Writing

A vast compilation of great writing apps and word processors, for all your writing needs. From office suites to publishing tools. Now with an emphasis on privacy.

coralinecastell
coralinecastellList by coralinecastell, last updated 
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  1. Office

  2. My favorite word processor. FOSS. The Android app is not very good, however.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    LibreOffice Writer on Linux
    LibreOffice Calc on Linux
    Main menu (old version)
    +8
    LibreOffice Writer on Windows 7
  3. Airborn icon
     Like

    Create and edit documents online without sacrificing your privacy.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Document overview
    Editing a document
    Document overview on mobile
    +1
    Editing a document on mobile
  4. ONLYOFFICE is an opensource office and productivity suite that enables you to manage documents, projects, team and customer relations in one place.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    • Cloudron
    ONLYOFFICE screenshot 1
    ONLYOFFICE screenshot 1
    ONLYOFFICE screenshot 2
    +7
    ONLYOFFICE screenshot 3
  5. Note taking and to-do's

  6. Joplin icon
     Like

    Open source note-taking app with Markdown support, to-do integration, and synchronization with cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Online
    Desktop and mobile apps
    Example
    Cli version!
    +3
    Table inside table with KaTeX Math notations.
(Live-editing with Vim)
  7. Turtl icon
     Like

    Whether it's bookmarks or passwords, files or shopping lists...Turtl organizes it all and makes it easy to find later. Sync across your devices. Leave nothing behind.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Firefox
    Turtl screenshot 1
    Turtl screenshot 1
    Turtl screenshot 2
    +1
    Turtl screenshot 3
  8. Markdown

  9. Mark Text icon
     Like

    Markdown editor for Mac, Windows, and Linux with real-time preview and distraction-free interface. Open source, free on GitHub, supports various Markdown specs.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    GitHub Flavored Markdown
    Auto-Completion
    Code Fence
    +4
    Source Code Mode
  10. Zettlr icon
     Like

    Comprehensive writing tool for notes, citations, and drafting with privacy-first features and multi-language support, perfect for diverse writing tasks.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)
    Zettlr Main Window (light mode)
    The Berlin Theme (dark mode)
    +5
    The Berlin Theme (light mode)
  11. ghostwriter is a feature-rich text editor using Markdown syntax which makes it suitable for note-taking, document redaction, simple HTML website creation and much more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    ghostwriter screenshot 1
    ghostwriter screenshot 1
    ghostwriter screenshot 2
    +1
    ghostwriter screenshot 3
  12. For novelists

  13. bibisco icon
     Like

    Helpful for novel writing, allows for character descriptions and helpful sorting.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    • Node.JS
    Novel architecture
    Chapter detail
    Tags
    +15
    Analysis
  14. Scrivener icon
     Like

    Aimed at novel authors, Scrivener is know for being resourceful and reliable.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    Scrivener screenshot 1
    Scrivener screenshot 1
    Grow your manuscript your way
    +9
    See the forest or the trees
  15. For programmers

  16. Boost Note is a document driven project management tool that maximizes remote DevOps team velocity

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Boost Note screenshot 1
    Boost Note screenshot 1
    Boost Note screenshot 2
    +2
    Boost Note screenshot 3
  17. Atom icon
     Like

    Atom is an open-source, Electron icon Electron based text editor with a massive ecosystem of plugins and themes that are easily accessible through a built-in package manager. Being built with Electron, it uses web technology (HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Node.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    Intro screen
    Command palette
    Choose from scores of community made themes
    +2
    Project view
  18. Blogging

  19. Focused on blogging, time tracking, writing prompts and encouragment.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
  20. For collaboration

  21. CryptPad icon
     Like

    CryptPad is a private-by-design alternative to popular office tools and cloud services. All the content stored on CryptPad is encrypted before being sent, which means nobody can access your data unless you give them the keys.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Instance homepage
    Markdown slides app
    Code/Markdown app
    +7
    Whiteboard app
  22. Notion icon
     Like

