creative writing tools mac

Best writing apps for the Mac 2024

Scrivener 3

Writing is a magical journey that involves research, creativity, and skill. Long are the days when writing meant using a pencil and paper or old-school typewriter. Today, writing involves sitting down at a computer and letting the mental juices flow.

Whether you're looking to type a term paper or plan on crafting the next great novel, these writing apps for Mac will get the job done. They work on the best Macs, including the latest MacBook Pro.

Ulysses offers a full array of tools for writers of any kind. This app is easy to pick up and start using but offers a wide array of customization options for everything from writing to exporting. Choose to work in Markdown or create your own markup style. With Ulysses, you can also create your own writing environment with background colors and fonts. Then, when it comes time to publish, you can export your work in various formats, including plain text, DOCX, and ePub. You can also publish your work to WordPress sites and Medium.

Your projects sync with iCloud between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, with Dropbox support also available. The app also recently added support for Touch ID to keep your documents safe.

This app is available for $5.99 per month or $29.99 per year. In addition, there are discounts for students. All packages come with a seven-day free trial.

Write, note, and journal with this popular app that's been a best seller for many years.

Apple's own writing app, Pages, lets you create different types of documents on all of your favorite Macs, like the 2021 MacBook Pro . There are more than 60 templates in Pages, covering just about every kind of writing, from short essays to research papers. There are even templates for items like business cards and flyers. In addition, you can add images and shapes, lay out your documents in different styles, and more. You can also secure documents with Touch ID if you have one of Apple's MacBook Pros with a Touch Bar.

The Pages app also makes it easy to collaborate with other people. Multiple people, whether they're on macOS, iOS, or even Windows, thanks to iCloud, can collaborate on a document simultaneously. You can share collaborative documents publicly or with specific users, see who is in the document at any time, and follow their cursors as they edit the project.

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A relatively new app compared to the rest of the list, Bear might seem simple, but it offers a great deal of flexibility for handling text. Bear is good for both notes and to-do checklists, but its support for Markdown, a variety of themes, and simple organization make it a great tool for many different kinds of writing. Add images, files, code blocks, and more to spice up your work and give it more context.

In terms of options, you've got few. First, choose how to sort your documents, pick a theme, pick your font, and even control fine-grain details such as font size, line height and width, and paragraph spacing. Then, subscribe to Bear Pro for $1.49 per month to sync your documents between Bear for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. A yearly subscription is $19.99.

Beautiful and powerful, Bear is a terrific app worth your consideration.

iA Writer's gone through quite a few changes over the years. Where the previous Pro app tried to break down your writing into a flow between notes and writing and editing, the modern iA Writer focuses on having you write in plain text, with full Markdown support. However, that's not to say that there aren't advanced features, as there are quite a few. For example, Syntax Control breaks down your writing to show you the structure, highlighting adjectives, nouns, conjunctions, etc. Link to other documents in iA Writer to combine them into a single project, or link to images or spreadsheet files to see them in iA Writer's Preview screen in several different templates.

Like other apps on this list, iA Writer lets you publish to blogs, in this case, WordPress and Medium. You can also export your work in Markdown, PDF, HTML, and Microsoft Word.

Modern and powerful, iA Writer is a terrific app that requires a one-time purchase only.

Scrivener is nothing short of a full-featured suite of tools for writers. Novels, scripts, essays, research papers, it doesn't matter because Scrivener supports all of them. Organize your ideas on digital notecards and lay them out on the corkboard to see how your work fits together. Import images, PDFs, and other media you've used as research to refer to it later. Keep your work segmented for easier organization and edition while maintaining its structure with the Binder. And each part of the app can be customized to create the exact writing environment you need. It's actually hard to encapsulate just how many options Scrivener gives you.

When you're done, compile your project into a single document and export in formats like DOC, rich text, PDF, ePub, Kindle, and even export for other apps like Final Draft. Away from your Mac? You can also check out Scrivener for iPhone and iPad, which lets you work on your Scrivener projects no matter where you are.

Although Scrivener is pricey, it offers the perfect tools for anyone looking to write and publish a masterpiece. This is a one-time purchase, unlike other options on this list.

Going to Hollywood by plane or in mind? This is the writing app to consider.

"Simple but effective" is the best way to describe Byword. With this Markdown-focused writing app, you start with a blank document and just write. It's a minimalist app with only a few settings to fuss with, and Byword really only cares about getting you writing. Your documents sync between Mac, iPhone, and iPad using iCloud Drive, though you can also store them in Dropbox.

When it comes to publishing, you've got options for PDF and HTML. You can also post what you've written to blogging services such as Medium, WordPress, Tumblr, and Blogger; or you could send your document to Evernote.

Bloggers will want to consider this terrific app available for a relatively low price.

Which app is best?

Ulysses is your best bet if you want a jack-of-all-trades writing app with WordPress, Medium, and iCloud support. Try the similar Bear first if you're not willing to shell out $29.99 per year. You may not ever need its advanced features, which would give you a terrific writing app for free.

But if you're serious about creative writing and you want a stalwart companion on your best Mac to help drag stories out of your brain, Scrivener's your best bet. Its learning curve is steeper, but its powerful features make that climb worthwhile.

Updated April 2022: Updated for macOS Monterey with new picks: Byword and Pages.

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.

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15 Best Writing Apps for Mac Users (in 2024): Essential Software for your Mac

Ayush Chaturvedi

15 min read

Do you want to complete numerous writing chores efficiently on your Mac?

Whether crafting content, managing marketing materials, or refining your writing skills, there's a dedicated Mac writing app to meet your needs. 

The options are vast, whether you're after an efficient outlining tool, an upgraded word processor, a reliable grammar checker, or an all-encompassing content marketing solution. 

The challenge? With so many choices, picking the perfect writing app for macOS can be overwhelming. 

That's where we step in to assist. If you're a fan of Apple's ecosystem, you're in for an unforgettable experience. 

Welcome to your ultimate guide for the 15 best Mac writing apps in 2024. 

Let's simplify your choices and elevate your writing game on your Mac!

What are Mac Writing Apps?

Benefits of using writing apps on mac, 1- streamlined user interface, 2- optimized performance for mac systems.

• 3- Integration With MAC Ecosystem

4- Enhanced Collaboration Features

5- rich text formatting options, 6- powerful writing tools and features, 7- regular updates and support, here are the 15 best writing apps for mac users, 1- elephas app, elephas pros , elephas cons, elephas pricing, pages pricing, 3- notability , notability pros, notability cons, notability pricing, 4- microsoft word, microsoft word pros, microsoft word cons, microsoft word pricing, 5- scrivener, scrivener pros, scrivener cons, scrivener pricing, 6- marsedit 5, marsedit 5 pros, marsedit 5 cons, marsedit 5 pricing, ulysses pros, ulysses cons, ulysses pricing, journey pros, journey cons, journey pricing , bear pricing , 10- drafts , drafts pros , drafts cons, drafts pricing , 11- ia writer, ia writer pros, ia writer cons, ia writer pricing, 12- light paper, light paper pros, light paper cons, light paper pricing , 13- prowriting aid, prowriting aid pros, prowriting aid cons, prowriting pricing, 14- grammarly, grammarly pros, grammarly cons, grammarly pricing, 15- writerly , writerly pros, writerly cons, writerly pricing, final thoughts.

Mac Writing Apps are software applications designed to enhance and streamline the writing process on Apple's Mac computers. 

These applications offer a range of features, including word processing, text editing, and organisation tools, providing writers with a user-friendly interface and powerful capabilities. With features such as spell-check, grammar correction, and formatting options, Mac Writing Apps cater to various writing needs, from creative writing to professional document preparation. They contribute to a more efficient and enjoyable writing experience, making them valuable tools for writers, students, and professionals on the Mac platform. 

With Mac writing apps, users enjoy a sleek, intuitive interface for seamless navigation. The clean layouts and user-friendly menus enhance the writing experience, allowing for focused creativity without distractions. 

The minimalist design fosters a productive environment, making it easy to access essential tools and concentrate on crafting compelling content.

Writing apps tailored for Mac are optimised to fully leverage the platform's capabilities. They run smoothly, utilising Mac's hardware and software integration for enhanced performance. 

This optimisation ensures swift response times, quick loading, and efficient multitasking, enabling writers to work effortlessly on complex projects without experiencing lags or slowdowns.

3- Integration With Mac Ecosystem

Mac writing apps seamlessly integrate with the broader Mac ecosystem, providing a cohesive experience across various applications. 

Users can easily share files between writing apps and other Mac programs, fostering a unified workflow. 

This integration extends to iCloud, allowing writers to access documents from different Mac devices, ensuring continuity and accessibility irrespective of the device used.

Many Mac writing software provides collaboration features that make group tasks easier. Real-time editing, commenting, and version tracking make it easier for writers, editors, and other stakeholders to collaborate effectively. 

These tools speed up the review process by guaranteeing smooth communication and coordination among the writing team members, resulting in a more polished and unified final product.

Mac writing apps offer many formatting options, allowing writers to customise their documents quickly. These apps provide creative freedom while maintaining document consistency, from fonts and styles to advanced formatting features. 

The WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing approach enables writers to visualise their work in real-time, making it easier to achieve the desired aesthetic and formatting for a professional and visually appealing document.

Mac writing software frequently has robust writing tools, including grammar and spell checkers, thesaurus integration, and word suggestion functions. 

These tools assist authors in enhancing the quality of their material by detecting and correcting errors, hence increasing overall writing efficiency. 

For example, distraction-free settings and word count tracking lead to a more concentrated and productive writing experience.

Mac writing apps are typically backed by dedicated developers who consistently provide updates to enhance performance, security, and feature sets. 

Users benefit from ongoing support, ensuring that their writing app remains compatible with the latest Mac updates and continues to meet evolving user needs. 

This commitment to improvement guarantees a reliable and up-to-date writing tool, making it a valuable asset for Mac users seeking stability and longevity in their writing software.

Elephas App is a super smart writing helper made just for Mac users. Forget boring stuff like writing emails, creating content, and sorting through many documents. Improve your writing with Elephas – the most excellent AI tool- setting a new standard for awesome. Elephas isn't just any writing assistant – it's like a superpower for all your other writing apps on your Mac. It adds a unique layer of intelligent AI to improve everything you write.

• Elephas works on top of all your favorite Mac apps, including powerful writing apps like Scrivener, Ulysses, Pages etc.
• Elephas is not a writing app, but a writing assistant that enhances your writing wherever you write. It can be a simple free app like Google docs, or a premium app like ProWriting Aid.

Elephas app's Super Chat facilitates enlightening conversations with expert brains, enhancing the depth of user knowledge.

Brains are specialized in various topics, ensuring users receive accurate and insightful answers to their questions.

Easy brain creation and sharing feature promotes collaborative learning, allowing users to efficiently distribute knowledge among friends and followers.

• You need to use your own Open AI Key. ( Here's how you can get it )

Elephas is one of the best AI writing tools and generators that you can help with all your writing tasks. 

It is also one of the best Mac apps out there.

So if you're a Mac user, you should definitely try out Elephas. You can get a free 30 day trial from the Elephas home page -

Elephas Home

Let's talk about a perfect app that comes already on your Mac computer: Pages . 

It doesn't cost anything extra since it's included with your Mac. Like most things from Apple, it's easy to figure out. If you're going to write something, Pages is a great choice. The tools for making your words look the way you want are on the right side, and the buttons for adding things and commenting are at the top. This makes it easy to use without much extra stuff on your screen. It's the best app for writing on a Mac.

Diverse and enjoyable templates for creative document creation.

Automatic saving to iCloud Drive ensures seamless access across Apple devices.

Facilitates real-time collaboration on projects with colleagues.

Easy cross-platform workability (iPhone, iPad, and Mac).

It enhances document security through password protection.

Limited platform compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem.

Dependency on iCloud Drive may pose challenges for users with limited internet access.

It’s a Free writing App! 

No more using basic writing programs for notes.

Notability is a top-notch app for Mac users. With it, you can jot down notes, include audio recordings, mark up your notes, and easily share your work with others in your group.

Combines note-taking and freeform drawing for a comprehensive representation of ideas.

Simple design that seamlessly complements Apple's products and software.

Direct integrations across iPhones, iPads, and computers for efficient transfer of project notes.

Seamless integration between various note types, including typed, handwritten, and audio notes.

Occasional inaccuracy when copying handwritten text into digital notes.

The limited version imposes a strict editing limit, potentially hindering full-time use of the native Mac app.

It’s a free writing app and offers in-app purchases.

Microsoft Word is the top choice for Mac users. It's widely used and has been the go-to writing app for decades. Many editors prefer it, making collaboration smoother. 

You can quickly get it with a Microsoft 365 subscription or by purchasing a license. Using MS Word ensures you and your editor are on the same page, enhancing compatibility and making your writing journey hassle-free.

They are packed with extensive formatting features for versatile document creation.

Built-in grammar and spell-checker ensures polished and error-free writing.

Includes an outliner for organised content structuring.

Integrated translator facilitates seamless language translation.

The thesaurus enriches vocabulary options for expressive writing.

Dictation tool for hands-free and efficient content creation.

Focus mode minimises distractions for a more immersive writing experience.

Familiar and convenient for users transitioning from PC to Mac.

An overwhelming number of features may be daunting for some users.

The presence of multiple icons can be distracting.

Users seeking a minimalist interface might find it too feature-packed.

It’s a Free App and offers in-app purchases!

Scrivener stands out as the ultimate writing app for MAC users. Whether you're an academic, journalist, student, or author, it's your go-to tool for content outlining, research, and the writing process. Scrivener is designed for Mac and PC and tops the charts as the most comprehensive book-writing app. Its rich feature set caters to diverse user needs, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their writing experience.

The non-linear organisation enhances the review and organisation of paragraphs while maintaining oversight of the larger structure.

Commenting and annotation features facilitate collaborative review without altering the written text.

Integrated research tools provide intuitive access to supporting documents within the application.

Corkboard view aids in planning and conceptualising writing projects through a virtual Post-it layout.

Potentially significant learning curve due to the abundance of writing, outlining, planning, and publishing features.

Formatting options can be more selective compared to other writing apps on the list.

MarsEdit 5 simplifies blogging on your MAC. It's the ultimate writing program, making blogging faster, smoother, and more pleasurable. Many web writers realize the difficulty of writing directly on a hosting site, instantly putting hours of effort at risk. MarsEdit 5 eliminates that concern, making it the leading choice for MAC users looking for a dependable and efficient writing and publishing tool.

MarsEdit 5 allows you to write at your own pace.

Assures the risk of losing your work.

Offers a rich text editor with Markdown tools.

Enables seamless exploration of the software's features.

Simplifies the process of publishing your work.

Some word processors may introduce strange code into your work.

Cleaning up code in other word processors can be time-consuming.

Markdown is often chosen due to potential formatting issues in other programs.

Ulysses stands out as a top-notch writing app designed exclusively for Apple devices. It is tailored for Mac users and goes beyond typical note-taking, supporting diverse writing projects like blog posts and novels. With a user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it can aid various writing endeavors. Whether crafting a blog entry or working on a book, Ulysses provides a seamless and efficient writing experience on your Mac device.

Built-in proofreader and editing assistant for 20 languages.

