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 FocusWriter, Dendron, Bear and iA Writer.

Rough Draft alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Text Editors or Novel Authoring Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Rough Draft.

Rough Draft alternatives page was last updated

Rough Draft

Freemium • Proprietary
Mac

Writing on paper, you let go and just get your idea out. You don't get caught up perfecting the words too early. Rough...

Learn more about Rough Draft

Manuskript
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
100 Manuskript alternatives
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Rough Draft.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Rough Draft.
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Manuskript Features
1. Works OfflineManuskript can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeManuskript doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeManuskript supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownManuskript supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. File VersioningManuskript has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Outliner
Tree structure
Tracking of plots
Distraction-free Writing
Tracking of characters
Plot visualisation
Track Characters
Visual timeline
Tracking of locations
Visual Organization
FocusWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Word Processor
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
88 FocusWriter alternatives
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...
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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
Dendron
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Visual Studio Code
200 Dendron alternatives
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.
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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
Bear
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Todo List Manager
Mac
iPhone
iPad
219 Bear alternatives
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.
- - Bear is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Rough Draft.
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Bear Features
1. Support for MarkDownBear supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
3. Syntax HighlightingBear supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Ad-freeBear doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Works OfflineBear can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Dark ModeBear supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. LightweightBear consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. Web ClipperSave any page or content from the web with a single click with Bear.
9. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Bear without registration.
Distraction-free Writing
Nested tags
Search by tags
Notes synchronisation
Export to Word
Export to PDF
Tagging
Sync with iCloud
Note Manager
WYSIWYG Support
iA Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
103 iA Writer alternatives
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.
- - iA Writer is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Rough Draft.
- - iA Writer is the most popular commercial alternative to Rough Draft.
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iA Writer Features
1. Distraction-freeiA Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. Support for MarkDowniA Writer supports MarkDown for document formatting.
3. Support for LaTeXiA Writer supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
4. Syntax HighlightingiA Writer supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. Works OfflineiA Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Dark ModeiA Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Distraction-free Writing
Nested Folders
Integrated into iOS
HTML/CSS/JS rendering
Ulysses
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
iPhone
iPad
91 Ulysses alternatives
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.
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Ulysses Features
1. Support for MarkDownUlysses supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Distraction-free Writing
Sync with iCloud
Brainstorming
Export to PDF
Support for styluses
Export to EPUB
Tabbed interface
Byword
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Word Processor
Mac
iPhone
iPad
149 Byword alternatives
Byword is designed to make writing more enjoyable with Markdown on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.
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Byword Features
1. Support for MarkDownByword supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Works OfflineByword can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Distraction-free Writing
Dropbox integration
Synchronization
Liquid Story Binder XE
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Word Processor
Text Editor
Windows
36 Liquid Story Binder XE alternatives
Liquid Story Binder XE is a uniquely designed word processor for professional and aspiring authors, poets, and novelists. Writing software for those who require the editing ability of a commercial text editor as well as a document tracking system.
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Liquid Story Binder XE Features
1. PortableLiquid Story Binder XE can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Storyboard
Timeline
Planner
Discontinued
Last update was around 2011, can still be bought.
WriteRoom
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Word Processor
Note-taking Tool
Mac
98 WriteRoom alternatives
For Mac users to write without distractions. WriteRoom is a full screen writing environment. Unlike the cluttered word processors you're used to, WriteRoom lets you focus on writing. Requires Mac OS X 10.7+
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WriteRoom Features
1. Distraction-freeWriteRoom has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
Fullscreen support
Distraction-free Writing
Discontinued
The program is no longer available for iOS. The Mac version, v3.2.1, released in August 2012, can be still bought from the AppStore.
Allegory
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Note-taking Tool
Mac
iPhone
iPad
Apple Watch
161 Allegory alternatives
Allegory is a powerful notes app with a beautiful iOS-centric UI. The minimal and focused writing experience, combined with an impressive set of powerful features, makes this the ideal choice for everyone.
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Allegory Features
Notebook
Skribisto
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
30 Skribisto alternatives
Skribisto is born from the ashes of Plume Creator , keeping the goals while adopting more recent ways to think an application.
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Skribisto Features
Distraction-free Writing
Calmly Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Word Processor
Windows
Online
Chrome OS
44 Calmly Writer alternatives
Calmly Writer is a professional text editor designed to focus on what you want to tell, with a simple, unobtrusive and distraction-free user interface.
- - Calmly Writer is the most popular Web-based alternative to Rough Draft.
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Calmly Writer Features
1. Distraction-freeCalmly Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
2. Support for MarkDownCalmly Writer supports MarkDown for document formatting.
Word counter
Distraction-free Writing
Export to PDF
Web fonts
Convert images to PDF