FocusWriter AlternativesText Editors and other similar apps like FocusWriter

FocusWriter is described as 'Simple but configurable and themeable, distraction-free text editor for writers. Open-source and available across desktop platforms' and is a very popular Text Editor in the office & productivity category. There are more than 100 alternatives to FocusWriter for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web-based and iPhone apps. The best FocusWriter alternative is Zettlr, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like FocusWriter are ghostwriter, QOwnNotes, Trudido and Dendron.

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FocusWriter alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Zettlr icon
     247 likes

    Unified writing platform offering note-taking, easy citations with Zotero integration, LaTeX/Word templates, snippets, themes, dark modes, code highlighting, multi-language support, and knowledge management with Zettelkasten for seamless writing from notes to books.

    184 Zettlr alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
     
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    1
    Zettlr vs FocusWriter Comments
    liricospina
    Positive
    -2

    This program does not work in any other version of Mac OS but the very latest, which by all accounts is still to be avoided. (Apparently. working remotely has made the macsters overzealously productive in an attempt to remain useful and banish boredom, at mac users' expense.)

    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceFocusWriter is also Free and Open Source
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusedFocusWriter is not according to our users
  2. ghostwriter icon
     110 likes

    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.

    138 ghostwriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
     
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    2
    ghostwriter vs FocusWriter Comments
    javillalba
    Positive
    0
    • Full screen distraction-free.
    • Open Source license.
    • Word count and progress stats.
    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Krakra
    Positive
    0

    very nice tool - i like it much more than Write and use it as alternative to it.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • ghostwriter is Free and Open SourceFocusWriter is also Free and Open Source
    • ghostwriter is Privacy focusedFocusWriter is not according to our users
  3. QOwnNotes icon
     96 likes

    Plain text notepad with markdown support and todo list manager for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows, that works together with the notes application of ownCloud.

    271 QOwnNotes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Qt
     
  4. Trudido icon
     14 likes

    Offline in-device task manager and note app featuring smart creation, advanced organization, calendar and list views, Markdown notes, secure SHA-256 encryption, Material You theming, multiple color themes, no tracking or ads, and import/export for total ownership.

    38 Trudido alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
     
  5. Dendron icon
     71 likes

    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.

    208 Dendron alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
     
  6. Bear icon
     95 likes

    Flexible note-taking and writing tool featuring advanced markdown with in-line images, cross-note links, live preview, hashtags, Focus Mode, plain text storage, iCloud sync, one-tap formatting, smart data recognition, and multiple export formats for portability.

    252 Bear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  7. Pages icon
     212 likes

    Word processor providing real-time collaboration, over 90 templates, iCloud integration, support for Word and EPUB files, over 700 shapes, advanced formatting tools, change tracking, mathematical equations, multimedia insertion, wireless printing, and flexible export options.

    79 Pages alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
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    1
    Pages vs FocusWriter Comments
    elkomodosdrago
    Negative
    5

    Pages lacks the same focus upon a distraction-free full-screen environment.

    • Pages is Freemium and ProprietaryFocusWriter is Free and Open Source
  8. iA Writer icon
     96 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.

    120 iA Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  9. WriteMonkey icon
     130 likes

    Writemonkey is a Windows zenware writing application with an extremely stripped down user interface, leaving you alone with your thoughts and your words.

    105 WriteMonkey alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    1
    WriteMonkey vs FocusWriter Comments
    callyw
    Positive
    1

    WriteMonkey has the same ability to customize the writing window and fonts It does have more features, with markdown support, for example, but it offers the same full screen distraction-free writing experience. It is also free and can be run as a portable app like FocusWriter.

    • WriteMonkey is Freemium and ProprietaryFocusWriter is Free and Open Source
  10. Ulysses icon
     69 likes

    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.

    131 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  11. Quoll Writer icon
     40 likes

    Focus on your words not the interface. Quoll Writer is a writing application that helps you focus on your words. Clean and uncluttered. Feature rich. Features are where you would expect them to be.

    80 Quoll Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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