We live in a mobile world. That’s no longer hyperbole, it’s the simple truth. Our mobile devices are playing larger and larger roles in both our personal and professional lives as they increase in power, ease of use, app development, etc. So what does this mean for the many millions of WordPress users world-wide who are walking around with all of the hardware they need to run their websites, right in their pocket? Well I’d say it means we need to find the right software to compliment it. Namely, the right apps.
As you can no doubt tell from the title of today’s post, I’m focusing exclusively on iOS apps. That’s not because I don’t have tons of love for Android but simply because I personally use iOS and as a result I’m much more aware of what’s available for it, as opposed to what’s available on Android. If you’ve got any good Android apps for WordPress, feel free to drop us a line about them in the comments section.
iOS Apps for WordPress Blog Management
Let’s get things started with the basics: iOS apps meant to be a total WordPress site/blog management solution. While there are many, not all of them have great reviews (or any reviews at all) and when compared to these I felt that most either fell short or didn’t have enough users to recommend. In my opinion, the three I’ve selected stood out from the rest in terms of quality, design, and features. With the possible exception of the first one, which, ironically enough, is the official WordPress app–but I think it’s still better than any other free app out there. So there’s that.
WordPress by Automattic
The official WordPress app by Automattic (and contributing community developers) has come a long way from its somewhat clunky and ugly beginnings. (A lot like the WordPress admin of years past.) Though many feel it still has a long way to come before it’s considered ideal. That said: its free, open source, and actively being developed–so I feel confident it will continue to improve.
When you first open the app you’re immediately brought into a feed of WordPress.com blog posts. If you’re a WordPress.com blogger, that’s awesome! But if you’re like me, someone who blogs exclusively on WordPress.org blogs and doesn’t follow any WordPress.com bloggers, it’s kind of annoying.
Aside from the reader there are three other main sections (with lots of subsections we don’t have time to dissect in this post). They are: notifications, me, and compose. Notifications and compose are pretty straight forward–so what’s “me” all about?
That’s where you can choose from any number of WordPress (.com or .org) sites that you manage, dive into their respective posts, pages, comments, stats, and more all from one app. You can even access the admin sections of your various WordPress sites. It’s pretty awesome!
However, if I’m honest, I have to admit that I don’t personally use it too often because in places it feels like multiple apps thrown together (it’s both an aggregate blog reader and a blogging app–for both WordPress .com and .org) and yet where it counts the most–being able to create awesome content and/or edit various aspects of my site–it seems a little light in either features, ease of use, or both. Additionally, some of its cooler features–like site stats and notifications–require the jetpack plugin to be installed, which has been known to hamper site performance.
I think this strategy is probably a result of Automattic feeling like their app needs to be able to servie both .com and .org users at once while also competing on aspects of community engagement and simplicity with other blogging platforms, like tumblr–and it doesn’t succeed in every area. One big reason for this, in my opinion, is that tumblr really is a super simple blogging platform with a built in social feed. WordPress on the other hand, was never meant to be that and it comes off feeling kind of forced in the app; particularly for .org users. I’d almost rather they cut the feed out entirely and focus on making the mobile content creation process as easy and powerful as possible. Or make one app just for .com users and one just for .org users.
On the plus side though, the design is getting pretty slick!
Ok, ok. Enough critiquing. And in case you’re wondering, no, I will not spend this much time on every single app in this post. I just though it worth while to focus a little extra attention on the official WordPress app since it’s likely everyone will want to check it out AND it’s probably the one we, as a community, have the most say in. So please, check it out for yourself and if you have feedback for the team creating it, go here.
Price: FREE | Go to App Store
BlogPad Pro
BlogPad Pro is an iPad only app for managing all of your WordPress blogs; even if you have different user accounts. It allows you to blog from anywhere whether you are online, in airplane mode, or simply don’t have an internet connection. Once connected again you can quickly and easily sync any changes made offline with a single “click”. Thanks to its autosave and conflict management features, you never have to worry about losing or unwittingly overwriting the work you’ve done.
