Desk Alternatives

Desk is described as 'An award-winning & beloved desktop publishing client, exclusively for OS X' and is a Note-taking tool in the news & books category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Desk for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad and iPhone apps. The best Desk alternative is Typora. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try FocusWriter or Dendron. Other great apps like Desk are Foam, ghostwriter, Nuclino and Bear.

Desk alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Text Editors or Word Processors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Desk.

Desk alternatives page was last updated

Desk

Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool

An award-winning & beloved desktop publishing client, exclusively for OS X.

You are a storyteller, passionate about...

More about Desk

Typora
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
143 Typora alternatives
Typora gives you a seamless experience as both a reader and a writer. It removes the preview window, mode switcher, syntax symbols of markdown source code, and all other unnecessary distractions. Instead, it provides a real live preview feature to help you concentrate on the...
- - Typora is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Desk.
- - Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to Desk.
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Typora Features
1. Support for MarkDownTypora supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
3. Distraction-freeTypora has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
4. WYSIWYG SupportTypora integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
5. LightweightTypora consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
6. Support for LaTeXTypora supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
7. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Typora.
8. Code FormattingTypora supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
9. Spell CheckingTypora can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Write files in markdown
Save as Markdown
Clean design
Simple text editor
Code Syntax Highlighting
Export to PDF
Multiplatform
Nested Folders
Minimalistic
Multiple languages
FocusWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
89 FocusWriter alternatives
FocusWriter is a fullscreen, distraction-free word processor designed to immerse you as much as possible in your work. The program autosaves your progress, and reloads the last files you had open to make it easy to jump back in during your next writing session, and has many...
- - FocusWriter is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Desk.
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FocusWriter Features
1. Distraction-freeFocusWriter has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. LightweightFocusWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. PortableFocusWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Distraction-free Writing
Customizable
Daily progress tracker
Fullscreen support
Skin customization
Auto-saving
Writing statistics
Tabbed interface
Multiple languages
Dendron
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Visual Studio Code
198 Dendron alternatives
Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.
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Dendron Features
1. Support for MarkDownDendron supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Dendron.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsDendron can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Privacy focusedDendron is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Local Storage
Block reference
Graph view
VSCode
Backlinks
Quick reference lookup
Publishing
Tagging
Bidirectional links
Built-in themes
Foam
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Self-Hosted
Visual Studio Code
261 Foam alternatives
Foam is a personal knowledge management and sharing system inspired by Roam Research, built on Visual Studio Code and GitHub.
- - Foam is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Desk.
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Foam Features
1. Ad-freeFoam doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Works OfflineFoam can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
3. Support for MarkDownFoam supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Knowledge base
VSCode
Knowledge Management
Write files in markdown
ghostwriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Windows
Linux
129 ghostwriter alternatives
No excuses. No distractions. Just write. 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.
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ghostwriter Features
1. Dark Modeghostwriter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. Support for MarkDownghostwriter supports MarkDown for document formatting.
3. Lightweightghostwriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Portableghostwriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
6. Spell Checkingghostwriter can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. Syntax Highlightingghostwriter supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Simple text editor
Distraction-free Writing
Stay Focused
Writing statistics
Export to Word
Word counter
Fullscreen support
Support for Large File
Nuclino
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Team Collaboration Tool
Project Management Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
iPad
291 Nuclino alternatives
Nuclino is a unified workspace where teams can bring all their knowledge, docs, and projects together in one place. It’s a modern, simple, and blazingly fast way to collaborate, without the chaos of files and folders, context switching, or silos.
- - Nuclino is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Desk.
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Nuclino Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Nuclino simultaneously.
2. LightweightNuclino consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. Kanban BoardNuclino allows you to organize your workflow by moving cards with drag-and-drop functionality between multiple columns.
4. Support for MarkDownNuclino supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. WYSIWYG SupportNuclino integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
6. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Nuclino.
7. Full-Text SearchNuclino lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
8. Dark ModeNuclino supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Mind Map view
Minimalistic
Drag and Drop
Wiki-like interface
Infinite hierarchical depth
Custom fields
Internal linking
Graph view
Task assignments
Tree view
Bear
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
iPhone
iPad
222 Bear alternatives
Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app for note-taking and prose, both on the go for iOS devices and for the Mac OS desktop.
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Bear Features
1. Support for MarkDownBear supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
3. Syntax HighlightingBear supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Ad-freeBear doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Works OfflineBear can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Dark ModeBear supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. LightweightBear consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Bear.
9. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Bear without registration.
Distraction-free Writing
Nested tags
Search by tags
Notes synchronisation
Export to Word
Export to PDF
Tagging
Sync with iCloud
Note Manager
WYSIWYG Support
iA Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
107 iA Writer alternatives
The key to good writing is not that magical glass of Bordeaux, the right kind of tobacco or that groovy background music. The key is focus. What you need to write well is a spartan setting that allows you to fully concentrate on your text and nothing but your text.
- - iA Writer is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Desk.
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iA Writer Features
1. Distraction-freeiA Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. Support for MarkDowniA Writer supports MarkDown for document formatting.
3. Support for LaTeXiA Writer supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
4. Syntax HighlightingiA Writer supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. Works OfflineiA Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Dark ModeiA Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Distraction-free Writing
Nested Folders
Integrated into iOS
HTML/CSS/JS rendering
WriteMonkey
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
94 WriteMonkey alternatives
Writemonkey is a Windows zenware writing application with an extremely stripped down user interface, leaving you alone with your thoughts and your words.
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WriteMonkey Features
1. Pomodoro TimerPractice the Pomodoro Technique in WriteMonkey to stay focused and productive.
2. Distraction-freeWriteMonkey has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
3. Support for MarkDownWriteMonkey supports MarkDown for document formatting.
4. PortableWriteMonkey can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Customizable
Command palette
Distraction-free Writing
Fullscreen support
Ulysses
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
iPhone
iPad
93 Ulysses alternatives
Ulysses is a text editor for creative writers. Used by bloggers, poets, students and published novelists all over the world, it offers an integrated environment to brainstorm, draft, revise and even submit text on a professional level.
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Ulysses Features
1. Support for MarkDownUlysses supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Distraction-free Writing
Sync with iCloud
Brainstorming
Export to PDF
Support for styluses
Export to EPUB
Tabbed interface
Notepack
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Windows
Linux
345 Notepack alternatives
Privacy oriented, without vendor lock in note organizer, todo list desktop application. Work offline with text, markdown and pdf files.
Suggest and vote on features
Notepack Features
Note organization
Knowledge Management
WebDAV Sync
Q10
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Word Processor
Text Editor
Windows
39 Q10 alternatives
Q10 is a simple but powerful text editor designed and built with writers in mind.
Suggest and vote on features
Q10 Features
1. PortableQ10 can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Distraction-freeQ10 has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
Distraction-free Writing
Fullscreen support
Multiple languages
Discontinued
Last version dates from 2011.