FocusWriter AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Text Editors

The best Text Editor alternative to FocusWriter is Zettlr, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to FocusWriter and many of them are Text Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Text Editor alternatives to FocusWriter are ghostwriter, QOwnNotes, Rentry.co and iA Writer.

filter to find the best alternatives

FocusWriter alternatives are mainly Text Editors, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Word Processors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Android and iPad. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to FocusWriter.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
FocusWriter alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Zettlr icon
     245 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.

    182 Zettlr alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Zettlr as an Alternative to FocusWriter
    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 icon
    Zettlr icon
    • 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
     109 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.

    139 ghostwriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
     
    |
    2
    9
    Comments about ghostwriter as an Alternative to FocusWriter
    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 icon
    ghostwriter icon
    • Most users think ghostwriter is a great FocusWriter alternative.

    • 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.

    266 QOwnNotes alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Qt
     
  4. Rentry.co icon
     55 likes

    Rentry.co is a markdown pastebin and publishing service with preview, custom urls and editing. Fast, simple and free.

    183 Rentry.co alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
  5. 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 type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  6. 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 type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    1
    10
    Comments about WriteMonkey as an Alternative to FocusWriter
    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 icon
    WriteMonkey icon
    • Almost everyone thinks WriteMonkey is a great FocusWriter alternative.

    • WriteMonkey is Freemium and ProprietaryFocusWriter is Free and Open Source
  7. 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.

    129 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  8. Heynote icon
     19 likes

    Heynote is a dedicated scratchpad for developers. It functions as a large persistent text buffer where you can write down anything you like. Works great for that Slack message you don't want to accidentally send, a JSON response from an API you're working with, notes...

    57 Heynote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  9. novelWriter icon
     25 likes

    novelWriter is a Markdown-like text editor designed for writing novels and larger projects of many smaller plain text documents. It uses its own flavor of Markdown that supports a meta data syntax for comments, synopsis and cross-referencing between files.

    67 novelWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt
    • Python
     
  10. scrutch icon
     8 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
  11. Notepack icon
     16 likes

    Privacy oriented, without vendor lock in note organizer, todo list desktop application. Work offline with text, markdown and pdf files.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  12. Daino Notes icon
     8 likes

    Offers fast, distraction-free note-taking via a high-performance editor with real-time Markdown, local-first storage, image support, Kanban task boards, intuitive drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts, configurable themes, fast search, and cross-platform access.

    78 Daino Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
12 of 48 FocusWriter alternatives