Extensive export options for PDFs, eBook formats, and CMS blog posts.

Tags, groups, and type organisation for a comprehensive writing project library.

Deadlines and daily goals for monitoring the writing process and productivity.

Transferring documents may lead to data loss for some users.

Lack of AI integration for streamlining or speeding up content creation.

Journey stands out as the ultimate writing app for Mac users. This user-friendly journal and diary application effortlessly combines therapeutic and mind-jogging benefits, catering to personal and professional needs. With its intuitive interface, Journey ensures a seamless experience for capturing all your thoughts. Make the most of this dedicated app for an easy and rewarding journaling journey on your Mac.

Easy navigation through past entries across all devices.

Location tagging is used for tracking life and professional writing journeys.

Record and analyze sentiments in each entry.

Supports photo, video, audio, and written journal entries.

Seamless access to entries on various devices.

Limited to a single topic, challenging for diverse note-taking needs.

It is a time-consuming setup for the first journal entries.

Difficulties in using the same app for multiple issues or complex note-taking.

Bear stands out as the top writing app for Mac users. Its popularity has led to numerous alternatives trying to replicate its features. It's a go-to choice for many, making any list of the best writing tools incomplete without a nod to Bear.

Minimalist design with hotkey markdowns for easy note formatting.

Native encryption ensures privacy for notes and sensitive information.

Full cross-device integration for Mac users, including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Extensive note export options supporting PDF, MD, DOCX, JPG, HTML, RTF, and more.

Copying and pasting into the app may lead to formatting challenges.

Notes are only accessible through the app, lacking web browser integration.

Drafts is the ultimate writing app for Mac users. 

It flips the traditional approach by encouraging you to "write first, organise later." This unique philosophy lets you effortlessly capture your thoughts without worrying about formatting. Once you're done, easily decide how to structure and publish your content using its seamless integrations. It's the go-to tool for MAC users, prioritising a flexible and efficient writing process.

Intuitive dictation feature for seamless integration with Siri and hands-free note-taking.

Streamlined workflows enable the tagging of new notes and easy organisation in the library.

The Active Writer community provides a continuous flow of best practices, tips, and tricks for maximising app usage.

Various app integrations, including Twitter and Google, facilitate the transition of notes from draft to final product.

Lack of advanced text editing features.

Limited functionality on non-desktop devices despite availability for all Mac devices.

This Mac writing app is the ultimate tool for focused text creation. IA Writer strips away unnecessary features, giving you a pure writing experience. Designed to enhance your writing and editing process, this app is a minimalist's dream. A back-to-basics approach ensures that your attention remains solely on the text. 

Focus Mode enhances concentration by highlighting the active part of sentences for a distraction-free interface.

Syntax Highlight feature emphasises weak verbs and filler words, improving overall writing quality.

An integrated wiki structure facilitates seamless connections between notes and documents.

Template library aids in transforming plain text into visually appealing books, chapters, and articles.

Markdown coding may pose a learning curve, especially for users accustomed to traditional "what you see is what you get" editors.

Export options can result in format discrepancies; a PDF-exported document may differ in appearance from its Microsoft Word-exported counterpart.

LightPaper is the ultimate writing app for Mac users. Its light design simplifies note-taking and textwriting, featuring a straightforward folder structure. This simplicity ensures quick and efficient note organisation, making saving, finding, and taking action on your notes easy. It's the go-to choice for Mac users who appreciate a user-friendly writing experience.

Tab-based navigation for seamless movement across multiple notes and writing projects.

The editor's outline view aids in jumping through sections of more significant documents without reading all the text.

Customise markdown options to adjust to your familiarity with editing types.

Quick Open feature finds and re-opens past documents when names are forgotten.

Limited export abilities for blog posts and websites, often restricting to web-based options.

Rendering support can occasionally break down for more complex documents.

ProWritingAid stands out as the ultimate writing companion for MAC users. It's a live editing tool supporting you from initial drafts to polished copies. Perfect for emails or web content, it consistently offers tips to enhance your writing—keeping it lively, compelling, and shiny. Elevate your writing effortlessly with this must-have app for MAC.

Advanced AI-enabled grammar check for comprehensive real-time writing improvements.

Real-time readability scoring to enhance writing skills progressively.

Direct integration with various content-writing platforms, including browsers, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, email clients, social media, Salesforce, and more.

They have continually integrated human feedback, tips, and masterclasses to improve writing skills.

Automated suggestions can be incorrect or misleading, requiring human review.

The free version has a 500-word trial limitation, which is insufficient for ongoing editing needs.

Grammarly serves as an AI-driven grammar and writing companion designed to assist users in enhancing their writing skills. It accomplishes this by detecting and rectifying grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style errors.

Enhances content for marketing and business communication.

Ensures error-free and polished writing.

Boosts credibility with essential audiences.

It may need to catch nuanced writing issues.

Limited improvement for complex language nuances.

Writerly is the ultimate AI productivity software suite tailored for marketing, customer support, and e-commerce teams. Renowned for its unparalleled AI writing tool, Writerly goes a step further by providing a cutting-edge generative AI Chrome extension.

Writerly Go streamlines tasks by integrating with Gmail.

The Creator Cloud offers diverse templates for efficient content creation.

AI tools aid in catching grammar mistakes during writing.

Free/lower-priced plans have limitations with low word counts.

Templates in Writerly require more customisation compared to other tools.

Finally, finding the best writing program for your Mac will significantly increase your productivity. Elephas stands out as a game-changer among the top 15 possibilities. 

It's like a helpful friend who works with your writing apps, smartening them with AI magic. 

Elephas does not replace your preferred writing tools; it improves your overall writing experience. 

So, if you want to take your writing on your Mac to the next level, give Elephas a shot. ​

The hidden ingredient gives your writing that extra something, allowing you to write better and faster. Elephas will up your writing game and turn your Mac into a creative powerhouse.

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The best Mac apps for writers and authors

Best writing apps for the Mac

Last updated 2 years ago

You do already have Pages on your Mac — and on your iPhone and iPad too — and it is a world-class word processor. Pages tends to hide its features away, preferring to make it look simple and basic, but it is powerful.

Then, too, if you had to bet on which other word processor was on a given Mac, the smart money would be on Microsoft Word. It's still a titan in the industry, though it's fallen a long way since it was both ubiquitous with, and essential for, all writers.

Pages is free and Word is now a subscription app that costs from $70 per year . It is still possible to buy Word outright, and that starts with what's called a Home edition for $150.

Before you spend that, though, take a look at the specialist writing tools which make the Mac extraordinarily useful for writers.

OmniOutliner

OmniOutliner is, as the name stresses, an outlining tool. It's also very good at outlining everything from novels to non-fiction tomes. However, it's really rather more than that, as its core strength is in expanding ideas.

Whether your idea is for a story, or your boss has thrown five events at you to create, OmniOutliner lets you jot down any thought. Dump every idea you've got into it and then you can arrange, massage, grow it all until you've got a complete, working project.

OmniOutliner is available on both Mac and iOS, beginning with an Essentials version that costs $20 on either platform.

On the surface, Drafts 5 is as basic a notetaking app as you can get — but that's specifically to make using it quick. Whether you're just learning the app or have used it for years, you can get starting writing fast.

Then while that could be all you need from Drafts 5, you also get the ability to decide what to do with text once you've written it. Get it written in Drafts, then you can tell the app to send it as an email, to post as a blog, or any of countless actions that are available.

Drafts 5 is free to download and use, but those actions require a Drafts Pro subscription, which costs $20 per year .

Ulysses is also an apparently simple text editor that hides a lot of power. In this case, the strength is in how it's as much a writing environment as a basic word processor.

Rather than having documents that you create and then have to manage yourself, Ulysses treats everything you write as one document. It's all divided into books and chapters and topics as you need, but open Ulysses and you have immediate access to everything you're writing.

Ulysses is a subscription app that costs $50 per year for use across Mac, iPhone and iPad.

As a word processor, Scrivener is simply enjoyable to write in. Then as you write more, its ability to organize your work — and let you rearrange whole chapters — is far better than that of Pages or Word.

You're able to see, for instance, just chapters 17 and 33 of your novel. You can see those side by side, or one after another. You can set writing targets for the book, or just for this session.

Then it's ability to take all of your writing and output it ready for book printing, ready for sending to publishers, is famous. And so is how you can store any research — notes, drafts, weblinks, PDFs, audio, video, and more — in your book.

Have quick access to everything you need to refer to, yet also have none of that be shown to your readers.

Scrivener costs $49 for the Mac .

Long before the Mac introduced Focus Mode, iA Writer had its own version. In iA Writer, if you choose, you can have all of your writing fade to grey — except the sentence you're working on right now.

Then, again optionally, iA Writer can highlight adjectives, verbs and so on, surfacing your use or over-use of them. It's about giving you the ability to see the wood for the trees, except when it's trees you want to see.

The iA Writer app is built around Markdown, meaning that formatting and styles are done with text commands right in the text.

It costs $29 for Mac .

Final Draft

Screenwriting app Final Draft has more competitors now, but it remains a leading choice for film and television writers. It's a word processing app, and can be used for letters and prose, but its strength is in how it automates screenwriting formats.

Scripts are blueprints for a dozen or more different departments in a film's production, and to serve all their needs, very particular formats and page layouts have been developed over decades. Final Draft automatically formats as you write and it means you can concentrate on your story, characters, and dialog.

Final Draft normally costs $249.99, direct from the developer . Note, though, that there are regularly sales throughout the year.

Buying a range of writing tools

No one writing app covers everything that a writer will need. As well as major apps like Final Draft, and Pages, there are also many utilities that writers can benefit from.

Check out the subscription service Setapp which includes some major titles such as Ulysses, but then also utilities such as Mars Edit for blogging.

A subscription to Setapp usually costs from $9.99 per month, but for a limited time an annual license can be had for 36% off through the AppleInsider store .

A good list. I’ll have to check out some of these. One thing though; don’t say “Buy for $XX/yr”. If you pay a yearly fee you aren’t buying it, it’s a subscription. You are renting the software. And I don’t rent software. 

Slugline 2 is awesome 

You left Highland 2, which in my opinion is the  most powerful and flexible screenwriting software for Mac. Also great for novels and other types of writing. 

is still a great app too.

Good sampling but I would have included Textastic in this review as well. I use both iAWriter and Textastic on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Textastic has some extra bells and whistles that are particularly appealing to code developers. I really feel that Pages is undervalued. I’m as guilty as anyone for discounting Pages for heavy duty document development, e.g., multiple contributors collaborating on a single multi-chapter document, managing comments, table of contents, index, dynamic caption links, etc. Whenever I’ve tried to use Numbers to replicate what I’ve done in Excel I found that it was entirely possible with minor differences so I expect Pages is comparable to Word in a similar manner. There are obviously things that Excel and Word can do that Numbers and Pages cannot, but I think Microsoft is benefiting in a very large way from the long term momentum it enjoys in the marketplace.

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8 Apps That Help With Writing on Your Mac

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Creative writing mainly involves two parts: preparing to write—which often sets the tone for how well your writing project turns out—and actually writing.

From finding the perfect space to declutter your thoughts to a tool that helps transcribe your audio materials and software that helps tidy your blog post draft before publishing, here are some apps that help with writing on your Mac.

1. Freeform

Every writing project often begins with an idea—perhaps two or more ideas. Occasionally, they can be all over the place. And you might often find yourself looking for a place to make sense of these ideas that aren't quite whole yet. That's when you can use Apple's Freeform app creatively .

If you're working with a team on a new pitch, story, or report, you can begin brainstorming with the free collaborative tool. However, to take advantage of the built-in Freeform app, you and your team members must have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running iOS/iPadOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, or later.

With access to Freeform, you get a whiteboard space on which you can scribble ideas as they come, insert sticky notes and pictures, and pretty much lay down every clumsy thought you have on to the surface while you and your teammates work together to refine them into a coherent, tangible thing.

Freeform is not available on the Mac App Store. It comes preinstalled on Macs running macOS Ventura 13.1 and later.

2. MindNode

MindNode is a dedicated macOS app that gives you unlimited canvas space for serious, visually appealing mind mapping. While you may use the Notes app for a basic outline, MindNode gives you a broad overview of the interconnected ideas, tasks, and details of your writing project. It's also a valuable tool for planning your writing schedule for the month or year.

You can connect nodes of ideas into branches. And as they get complex, you can collapse some branches to focus on others. You can also move things around quite easily—detach and re-attach nodes in a relatively efficient and organized manner.

Download : MindNode ($2.49/month, free version available)

To sit at your desk and successfully fill the blank pages on your Mac with meaningful words requires focus. While you can use Focus modes on your Mac to minimize distractions , many of us soon find ourselves indulging in other online activities completely unrelated to the writing task at hand.

It could be something harmless as checking your inbox for a new email. Or something more addictive and time-consuming like scrolling down Instagram or Twitter. Freedom is an app that blocks all distractions, whether it's another app or a website.

Without access to the sites and apps that often take up most of your time and attention, you can be more productive. Freedom also works across all your devices. So, you can't block Instagram on your Mac and then pick up your phone to check what's new on your feed. That way, you have all the time and attention to focus on your writing task.

Download : Freedom ($3.33/month, free trial available)

4. Hookmark

Often, while writing, you may need to reference some material or application outside of the writing app on your Mac . And that often means jumping back and forth between windows, tabs, and applications. And that's when an app like Hookmark comes in handy,

Hookmark is a macOS app designed to help you easily and efficiently access any material you have—be it a webpage, a different app, or a document.

So, instead of minimizing the word processor you're working on, to open Spotlight, Finder, or a new tab on your browser to find the app, folder, or email, all of which may take some time and possibly distract you, inputting a simple Hookmark shortcut leads directly to these resources, saving you time and possibly making your research quicker.

Download : Hookmark ($29.99 per year, free trial available)

When researching a particular project, you may find some interesting online resources useful for another writing project. If you don't have the time to read it immediately, it may get lost among the random sites in your browser's bookmarks bar.

Pocket is a handy resource that allows you to store that article for later. And whenever you're ready, you can read it on your Mac and across your other devices, even when you're offline.

Download: Pocket ($4.99/month, free version available)

6. Otter.ai

Meetings and interviews may be a huge part of your writing process. Perhaps, a meeting with your editor or an interview with a source. With this useful AI-powered web application, you needn't spend extra hours transcribing video and audio files into text.

It becomes a companion that sits in on these meetings with you, takes notes, and generates summaries for you. Ultimately, it frees up more time for you to spend writing.

And if you're unable to join an online meeting, give it access to your calendar, and it will automatically join the meeting and organize key summaries for you to look at once you're less busy.

You don't have to bother much about who says what; the software clearly marks out each speaker and what they've said in the transcript.

Download : Otter.ai ($8.33/month, free version)

7. Grammarly

While most word processors have in-built grammar and spell-checking tools, you may need a more efficient proofreader to help you avoid costly errors in your final draft. Grammarly, once installed on your Mac or perhaps enabled as an extension in your browser, monitors your writing and offers useful suggestions to help improve your style and tone.

And with the rise of generative AI, many companies, including Grammarly, are integrating artificial intelligence into their products. The GrammarlyGo feature offers you some extra help with your writing. However convenient this may be, you should know the pros and cons of AI writing tools .

