The Best iA Writer AlternativesTop Note-taking Tools & Text Editors like iA Writer

iA Writer is described as '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' and is a popular Note-taking tool in the news & books category. There are more than 100 alternatives to iA Writer for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and iPhone apps. The best iA Writer alternative is Joplin, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like iA Writer are Typora, Zettlr, Simplenote and Fossify Notes.

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

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...

More about iA Writer
iA Writer alternatives page was last updated May 15, 2024
  1. Joplin icon
     800 likes

    Joplin is a open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, can be copied, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

    67 Joplin alternatives
    Desktop and mobile apps

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • Termux
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Web Clipper
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Local Storage
    7.  Tagging
    8. Android icon  Android Sync
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  File Sync
    11.  Encrypted Notes
    12.  WebDAV Support
    Joplin iconiA Writer Icon

    Joplin VS iA Writer

    Is Joplin a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    Comments about Joplin as an Alternative to iA Writer
     
    diver_down

    FOSS and (most importantly!) works on ALL platforms. Ubuntu, Manjaro, iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS... it will sync effortless between them. Oh, and it's also E2EE which is mandatory for good security practices as far as I'm concerned. Thanks L.C. <3

    Positive commentMar 3, 2020
    0
    iA Writer Icon
    Joplin icon
    • Most users think Joplin is a great iA Writer alternative.

    • Joplin is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to iA Writer.

    • Joplin is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to iA Writer.

    • Joplin is Freemium and Open SourceiA Writer is Paid and Proprietary
    • Joplin is Privacy focusediA Writer is not according to our users
  2. Typora icon
     318 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...

    163 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 iconiA Writer Icon

    Typora VS iA Writer

    Is Typora a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    Comments about Typora as an Alternative to iA Writer
     
       
    Alec Kinnear

    Typora is great if you like to write in preview mode. iAWriter is better if you prefer to see Markdown in the edit window and have access to a preview window (old WordPerfect paradigm). Both are excellent apps. Typora is great for Markdown tables.

    Top positive commentSep 28, 2022
    0
    arximughal

    It's free and opensource and packed with a lot of useful features. I just love writing in Typora.

    Positive commentJan 8, 2020
    -5
    Guest

    This was exactly what I was looking for, and iA wasn't quite there

    Positive commentSep 11, 2018
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    iA Writer Icon
    Typora icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Typora is a great iA Writer alternative.

    • Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to iA Writer.

    • Typora is Paid and ProprietaryiA Writer is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Typora is LightweightiA Writer is not according to our users
  3. Zettlr icon
     214 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 iconiA Writer Icon

    Zettlr VS iA Writer

    Is Zettlr a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    Comments about Zettlr as an Alternative to iA Writer
     
    Guest

    iA Writer is for writing longer texts. Zettlr is for note taking.

    Negative commentSep 18, 2020
    1
    iA Writer Icon
    Zettlr icon
    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceiA Writer is Paid and Proprietary
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusediA Writer is not according to our users
  4. Simplenote icon
     590 likes

    Made by the company behind WordPress, Simplenote enables users to take notes, lists, and ideas. These notes are stored on the cloud and are accessible across multiple devices.

    65 Simplenote alternatives
    Simplenote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Clean design
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Cross-device syncing
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Search by tags
    4.  Simple text editor
    5.  Protected by Password
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Text Based Format
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Ad-free
    Simplenote iconiA Writer Icon

    Simplenote VS iA Writer

    Is Simplenote a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    • Simplenote is the most popular Web-based alternative to iA Writer.

    • Simplenote is Free and Open SourceiA Writer is Paid and Proprietary
    • Simplenote is LightweightiA Writer is not according to our users
  5. Fossify Notes icon
     21 likes

    Introducing Fossify Notes – your ultimate tool for effortless note-taking, organization, and planning. Simplify your life with this intuitive organizer designed to streamline your tasks and ideas effortlessly.

    101 Fossify Notes alternatives
    Fossify Notes screenshot 1
    Fossify Notes screenshot 2
    +3
    Fossify Notes screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Reminders
    7.  Auto-saving
    8.  Note organization
    Fossify Notes iconiA Writer Icon

    Fossify Notes VS iA Writer

    Is Fossify Notes a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
  6. 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 iconiA Writer Icon

    FocusWriter VS iA Writer

    Is FocusWriter a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
  7. ghostwriter icon
     98 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.

    132 ghostwriter alternatives
    ghostwriter screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Simple text editor
    4.  Stay Focused
    5.  Distraction-free Writing
    6.  Spell Checking
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  Portable
    9.  Writing statistics
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Works Offline
    12. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    ghostwriter iconiA Writer Icon

    ghostwriter VS iA Writer

    Is ghostwriter a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    Comments about ghostwriter as an Alternative to iA Writer
     
    NA0341

    Fast, lean, open source, many useful features, well integrated with different Markdown parsers - Hemmingway mode. Although for anything beyond just writing I'd suggest something more advanced - like Obsidian.

    Positive commentNov 22, 2023
    0
    iA Writer Icon
    ghostwriter icon
    • Almost everyone thinks ghostwriter is a great iA Writer alternative.

    • ghostwriter is Free and Open SourceiA Writer is Paid and Proprietary
    • ghostwriter is LightweightiA Writer is not according to our users
  8. 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 iconiA Writer Icon

    Mark Text VS iA Writer

    Is Mark Text a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
    Comments about Mark Text as an Alternative to iA Writer
     
    Guest

    Interface is great, and you can edit the font from the preferences.

    Positive commentMay 19, 2020
    1
    iA Writer Icon
    Mark Text icon
    • Mark Text is Free and Open SourceiA Writer is Paid and Proprietary
  9. Dendron icon
     63 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.

    187 Dendron alternatives
    Dendron screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Hierarchical Structure
    4.  Block reference
    5.  Graph view
    6.  VSCode
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Backlinks
    9.  Quick reference lookup
    10.  Publishing
    11.  Tagging
    12.  Bidirectional links
    Dendron iconiA Writer Icon

    Dendron VS iA Writer

    Is Dendron a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
  10. QOwnNotes icon
     93 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.

    226 QOwnNotes alternatives
    QOwnNotes main screen

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Qt

    Top QOwnNotes Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Plain text file
    4.  Tagging
    5. Nextcloud icon  Nextcloud integration
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Subtasks
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Synchronization
    11. ownCloud icon  Owncloud integration
    12. Apple Calendar icon  iCal integration
    QOwnNotes iconiA Writer Icon

    QOwnNotes VS iA Writer

    Is QOwnNotes a good alternative to iA Writer?
     
10 of 112 iA Writer alternatives