ghostwriter AlternativesNote-taking Tools & Text Editors like ghostwriter

ghostwriter is described as 'Feature-rich text editor using Markdown syntax which makes it suitable for note-taking, document redaction, simple HTML website creation and much more' and is a popular Note-taking tool in the office & productivity category. There are more than 100 alternatives to ghostwriter for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Web-based and Android apps. The best ghostwriter alternative is Microsoft OneNote, which is free. Other great apps like ghostwriter are Zettlr, Notesnook, Typora and Trilium Notes.

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ghostwriter alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Text Editors.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of ghostwriter.
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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.

More about ghostwriter
ghostwriter alternatives page was last updated Feb 6, 2025
  1. Microsoft OneNote icon
     1134 likes

    Comprehensive digital notebook offering organizers, shared notes, multi-device syncing, and optical character recognition, plus cloud-based data management for efficient information handling and accessibility.

    86 Microsoft OneNote alternatives
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire

    Top Microsoft OneNote Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Visual Organization
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Insert images
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Support for styluses
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Pressure Sensitivity
    12.  Multiple Account support
    Microsoft OneNote iconghostwriter Icon

    Microsoft OneNote VS ghostwriter

    Is Microsoft OneNote a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
    • Microsoft OneNote is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Microsoft OneNote is the most popular free alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and Proprietaryghostwriter is Free and Open Source
  2. Zettlr icon
     212 likes

    From idea to publication in one app: Zettlr accompanies you while writing your blog post, newspaper article, term paper, thesis, or entire book.

    159 Zettlr alternatives
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Hierarchical Structure
    Zettlr iconghostwriter Icon

    Zettlr VS ghostwriter

    Is Zettlr a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
    • Zettlr is the most popular Linux alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Zettlr is the most popular Open Source alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Zettlr is Free and Open Sourceghostwriter is also Free and Open Source
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusedghostwriter is not according to our users
  3. Notesnook icon
     120 likes

    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    236 Notesnook alternatives
    Notesnook screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  Private notes
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Reminders
    Notesnook iconghostwriter Icon

    Notesnook VS ghostwriter

    Is Notesnook a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
    • Notesnook is the most popular SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open Sourceghostwriter is Free and Open Source
    • Notesnook is Privacy focusedghostwriter is not according to our users
  4. Typora icon
     317 likes

    A minimalist Markdown editor offering cross-platform synchronization, live preview, and seamless export/import in various formats like PDF, DOCX, and LaTeX. Features include distraction-free Focus and Typewriter modes, file management with tree and articles panels, and content organization through an outline...

    162 Typora alternatives
    Typora screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Live Preview
    3.  Write files in markdown
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Save as Markdown
    6. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Simple text editor
    9.  Multiplatform
    10.  Export to PDF
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  No registration required
    Typora iconghostwriter Icon

    Typora VS ghostwriter

    Is Typora a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
    Comments about Typora as an Alternative to ghostwriter
     
    Guest

    I met Typora before the others.

    Positive commentNov 19, 2021
    0
    ghostwriter Icon
    Typora icon
    • Most users think Typora is a great ghostwriter alternative.

    • Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Typora is Paid and Proprietaryghostwriter is Free and Open Source
    • Typora is Lightweightghostwriter is not according to our users
  5. Trilium Notes icon
     90 likes

    Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note taking application.

    342 Trilium Notes alternatives
    Trilium Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Cloudron
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Knowledge base
    2.  Tree of notes
    3.  Note organization
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Encrypted Notes
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Support for scripting
    Discontinued

    Trilium transitions into maintenance mode and don't plan adding any new major functionality. You can take a look at this community fork: https://github.com/TriliumNext

    Trilium Notes iconghostwriter Icon

    Trilium Notes VS ghostwriter

    Is Trilium Notes a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
    • Trilium Notes is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to ghostwriter.

    • Trilium Notes is Free and Open Sourceghostwriter is also Free and Open Source
    • Trilium Notes is Privacy focusedghostwriter is not according to our users
  6. Pulsar Editor icon
     41 likes

    A Community-led Hyper-Hackable Text Editor, built on Electron. and based on everything we love about our favorite editors.

    71 Pulsar Editor alternatives
    Welcome tab

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Electron / Atom Shell

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Community-based
    3.  Hackable
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Multiple languages
    7.  Add-ons
    8.  Tabbed interface
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Dark Mode
    12. Git icon  Git Support
    Pulsar Editor iconghostwriter Icon

    Pulsar Editor VS ghostwriter

    Is Pulsar Editor a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  7. Mark Text icon
     115 likes

    Open-source Markdown editor on Mac, Windows, and Linux offering real-time preview, clean interface, and various themes. Supports math expressions, exports HTML/PDF, allows image pasting, and more.

    101 Mark Text alternatives
    GitHub Flavored Markdown

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  WYSIWYG Support
    3.  Real-time inline preview
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Live Preview
    6.  Write files in markdown
    7.  Distraction-free Writing
    8.  Text editing
    9.  Tabbed interface
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Syntax Highlighting
    Discontinued

    MarkText is no longer maintained since July 2022. Last version, 0.17.1, released in March 2022, can be still downloaded from GitHub. A fork a being developed here: https://github.com/jacobwhall/marktext

    Mark Text iconghostwriter Icon

    Mark Text VS ghostwriter

    Is Mark Text a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  8. Heynote icon
     16 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...

    47 Heynote alternatives
    Heynote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Currency Conversion
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Auto Formatting
    8.  Multiple Cursors
    Heynote iconghostwriter Icon

    Heynote VS ghostwriter

    Is Heynote a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  9. FocusWriter icon
     204 likes

    Simple but configurable and themeable, distraction-free text editor for writers. Open-source and available across desktop platforms.

    92 FocusWriter alternatives
    FocusWriter screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Distraction-free Writing
    2.  Daily progress tracker
    3.  Fullscreen support
    4.  Skin customization
    5.  Auto-saving
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Spell Checking
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Writing statistics
    12.  Multiple languages
    FocusWriter iconghostwriter Icon

    FocusWriter VS ghostwriter

    Is FocusWriter a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  10. Marknote icon
     16 likes

    Marknote lets you create rich text notes and easily organise them into notebooks. You can personalise your notebooks by choosing an icon and accent color for each one, making it easy to distinguish between them and keep your notes at your fingertips.

    78 Marknote alternatives
    Marknote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Windows

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Save as Markdown
    4.  Notebook
    5.  KDE
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Note Manager
    Marknote iconghostwriter Icon

    Marknote VS ghostwriter

    Is Marknote a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  11. Rentry.co icon
     50 likes

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

    175 Rentry.co alternatives
    Live markdown syntax highlighting

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Live Preview
    3.  Publishing
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Tab preview
    8.  Distraction-free Writing
    Rentry.co iconghostwriter Icon

    Rentry.co VS ghostwriter

    Is Rentry.co a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
  12. StackEdit icon
     89 likes

    Full-featured, open-source Markdown editor based on PageDown, the Markdown library used by Stack Overflow and the other Stack Exchange sites.

    80 StackEdit alternatives
    StackEdit 5 - Split interface (Dark)

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome

    StackEdit Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  WYSIWYG Support
    4. Google Drive icon  Google Drive integration
    5.  Export to PDF
    6.  0data
    7. Tumblr icon  Tumblr integration
    8.  Write files in markdown
    9. Dropbox icon  Dropbox integration
    StackEdit iconghostwriter Icon

    StackEdit VS ghostwriter

    Is StackEdit a good alternative to ghostwriter?
     
12 of 132 ghostwriter alternatives