Download : Grammarly ($12/month, free version)

8. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code may be popular among programmers, but it's an efficient text editor you should consider adding to your arsenal as a writer. When it comes to web writing, you may need to get technical to avoid formatting errors.

Before publishing a piece to your blog or website, especially when you've copied the text from a different writing app like Google Docs, you need to ensure that the draft is clean and void of any strange formatting tags that might mess with the final outlook.

Download : Visual Studio Code (free)

The Best Writing Companions for Your Mac

Writing may be arduous, but it could be a lot easier with these apps installed on your Mac. The software you choose to work with can make writing even more delightful and help you save time.

So, before your next writing session, why not try out an app that helps block out distractions or proofreads your work as you go? You'll be sure to find one that improves your productivity.

• Productivity

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Scrivener 3 4+

The go-to app for writers, literature & latte.

• 4.5 • 543 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Typewriter. Corkboard. Scrapbook. Scrivener combines all the writing tools you need to craft your first draft, from nascent notion to final full stop. “The biggest software advance for writers since the word processor.” - Best-selling novelist Michael Marshall Smith GROW YOUR MANUSCRIPT YOUR WAY Tailor-made for creating long manuscripts, Scrivener lets you break up your writing into sections as small or large as you like. At its heart is a simple ring-binder metaphor—gather material and switch between writing, notes and research with ease. Got a great idea but don’t know where it fits? Compose your text in any order you want—write when inspiration strikes and find its place later. SEE THE FOREST *OR* THE TREES Whether you plan or plunge, Scrivener works your way: hammer out every last detail before typing a word, or carve out a draft and restructure later. Or do a bit of both. All text sections in Scrivener are integrated with an easy-to-use project outline, so working with an overview of your manuscript is only ever a click away, and turning Chapter Four into Chapter One is as simple as drag and drop. RESEARCH WITHIN REACH Need to refer to research? In Scrivener, your background material is always at hand, and you can open it right alongside what you’re working on. Write a description based on a photograph. Transcribe an interview. Or check for consistency against an earlier chapter. GETTING IT OUT THERE Once you’re ready to share your work with the world, turn your manuscript into a beautiful ebook or PDF, export to Word, or simply print it out. You can even share using different formatting, so that you can write in your favorite font and still keep your editor happy. Scrivener’s users include best-selling novelists, screenwriters, students, academics, lawyers, journalists and translators. It won’t tell you how to write—it just provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing. FEATURES Get Started • Project templates for novels, scripts, essays and more • Import many different types of file • Easily split imported text into separate sections Get Writing • Familiar writing and formatting tools • Easily switch between working on small sections, chapters and the whole manuscript • Styles support • Distraction-free full-screen mode • Scriptwriting mode for screenplays, stage plays, comic scripts and more • Live word count • Mark up text with comments • Footnote support • Keep “snapshots” of older versions of your writing • Name generator • MathType support • Set writing targets • Track your writing history • Automatic backups Find Your Structure • Write in any order and reorganize later • Assign a synopsis to any section, then work with an overview of your manuscript in the outliner • Plot your ideas using the corkboard • Track different threads using labels • Fast project-wide search • Apply custom icons to your sections • Use document templates for new sections (e.g. character sheets in novels) Refer to Research • Import research—images, web pages, PDF files and more • View research files or other sections alongside your writing • Transcribe audio files Get it Out There • Compile to a single document for sharing or printing • Export to Word • Print or create PDF files • Create Epub and Kindle files • Export to Final Draft • Supports MultiMarkdown and LaTeX export • Convert rich text to Markdown Write Anywhere • Sync with our iOS version (available separately) Introduction and Tutorial Videos: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/learn-and-support/video-tutorials?os=macOS TESTIMONIALS We have a whole heap of testimonials from published authors—see our testimonials page at http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/testimonials to read what they have to say. SUPPORT Email: [email protected] Forums: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/forum Twitter: @scrivenerapp

Version 3.3.6

• Fixed a 3.3.5 bug whereby only the first footnote on each page was included when printing or exporting to PDF. • Reinstated the Auto-Completion settings from 3.3.3 and earlier. These had been temporarily removed to work around a crash on Sonoma. • Fixed a bug whereby “Style to” in the script settings may not work correctly when tabbing after typing was set to insert only a tab. • Restored the PDF/X-1a option for PDF export, having addressed the crash this was causing on Intel machines running Big Sur. • Other minor bug fixes.

Ratings and Reviews

543 Ratings

Incredible, Versatile

I've been using Scrivener for several years for class papers, research papers, diaries, and creative writing. I upgraded from Scrivener 2 to 3 after installing Mojave. So far I've noticed the UI is much refined, the program is more responsive (no rainbow wheeling), and compilation and file conversion (especially .doc/.docx) much improved. The program's versatility is what I find really incredible—it's great for the smallest to largest projects. For a small project like a single poem or short story, use 'composition mode', which is basically a distraction-free mode like you get with IA or Ulysses. If you want, keep all your short pieces stored in a single library. I've archived all my diaries this way. If you're writing a class paper, you can write in split-pane with your outline right next to your prose. And if you're writing a research paper, import any number of PDF's, images, etc. and quickly switch between them and your prose or, again, use split-pane. Footnotes and comments are intuitive and export seamlessly to other formats. Separate your writing into different documents for each section or chapter if you like, then export them all together into one document, with custom formatting options. I can't even touch all the features in a review, nor do I use them all. The features are there if I ever do need them, but they don't get in the way when I don't.

Amazing Product

I’ve been using Scrivener now for a long time. Started using it on my iPhone/iPad, and then I bought a Mac (finally) and purchased V3. I’ve been using this now on my Mac for over a year and I have zero issues with any of my many projects syncing between devices. They give instructions on their website how best to set up the save option so nothing can become corrupt. I currently have fifteen projects in varying stages and zero issues with any of them. Keith is very responsive as well. I’ve written to him about a glitch, he responded very quickly, and in the next version release, it was corrected. This is an invaluable tool for me and I’ve used SO many other writing programs that I can say, for me, this is hands down THE best product I have ever used. Dropbox sync works great. Syncing between my phone and pad work great. I know they are working on dark mode, it is in BETA release right now and will be implemented in 3.1 (it’s on their website). Honestly, I don’t know what woud have become of my writing had I not found this product when I did. Can’t wait to see what future releases have in store!

Organization and Productivity

I love this app, and I use it daily for my different projects and series that I work on. I mean the potential with this thing is limitless really. You can crete endless scens under one possible chapter, and put little synopsis on the side if you want to come back to it later just so you dont lose the idea you had for that particular spot. You can create whole studys for your characters under each project so you can really keep track of your individuals and the things that make each one seperate. I suppose what it boils down to is that I have a tool for every idea and have a space to put it at that will not get lost. I have a way to organize said ideas so that I can lay them out in what order i want everything to flow, they can be easily manipulated and moved around if this changes later down the line. And its conducive to my creative flow to have everything so readily laid out before me in this way. So like I said I love this app and all its endless and amny features.

App Privacy

The developer, Literature & Latte , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Family Sharing

Up to six family members can use this app with family sharing enabled., featured in, more by this developer.

The Slant team built an AI & it’s awesome

Find the best product instantly, what is the best mac writing software for novelists, 16 options considered.

Ulysses III

My rec ommendation for ulysses iii, my recommendation for ulysses iii.

Multiple preview and export options

Proprietary file format.

Polished UI

Great tools for organizing and finding files, comprehensive documentation, syncs via icloud, attachments can be added, does not distract the user, highly customizable.

Has a trial

My rec ommendation for scrivener, my recommendation for scrivener.

Mediocre UI

Almost every parameter, from window layout to text-revision colo(u)r can be tweaked to your style

Can be overwhelming, with some features not being useful for casual user, keeps everything together: notes, drafts, references, links, offers free trial, my rec ommendation for ia writer, my recommendation for ia writer.

Has a mode that helps you focus only on the sentence that you're working

Has a great distraction-free writing mode, supports markdown, calculates how long it would take to read through what you've written, my rec ommendation for scapple, my recommendation for scapple, focuswriter, my rec ommendation for focuswriter, my recommendation for focuswriter, open source and free, can save as odt, rtf, docx and txt, my rec ommendation for typora, my recommendation for typora, my rec ommendation for dabble, my recommendation for dabble, dabble is easy to use from the start, with little to no learning curve, unlike scrivener, dabble is less mature than scrivener, so there are still a few small bugs, dabble has a clean, uncluttered, and modern looking gui interface, subscription plan rather than outright purchase, my rec ommendation for fountain, my recommendation for fountain, plain text format, first draft, my rec ommendation for first draft, my recommendation for first draft, tracks not just word count, but also time spent writing, final draft, my rec ommendation for final draft, my recommendation for final draft, 30 day trial available, ios apps should be free, educational discount for students and educators, recognized as industry standard, my rec ommendation for marked 2, my recommendation for marked 2, ommwriter däna ii, my rec ommendation for ommwriter däna ii, my recommendation for ommwriter däna ii, set your own price, no trial or demo available, fade in professional screen writing software, my rec ommendation for fade in professional screen writing software, my recommendation for fade in professional screen writing software, open format, cross platform, my rec ommendation for writeroom, my recommendation for writeroom, only available on mac, my rec ommendation for storyist, my recommendation for storyist, my rec ommendation for hemingway, my recommendation for hemingway, don't see your favorite option add it., storyline creator, my rec ommendation for storyline creator, my recommendation for storyline creator.

Built By the Slant team

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The Best Writing Software for Mac Users

If you’re using a Mac and looking for some great programs to help you on your writing journey, then we’ve got some options for you. Some of these programs are available only on Mac, making them unique to those users, while others are available on both PC and Mac. 

Scrivener is a popular drafting software used by writers of all types. It’s designed to help you organize your ideas and create a structured writing plan. It offers a range of features that allow you to break down your writing into smaller pieces, outline your work, and keep track of your research. 

You can also use Scrivener to format your work for different types of output, such as print or e-book formats, which is helpful for self-published authors. 

Scrivener also includes a range of writing tools, such as a full-screen writing mode and a distraction-free composition mode. It also has a built-in word count tracker, which can be helpful for when you’re trying to hit that word goal target. The program’s research tool also gives you the freedom to important and organize all those story notes. 

Dabble is another writing software option for Mac users, and it's designed specifically for novelists. Its features are designed to help writers plan, organize, and write their novels. 

One of the unique features of Dabble is the Plot Grid, which allows you to organize your novel by scene, plot point, and character arc. This makes it easy to see how your story is progressing and identify areas that need improvement.

Dabble also offers a range of planning and outlining tools, including character and world-building templates, a timeline tool, and a goal tracker. And it also works across devices, allowing you to access your work from anywhere and collaborate with others more easily.

When it comes to writing, Dabble has a clean and distraction-free interface that's designed to help you focus on your work. It also includes a word count tracker and a writing streak counter.

Ulysses is available only for Mac and other Apple products, and offers a clean, distraction-free interface that allows you to concentrate on your work without any distractions. One of the unique features of Ulysses is its "semantic markup" system, which allows you to add structure and formatting to using symbols and tags.

With Ulysses, you can organize your work into sheets and groups, making it easy to move around different sections and chapters of your project. It also includes writing tools, like word goal counters, full-screen mode, focus mode, and a customizable writing environment. The app also integrates with cloud services like Dropbox and iCloud, making it easy to access your work from any device. 

For self-published authors, Ulysses also allows you to format with various options such as PDF, ebook, or HTML. 

Pages is Apple's native word processor, and it's included with every Mac. It's ideal for basic writing tasks, and one of the main benefits of Pages is its ease of use, which makes it accessible to writers of any level. 

You can make use of collaboration tools, which allow users to work together on a document in real-time and share documents via iCloud or other cloud-based storage services. You can also share between all your Apple devices, and it offers spelling and grammar checker, track changes, and commenting features. 

Google Docs

Google Docs is a cloud-based word processing software that works well for collaborative writing and editing. It's a popular option for Mac users, as well as PC users and those who work on other devices, due to its accessibility and ease of use. And it’s free, which is cool. 

One of the key benefits of Google Docs is its collaboration tools, which allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. You can share documents via email or by generating a shareable link, and multiple users can edit the same document in real-time. It’s an ideal way to collect beta reader feedback. 

Google Docs integrates with Google Drive, so you can access it anywhere and can download your work into a PDF, Word, or even an epub file. 

There are a few basic editing tools, including spelling and grammar checker, track changes, and commenting features. 

Microsoft Word

You’ve probably used Word at some point in your life. It’s the most popular word processor out there. It is available for both Mac and Windows, and has a very  user-friendly interface. It offers a range of formatting options, such as font styles and sizes, margins, and line spacing, and can actually be used to format books for printing and uploading into self-publishing platforms, like Kindle Direct or IngramSpark. 

Microsoft Word also has the usual editing tools, such as spell check, grammar check, and track changes, and can handle very long documents with ease. 

Evernote is a note-taking and organization software that's ideal for writers who need to keep track of their ideas and research. In addition to taking notes, you can clip web pages and organize your research. 

It’s a great option if you need to work on multiple projects at once, as it allows you to create separate notebooks for each project. You can also use Evernote to collaborate with others and format your work for different types of output.

Evernote also offers a range of organizational tools, such as tags, notebooks, and search functionality. This makes it easy for users to find specific notes or documents quickly, even if they have a large number of notes saved in the app.

Final Draft

Final Draft is a screenwriting software that's designed for writers, producers, and filmmakers. It's available for both Mac and Windows and is widely regarded as the industry standard for screenwriting.

One of the key benefits of Final Draft is its user-friendly interface. It offers a range of formatting options, such as character names, dialogue, and action, and integrates with other software products, such as Final Draft Mobile and Final Draft Reader. 

Final Draft also offers a range of tools that can make the screenwriting process more efficient, such as script templates, automatic pagination, and scene numbering.

Vellum is only available on Mac and is a formatting and e-book creation software designed to make the publishing process as easy and streamlined as possible. With Vellum, you can format your manuscript for different types of output, such as print or ebook formats, with just a few clicks. 

Vellum also offers a range of templates and styles that you can use to create professional-looking books, as well as a preview feature that allows you to see how your book will look on different devices.

One of the best things about Vellum is it's designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even if you're not familiar with ebook formatting. You can simply import your manuscript into Vellum and the software will automatically create a table of contents, add page numbers, and format your text for different devices. You can also customize the look and feel of your book by choosing from a range of fonts, chapter headings, and other design elements.

Vellum also offers the ability to publish directly to Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. 

iA Writer is another popular writing software option for Mac users. It's a minimalist writing app that's designed to help writers focus on their writing and eliminate distractions. iA Writer is known for its clean, distraction-free interface, which features a simple text editor with few bells and whistles.

The most unique features of  iA Writer are its focus mode, which highlights the current sentence and fades out the rest of the text, and its syntax highlighting, which uses different colors to highlight different types of words, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives. This can help you identify areas that need improvement or fine-tuning.

iA Writer also includes organizational tools, including a document library, which allows you to organize your writing projects by date or category. 

If you found this article helpful, be sure to come and visit us at DabbleU, where we post new articles every week designed to help you on your writing journey. 

If you’d like to give Dabble a try on your Mac, you can check out our free 14-day trial and see if it’s right for you! 

