First Draft Alternatives

First Draft is described as 'Developed by a 15-year professional writer, is an offline, artificially intelligent writing tool that assists a huge number of literary tasks' and is an app in the news & books category. There are more than 100 alternatives to First Draft for a variety of platforms, including Web-based, Mac, Windows, Linux and SaaS apps. The best First Draft alternative is LanguageTool, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like First Draft are Grammarly, Manuskript, iA Writer and Microsoft SwiftKey.

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First Draft alternatives are mainly AI Writing Tools but may also be Novel Authoring Tools or Grammar Checkers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of First Draft.
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First Draft, developed by a 15-year professional writer, is an offline, artificially intelligent writing tool that assists a huge number of literary tasks.

More about First Draft
First Draft alternatives page was last updated Jan 7, 2022
    ProWritingAid icon
    ProWritingAid icon

    ProWritingAid

    Sponsored

    A complete grammar checker, style editor, and mentor, offering 25 writing reports. It identifies repetitive language, vague words, overuse of adverbs, passive voice, and complex structures while providing a word explorer and thesaurus.

    94 ProWritingAid alternatives
    ProWritingAid screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft Word
    • Google Docs
    • Google Workspace
    • Mozilla Firefox
  1. LanguageTool icon
     165 likes

    LanguageTool is a free proofreading software compatible with multiple applications like LibreOffice, Microsoft Word, Firefox, and Google Chrome. It supports around 20 languages and can be customized. It has two versions: free and premium.

    75 LanguageTool alternatives
    LanguageTool screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • ONLYOFFICE
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Safari
    • Visual Studio Code
    • Microsoft Word
    • Eclipse
    • TinyMCE
    • TeXstudio
    • Google Docs
    • Thunderbird
    • Vim
    • OmegaT
    • Sublime Text
    • GNU Emacs
    • Opera
    • Gmail
    • Fidus Writer
    • LyX
    • LibreOffice
    • Apache OpenOffice
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • LibreOffice - Writer

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Multiple languages
    2.  Automated proofreading
    3.  Proofreading
    4.  Grammar tool
    5.  Custom dictionaries
    6.  Spell Checking
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Microsoft Edge extension
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Neural network
    11.  N-grams
    12. Obsidian icon  Obsidian Integration
    LanguageTool iconFirst Draft Icon

    LanguageTool VS First Draft

    Is LanguageTool a good alternative to First Draft?
     
    • LanguageTool is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & iPhone alternative to First Draft.

    • LanguageTool is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to First Draft.

    • LanguageTool is Freemium and Open SourceFirst Draft is Paid and Proprietary
    • LanguageTool is Privacy focused and LightweightFirst Draft is not according to our users
  2. Grammarly icon
     240 likes

    Delivers real-time spelling, grammar, and style check, generative AI for instant drafts, comprehensive writing feedback, and enhanced sentence clarity and word choice for effective communication on multiple platforms, including desktops and web browsers.

    114 Grammarly alternatives
    Grammarly screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Safari
    • Microsoft Word
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Grammar tool
    2.  Grammatical Error Checking
    3.  Automated proofreading
    4.  Plugin for office programs
    5.  Spell Checking
    6. Microsoft Word icon  Microsoft Word integration
    7.  Browser integration
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  AI-Powered
    12.  No registration required
    Grammarly iconFirst Draft Icon

    Grammarly VS First Draft

    Is Grammarly a good alternative to First Draft?
     
    • Grammarly is the most popular SaaS alternative to First Draft.

    • Grammarly is Freemium and ProprietaryFirst Draft is Paid and Proprietary
    • Grammarly is LightweightFirst Draft is not according to our users
  3. Manuskript icon
     158 likes

    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    108 Manuskript alternatives
    Manuskript screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  File Versioning
    Manuskript iconFirst Draft Icon

    Manuskript VS First Draft

    Is Manuskript a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  4. iA Writer icon
     94 likes

    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.

    113 iA Writer alternatives
    iA Writer screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Distraction-free Writing
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Nested Folders
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  No registration required
    9. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Integrated into iOS
    iA Writer iconFirst Draft Icon

    iA Writer VS First Draft

    Is iA Writer a good alternative to First Draft?
     
    • iA Writer is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to First Draft.