    Docs with real-time collaboration and simple formatting.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Notion screenshot 1
    Notion screenshot 1
    Notion screenshot 2
    +14
    Notion screenshot 3
  23. Mobile

  24. JotterPad icon
     Like

    Best writing app on Android, hands down. Totally worth the full-version purchase.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    JotterPad Android interface
    JotterPad text editor
    Dark theme
    +13
    Built-in thesaurus, dictionary and rhyming dictionary
  25. Proofing

  26. Free proofreading tool, perfect partner in crime for LibreOffice!

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • ONLYOFFICE
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Safari
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Microsoft Word
    • Eclipse
    • TinyMCE
    • Google Docs
    • Thunderbird
    • Vim
    • Sublime Text
    • GNU Emacs
    • Opera
    • Gmail
    • LibreOffice
    • Apache OpenOffice
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • LibreOffice - Writer
    • Cloudron
    LanguageTool screenshot 1
    LanguageTool screenshot 1
    LanguageTool screenshot 2
    +4
    LanguageTool in OpenOffice.org 3.x
  27. Typely icon
     Like

    Online proofreading software.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Typely screenshot 1
    Typely screenshot 1
    Typely screenshot 2
    +1
    Typely screenshot 3
  28. Export/share your work

  29. Reedsy icon
     Like

    Gets professionals together and helps authors publish their books.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Write and collaborate on projects
    Browse and request quotes from professionals
    Compare quotes
    +1
    Beautiful writing interface
  30. Booktype icon
     Like

    Write, collaborate and publish books.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Booktype screenshot 1
    Booktype screenshot 1
    Booktype screenshot 2
    +5
    Booktype screenshot 3
  31. Others

  32. Trelby icon
     Like

    Trelby is simple, fast and elegantly laid out to make screenwriting simple. It is infinitely configurable.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Trelby
    Trelby screenshot 1
    Auto complete
    +4
    Trelby screenshot 3
  33. KIT Scenarist is a free and open source application for creating screenplays on desktops and commercial on mobiles.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Add research document
    Corkboard
    Screenplay editor
    +4
    Summary report
  34. Immersive and clean word processor, to simply get stuff done.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1
    Themes
    Modify theme
    +7
    Set timer

Comments

Tom
1

You should also add Standard Notes

John Fastman
11

Some comments / suggestions

WPS:

Closed source and Chinese. You have to ask why they're offering their product for "free". That makes me suspicious enough not to want to install their software on my PC. Plenty of other Freemium software from China has proved insecure / privacy-invading (e.g. Maxthon). Libre Office is preferable in all regards and Only Office covers more ground for Microsoft compatibility.

Notion:

No Android app (what are they smoking?) and the pricing is very high if you're just one person.

Typora vs Mark Text:

Typora is nice, but will be free only during beta. For a similar open source app, see Mark Text. Another one to check out is Ghostwriter.


If you rely on a service to store your data, you should know that they can read your stuff if they don't use "zero-knowledge" or "end-to-end" encryption. Without this, they can also be forced to give your data up to government surverillance programs and your information is readable to any hackers that manage to breach the servers on which your stuff is stored. Here are some suggestions for writing apps that offer encryption and therefore cannot read or give away your data.

Collaboration + Encryption?

See Cryptpad. Open source, of course.

Encrypted html-based text editor

Try Airborn. It looks like Word, but it saves your stuff in .html format. Open source, as always.

[Edited by JohnFastman, April 30]

[Edited by JohnFastman, April 30]

1 reply
coralinecastell

John, thanks for your comment. Sorry it took me so long to update my list, but it now reflects your suggestions.

Jezebelisgone
1

Fantastic! A delightful and productive list to stumble on. Thank you so very much..

1 reply
coralinecastell

Hey, no problem! Glad it was useful to you. (:

I should actually add a few more entries to it...

Gu