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What's the defining line between sci-fi and fantasy? There's actually a lot more to it than magic versus technology.

Does science fiction alone feel too limiting for your vast imagination? Do you feel like your fantasy world could use a dash of futuristic technology?

Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.

12 Of The Best MacBook Apps For Writers

If you have been on the hunt for the best Macbook Apps for writers, you have come to the right place.

There are so many out there and it can be hard to decide what you could possibly want out of a program or what you might need.

You also probably worry about picking the right software because you need one that is reliable and will not lose your writing. If you have not had that happen to you, consider yourself lucky because most writers at one point or another have lost some writing and it can be a nightmare.

Let’s take a deep dive into a variety of apps so you can stop wasting time hunting for one and simply start writing .

Table of Contents

Best macbook apps for writers.

Now, keep in mind that various apps are better than others at certain things. Some of them have better mind map tools, some are better for editing, some are better for formatting , and so on.

Don’t worry, though, we will go through each category but also let you know which ones are the best all-in-one options if you do not want to hop around various software.

Let’s go over the best ones for each stage of the book writing journey, but also cover some of the best ones overall at the end.

Best Tools For Each Stage of Writing

Not all tools are equal, and depending on where you are in your writing journey, you will need to find the right tool for the job.

Yes, some writing tools can help you for all of the steps, but there are some that certainly help a lot better than others.

Apps for Mindmaps and Ideas

#1 – taskade.

Taskade is a great option when it comes to outlining and beginning to map out the overall flow of your book. It not only has a native Mac app, but it also has mobile and web apps so you can quickly capture any of your ideas on the go.

It can also be used for to do and project management so you can include that along with your book outlining, if needed.

Taskade lets you see your ideas in a wide variety of ways so you can put everything in order. From Kanban boards to mind maps to just plain writing, it has a lot of ways you can customize your ideas.

#2 – Notes

All Mac computers and any Apple products come with a simple Notes application that syncs between all of your devices. It is the best option for you to jot down quick ideas and outline any possible things you would want to include in your book.

There is no learning curve required and you can simply open the app and start typing away. Plus, it is backed up on the cloud through your iCloud account so you never lose your good ideas.

#3 – iA Writer

iA writer allows you to connect your ideas using different keyboard commands to let you connect between various ideas. That lets you quickly flip between different notes so you can see how your ideas flow together.

Apps for Outlining

If you just want an app to start helping you organize all of the ideas you have captured and created, you will want a good app that helps you put it together.

#4 – OmniOutliner

OmniOutliner is the best app for making all of your ideas flow together into one cohesive outline. It makes it incredibly easy to move your ideas all around so you can make an outline you want.

It also lets you zoom out so you can get a birds eye view of what your whole book outline looks like. That can help you order your chapters in the right way.

Apps for Writing Your Book

#5 – obsidian.

Obsidian is a great free-flowing app that not only lets you write out your ideas quickly and easily, but it also lets you connect your ideas or turn them into a web of connections so you can see how all of your ideas connect.

It is easy to use as a writing tool and is completely backed up to your computer so you don’t have to worry about your writing hiding behind a paywall.

#6 – Evernote

Evernote is a multi-platform software tool that lets you bring your writing anywhere you want to go. It’s not exclusively a Mac app, but it’s also so well designed for writing that it had to be mentioned. It does, thankfully, have a Mac app, though, so you can use that or the web app for writing your book.

Apps for Editing

#7 – drafts.

Drafts is great for writing, too, but they have customizable editing so you can make your text exactly what you want. On top of that, it has some other cool features you don’t see in other types of writing apps, such as being able to sync your writing with other apps, like email for example, so you can keep all of your book writing tasks in one home.

Apps for Designing and Formatting

#8 – iwriter.

iWriter is a clean, minimalist app that looks great on any of your Apple devices. It is a text editor with build-in MultiMarkdown support. They use a simple syntax guide for easy formatting and editing .

Minimalist Writing Apps for Mac

Sometimes what you want most is something that doesn’t clutter up your screen and your thoughts and instead lets you write without distraction.

#9 – Bear App

Bear is compatible on iPhone, Mac, iPad, and any other Apple devices. It cross-syncs so you can always keep your writing on the go and update it whenever inspiration strikes.

It has a minimalist design and all the safety features of Mac, such as using Touch/Face ID to protect your writing. Bear uses a variety of exporting options, such as PDF and Word, so you can move your writing where you need it.

#10 – Focused

Focused is a writing app that has uses a distraction-free markdown editor to help you focus on just your writing without any of the bells and whistles.

Best Overall Book Writing Apps

If you are looking for some all-in-one solutions instead of having to use multiple apps to put everything together, let’s take a look at your best options.

#11 – Ulysses

Ulysses is one of the most well-known writing apps out there and one of the best when it comes to putting together your entire book. It has built-in formatting, editing, character labels, writing goals to keep you on track, and so much more.

#12 – Scrivener

Scrivener is the gold standard when it comes to writing software. Whether you want to write books, screenplays, or anything else, it has the best built-in formatting options to make that happen. It also lets you see your book in a variety of ways: all the way zoomed out for a high-level overview of your chapters, or zoom into the small details.

There are a lot of great features about Scrivener , but one of the other best features is that you can have windows open side by side inside the app. That lets you deep dive into your research without leaving the app. That also helps you reduce distractions in your life.

Need More Help?

Not sure if any of these are a good fit? Looking for other computer software outside of the best MacBook apps for writers? Take our software writing quiz to figure out exactly which tool would help you the most.

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6 Creative Writing Apps For Mac Users (Free & Paid)

Although most people use Apple Pages or other word processing software on a Mac for their writing projects, there are some excellent apps designed specifically to help you with creative writing on Macs.

There’s a range of dedicated apps there for everything from drafting novels and writing scripts to organizing research notes and writing manuals.

Some of them are even free or offer limited free versions.

Whether you’re a novelist, blogger, journalist, or student, the right software can make a huge difference with your writing process, allowing you to concentrate on putting pen to paper – or more accurately, fingers to keyboard.

So here we’ve done a quick roundup of the the best Mac software for creative writers, to help bring your ideas to life or bring order to your projects.

Quick Navigation

2. Scrivener

4. hemingway editor, 6. grammarly, pricing & feature comparison table, mac creative writing apps faq.

For those that want to write a book on a budget, Scribus is a free creative writing app that doesn’t cost a cent.

Scribus is popular among those that are self publishing e-books but can also be used to create magazines, brochures, newsletters and posters.

Key Features

• Excellent for layouts : Easy to visually organize and rearrange layouts.
• Lots of Templates: You can download lots of user generates templates for it.
• Build Master Pages : Create your own master templates to base books, magazines and newsletters on.
• Free open source desktop software
• Surprisingly powerful layout tools
• Great for book publishing
• Not suitable for professional publishing
• Only the development version works on Apple Silicon Macs

User Reviews

• “The most important for me are: CMYK profiles support and perfect poscript exporting. Interface of the Scribus offers very handy interface with layers, styles etc.” – rafalus.
• “Very professional software that delivers very professional results. I use it for all my design and magazine work. Thanks for the hard work.” – davepp.

Scrivener is a powerful writing tool designed for long-form writing projects, such as novels, research papers, and screenplays.

The app is particularly good at helping you organize documents in folders and is popular with both technical and creative writers.

You can also read our full review of Scrivener here.

• Corkboard and Outliner : Organize your ideas visually and rearrange sections with ease.
• Research Integration : Store all your research, notes, and references within the project.
• Customizable Writing Environment : Tailor the interface to suit your writing style.
• Comprehensive organizational tools
• Supports various writing formats
• Excellent for large projects
• Takes some learning at first
• Price compared to other writing tools
• “Scrivener is a game-changer for novelists. The ability to organize scenes and chapters visually is invaluable.” – Jane D.
• “The learning curve is steep, but once you get the hang of it, it’s the best tool for long writing projects.” – Michael T.

Ulysses is known for its minimalist design and distraction-free writing environment.

It’s perfect for writers who prefer a clean, uncluttered workspace. To help reduce typos and grammatical errors, it also has a built in proof reader and editing assistant.

• Unified Library : All your texts are stored in a single library, making organization easy.
• Markdown Support : Write in plain text with powerful formatting options.
• Goal Setting and Progress Tracking : Set writing goals and track your progress.
• Clean and intuitive interface
• Seamless iCloud synchronization
• Focused writing environment
• Limited advanced formatting options
• Subscription-based pricing model
• “Ulysses has the cleanest writing interface I’ve ever used. It helps me stay focused on my writing.” – Sarah K.
• “I love the seamless sync between my Mac and iPad. It’s perfect for writing on the go.” – Daniel P.

Hemingway Editor is a tool designed to improve the clarity and readability of your writing. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other areas that can be simplified.

• Readability Score : Provides a readability score to help you gauge the complexity of your text.
• Error Highlighting : Highlights adverbs, passive voice, and hard-to-read sentences.
• Formatting Options : Basic formatting tools for headings, bold, italics, etc.
• Improves writing clarity
• Easy to use
• Affordable one-time purchase
• Limited to editing functionality
• Not a fully-fledged word processor
• “Hemingway Editor has drastically improved the readability of my writing. It’s like having a personal editor.” – Emily R.
• “I use it for all my blog posts. It’s simple and effective.” – Alex W.

Bear is a versatile note-taking app that’s great for writers who like to keep their notes and drafts in one place. It offers a simple and elegant interface with some really great, effective organization features.

• Tagging System : Organize notes with hashtags and nested tags.
• Markdown Support : Write with Markdown for easy formatting.
• Export Options : Export your notes in various formats, including PDF and HTML.
• Beautiful and intuitive design
• Robust organization tools
• Free version available
• Some advanced features require a subscription
• Less suitable for large writing projects
• “Bear is my go-to app for note-taking and drafting. The tagging system keeps everything organized.” – Laura M.
• “Beautiful design and very user-friendly. Great for quick notes and ideas.” – Tom H.

Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps with grammar, spelling, and style. It integrates with various applications, including web browsers, word processors, and email clients.

• Real-Time Grammar and Spelling Checks : Instant corrections and suggestions.
• Style and Tone Suggestions : Improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.
• Plagiarism Detection : Check for potential plagiarism issues.
• Comprehensive grammar and style checking
• Integrates with multiple platforms
• Subscription required for premium features
• Online-only, requires internet connection
• “Grammarly catches errors I would never have noticed. It’s an essential tool for any writer.” – Anna L.
• “The style suggestions have helped me improve my writing tone and clarity.” – David G.

Choosing the right writing software can significantly enhance your productivity and creative writing compared to using a standard word processor.

Whether you’re working on a novel, drafting blog posts, or organizing research notes, all of these tools help keep the focus on the creative side of things rather than the process.

Scrivener and Ulysses offer robust solutions for long-form writing, while Hemingway Editor and Grammarly provide excellent tools for improving clarity and grammar.

Bear meanwhile is a great option for writers who want to keep their notes and drafts well-organized.

Which writing software is best for novelists?

Scrivener and Scribus are both excellent choices for novelists due to their comprehensive organizational tools and manuscript management features.

Can I use these writing apps on my iPad or iPhone?

Yes, most of these writing software options, including Scrivener and Ulysses offer iOS versions that sync with thee Mac app.

Is there any free creative writing software for Mac?

While most of the top writing software for Mac is paid, Scribus is free to use. There are also free word processing apps like Apple Pages or Google Docs that offer basic writing tools too.

Which software is best for screenwriters?

Scrivener is the best of these apps for screenwriting but the more professional Final Draft is the industry standard for screenwriting.

Do these writing software options support cloud syncing?

Most of these creative writing apps support cloud syncing including Scrivener, Ulysses and Bear but Scribus and Hemmingway do not.

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Home > Learn More About Content Writing > 10 Best MAC Apps For Writers in 2024 [Updated]

10 Best MAC Apps For Writers in 2024 [Updated]

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Table of Contents

From clay tablets to pen and paper, typewriters and now computers, writers have used various means over the years. Thanks to budding technology, writers now have the ability to create, edit, and arrange content as required.

Speaking of technology, numerous creative content writing apps are available today that provide a seamless writing experience. Each app has its own features and audience. While one app is great for a novice writer, another one works well for seasoned writers. 

Without giving an absolute ranking, we have listed the 10 best Mac apps for writers. Read more about these apps to decide which one suits you most:

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1. Scrivener

The apps offer features that are particularly useful for long time writers who have to brainstorm and plan a lot for organizing their content. From researching to publishing, this app guides you through every stage of the writing exercise.

“Scrivener is compatible with iOS and Windows. With features like Corkboard and Outline, you get an overview of your content and rearrange it into sections the way you want.”

• Pankaj Gupta, Freelance Writer.

This app promises a smooth user interface that ensures a focused writing experience. Its Markdown, document syncing, management, and export feature make Ulysses the top pick among writers. You can download the app from the Mac App Store for a free 14-day trial period but regular use requires a monthly fee.

3. Light Paper

If cost is a deciding factor, LightPaper is definitely lighter on your pocket. Though the writing experience is not as smooth as Ulysses offers, features like Markdown preview, Multi-tabs, Shadow and Scratch Notes make it an interesting app.

“Writer is another cheaper alternative to Ulysses. There is no trial version and can be downloaded straight from the developer’s website.”

• Sakshi Sharma, Digital Marketing Expert.

  4. Mellel

The app is quite powerful and stable. It is preferred by academics for writing research papers and theses. Multi-language support and mathematical equations appeals to academic writers.

5. Storyist

This tool offers a wonderful writing medium for script writers and novelists. You can create submission-ready scripts using this app.  

6. iA Writer

The app allows you to focus on your writing part by eliminating distractions and offering an enjoyable environment. It uses Markdown, focus mode, and a dark theme that keeps you engrossed in the writing. 

Syntax highlighting improves your writing by indicating repetitions and weak writing. The document library feature syncs your work across all your devices.

7. Bear 

This attractive app serves as a note-taking tool. It stores your documents in a database  and organises them by tags. Bear represents Markdown with proper formatting in the note. The app is free but you can unlock additional features with a subscription. 

If you want to immerse yourself in writing, the app will help you stay focussed by offering a distraction-free environment. Several other features such as ability to publish directly to various blogging platforms add to the functionality of the app. 

This is a basic writing tool based on Markdown. It is a fairly steady and full-featured app. It includes an outline panel, themes, mathematical formulas, diagrams and tables.

10. Manuscripts 

This is a powerful app that helps you to organize, edit, and share your content. It offers features like templates, writing goals, an outlier, and publishing support. These features particularly appeal to students and academics.

These are some of the best MAC apps for creative writing. They are designed to offer a friction-free writing experience to writers with features like Markdown and distraction-free interface. 

Another great way to improve writing prowess is to join a creative writing course. You will learn valuable skills and tips that will enhance your writing style.

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FAQ’s

What are best MAC apps for writers?

Speaking of technology, numerous creative content writing apps are available today that provide a seamless writing experience. Each app has its own features and audience. While one app is great for a novice writer, another one works well for seasoned writers.

How to use Typora ?

What is LightPaper ?

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Best free writing app of 2024

Bring your words to life with the best free writing apps

Best overall

Best for markup, best word alternative, best word processor, best for mac, best online, how we test.

