Paragraphs Alternatives

Paragraphs is described as 'App just for writers. It was built for one thing and one thing only: writing. It gives you everything you need to create brilliant prose and does away with the rest' and is an app in the news & books category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Paragraphs for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Web-based and iPhone apps. The best Paragraphs alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Paragraphs are Dendron, ghostwriter, FocusWriter and Bear.

Paragraphs iconParagraphs
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Paragraphs is an app just for writers. It was built for one thing and one thing only: writing. It gives you everything you...

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Paragraphs alternatives page was last updated Mar 20, 2025
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  1. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     160 likes
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    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    109 Manuskript alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Track Characters
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for MarkDown

    Manuskript VS Paragraphs

     

    • Manuskript is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Paragraphs.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Paragraphs.

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceParagraphs is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Dendron icon

    Dendron

     67 likes
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    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.

    192 Dendron alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1

    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 VS Paragraphs

     
  4. ghostwriter icon

    ghostwriter

     101 likes
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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.

    137 ghostwriter alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    ghostwriter screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    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 VS Paragraphs

     
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    Screenshot
    Novlr icon
    Novlr

    Advanced writing tool supporting online and offline modes, accessible from any device. Features chapter and scene organization, grammar checks, version history, and export options including docx and epub. Novlr syncs with cloud s...

    https://www.novlr.org
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  6. FocusWriter icon

    FocusWriter

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

    96 FocusWriter alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1

    Properties

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

    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 VS Paragraphs

     
  7. Bear icon

    Bear

     93 likes
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    Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app for note-taking and prose, both on the go for iOS devices and for the Mac OS desktop.

    231 Bear alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Bear screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Cloud Sync
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Nested tags
    6.  Search by tags
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Web Clipper
    11.  No registration required
    12.  WYSIWYG Support

    Bear VS Paragraphs

     

    • Bear is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Paragraphs.

    • Bear is Freemium and ProprietaryParagraphs is Paid and Proprietary
    • Bear is LightweightParagraphs is not according to our users
  8. StackEdit icon

    StackEdit

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

    83 StackEdit alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Google Chrome
    StackEdit 5 - Split interface (Dark)

    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 VS Paragraphs

     

    • StackEdit is the most popular Web-based alternative to Paragraphs.

    • StackEdit is Free and Open SourceParagraphs is Paid and Proprietary
  10. Ulysses icon

    Ulysses

     67 likes
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    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.

    111 Ulysses alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Ulysses screenshot 1

    Ulysses Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Export to PDF
    3.  Distraction-free Writing
    4.  Export to EPUB
    5.  Tabbed interface
    6.  Sync with iCloud
    7.  Brainstorming
    8.  Support for styluses

    Ulysses VS Paragraphs

     

    • Ulysses is the most popular commercial alternative to Paragraphs.

    • Ulysses is Paid and ProprietaryParagraphs is also Paid and Proprietary
  11. yWriter icon

    yWriter

     67 likes
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    yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all manner of story elements (characters, locations, items) as well as place it and rearrange it within the context of chapters.

    66 yWriter alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Main screen on Windows XP

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Outline mode
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Project Organization
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Scene Management
    7.  Plot visualisation
    8.  Character database

    yWriter VS Paragraphs

     

    • yWriter is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Paragraphs.

    • yWriter is Freemium and ProprietaryParagraphs is Paid and Proprietary
    • yWriter is LightweightParagraphs is not according to our users
  12. oStorybook icon

    oStorybook

     24 likes
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    oStorybook is a free, open source novel-writing software for creative writers, novelists and authors which will help you to keep an overview of multiple plot-lines while writing texts.

    47 oStorybook alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    oStorybook screenshot 1

    oStorybook Features

    1.  Character database
    2.  Detailed toolbar
    3.  Java based
    4.  Text editing

    oStorybook VS Paragraphs

     
  13. SXMac icon

    SXMac

     1 like
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    SXMac is a light, notes like app that can be used as a rich text editor, markdown editor and preview, code editor with more than 100 supported languages. If you need specific files or anything else in one place.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    SXMac screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Live Preview
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Built-in viewer
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Drag and Drop
    11.  Built-in code editor

    SXMac VS Paragraphs

     
  14. MacDown icon

    MacDown

     23 likes
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    MacDown is an open source Markdown editor for macOS, released under the MIT License. It is heavily influenced by Chen Luo’s Mou.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • TW flagTaiwan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    What it looks like
    Discontinued

    The latest version (0.7.3) is from January 2020, but the software still works fine, and can be downloaded from the official website or the GitHub repository.

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Support for MarkDown
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No registration required

    MacDown VS Paragraphs

     
  15. Haroopad icon

    Haroopad

     69 likes
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    Haroopad is a markdown enabled document processor for creating web-friendly documents. You can author various formats of documents such as blog article, slide, presentation, report, and e-mail as if experts did.

    106 Haroopad alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • KR flagSouth Korea

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Haroopad screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last update was in December 2018.

    Haroopad Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Vim Key Mapping
    3.  Publishing

    Haroopad VS Paragraphs

     
12 of 44 Paragraphs alternatives