Open Source iA Writer Alternatives

The best open source alternative to iA Writer is Joplin. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to iA Writer and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to iA Writer are Zettlr, Mark Text, Dendron and FocusWriter.

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

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iA Writer

Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool

Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad

The key to good writing is not that magical glass of Bordeaux, the right kind of tobacco or that groovy background music....

Learn more about iA Writer

Joplin
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
AppImageHub
Snapcraft
Google Chrome
Flathub
Homebrew
Chocolatey
Termux
Firefox
Cloudron
593 alternatives to Joplin
Joplin is a free, 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.
Suggest and vote on features
Joplin Features
1. Support for MarkDownJoplin supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
3. End-to-End EncryptionJoplin has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
4. Privacy focusedJoplin is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Joplin.
6. Works OfflineJoplin can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Ad-freeJoplin doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
8. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Joplin.
9. LightweightJoplin consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Local Storage
Android Sync
Tagging
Encrypted Notes
WebDAV Support
Write files in markdown
Synchronization
Multiplatform
Plugin system
Export to HTML
Joplin vs iA Writer opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
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 comment•
1
Zettlr
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
142 alternatives to Zettlr
Zettlr is a supercharged markdown editor that combines many writing editor features and collect them in one application. It aims at speeding up your workflow and help you write without any interruptions.
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Zettlr Features
1. Support for MarkDownZettlr supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. File TaggingZettlr can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
3. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
4. Privacy focusedZettlr is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Ad-freeZettlr doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Syntax HighlightingZettlr supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
7. Dark ModeZettlr supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Zettlr without registration.
9. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Zettlr.
Zettelkasten note method
Multiple export options
Zotero integration
Note organization
Link files
Built-in themes
Export to LaTeX
Interactive tables
Write files in markdown
Upload images
Zettlr vs iA Writer opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
iA Writer is for writing longer texts. Zettlr is for note taking.
Negative comment•
0
Mark Text
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
103 alternatives to Mark Text
Mark Text support CommonMark Spec and GitHub Flavored Markdown Spec. And it is a realtime preview eidtor, what you type is what you see finally.
Suggest and vote on features
Mark Text Features
1. Support for MarkDownMark Text supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. WYSIWYG SupportMark Text integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
3. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
4. Dark ModeMark Text supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Distraction-freeMark Text has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. Syntax HighlightingMark Text supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Real-time inline preview
Write files in markdown
Distraction-free Writing
Text editing
Clean design
Export to HTML
Internal linking
Built-in themes
Tabbed interface
MIT License
Discontinued
MarkText has no active maintainers. https://github.com/marktext/marktext/issues/1290#issuecomment-1172914762

Mark Text vs iA Writer opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Interface is great, and you can edit the font from the preferences.
Positive comment•
1
Dendron
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Visual Studio Code
222 alternatives to Dendron
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Dendron Features
1. Support for MarkDownDendron supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Dendron.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsDendron can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Privacy focusedDendron is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Local Storage
Block reference
Graph view
VSCode
Backlinks
Quick reference lookup
Publishing
Tagging
Bidirectional links
Built-in themes
Discontinued
Dendron is no longer actively developed since 2022. See the last post in this thread for example https://github.com/dendronhq/dendron/issues/92 which links to Discord https://discordapp.com/channels/717965437182410783/737323300967022732/1072563304289030164 where the Developer wrote down about his burnout and so on....
FocusWriter
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
92 alternatives to FocusWriter
FocusWriter is a fullscreen, distraction-free word processor designed to immerse you as much as possible in your work. The program autosaves your progress, and reloads the last files you had open to make it easy to jump back in during your next writing session, and has many...
Suggest and vote on features
FocusWriter Features
1. Distraction-freeFocusWriter has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. LightweightFocusWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. PortableFocusWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Distraction-free Writing
Customizable
Daily progress tracker
Fullscreen support
Skin customization
Auto-saving
Writing statistics
Tabbed interface
Multiple languages
FocusWriter vs iA Writer opinions
Most users think FocusWriter is a great alternative to iA Writer.
QOwnNotes
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
Qt
Flathub
210 alternatives to QOwnNotes
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.
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QOwnNotes Features
1. Support for MarkDownQOwnNotes supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. No TrackingQOwnNotes will not track you or use your personal data.
3. Ad-freeQOwnNotes doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Local Storage
Plain text file
Tagging
Code Syntax Highlighting
Synchronization
Configurable
Nextcloud integration
Tag based
Owncloud integration
iCal integration
ghostwriter
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Windows
Linux
126 alternatives to ghostwriter
No excuses. No distractions. Just write. 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.
Suggest and vote on features
ghostwriter Features
1. Support for MarkDownghostwriter supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Dark Modeghostwriter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. Lightweightghostwriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Portableghostwriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
6. Spell Checkingghostwriter can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. Syntax Highlightingghostwriter supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Simple text editor
Stay Focused
Distraction-free Writing
Writing statistics
Export to Word
Word counter
Fullscreen support
Support for Large File
ghostwriter vs iA Writer opinions
Foam
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Self-Hosted
Visual Studio Code
297 alternatives to Foam
Foam is a personal knowledge management and sharing system inspired by Roam Research, built on Visual Studio Code and GitHub.
Suggest and vote on features
Foam Features
Knowledge base
VSCode
Knowledge Management
Write files in markdown
Athens
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Self-Hosted
Software as a Service (SaaS)
78 alternatives to Athens
The problem with notetaking apps like Evernote or Apple Notes is that once you write a note, after a week you never look at it again. Without any organization, you're stuck praying that search will work for your future self.
Suggest and vote on features
Athens Features
Block reference
Bidirectional links
Knowledge base
Graph view
Outliner
Backlinks
Knowledge Management
Tagging
Discontinued
Athens is no longer being maintained: https://twitter.com/tangjeff0/status/1591139758457389056
Rentry.co
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Note-taking Tool
Pastebin Service
Online
Self-Hosted
174 alternatives to Rentry.co
Rentry.co is a markdown pastebin and publishing service with preview, custom urls and editing. Fast, simple and free.
Suggest and vote on features
Rentry.co Features
1. Support for MarkDownRentry.co supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
3. LightweightRentry.co consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Syntax HighlightingRentry.co supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. Command line interfaceRentry.co either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Publishing
Minimalistic
Tab preview
Distraction-free Writing