The best free writing software makes it simple and easy to better manage and organize all your ideas, outlines, and projects. 

1. Best overall 2. Best for markup 3. Best Word alternative 4. Best word processor 5. Best for Mac 6. Best online 7. FAQs 8. How we test

Like the best free word processors , writing apps help you get your thoughts on the page without breaking the bank (or your train of thought). But we’ve also made sure they’ll make it easier to save, share, and sync all your documents and keep them safe, whether you need a desktop writing app for work, school, or play. 

If you struggle to stay focused, we’ve tested some of the best free writing apps come with distraction-free layouts or gamification challenges to keep you in the zone. We’ve also reviewed those built for professional document creation, with advanced business features such as speech-to-text transcription and online collaboration tools. 

Our picks cover the best apps for writing on the web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS - so you’re always ready whenever and wherever creativity strikes. 

Scrivener: best writing software for authors Scrivener is packed with all the features a novelist needs, helping you track plot threads, store notes on characters and locations, structure your work and (most importantly) get some serious work done. It's not a free writing app like the tools below, but it's well worth the investment if your budget will allow it.

The best free writing app of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. FocusWriter

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

FocusWriter helps writers combat one of their biggest challenges: distractions. One of the best free writing software tools out there, it's specifically designed to let you just concentrate on your writing. 

The stripped-back interface is deliciously sparse - ideal for when you just need to get your head down and write - and not dissimilar to a moderately powerful version of Notepad, featuring support for TXT, basic, RTF, and ODT files. 

Even the toolbar is hidden until you actually need it. Just swoop your cursor to the top on the screen to reveal a barren menu, from basic formatting to themes and timers.

Features are light within the software, but FocusWriter isn’t made for heavy editing sessions. It’s designed to make the act of writing flow seamlessly onto the page. 

Elsewhere, the writing app boasts the ability to add themes and your own background images, which can help you stay motivated. 

The Daily Progress tool is a sweet extra, adding Duolingo-style gamification that lets you track your daily writing streak. For when it’s oh-so-easy to slip onto social media when you can’t find the perfect word, it’s a nice way to keep you within the app. 

Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, the writing software also comes as a portable download, no installation required. So, you can pop it on a USB stick and plug it into any computer you’re working on. 

Read our full FocusWriter review .

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2. WriteMonkey

WriteMonkey is another piece of free writing software that cuts down on the clutter to deliver uninterrupted writing sessions. 

The free word processor, cleverly described as zenware, is unbelievably pared back compared to more traditional writing apps. 

There’s very little in the way of distracting ‘screen furniture’, which means you’re better positioned to concentrate on the writing process. And absolutely nothing else. 

But don’t let that stripped-back approach fool you. As one of the best free writing apps, WriteMonkey is still rich with the sort of core features that matter to writers. 

However, most options are hidden in a context menu (so you’ll need to right-click to view it). It also only supports TXT files, which may limit those looking to read, write, or edit across multiple formats. It is, at least, a portable download, letting you take it wherever you need.

If you’ve enjoyed Markdown, the simplified text-editing language that lets you format, annotate, classify, and link as you type, then great. WriteMonkey’s inner workings will instantly chime. 

First-timers should spend a little time with this free writing software, to uncover that intuitive simplicity. 

Read our full WriteMonkey review .

3. LibreOffice Writer

Writer, the open-source, free writing software, serves almost all general writing needs.

LibreOffice is a near-perfect example of free office software - a familiar, feature-rich take on the office suite. What the veteran software package lacks in Microsoft polish (its interface is undeniably old-fashioned, for starters), it makes up for in its price-point: free. For that, you get access to six tools: Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and Writer. 

Earning it a slot on our list of best free writing apps is the fact that LibreOffice Writer packs the full editing toolbox. 

This isn’t just a note-taking app for staving off distractions when you’re deep in the zone; it’s for when you’re in pure writer-mode. 

If you’re at all proficient with Microsoft Word, you won’t have any problems using the Writer software. Layouts and functions are almost identical, and there’s support for DOC and DOCX file types, making it efficient to switch out of the Microsoft garden.

This free writing app is ideal if you’re hunting for a tool that almost perfectly replicates the Word experience without the cost. 

Read our full LibreOffice review .

4. Microsoft Word

When it comes to word processors, Microsoft Word is probably the baseline against which all others are compared. It’s the one most of us use at school, home, and work. It’s familiar, comfortable - and it’s available free on the web and mobile devices. 

That may not be the best way to write your masterpiece (unless you’ve hooked up a Bluetooth keyboard). But it’s a great way to jot down ideas on-the-go. When we tested the browser-based version we found it could be a bit slow at first, and we were typing faster than the words appeared on screen. This settles down (mostly) after a minute or so. 

Microsoft’s free writing apps on Android and iPhone had no such issues. Using these was velvety smooth. We especially appreciated the option to switch between mobile view and desktop view, so we could gauge how the document would appear in full-screen. 

As with Google Docs, you’ll need to sign up with a Microsoft account. And, like Google, that also lets you use free versions of PowerPoint, Excel, and the like. While Word offers one of the best free writing app experiences, there’s no denying that the paid-for upgrade is superior, offering more tools, and a true desktop app. 

Read our full Microsoft Word review .

Author promises to make it easier to ‘think, write, and cite’. It’s a promise capably delivered, with a clean interface and bags of writing features designed to make it easy to go from first draft to final copy. 

If you're an Apple user in search of the best free writing apps on macOS, this one demands your attention. 

Concept Maps is one of the best features. It’s a great mind-mapping tool to visualize and lay down all your thoughts while they’re fresh in your head without constraint. You can worry about whipping them into shape later. 

Students and report writers will appreciate Author’s ‘fast citing’ tools - speeding up assignment-writing by correctly adding and formatting citations, references, and contents. 

A paid-for upgrade of the writing software that offers exporting options is available. However, unless you need automatic formatting on export, you can stick with the free version. 

6. Google Docs

Google Docs is a great free writing platform for any writer. It’s an extremely clean, quick word processor available in the browser, on desktop, and phone and tablet apps. So, you can take notes wherever inspiration strikes. 

Docs is more or less Google’s spin on Microsoft Word. The interface is a bit more simple than the professional office software - although it’s no less powerful. 

You’ll find heaps of writing tools, including a pretty accurate speech-to-text transcription tool (just enunciate and don’t talk too fast). Keyboard shortcuts are very well-supported. 

For best results, you’ll need an internet connection, though documents can be used offline. They’ll be synced, and in our experience, that happens swiftly behind the scenes. 

To take advantage of the free writing app, you’ll need a Google account, which may be a deal-breaker for some - but that also opens up the rest of the Google-stuff in the Google-sphere, such as Sheets, Slides, and . With a free account, you get 15GB of storage, which should be more than enough for word documents. A Google One subscription upgrades your storage space, amongst other things. 

Additionally, Google Docs is great if you want to collaborate with one or more other writers. Just be warned to stay in Google Docs for that, because exporting the data into Word or other writing applications can result formatting errors.

Read our full Google Docs review .

What's the difference between a writing app and an AI writer?

AI writers vs writing apps - what's the real difference?

Artificial intelligence is growing in a big way - and when it comes to writing, it's ChatGPT that's been snatching all the headlines of late, with its ability to generate short- and long-form content based on user prompts.

Generally, an AI writer will write your content for you, based on its current learning (although often without 'understanding' the context). A writing app simply lets you write your way, in your own voice. 

Some platforms, such as Canva , have even integrated AI into its Canva Docs and Canva PDF Editor services. However. its Magic Write tool acts as a writing assistant, serving up suggestions and ideas, leaving real writers to work their magic on the content. Though usually hiding in the back-end, you can also find AI integrated in other ways across other the best PDF editor apps (and even the best free PDF editor apps, too).

As always with AI-generated content, whether it's the written word or an artwork masterpiece, human involvement is usually necessary and always desirable. Even if you're using the best AI writers out there, editing and proofreading is essential to give the content accuracy and emotional resonance.

How to choose the best free writing app for you

When deciding which free writing app is best, start by figuring out what sort of writing you want to do. 

Do you need a handy tool for quick scribbles and jotting down ideas here and there, or are you using the writing software to write and edit an epic novel? Tools like FocusWriter and Write Monkey are great for getting thoughts on the page without friction.

It’s also worth considering if you need a writing app with a distraction-free design, so you can concentrate on what really matters to you. Again, FocusWriter performs admirably here, but as a result, you lose core typography and editing functions. Unlike LibreOffice, this isn’t the best Microsoft Office alternative if you need those tools. In that scenario, it may be worth considering looking at some of the best free office software , which includes MS Word-style apps, alongside other tools similar to Excel, PowerPoint, and so on. 

Access is an important factor when using your writing software. A tool like Scribus needs to be downloaded to your machine. Lightweight apps like FocusWriter, however, offer a portable download that can be downloaded to a USB and carried with you. 

Check what file formats your chosen writing app supports, too. While some let you create and edit the common DOC and DOCX files, others only allow TXT or RTF documents.

But most of all, it’s important to choose the best free writing app for your unique creative flow. 

Testing the best free writing apps and software, we assess how easy it is to get your words down on the page with the least amount of friction. Portable writing apps rank high, because they let you use the program on whatever computer or laptop you’re using. 

We also look at performance for its intended audience. For distraction-free writing apps, do they really foster focus? For word processor-style software, does it offer good formatting and editing options? 

Most importantly, we expect to see free writing apps that are genuinely cost-free - no-one wants to stumble across hidden fees and charges in the contracts. 

We've listed the best laptops for writers .

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Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He explores the apps and devices for individuals and organizations that thrive on design and innovation. A former journalist at Web User magazine, he's covered software and hardware news, reviews, features, and guides. He's previously worked on content for Microsoft, Sony, and countless SaaS & product design firms. Once upon a time, he wrote commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.

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The Creative Writer’s Toolkit: 7 Tools You Can’t Write Without

by Matt Herron and Joe Bunting | 41 comments

So you want to write fiction or memoir. Where do you begin? And what creative writing tools do you need to accomplish your writing goals?

I’m afraid there’s no right answer to get started as a writer. Each writer comes to fiction in their own way. Whatever it is that draws you to a good story—a gut wrenching plot twist, a heroic protagonist, a likeable villain, a happy ending—is great because it helps keep your passion for storytelling alive.

But when it comes to the actual writing, the composition and craft, all the supposed experts in the field disagree on the right approach.

What a beginner needs is a good schooling in the basics, the foundations of creative writing.

In this series, I’ll go over the common tools experienced writers use to write great books so that you can get moving in the right direction.

7 Creative Writing Tools Every Writer Needs

But before we get to the basic tools you need, we have to know what tools are at a writer’s disposal. For a beginner, this is as good a place to start as any.

1. Books!

If you want to write books, you’ve got to read books . A whole freaking lot of it.

Start by reading any and every short story and novel you can get your hands on. Don’t worry about taking notes or thinking too much into the stories. Just read. Chances are, you’ve already done a lot of it. All writers come to writing through reading first.

Spend as much time as you can spare browsing new book stores, used book stores, and ebook stores. Free ebooks are a great resource that cost very little and they’re all over the place. There are a lot of great free titles out there, especially some of the classics that are in the public domain. Check out Project Gutenberg  if your budget is tight.

Not sure what to read? Here's a list of ten books every writer should read based on genre .

2. Notebooks (or a Notetaking App)

Carry notebooks with you as often as you can. I like the solid dependability of a large Moleskine Classic , but buy whatever kind of notebook pleases you the most. This is your happy place.

And if you're not a notebook person, consider downloading a notetaking app to your phone or mobile device. You can use Evernote or Notion, but personally I just use the native Notes app on my iPhone. Wouldn't it be better to be writing, even if you're just doing it on your phone, rather than playing a phone game or scrolling through social media?

Immediately make a habit out of journaling. Write every day, even if it’s just about the weather or what you had for breakfast.

This is a judgment free zone, so don’t worry if what you write sucks or doesn’t make sense. Just fill the pages, and when you get to the end of that notebook buy another one, and then another, and then another.

When it becomes harder not to write than it is to write, you’ve accomplished your goal. You’ve made writing into a habit.

3. Software

Journaling is all well and good, but it’s not very productive.

Once you start writing stories you’ll want to use a word processor. We’re beyond typewriters, so I don’t mean those. I mean word processing software .

With the rise in ebooks, doing things digitally first makes a lot of sense and saves you extra work anyways. Don’t commit yourself to the pain of writing longhand in the 21st century. Though writing longhand has its own therapeutic benefits, typing on a keyboard is much faster.

We have lots of book writing software we love at The Write Practice, but here are my top three:

• Best Word Processor for Writers: Scrivener.  Scrivener changed my life as a writer. It’s easy to use, easy to keep organized, infinitely flexible, and for those long-term thinkers, you can compile straight to any format, including ebook formats that are ready to publish on Kindle and various other ebook platforms. It has character and setting sketch templates (we’ll go into more detail about character and setting sketches in the next two articles), it autosaves your work, and it rarely ever crashes (unlike the options above). I could go on for days about Scrivener. Instead, I recommend you check out The Write Practice's review of it here .
• Best Editing Tool: Google Docs . Google Docs allows you to quickly share your writing with editors and other writers. I do almost all of my writing and initial rewriters in Scrivener. But when it comes time to share my drafts for feedback, I move over to Google Docs because the real-time editing and suggesting features makes the process so much easier. Check out Google Docs here.
• Favorite Publishing and Book Formatting Tool: Vellum , but it's Mac only (close second: Atticus ). Vellum allows you to take what you've written and create beautiful books quickly and easily. I personally have used it to design several of my books and client books, and I know so many other writers who use it to publish their books too. Check out Vellum here. There's just one problem: it's Mac only! So for the PC users, and if you want to experiment with the new kid in town, there's Atticus, which is a cloud based book formatting tool that has some upcoming features that might just make it better even than Vellum. Check out Atticus here.
• BONUS Best Book Promotion Tool: Bookfunnel. Once your book is published, Bookfunnel allows you to create instant landing pages to deliver your book to readers. They also have a native reading app that allows people to read your book once they have it, saving them from painfully migrating it to their Kindle or other reading app. Bookfunnel is useful for delivering your book to beta readers or your launch team, offering a free book or short story for email subscribers, doing book promotions with other authors, or even selling your book. I've gotten thousands of new readers through Bookfunnel and it's a great tool! Learn more about Bookfunnel here. 

My advice here is the same as with Notebooks, above: use whatever makes you happy. You’ll be spending a lot of time here.

4. An Author Website and Email List

If you're ever going to  publish  your writing one day, you need to have an author website, a place where readers can find your work and sign up for your email list so they can be the first to hear when you publish new books.

Now, I know the idea of setting up a website can feel scary, but we've made it easy for you with this guide,  10 Steps to Building an Author Website . It will walk you through everything you need to do to build a great author website.

Don't forget your email list. It's honestly  more  important than the website alone, because it's the  best  way to stay in touch with your readers and share your work with them. Our favorite email newsletter tool is Convertkit. You can check out Convertkit here.

5. Grammar and Style Guides

Every writer needs a firm schooling in grammar do’s and don’ts as early as possible.

English grammar can take a lifetime to master, which is why there are these handy style guides you can keep around and reference while you’re doing your work.