Some Key Features Include:
- Full WYSIWYG editor
- Markdown mode
- Dropbox integration
- Content Syncing with conflict management
- Autosave
- WordPress.com reader included (by subscription and tag)
- Full post/page editing functionality
- Add & edit feature images
- Preview posts and pages on or off line
- and much more
BlogPress
Similarly to BlogPad Pro, BlogPress is a multi-platform blogging app. Notably though, BlogPress works for both iPhone and iPad. It also syncs well with YouTube, Flickr, and a few other media hosting sites/services which makes populating your blog with different types of media just as easy on mobile as it is on desktop.
Some Key Features Include:
- Full post/page editing ability
- Local and online drafting
- Local preview
- Comments management
- Landscape editing mode
- Post scheduling
- Video integration with YouTube
- GEO Location tags
- Facebook and Twitter Sharing
- and much more
iOS Apps for Blog Planning
Now we’re entering the specific use case section of this post. The apps above aim to do it all, but the apps below are all about doing one thing really well.
Evernote
Evernote is one of the most popular apps on any device, across platforms. It’s reputation speaks for itself, so I’ll spare you my glowing praise for it. Bottom line: if you need an app to organize your brain into reminders, lists, projects, posts, or anything else then this app is a must have.
Some Key Features Include:
- Take down notes in a clean, distraction free environment.
- Make lists
- Record audio
- Save image notes
- Save locations
- Make notebooks (collections of individual notes).
- Access one account on any device, seamlessly synced.
- Work offline, sync automatically or with a single click.
- and so much more.
Price: FREE | Go to App Store
Graphio – Diagrams & Ideas
I’ll be the first to admit that this one might seem like an odd-ball for a collection like this one. However, every blog needs a strategy and (almost) every blog post needs graphical elements. In both of those cases, Graphio is a slick tool for under $10. With this app you’re able to make neat, clean diagrams/flow charts/mind maps/etc. by drawing, sketching, or dragging existing shapes on a digital canvas.
Some Key Features Include:
- Shape recognition of hand-drawn shapes
- Drag & Drop library of shapes
- Insert/paste images
- Grouping
- Bring to front/back
- Zoom and pan
- Select, move, rotate and scale everything (even sketches)
- Audio recording
- Export as PDF or PNG
- AirPrint support
- Box.net support
- DropBox support
- and much more
Price: $8.99 | Go to App Store
Day One
The Day One app is another app that some might consider an odd choice for this collection. However, as the years pass and I get more experience blogging I’ve realized that keeping a journal is one of the best ways to “stock up” on great blog post ideas or to develop my take on complex issues over time. And in an environment like Day One, you’re also getting practice creating digital content (a mix of writing, video, audio, images, etc.) in a risk free environment. Then, if you like what you’ve created, you can simply re-create, re-draft or even export your content to WordPress. (Though at the moment, there is no plugin for making this process seamless.)
Some Key Features Include:
- Distraction free interface
- Multi-markdown text formatting
- Full screen mode
- Privacy passcode lock
- Photographic entries
- Auto tracking of: Photo EXIF data, temperature and weather, locations, time and date, activity data, music playing.
- Custom writing reminders
- Search by keyword
- Categories and tags
- Calendar, timeline, and map views
- Sync and Backup
- Sharing
- and more
iOS Apps for WordPress Blog Post Composition
So we’ve been over the full fledge WordPress blog management apps, the idea capturing and planning apps, and now it’s time to keep it simple by focusing purely on that one thing at the heart of blogging–writing. All of the apps below can either post directly to WordPress or sync with DropBox–which can be made to post directly to WordPress with plugins like post via dropbox. Regardless of publishing logistics, which is not excessive for any of these apps, the major benefit they provide is that they take something that is usually pretty cumbersome in an app environment–writing–and they make it enjoyable, even uniquely effective.
ByWord
The goal of ByWord is to make writing on your iPhone or iPad a simple, elegant, seamless experience. In my opinion they accomplish this with flying colors. Their design and interface takes advantage of understated, pleasant colors, easy to read type faces, and a distraction free editing space to put the act of writing center stage.