    • iA Writer is the most popular commercial alternative to First Draft.

    • iA Writer is Paid and ProprietaryFirst Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
    • iA Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightFirst Draft is not according to our users
  5. Microsoft SwiftKey icon
     85 likes

    SwiftKey Keyboard uses Artificial Intelligence to automatically learn your writing style, including the emoji you love to use (if you use emoji), the words that matter to you and how you like to type. That means autocorrect and predictive text that actually works because it...

    60 Microsoft SwiftKey alternatives
    Microsoft SwiftKey screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Microsoft SwiftKey Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Resizable Keyboard
    3.  Swipe Typing
    4.  Multiple languages
    5.  Clipboard monitoring
    6.  Auto Correction
    Microsoft SwiftKey iconFirst Draft Icon

    Microsoft SwiftKey VS First Draft

    Is Microsoft SwiftKey a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  6. Hemingway Editor icon
     55 likes

    Hemingway App makes your writing bold and clear.

    131 Hemingway Editor alternatives
    Hemingway Editor screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Spell Checking
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Writing assistance
    4.  Collaborative writing
    5.  Ebook writer
    6. Readability icon  Readability integration
    7.  Distraction-free Writing
    8.  Automated proofreading
    9.  Writing suggestions
    Hemingway Editor iconFirst Draft Icon

    Hemingway Editor VS First Draft

    Is Hemingway Editor a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  7. Story Architect (STARC) icon
     12 likes

    A smooth yet powerful writing experience for devoted authors. With only wanted features and native workflow it runs faster than all your previous apps combined.

    37 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives
    Story Architect (STARC) screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Screenwriting
    3.  Writing assistance
    4.  Tracking of plots
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  Real time collaboration
    9.  Portable
    10.  Autocompletion
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  No Coding Required
    Story Architect (STARC) iconFirst Draft Icon

    Story Architect (STARC) VS First Draft

    Is this a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  8. ProWritingAid icon
     28 likes

    A complete grammar checker, style editor, and mentor, offering 25 writing reports. It identifies repetitive language, vague words, overuse of adverbs, passive voice, and complex structures while providing a word explorer and thesaurus.

    94 ProWritingAid alternatives
    ProWritingAid screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft Word
    • Google Docs
    • Google Workspace
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Spell Checking
    2.  Automated proofreading
    3.  Grammar explanations
    4.  Grammatical Error Checking
    5.  Grammar tool
    6.  Cloning in multiple languages styles
    ProWritingAid iconFirst Draft Icon

    ProWritingAid VS First Draft

    Is ProWritingAid a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  9. yWriter icon
     66 likes

    yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all manner of story elements (characters, locations, items) as well as place it and rearrange it within the context of chapters.

    66 yWriter alternatives
    Main screen on Windows XP

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Outline mode
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Project Organization
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Scene Management
    7.  Plot visualisation
    8.  Character database
    yWriter iconFirst Draft Icon

    yWriter VS First Draft

    Is yWriter a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  10. Final Draft icon
     26 likes

    Use your creative energy to focus on the content; let Final Draft take care of the style. Final Draft is the number-one selling word processor specifically designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics and stage plays.

    46 Final Draft alternatives
    Story Map

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Final Draft Features

    1.  Screenwriting
    2.  Scriptwriting Assistant
    3.  Text to Speech
    4.  Collaborative writing
    5.  Export to PDF
    6.  Brainstorming
    Final Draft iconFirst Draft Icon

    Final Draft VS First Draft

    Is Final Draft a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  11. Trelby icon
     31 likes

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

    24 Trelby alternatives
    Trelby

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Trelby Features

    1.  WYSIWYG Support
    Trelby iconFirst Draft Icon

    Trelby VS First Draft

    Is Trelby a good alternative to First Draft?
     
  12. scrutch icon
     5 likes

    End-to-encrypted, laser-focussed yet elegant editor. No registration, no login, no ads, no tracking, no hassle. Just write. In private or together with others.

    288 scrutch alternatives
    scrutch screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Full-Text Search
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Distraction-free Writing
    11.  Share notes
    12.  Progressive Web App
    scrutch iconFirst Draft Icon

    scrutch VS First Draft

    Is scrutch a good alternative to First Draft?
     
13 of 101 First Draft alternatives