These guides, plus a dictionary and a thesaurus (I like dictionary.com for those), are a must have for every writer’s toolbox.

I've written in detail about these three essential style guides for writers . But for easy linking, here they are again:

• The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
• The Star Copy Style by The Kansas City Star
• Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark

On top of learning about grammar and style from these books, you can use grammar checking tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid to make the editing process easier. Personally, we prefer ProWritingAid at The Write Practice. You can check it out here (and get a discount with the code WritePractice20 ).

Need more grammar help?  My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid . Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off:  WritePractice20

6. Study of Craft

Now that you’ve studied grammar, read the kind of fiction you want to write, kept a journal, and found the right software, you should take a step back and study the craft of writing fiction by reading some nonfiction books on the subject.

I’ve read dozens, but these are the ones that have taught me the most:

The best memoir on the subject.

An absolutely indispensable guide to writing. Talk about nuts and bolts, this book has it.

Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

James Scott Bell is a bestselling author and renowned teacher of writers. This book also introduced me to the LOCK method, which is a really handy tool.

I included this one because, while it’s extremely biased towards indie publishing, it provides an excellent overview of the modern publishing landscape for both fiction and nonfiction.

7. Writing Groups

Writing groups are my favorite tool of all. They’re a great way to meet other writers and put your skills to the test. Being a part of a writing group and workshopping your stories is, in my opinion, the absolute fastest and most surefire way to learn how to write fiction. Hundreds of MFA programs across the country agree.

Writing groups provide:

• Moral support . Other writers understand when you complain that writing is hard.
• Like-minded people . Share your hopes and dreams with like-minded people.
• Feedback . The invaluable critique that comes with workshopping manuscripts. They will give you honest feedback even when you don’t want to hear it.
• Healthy competition . Seeing other people produce work is the best motivation for a writer who is not writing.

I love writing groups and believe that every writer should have one in the early stages. Check Meetup.com  or your local bookstore for one you can join, or join ours.

For years, we've been helping writers connect and get feedback on their work in our community, and we'd love to have you. Learn more about joining our writing group here.

However, one warning: if the writing group you find turns out to be a back-patting session, bail immediately. You’ll never learn anything if no one has the courage the tell you the truth, especially when it hurts.

How about you? What creative writing tools do you find are essential for your writing?  Share in the comments section .

(Note: Some of the links above are affiliate links. Thanks!)

Now that you know what’s in the beginner’s toolbox, what do you do to practice? Here are five options.

• Read a novel or short story
• Write in your notebook
• Read a book on craft
• Study a style guide
• Find and attend a writing group

When you’re finished, share in the Pro Practice Workshop here .  Not a member yet? Join us here !

Matt Herron

Matt Herron is the author of Scrivener Superpowers: How to Use Cutting-Edge Software to Energize Your Creative Writing Practice . He has a degree in English Literature, a dog named Elsa, and an adrenaline addiction sated by rock climbing and travel. The best way to get in touch with him is on Twitter @mgherron .

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

41 Comments

1,2, and 3. I do these three anyway, but this is a nice reminder to flap open a book and grab a pen. Thanks for the information.

I have a few of these tools in my kit. Journaling is the main one. I have so many of them that my house might collapse at any minute. For years, I have been in a critique group. We meet weekly. Two of the four of us has published a book or four. One of us got an MFW in the Bennington program. All of us have are members of the Squaw Valley Summer Writing Program. This helps.

I like reading as a tool. I like to read “everything”. Well, not everything — just everything. Of course, there are favorites. (Never begin a sentence with “Of course”. Never use fragments. Break the rules once in awhile).

Grammar is my “Bète noir”. I’ve tried for years to get it write, have looked at small but concise books on grammar. Nothing works. I’m bad at it. I’m good at spelling, or, once was. Our spell checker is a fluke.

Write. Write. Write. And, read.

ps Oh, and I keep notebooks to paste in stuff that pleases the eye.

My essential writing tools are:

1) Word. 2) Spotify 3) Critique Circle 4) The Write Practice 5) The Emotional Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi 6) Ink by R.S. Guthrie

7) Robert’s Rules of Writing by Robert Masello

and most important of all, my Muse, my best friend, and my Ideal Reader: Jennifer.

Five and seven on your list sound interesting. I will have to investigate those!

Ink is another in that vein. Have you read it, yet?

No I haven’t! I will look unit that one too!

Hope you enjoy it, too. If you become fans, tell Angela & Becca, R.w.Foster sent ya, and tell R.S. that Wayne did. 😀

I haven’t heard of 5, 6, or 7—thanks for sharing!

You’re welcome. Hope you get use out of them. 🙂

I looked up Critique Circle and joined. It’s just what I need. Thanks!

You’re welcome. If you get confused, look up Whiplash & Momzilla (they are moderators), or want to know who gives good critiques, looks up Emmylou515, Jenb, Missvato & Tami-verse. They’re good people.

R.w., thank you again, You probably saved me weeks or months of trial and error. Your inside scoop is greatly appreciated.

You’re welcome again. Oh, and keep an eye out for Kholoblici. He’s a shady character, always trying to virtually cook the newbies. 😉

I hope you like it, and welcome. 😀

I have started number five! Any writing club is great! Especially in October when you can do creepy and scary and it fits the season! Horror is a great topic.

I’m one of those people that always has 1-3 books going at any one time. Currently I’m reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon, and My Temporary Life by Martin Crosbie. I regularly write in my journal and work on plot elements for some short stories. My novel needs a major overhaul, and I think I’ll better able to accomplish that when I’ve spent time studying the style and craft of writing. The Write Practice is the only writing group I participate in, and it has been very helpful. I do have a call in to a local writers’ group, to see what they’re all about.

Go check out that writer’s group! And if that doesn’t work out, look on meetup for others nearby 🙂

I love On Writing, so I’m going to give Writing Fiction a go. Thanks for the list of implements for our toolboxes!

Writing Fiction taught me a ton, and it has a bunch of great writing prompts and exercises, plus sample stories. Enjoy that 🙂

I definitely need to start journaling, I’m going to get started today !

Excellent info, Matt. I live in Amarillo, TX and love me some Austin. Hook ’em, Horns!

I’ve completed four novels over the years and lost my literary agent last fall before we got a chance to sell my book. I’m debating whether to continue the traditional route, or go indie.

The life-changing all of everything you listed is my weekly writing group. Writing is such a lonely, solitary process, Wednesday evenings are most favorite. I get together with four other, amazing writers who teach me so much, support me all the way and help me be a better writer.

Just requested Writing Fiction from the library, and I will go find my “morning pages” journal. It’s been rather neglected this week… Thanks for the inspiration!

I’m a content marketer and personally I’m using this writing platform named Wording Lab. I like how the layout is kept simple, without any flashy-distracting advertisements.

They have this tool called the Tone Analyzer, which helps to analyze if your writing sounds too positive or negative. True enough, I copied and pasted a couple of news article to test out the function, and all of them were found to be neutral! (which is what news articles are supposed to be i believed!)​

Anyway, if you guys are interested, the website is:

http://www.wordinglab.com

Great tool. Thanks for the link.

For the ones who are struggling to write, I recommend this Mac app and website http://www.placetowrite.com It’s called “Haven – Creative Writing Tool” and it helps writers overcome writer’s block and stimulate creativity.

Great recommendations Matt! If you’re writing shorter articles or papers, i would recommend steller.com to add some visual aspects and publish where your audience will read it.

I would like to suggest http://www.truenovelist.com . It is similar to Scrivener in that it allows you to organize your scenes, chapters, and notes and rearrange them at will, but it is online only so you can access it anytime and anywhere.

It is also free, so I think it would be a great addition to the toolbox of any writer!

Has anyone any experience with a technical documentation program called Flare by MadCap Software? It is an alternative to FrameMaker and quite powerful, but hard to learn. Useful, I think, for heavy non-fiction.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful article! Four years ago I also left my job as a marketing manager in Sydney to do something I’d always dreamed of: writing and editing romance novels full time. Anyways, here are also my 8 best tips and tricks for those wanting to follow a similar path http://catehogan.com/tools_for_writers/

This list definitely needs some updating! Reedsy’s Book Editor is an essential element to add to any author’s toolkit — write, format, and produce your book into various ebook formats, all from one beautiful, easy to use interface. Best of all, it’s free! They even promise to add more functionalities like collaboration and track-changes in the future. If you’re serious about writing a book, try it out for free: https://reedsy.com/write-a-book

Cool list! The problem with word processors like Microsoft Word is that, though they have hundreds of features, they’re not built for writing books; they’re built for writing anything and everything. So when it comes to formatting or typesetting, it’s a pain. I also recommend taking a look at our Reedsy Book Editor, since it combines a simple, Medium-like writing interface with powerful formatting and typesetting, allowing you to export a flawless ePub and a print-ready PDF for free: https://reedsy.com/write-a-book

much better version of the Kansas City Star style guide:

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/books/article10632713.ece/BINARY/The%20Star%20Copy%20Style.pdf

Try the Writers’ Reverse Dictionary ( http://writersdictionary.com ). With it, you can find a word with its definition. Pretty neat, huh?

Great guide Matt! I would also check out TheRightMargin (goal driven writing app, great new alternative to word processors) and featured in product hunt today: https://www.producthunt.com/tech/therightmargin

And for writing groups, a new Slack for Writers called Writer Hangout: https://writerhangout.typeform.com/to/gw9HF4

Another software addition:

Typen — a writing app http://typen.co

Check it forbes

I use a voice recorder instead of taking notes.

I get most of my ideas at night – even in dreams – and the damn pens often don’t work, or worse, I think they did but they didn’t.

Just make sure you can feel which button(s) to press. The keys on the little Sony IC unit I had were not laid out intuitively, thus, fumbling.

It’s also best to have a recorder from which you can transfer mp3 voice files directly to a computer. You can even use voice to text software to at least get a draft of what you’ve written. It’s easier than play, type, play, type, rewind, play type…

Have you had a chance to try Power Thesaurus ( http://www.powerthesaurus.org )?

I recently helped launch a new tool for online writing, designed for medium/long-form: https://eddtor.com . Loved this article’s Study of Craft section!

Great post. I’ve been wanting to put more time into writing and this is a very timely blog for me. Thanks!

Some of this I agree with—for sure. But I am a firm believer that with enough practice, one can learn only to write decently, not great. To be a superb writer, you need to have instinct, intrinsic style, and God-given ability.

Interestingly, you only see this type of reinforcement in writing. For example, I’ve never seen so many workshops, and conferences, and articles about how to become a great artist. Writing—like art—I feel you either have ‘it,’ or you do not.

The problem with blogs and articles such as this is making everyone believe that, by practice, one can—and in some cases—should be a writer. To me, this only muddies the waters, as it were; this is why there are a million mediocre and poorly written books on Amazon; everyone thinks they’re a writer.

But I digress, this is just one man’s opinion.

Good article, though. I will be looking into Scrivener. 🙂

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Best Writing Apps For Mac and Windows

| Candace Osmond

| Writing Tools

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Us authors encounter many writing problems that a traditional word processor can’t fix. Whether you need help formatting your novel or correcting grammar mistakes, there’s a suitable program for you, I promise.

I’ve checked out and tried so many programs, and I’ll go through the 20 best writing apps for Mac and Windows to help you achieve your writing goals. These free and paid software services have different purposes in making you a better writer.

Pros and Cons of Using Writing Apps

Using writing apps comes with benefits and drawbacks. Here are some pros and cons of using these tools.

Pro: Fixes Writing Errors

Online text editors can suggest fixes to your writing regarding spelling, grammar, and readability. Some online writing apps can even go as far as correcting your non-inclusive language and poor sentence structure.

To save more time, install a browser extension to edit your work in real-time. It should highlight your errors and offer a single-click mechanism for transforming your text. 

Con: Artificial Intelligence is Not 100% Accurate

No online text editor can replace a human editor. This AI writing software only mimics human intelligence based on different factors. Do not solely rely on these tools when producing and proofreading your essay or blog post.

I strongly recommend still using a real human editor for all your extensive work.

Some plagiarism checkers also show false positives, flagging some parts of your work as plagiarism even if they’re not. Use your professional judgment or hire a human editor to avoid misleading content.

Pro: Helps You Brainstorm Your Topics

An AI writer helps you brainstorm your blog post topics or story through different techniques. Some portable writing studios let you map your storyline or create notecards of essential scenes. Other software programs give you topic titles and keywords for SEO.  

Pro: Takes Less Time to Finish Your Work

The best writing apps for Mac and Windows let you write entire books and essays in a shorter period. Some productivity tools save time by helping you track your writing sessions. Others automatically rewrite paragraphs for you. 

Writing apps with organizational tools also help you handle multiple writing projects at once. Organize them into chapters, scenes, and different folders to avoid clutter.

Con: Not Always Free

Unfortunately, the best writing apps for Mac and Windows are not free. You need to pay for a monthly or yearly subscription to unlock all features. Some programs have multiple versions to choose from, but I recommend picking the lifetime plan. They can save you money in the long run.

It’s also better to try the free version first. Some applications offer a 30-day free trial to users to test the service before buying it. 

How Writing Apps Can Improve Your Craft

Writing apps have different functions that help you become a better writer. Here are some ways these tools can enhance your craft.

Correct Spelling, Grammar, and Style Mistakes

The most common writing apps for your desktop and laptop help you fix your spelling, grammar, and style mistakes. Tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid highlight errors and suggest ways to improve them.

Pick a text editor that also fixes your readability issues and poor sentence structure. You can also go for editors that provide statistics on your correctness and readability.

Organize Your Writing Project

Scrivener and Plottr are the best tools that help you organize your writing projects. You might need these writing apps if you produce long-form content from time to time. They have color-coding systems, binders, and note cards that help you brainstorm each book chapter.

Create a Distraction-Free Writing Environment

There are many ways to avoid distractions when you’re writing. Some applications play soothing background music to help you focus on your work. Others block websites and internet connections so you don’t switch between social media while working.

Other writing apps offer a distraction-free mode where you won’t see the formatting options and other settings. All you can do on the app is write your ideas without worrying about the technical aspects.

The 21 Best Writing Apps

Not all desktop writing apps are made equally. Trust me, I know. I’ve spent so much time playing around with most of these until I found a few winners for my own writing needs. These 20 best writing apps for Mac and Windows will help you be more productive, creative, and accurate in your projects. 

If you’ve read any of my articles on this site you’ll know that Grammarly is my first choice for everything writing and editing. 

Not only is it an excellent tool for checking spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but it also checks for plagiarism and actually improves my writing. Grammarly uses Ai software to detect tone, fluidity, tense, and more. 

It’s great for writers of all sorts. From content writing to academics and even fiction authors like me. It’s the most well-rounded tool I’ve ever used. 

ProWritingAid

Writers will benefit from the multiple editing tools of ProWritingAid. Use this style and grammar checker on your writing to improve its overall flow and readability. Editing also becomes more enjoyable with its 25 reports for your writing projects.

One of its best features is the writing style reports, highlighting passive voice, overuse of adverbs, and hidden verbs. ProWritingAid also corrects repeated sentence starts and emotional tells, which can be helpful to a freelance or creative writer like me.

