Rough Draft Alternatives

Rough Draft is described as 'Writing on paper, you let go and just get your idea out. You don't get caught up perfecting the words too early. Rough Draft is like writing with pen and paper, so you can't delete words, only cross them out' and is an app in the news & books category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Rough Draft for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone and Linux apps. The best Rough Draft alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Rough Draft are Dendron, FocusWriter, Pinery and Bear.

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Alternatives list

  1. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     168 likes
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    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    117 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

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

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

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

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Dendron icon

    Dendron

     71 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.

    201 Dendron alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1
     
  4. FocusWriter icon

    FocusWriter

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

    99 FocusWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1
     
  5. Pinery icon

    Pinery

     10 likes
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    The simplest way to go from first draft to a professionally published book. See your words come to life.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Pinery screenshot 1
     
  6. Bear icon

    Bear

     94 likes
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    Flexible note-taking and writing tool featuring advanced markdown with in-line images, cross-note links, live preview, hashtags, Focus Mode, plain text storage, iCloud sync, one-tap formatting, smart data recognition, and multiple export formats for portability.

    242 Bear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Bear screenshot 1
     

    • Bear is the most popular Web-based, iPhone & iPad alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Bear is Freemium and ProprietaryRough Draft is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Bear is LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  7. iA Writer icon

    iA Writer

     96 likes
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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 concentrate on your text and nothing but your text.

    118 iA Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iA Writer screenshot 1
     

    • iA Writer is the most popular commercial alternative to Rough Draft.

    • iA Writer is Paid and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • iA Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  9. Ulysses icon

    Ulysses

     69 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.

    124 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Ulysses screenshot 1
     
  10. scrutch icon

    scrutch

     8 likes
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    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.

    290 scrutch alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    scrutch screenshot 1
     

    • scrutch is the most popular SaaS alternative to Rough Draft.

    • scrutch is Free and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • scrutch is Security-focused, Minimalistic, Lightweight and Privacy focusedRough Draft is not according to our users
  11. Skribisto icon

    Skribisto

     6 likes
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    Skribisto is born from the ashes of Plume Creator , keeping the goals while adopting more recent ways to think an application.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Skribisto screenshot 1
     
  12. Tintero icon

    Tintero

     3 likes
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    Organize your ideas, create memorable characters, build immersive worlds, and write captivating stories. Tintero is your ideal companion to take your creative projects to the next level, from planning to book generation.

    21 Tintero alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Scene management
     

    • Tintero is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Tintero is Free and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Tintero is LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  13. Byword icon

    Byword

     53 likes
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    Byword is designed to make writing more enjoyable with Markdown on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    149 Byword alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Byword screenshot 1
     
12 of 26 Rough Draft alternatives