 4.8★.
What are the pros of iA Writer compared to Shepherd?
iA Writer uniquely offers: Simple interface, Markdown support, Minimalist design, Distraction-free writing, Attention to detail.
What are the pros of Shepherd compared to iA Writer?
Shepherd uniquely offers: Improved meeting productivity, Collaborative notes, Time-saving, Easy note sharing, Google Meet integration.
Is iA Writer better rated than Shepherd?
iA Writer is rated 4.8★ from 12 reviews. Shepherd is rated 5.0★ from 17 reviews.
What is the FactScore™ of iA Writer and Shepherd?
FactScore™ weighs rating and review volume together. iA Writer scores 53.8 and Shepherd scores 62.8.
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