Fiction and long-form writers can also benefit from the pacing check, dialogue tags, cliches, and redundancies. ProWritingAid will remind you not to use poor descriptions and narratives when expressing your ideas. 

All of these features are available at a one-time fee of $399. But the company also offers options for monthly and yearly subscriptions.

Ulysses is a writing tool for Mac that will improve professional writers’ writing process. The standard writing app has a wide variety of features resembling Scrivener, but its key feature is the formatting and Keyword labels. 

This tool has informative tutorials that help you improve your quality of writing. Maintain your flow with Ulysses’ Markdown approach and minimal interface for a distraction-free session. It also supports several shortcut keys for everything you need.

The writing app has helpful code blocks and syntax highlighting if you’re a technical writer. You can preserve this highlight as you export your files.

Unfortunately, Ulysses has no Windows version available. The company hasn’t announced its plans to produce one. Reports state that they might consider it one of these days. 

Reedsy is a writing software with a sleek interface for book authors. Multitalented writers consider it the perfect tool for self-publishing. It’s one of the many apps for writers that lets them edit their writing piece or book while saving money. 

With its sleek interface, Reedsy has an advanced typesetting feature that ensures your work passes industry standards. It will help you format your books and edit them according to your goals.

You can create professional-looking book files on this tool for easy uploading. Its additional features include drag and drop chapters for distraction-free writing and track changes. Reedsy also makes it easy to export to any eBook retailer.

There are many expensive writing apps for Mac and Windows, but Reedsy isn’t one of them. It’s hands down the best free writing software you can have as an independent author. 

Scrivener is a book writing software that caters to long-form works like books, academic articles, and screenplays. But bloggers and short prose writers can also use its organizational tools.

The distraction-free writing app may have a steep learning curve, but its advanced features are worth every minute. There are plenty of templates for book writers, non-fiction writers, and screenplay writers, depending on your long-form content. 

You can also track your progress for every writing session. Analyze your word, sentence, and page count goals, then export your document in different file formats. 

Scrivener is one of the most excellent writing apps for its notecards, binders, and other features those other processors don’t have.

iA writer saves you more writing time by focusing on your text instead of your user interface options. The intuitive writing tool is available on your desktop with three custom fonts: iA Writer Duo, Nitti, and iA Writer Quattro.

The simple writing app has an intuitive interface that highlights parts of speech using the Syntax Highlight. It helps write articles on the web through Markdown, where you use Asterix symbols and hashtags to style your content. 

iA Writer is a basic version of Ulysses for beginners. Overall, it’s a fantastic app for writers who want to produce blog posts, social media posts, and text essays. There’s a 14-day trial for free, so you can test it before upgrading.

This text editor is available on all operating systems at $29.99 for a full license. 

Sometimes, plain text editors with no pragmatic features or modes make the creative process smoother. Distraction-prone and clutter-averse writers will enjoy using WriteRoom for their creative ideas.

WriteRoom is a fantastic brainstorming app in the dark mode that offers a focused writing experience to users. 

Unlike other word processing apps, WriteRoom doesn’t let you produce professional files after writing. Instead, it’s a stripped-down tool that only allows you to write—nothing more, nothing less. There’s a great customizable interface that lets you focus on your words alone.

I recommend performing the process of editing on other apps, such as ProwritingAid or Grammarly. WriteRoom has no options for syncing with other devices and real-time collaboration. 

Storyist is a creative writing app for MacBook users and long-form content writers who want to be more productive. It features intuitive templates for different creative writing projects, including screenplays and novels. 

The tool is also fantastic for authors who are just getting started with their careers. Each line lets you pick a dialogue, character, action, and other prompts to guarantee consistent formatting. The sidebar tabs let you organize these features if you want stronger visuals.

The book editor has a free trial for 15 days. Then, you need to pay a $59.99 license fee. It’s affordable, basic, and the perfect tool for authors. It only runs on Mac and iOS devices with no available programs for Windows.

Hemingway editor does not perform spelling and grammar checks like other text editing programs. This program only offers real-time feedback on conciseness and directness. Like Ernest Hemingway, this piece of software wants you to pick simplicity over style.

The helpful tool is a must-have for blog post writers, technical writers, and other authors who need to keep everything short and sweet. It uses a color-coded system to highlight different mistakes, including overused adverbs and passive voice. 

Hemingway also highlights sentences that are hard to read and complex phrases. You can check your document’s reading level to know if it suits your audience. It also has minimal blog formatting options, such as headings, bullets, and links.

Hemingway Editor is free on the web. But you can access the premium version for $19.99 if you want to work in offline mode. 

Freedom isn’t a writing tool for your spelling and grammar errors. It’s a productivity program that helps you reduce distractions while writing to help you reach your daily word count. It has limited features compared to other apps, but it’s helpful enough for all types of writers.

The software helps you stop browsing through your social media by blocking certain websites and internet access. You can also schedule sessions, whether one-time or recurring. 

Freedom’s other features include version history and tracking, syncing across devices, and a browser app. You can also try the ambient noise to concentrate on your project and regular updates. It has a free trial available. Then you can subscribe monthly for $8.99. 

Google Docs

Google Docs is probably the most accessible writing app for Mac and Windows. I love it, personally. I can run my manuscript through Word’s spell checker and Google Docs will still find more.

This free word processor has minimal yet valuable editing, formatting, and collaboration tools. It also has an intuitive mobile version to help you edit your work anytime. 

A unique feature of Google Docs that other apps don’t have is its real-time collaboration. Just edit the document’s privacy settings and send a link to your team members. Also, you can manually add them to the document using their email accounts.

Google Docs is a no-frill app for personal diaries, student essays, and brief reports. It comes with other office suites from google, including Slides and Sheets. 

Docs has a spell and grammar check feature, but it’s not as comprehensive as Grammarly Premium. Other features of this free writing app include suggestions, commenting, linked objects, and a dictionary. 

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is one of the most classic word-processing programs that has been around since 1983. I’ve used it for as long as I can remember. Its come a really long way from providing multiple formatting options to offering translations, 3D models, suggestions, etc. 

Aside from the font and other formatting settings, MS Word lets you insert 2D and 3D models. Tilt the models, change their sizes, and move them anywhere that fits in your document. You can also access different icons and add your signature and formulas.

If you’re a blogger or online content writer, you have options for headings and subheadings. You can also add hyperlinks and online images if you like. 

Microsoft requires a monthly or lifetime commitment. No free plans are available, so you need to prepare at least $5 per month for the basic plan.

Now Novel is a creative writing tool for fiction writers who want help with their plots, characters, and story outline. It will help you find your personal style with its free articles, courses, and scene builders. 

You can also brainstorm your characters and map out everything on Now Novel. Craft the best narrative by collaborating with writing coaches and receiving critiques. There’s also a Story dashboard to develop all your ideas.  

The writing tool is available for both Mac and Windows. But it works best on newer versions of your operating system to avoid lagging. 

NovelPad is new writing software for writers who want to become more productive. It has scene tracking, character boards, and an advanced dynamic writing goal tracker to help you achieve writing goals.

The goal-tracking feature lets you create prints and track your progress according to the total minutes you did for your work. Also, I love that you can join the Discord group to connect with other authors. The community has a Writing Rom, Bug Tracker, and Suggestions Room for ideas.

Other functionalities of NovelPad include multi-device syncing, direct export, offline mode, and an auto-saving feature. But it has no folder features for your long-form content. You also won’t be able to comment on others’ work or collaborate with them.

Evernote Web

Thanks to its different creative templates, Evernote is a popular writing app for all kinds of writers. You can produce novels, essays, and class notes with this piece of software for free. 

To me, one of the best features of Evernote is its option for collaboration. Work with other users on your writing projects, chat with them, and tag them on some parts of the content. And the web clipper lets you save excerpts from the internet. Super handy, if you ask me.

You can subscribe to Evernote premium for only $4.99. But students and other writers on a budget can use the free edition.

A Soft Murmur

A Soft Murmur is not specifically marketed for writers. But it can help you write without distractions and further accomplish daily goals. It creates ambient sound changes to help you focus on your work.

You can choose between fully offline operability, mixing different sounds, or creating your own sound. Although it has nothing to do with writing, A Soft Murmur should be part of your desktop apps for your creative journey.

Plottr runs on PC and Mac for writers who need help outlining their stories. It’s not like the multi-functional Scrivener and Ulysses that have other functions. Plottr’s only feature is to help you plan your story before getting started.

Produce your ideal scenes, plots, and arcs with Plottr’s clean interface. Feel free to create your own color-dosing systems and filters for a smooth-flowing narrative. You can organize, arrange, and change your plot according to your preference. 

Plottr offers a flat payment of $25. It lets you access plot cards, timelines, and templates to make brainstorming more convenient. 

Readable is a more advanced version of Hemingway. This free online tool is perfect for short-form writers who want to make their prose more readable and concise. It reveals your Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, and Flesch Reading Ease.

This web editor spots run-on sentences, weak adverbs, and repetitive words that you should correct. These basic features are free, but you need to upgrade for full access to the comprehensive textual analysis.

NaturalReader

NaturalReader is a free writing program available on the web, Windows, and Mac. 

No matter how loud you read your work, you will never hear all your mistakes right away. This writing tool has a text-to-speech reader that lets you choose a voice and reading speed. 

Pause, rewind, and fast-forward to any sentence you want. Then you can proofread your work according to the suggestions it gives. 

Atticus is a new writing software with formatting tools ideal for self-published authors. To customize your book, you can choose between themes, pre-loaded designs, font types, and more settings.

The writing program also helps you start a new scene through automatic indentations and capitalizations. These small details can make writing much easier, especially if you’re a new author.

Best Free Writing Apps

Three writing apps can improve your writing skills at no cost: Hemingway, ProWritingAid, and yWriter. Hemingway is available for free on the web so that you can receive feedback on the overall readability of your work. I love how simple and user-friendly it is.

It will help you remove the passive voice, weak adverbs, and complex phrases. You’ll also see your reading time, readability score, and total word count.

ProWritingAid’s free version will help you remove these mistakes for spelling and grammar corrections. But you need to pay for a subscription to unlock all 20+ features. Personally, I feel that the free version is excellent if you want to get a feel for the program. ProWritingAid will help you with your hidden verbs, repeated sentence starts, and emotional tells.

Additional features for creative writers also exist, including translation reports and pacing checks. ProWritingAid Premium also helps with your dialogue tags, diction, and plagiarism.

Another free writing app for Mac and Windows is yWriter. Use this tool if you’re a book writer who wants to divide your work into bite-sized pieces. It has intuitive menus and an interface for beginners starting from scratch or wanting to import their work.

You have several options to add details to each scene and chapter. Make which characters should be in a specific part of your story. You can also describe the location and organize your notes. 

Best Writing Apps for Mac

I’m not a Mac user, so I can’t speak from experience on this. But I have many friends who use it, and I did a little digging.

iA Writer is a must-have tool for Mac users who simply want to write without the formatting options. It’s similar to the built-in Notes on your Macbook, but it has a better interface that integrates with your screen. 

You can also change into the dark mode, access syntax highlighting, and organize your works into folders with iA Writer.

If a user-friendly word process is what you’re looking for, Google Docs is the perfect tool. It has all the formatting options you need that iA Writer doesn’t have. You can change your alignment and font style, add pictures and tables, and add footnotes.

Google Docs also offers real-time collaboration. But you need a Google Account and internet connection to access these features.

But Docs might not be ideal for long-form content writers. If you’re a book writer, try Scrivener instead. This sophisticated word processor lets you choose between templates for novels, screenplays, and other prose types. 

It has notecards, binders, and other organizational tools for your content. You can also track your writing progress by setting daily word count goals.

Best Writing Apps for Windows

The best writing apps for Windows are none other than Evernote and Microsoft Word. Evernote is ideal for random ideas like class notes and the planning phase of your next book. It has all the templates you need with particular categories.

Everything you do on Evernote is automatically stored in the cloud. If you insert screenshots of presentations, images, and whiteboards on Evernote, the text on the pictures becomes searchable. 

Microsoft Word is the traditional route writers make when writing their essays and articles. I’m old school, so I prefer to use it in combo with Google Docs. It supports various formatting settings while allowing you to insert different elements. Word is also available offline, unlike Google Docs. But you need to pay the license fee.

This word-processing program now offers suggestions and comments on the document. You can also track your changes, manage permissions, and export your file in different formats.

My Final Thoughts On the Best Writing Apps

You’ll find thousands of writing software for your desktop or laptop, but this list bears the best writing apps for Windows and Mac. There’s a program for creative writing, blog posts, screenplays, and other types of writing projects. You also have free and paid options.

Which program will help you achieve your writing goals? Make sure to pick one that can solve your problems and make you a better writer.

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Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The 23 Best Writing Tools of 2024: A Guide for Writers

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Before the computer there was the typewriter, and before the typewriter there was pen and paper, and before pen and paper there were plenty of other lost tools of writing — like clay, papyrus, wood, slate, parchment, and, of course, pens made out of reeds. (Fun fact: the name “Reedsy” is inspired by the “reed pen,” which was used as early as 800 B.C. for documentation).

As you can tell by now, the act of writing has been a part of human culture from the days of chiseling stories onto the walls of caves — and as we have evolved, so have our writing tools . In fact, today’s writers and storytellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding which tools to use.

The following list details our favorite writing tools and resources for taking any idea through to its written conclusion. If you want to cut straight to the chase and find out which is the right writing app for you, we recommend taking this quick 30-second quiz.

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Otherwise, let's dive in!

Writing tools

We all know Google Docs and Microsoft Word, so we’re not going to waste your time giving those two a run-down in our list. Below are four other word processors you might not know about, and that are worth checking out.

1. Reedsy Studio

Cost: Free Does “fake it ‘til you make it” ring true to you? Well,  Reedsy Studio  is a free, online word processor that formats your book as you write. See your drafts automatically turn into a professional-looking, ready-to-publish manuscript — and allow this glimpse of your work as the final product spur your motivation to write.

It comes with an automatic spell-checker — and a built-in goal reminder system to get you back into shape if you find that you're falling behind on your writing schedule! Another one of Reedsy Studio's best functions is that it lets you instantly typeset your manuscript to EPUB and print-ready PDF files.

Check it out if: if you want a writing tool that takes care of formatting and conversion for you.

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Cost: Free Do you like a helpful tap on the shoulder, reminding you about something you need to do? Well, you’ll likely enjoy Draft then, because this kind of writing software not only keeps track of how many words you write per day , it can also email you daily reminders about your daily word count goals. (Of course, if this sounds a little too “hands-on” for you, you can always turn the reminder function off).

Other than that, Draft functions a lot like Google Docs: allowing you to track changes, collaborate via suggested edits, and make comments on the doc.

Check it out if: you like Google Docs, but want an even simpler interface. 

3. LibreOffice

Cost: Free Yes, we did say that we wouldn’t mention Microsoft Word, because by now everyone knows that it’s a useful writing tool. But we didn’t say we wouldn’t mention its free counterpart: LibreOffice .

LibreOffice is the open source answer for people who want to try Microsoft without paying the price tag. (Open source means that the software is built on code that anyone can inspect and enhance). Plus it’s compatible with all of the regular file types people are used to, such as  .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, and .pptx files.

Check it out if: you like a classic word processor — and moreover, a free one.