Some Key Features Include:
- Markdown formatting
- Sync text documents across Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- Work on or offline
- Alternate between light or dark theme
- Search for text inside all your documents
- Export markdown documents to PDF and HTML
- Post to WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Scriptogram, and Evernote (requires upgrade)
- and more
Price: currently $2.99 (regularly $4.99) | Go to App Store
iA Writer
iA Writer is perhaps even more slimmed down than ByWord. It uses nothing but plain text and limited markdown in a distraction free writing environment. The message is clear. This app is for writing only. You can however export what you’ve written via iCloud or DropBox.
Some Key Features Include:
- Syncs between Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- No formatting to worry about
- Supports .txt and .md (but not .doc or .docx)
Daedalus Touch – Text Editor for iCloud
Daedalus is what you might call the “sister-app” of the popular desktop writing app Ulysses III (which is can sync with, by the way). Just as that app was meant to re-think writing on the desktop, Daedalus is meant to be a word processor that could exist on mobile devices; in this case, the iPhone or the iPad. Instead of traditional files and folders, Daedalus uses “paper stacks’ and “an infinite amount of sheets”. Navigation is all gestures and re-ordering stacks/sheets is as simple as drag and drop. You tap to open, pinch to close. Multiple taps make exporting possible. It really is a mobile first design.
Some Key Features Include:
- Stacks and sheets instead of folders and files
- Always-on global search
- Responsive editor
- Highly configurable extra keyboard row
- Character and word count
- and more
Editorial
While the other apps on this list seem to be aiming at pure simplicity through a stripped down environment, Editorial seems to be headed the other direction. Not into over-complication, but power. This writing app uses automation, specialized keyboards, and customized workflows to empower the “humble” mobile word processor to do things you may have only thought possible in a desktop environment.
Some Key Features Include:
- Inline markdown preview
- Extensible with workflows
- Syncs with DropBox
- Scriptable with Python
- Smart Keyboard
- Snippets
- In-App browser
- and more
Price: $6.99 | Go to App Store
iOS Apps for WordPress Promotion
Finally we come to the last two apps in our collection of iOS apps for WordPress users. They should be pretty familiar, so I won’t go into as much depth as with the other apps. These apps are incredibly empowering for anyone who wants to harness the potential of social media when distributing their blog posts. And who doesn’t?!
Hootsuite is a massively popular web app for posting to and managing multiple social networks, including: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Google+, and Tumblr. Now, all of that power comes to your iPhone or iPad. You can schedule posts, auto queue them throughout the day (like buffer), track link stats, manage social lists, and so much more.
Price: FREE | Go to App Store
Facebook Pages Manager
The name really says it all. If you have a Facebook page, this is an app you need to manage it on the go. You’ll be able to: post updates/photos, respond to comments, view and reply to private messages, receive push notifications, and more.
Price: FREE | Go to App Store
Final Thoughts
Running a WordPress blog or website can be a consuming process. Because of the (potential) complexity of managing theme/plugin compatibility, link continuity, post creation, page creation, comment moderation, and more it can seem like our only option is to stay chained to our desk in front of our computer. Thankfully, apps like the ones I’ve featured today are empowering us not only to capture ideas and moments as they happen, but to accomplish the full range of tasks required of a site admin–on the go. Or at least from out behind our desktop. It’s fun. It’s refreshing. It’s exciting to know that you can go anywhere and still not be far from your favorite craft, hobby, or passion.
Do you have any favorite iOS apps that WordPress users should know about? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
Feature Image Credit: Shutterstock.com / Puresolution
I agree. Blogsy is a great app, as is my own favorite, BlogPad Pro. Yes, the official WordPress apps is nice if you want free. But if you want power and flexibility, then sooner or later you’ll want either BlogPad Pro or Blogsy.
Is there any blogging app that allows us to manage comments? WP app allows this but it stinks. I’m testing Blogsy but I don’t see any way to manage comments in Blogsy. Any other ideas a out there.
Hi 🙂
Great Article. I am new to wordpress so its useful for me.
I was wondering if any of the apps allow you to you upload iphone videos onto your wordpress blog? (iphone 4s to be specific)
Thank you.
BlogPad Pro – unmaintained, unsuported for months. I wrote to the authors – no reply for a week – I’m not gonna buy this app.
Thank you for the info Nathan. Very helpful.
Do you know of any way to 2-way sync WordPress users with my IOS/iCloud contacts? That would be SO HELPFUL!
Thank you,
Brent
Oh my. How ironic & embarrassing! Lol! I replied to your post by writing in ios “notes” first so I didn’t lose anything.. Was too quick to click “select all-copy-paste” & accidentally posted some notes I’d taken from an SEO podcast earlier! Please feel free to delete everything before “Excellent Article..” ! >_< I'm so goofy! Lol.
I don't see a way to edit posts here or I'd do it. Sorry about that!
-D
Certifiedknowledge.org
(Teaches Google Adwords etc.)
Add “read more” tags for rich snippets
Never have a tag & category named the same thing – this prevents “duplicate content” – don’t use “noindex” for anything
Authoritylabs.com
PCTProfessionals.com
Jet pack can hurt a site’s performance
Excellent article, Nathan, thanks! I hadn’t heard that JetPack could have a negative effect on WP sites. I automatically install & activate it on all of my sites – really just more from habit than anything. And truth be known, I’m not sure I even actively use any of the JetPack elements – with the exception of the quick contact forms it can do for you.
I’ve thought about using Hootsuit but have been trying to figure out Publicize (from JetPack) … But I can’t seem to get it working correctly. Either that or I’m misunderstanding what publicize actually does. I was under the impression that publicize took every post you added & automatically posted it on every social media account each site has an account for (which of course sounds heavenly as it would reduce an enormous amount of time updating all of the social media sites).
Are you familiar with publicize @ all &/or do you know if I am misunderstanding its purpose? May be a case of “too good to be true” 😉
Finally, while these are all excellent reviews that provided me with valuable insight I’m truly grateful for, I do still have a curiosity (or need really) to find an app that will allow WP site editing in a lot more ways than simple “writing posts” functionaliy.
Your review of the native WordPress app was absolutely spot on imo. I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Particularly where you mentioned that development is too focused on encompassing blogging & websites (.org & .com WP sites) and more time ought to be spent on making the process mobile optimized, etc.
I find the native app’s UI to be greatly lacking when it comes to customizing themes and really doing much of anything design-wise.
I hope a new app is developed (or discovered) that will address the problems you covered so eloquently.
For example, I’m in the beginning stages of designing a new site for a client using theme.co/x “X” theme & even though the customization is astonishingly user friendly, I find it very frustrating trying to make updates on the go (on my iPhone).. Whether using the WP app or the mobile optimized web version.
I’d honestly be willing to pay a good/heavy price for the right product (app)… WordPress on the web (with mobile responsiveness) has truly come a very long way with their development, which I’m very grateful for, so maybe it will eventually evolve.
Thanks again for your post & please do let me &/or others know if you happen across something great. I’ll certainly do the same. 🙂
-D
Great post. Thanks for sharing this article.
I really like the looks of that Graphio app. May need to give that a download and try it out. We are normally horrible at posting blogs, but need to get more into the habit.
Finding the time to post a blog while running a company can seem daunting at times, but it really is necessary to keep yourself connect to your visitors.
Thanks Nathan for the list!
I have been using Blogsy for years on my iPad for years. It has met all my needs for on and offline post creation and editing
Hi,
Very nice work but Apple concerned.
Please could you give us Androïd equivalence?
Thank you.
It is wonderful. Thanks
Cool apps. I’m definitely going to have to check some of these out!
Hi Elegant Gurus,
Another great post.
Could you please do something similar for Android users?
Great post. I use the Automattic WordPress app for managing comments, Evernote for blog to-do lists and blog ideas and I’ve yet to use Hootsuite, I’ll add that to my to-do list!