Cost: $50 (or try a 30-day free trial) The people behind Mellel don’t just know word processing — they also know catchy, memorable marketing. Their description of why writers should choose Mellel starts like this: “Mellel is a writer's dream come true. To start, it is exceedingly boring: it just works, day in and day out, reliably. An enormous number of people used Mellel to write and they all report that their journey with Mellel was boring and uneventful. As well it should. In other words, it does all the mundane bits, and leaves the creative stuff to you.”

Mellel is not free (and note that it’s only for Mac). In return for the price tag, you’ll get more book-specific tools than other, perhaps more traditional word processors — such as outlining and bibliography-making functions. And, judging by the witty, funny copy on Mellel’s website, Mellel makes the process of writing much more fun than they let on.

Check it out if: you’re a Mac user who wants more than the Pages app offers.

Organization tools

Plotters tend to finish their writing projects quicker than pantsers — simply because when they hit a wall, they have their notes or outlines to reference, allowing them to jump straight over that hurdle and hit the ground running. P.S. You can grab a free template for your book outline here in this comprehensive guide to outlining.

The following resources will help you keep your thoughts organized so that any bouts of writer’s block don’t slow you down.

5. Milanote

Cost: Free for basic plan or $12.50/month for premium. Milanote is an easy-to-use creative writing app to organize your research, ideas, characters and outline in one place.

The vast majority of novelist-oriented writing software is organized around the idea of a linear document. But for most people, writing isn’t linear — because thinking isn’t linear. Writing is about gradually getting a jumble of ideas into shape, and Milanote's writing app matches the way writers think.

Check it out if: you're a plotter who likes a flexible workspace to organize ideas and see a birds-eye view of how your story outline is coming together.

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6. Evernote

Cost: free for basic plan or $9.99/month for premium. Its cute, little green elephant logo aside, Evernote is a great and easy-to-use option for writers who could do with a little more organization in their lives.

The app lets you quickly jot down thoughts, record audio notes, save online articles you’re hoping to reference, and it will sync all of this information across all of your Evernote-installed devices. What’s also handy about the app is the collaborative aspect of it: you can create shared accounts, so that multiple people can access saved documents at once.

Check it out if: you’re prone to getting great ideas while on the go, and need somewhere to make sure you don’t forget them by the time you’re home.

Cost: $5/month or $40/year (or try a 14-day free trial) While it’s ultimately a writing tool, one of the best assets of comprehensive programs like Ulysses or Scrivener are their organizational features. At the end of the day, whether you’re writing a blog post or a full-length novel, the seed of an idea doesn’t get too far without the ability to organize that idea into a cohesive piece of writing.

And that’s exactly what Ulysses allows you to do: organize your thoughts into a well-written work. This is accomplished through features like customizable writing goals and deadlines , plain text enhancements, a distraction-free typewriter mode, bookmarks, outlining functions, and more.

Check it out if: you’re working on a lengthy piece of non-fiction, like a blog post or essay. (For a comparison of Scrivener vs. Ulysses, keep reading!)

8. Scrivener

Cost: $45 (or a 30-use free trial) Literature and Latte ’s word processor is a popular writing tool — also, in large part, thanks to its organizational capabilities that seamlessly allow writers to turn fragmented ideas into a fully realized book/script/research paper/or whatever else you’re writing.

Scrivener vs Ulysses Apart from the price (Scrivener charges a one-time licensing fee while Ulysses charges yearly), the two platforms offer many of the same features. So we’ll focus on what makes the two programs different.

• Scrivener’s corkboard function is an absolute favorite for writers who rely on visual aid to help with outlining. The function looks like an actual corkboard, and lets writers pin notes to the board in chronological order.
• Scrivener offers templates for works such as fiction, essays, recipe collections, screenplays, comic books — which gives Scrivener another point for versatility.
• Ulysses boasts an interface that is slightly more clean and simple — so if ease-of-use is high on your priority list, it might be the better option for you.
• Ulysses offers a very helpful WordPress and Medium integration, which bloggers who publish on either of these platforms will love.

Check it out if: you’re working on a longer piece of content (like a book or screenplay) and want one comprehensive place to manage all your work. (And don’t forget to check out our equally as comprehensive review of Scrivener’s newest update : Scrivener 3!)

9. Hubspot's AI Content Writer

Cost: Free, with premium upgrade available

HubSpot’s Free AI Content Writer is designed to help bloggers streamline their content creation process. This tool can generate drafts of blog posts, website copy, emails, and more with ease and without additional resources, by relying on prompts or topics provided by users. For those suffering from writer's block, the AI content writer can also create outlines to help spur writing along. 

For those already using HubSpot's marketing and sales tools, the AI content writer's integration will be extra handy. 

Check it out if: you're a blogger short on time or inspiration.

Productivity tools

Alright, let’s kick things into high gear now. You know what you want to use to write, and your thoughts and ideas are concisely organized. If you’re finding it difficult to buckle down and get the job done (or struggle to write quickly or consistently ), these resources will help you realize that Nike manta: just do it.

10. Ommwriter

Cost: free web version or $7 for the full program Do you find the clacking sound of old typewriters satisfying? Do you find soft, neutral colours calming? Does nothing really get you focused quite like a purposeful, long, deep breath? If so, Ommwriter might be the tool to help you reach your goal. As the site’s tagline reads, Ommwriter is “a perfect place to think and write.”

With soothing background noises, customizable keyboard noises, and peaceful backgrounds to choose from, Ommwriter could just be the “break” from everything else going on around you that you need to write.

Check it out if: your very best writing ideas come to you while in “savasana.”

11. To Doist

Cost: free or $4/month for premium plan Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat, panicking about something important you forgot to do? Or, god forbid, gripped in dread about how far behind you are on your word-count goals?

Well, To Doist might be able to help. It’s the ultimate app for creating to-do lists — but these aren’t your grandma’s pen-and-paper lists with little check marks beside them (though we mean no offense to your grandma). It lets you get a daily or weekly overview of your tasks, prioritize the tasks that are most important, and even lets you assign tasks to other people if you’re working on a specific goal with other collaborators.

Check it out if: you have never been able to find an agenda that’s souped up enough to keep you on track.

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12. Marinara Timer

Cost: Free The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method meant to promote productivity. In a nutshell, it stipulates that you should work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute  break, then work for 25 minutes, take another 5-minute break, etc., etc.

The free-to-use Marinara Timer makes this easy for you by alerting you each time your work sessions and breaks are up. It also offers customizable timers in case the 25/5 isn’t quite right for keeping you on track. Fun fact: taking a break to stand up or walk (or do anything but sit!) every hour is also a good way to protect your back if you sit hunched at a computer working for long stretches at a time.

Check it out if: consistent breaks from work help actually keep you focused on the task at hand.

13. Cold Turkey

Cost: Free for basic plan or $20 for premium plan “Meet your match, Zuckerberg,” says Cold Turkey ’s tagline. In case that, paired with the writing tool’s name, doesn’t make it clear enough, Cold Turkey is a program that allows you to completely rid yourself of distraction. And when we say “completely,” we mean completely.

With Cold Turkey, you can block yourself from accessing certain websites — or even your entire computer — for periods at a time, only allowing you to use the current document you’re working on.

Check it out if: “willpower” is not a characteristic you’d ascribe yourself, and the only way for you to get something done is in a totally distraction-free state.

14. Freedom

Cost: $7/month or $29/year (or a 7-use free trial) Apart from pleasantly getting the “freedom” refrain from Aretha Franklin’s “Think” stuck in your head, the Freedom app is another resource that can turn your devices into tools of productivity once more.

It functions like Cold Turkey; however, a unique function of Freedom is the ability to sync your distraction-free periods across all your devices. So if you know that on Tuesdays, you want your computer, phone, and tablet to all block access to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook — you can!

Check it out if: letting other people know not to bother you during your non-negotiable writing time isn’t enough, you need to let yourself know not to interrupt, well, yourself.

Cost: Free If total silence encourages your mind to wander, whereas light sensory action keeps your thoughts on the task at hand, Noisli will be a friend to you. The tool lets you choose from a range of soundtracks, such as rain, coffee shop, wind, lake, and more. You can mix several sounds at once, and choose the volume for each one. So let’s say you want to create the atmosphere of writing by a babbling brook, with a fire crackling next to you, and the moon shining brightly overhead. Noisli will make this happen for you!

Check it out if: you get the most work done with white noise.

Editing tools

If you’re planning to publish a book — or any kind of writing you’re hoping to make a profit from, it’s crucial that your work is thoroughly edited. To that end, working with a professional editor is an investment you should give serious thought to.

In the meantime, here are a few editing tools that can help you out along the way. Hopefully, they’ll either ensure a typo-free draft, so by the time you do work with an editor, they can spend less time fixing small typos and more time on big-picture work, or, if you decide to forego a professional edit, you’ll have the tools to do the best editing job you can.

16. Hemingway

Cost: Free The Hemingway app claims to make your writing “bold and clear.” It has a number of handy features like a word-counter and an automatic readability score. But its real use lies in the features that make suggestions to your prose. For instance, it might highlight a complex sentence that’s hard to read. It also highlights instances of passive voice , qualifiers, and adverbs. Let’s take a look at how this passage from Ernest Hemingway’s very own To Have and Have Not fares:

“Just” is highlighted because it’s a qualifier, and Hemingway suggests, instead: “Be bold. Don’t hedge.” The sentence in red is highlighted as being hard to read. And “probably” is pointed out as an adverb — the app suggests using a forceful verb instead.

Check it out if: you want to bring out your inner Ernie. (Curious what else Hemingway offers? Check out our full review of the app right here .)

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17. Fictionary

Cost: $19/month or $169 per year 

The Fictionary Story Editing software creates intelligent visuals that help you improve your story's structure, characters, plot, and settings. Using Natural Language Processing, Fictionary identifies your key story arc scenes and gives you actionable insights to improve the structure of your book.  Annual subscribers get access to year-round live classes on writing and editing. Think of it like Peloton for writers. Check it out if:  You want to get your story structure in the best possible shape before submitting to agents and/or editors.

18. Marlowe Pro

Cost: $29.95/mth or $199/year; $45 for single reports

This manuscript assessment tool will provide in-depth feedback on your novel within minutes. Using artificial intelligence, Marlowe can analyze your plot, pacing, story beats, and readability — then provide actionable insights ( as well as comp titles ) based on its database of bestsellers across a number of genres.

To try out this AI editor, claim a free report by entering REEDSYFREE at checkout. And for a 15% discount on a Marlowe Pro subscription , enter REEDSY15OFF when prompted at checkout.

Check it out: to take a scientific and methodical approach to your developmental edits.

19. Cliché Finder

Cost: Free Cliché Finder is exactly what it says on the tin: it combs through your writing in search of clichés, and then highlights them for you. It’s not always necessarily bad to use clichés in your writing, but when you do, you want to be purposeful about it (and not to mention aware of it!).

Check it out if: you want to avoid clichés like the plague, and for your book to sell like hotcakes — and the rest is history.

20. Grammarly

Cost: Free Have you ever sent an email, only to realize that you'd made a glaring typo just as you hit “Send”? Well, no more!

Grammarly essentially functions like the spell checker tool from Microsoft Word or Google Docs, but here’s the great part: it’s a plug-in that will work wherever you happen to writing. That means Twitter, Gmail, Google Docs, Facebook — anywhere. Plus it offers vocabulary or alternate word suggestions — for instance, it might suggest you replace “walking aimlessly,” with the word “wandering.” For a more in-dept analysis, check our full Grammarly review . 

Check it out if: you’re typo-prone! (Read below for a comparison of Grammarly vs. ProWritingAid.)

21. ProWritingAid

Cost: Free browser extension or $79/year for the full software ProWritingAid is a tool you can install that will proofread and spell check your material for you , no matter where you’re writing. It will also offer suggestions to improve your overall language — outside of just grammatical technicalities. (You can even get 10% off via this special offer !) 

ProWritingAid vs Grammarly The two programs offer a lot of the same services, so you might be wondering which one to pick. We have a review of ProWritingAid  that dives deep into this comparison, but the main differences are:

• Grammarly is free to use, and while ProWritingAid offers a free Google Chrome plug-in, this free option only offers spell checking services, it won’t make editorial suggestions.
• ProWritingAid is slightly more tailored towards authors, while Grammarly is a slightly better fit for articles and essays. Ultimately, both tools lend a very helpful editing hand, so deciding between the two mostly boils down to the one you enjoy using more.

Check it out if: you want to make sure your writing is as polished as possible.

Workspace tools

At the end of the day, all you really need to write is a pen and paper. All the fancy tools and apps in the world won’t get the words out for you. That being said, creating an environment that’s appealing — and conducive! — to write in can make the whole process more enjoyable, and encourage you to get the job done.

Here are few physical tools to look over if you’re thinking of sprucing up your workspace.

22. Livescribe Pen

Cost: starts at $100 If you prefer writing on paper, but dread the process of transferring your words to a computer, Livescribe will likely be right up your alley. Through Bluetooth technology, the pen can actually transcribe your pen and paper words to your device. What’s more, it can also transcribe voice notes into digital documents for you.

Check it out if: you’ve ever felt envy at Rita Skeeter’s Quick-Quotes Quill in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .

23. Ergonomic desk setups

Cost: Varies As more and more of the workforce moves to sedentary jobs where the majority of 9am to 5pm is spent sitting — usually hunching — at a computer, a growing number of sitting-related health injuries have been occurring. That’s why looking into more ergonomically friendly desk setups is a good idea for writers who spend long hours at the computer — or even writing in a notebook. This could be a standing desk, or even just a number of textbooks piled under your desktop so that your screen is eye level, resulting in less stress on your shoulders.

Check it out if: you don’t want writing gains to come at the cost of growing back pains.

24. Computer Glasses

Cost: Varies Writers are all familiar with computer-caused eyestrains. Because you blink far less when looking at a screen than you do otherwise, computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition people have been developing due to long stretches of staring at a computer.

One way to help alleviate this — other than just making sure to take time looking away from your computer — is to invest in some computer glasses. They typically come in blue or amber shades, and are coated with a protective coating.

There are several brands you can check out, such as Pixel Eyewear or Felix Gray .

Check it out if: you notice itchy or tired eyes after long writing sessions.

Have you tried any of the above writing tools — and if so, which were your favorites? Or maybe you feel there are some great resources missing from this list? Let us know in the comments below!

Mystic says:

24/10/2019 – 03:38

I tried Cliche Finder several times and it found a couple of items in my text, but it didn't highlight where it was at. The rest of the tools here, that I can use since I'm on a strict income, are amazing!

Comments are currently closed.

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Discussions about the writing craft.

/r/Writing's official tools and apps thread.

This thread is here for us to create a consistently updated list of digital tools and applications that aid the writing process. It will be featured in the sidebar as a method of stickying it for the foreseeable future.

Please use your upvotes to sort the tools/apps based solely in terms of their usefulness to you. Downvoting top-level comments is not necessary for this post.

I will be moderating top-level comments. Those that do not refer to a tool/app will be removed. Please link to a download page or more info in your comment. The more information you include with your tool/app suggestions, the more upvotes you're bound to receive.

Thank you for participating. Thanks all_aflunters for the idea.

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