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The Best Writing Apps for 2023

Pounding out a novel during NaNoWriMo? Hoping to finish that movie script? Look no further for the best apps for writers of all types.

Jill Duffy

I've been contributing to PCMag since 2011, at times as an analyst and currently as deputy managing editor for the software team. My column, Get Organized , has been running on PCMag since 2012. It gives advice on how to manage all the devices, apps, digital photos, email, and other technology that can make you feel like you're going to have a panic attack.

Final Draft

Storyist (for mac), script studio.

Every November, thousands of budding writers participate in National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo (Opens in a new window) . The idea is that anyone, regardless of experience, can commit to writing 50,000 words in one month, completing a novel (or other finished work) in the process. Sign up for free to participate and then simply log your daily word count. If you're planning to take part this year, you'll need to write about 1,700 words a day to hit the suggested 50,000-word goal, and you'll probably need an app for it, too!

While we'd love to tell you there is one "best" writing app to rule them all, it simply isn't true. The best app is the one that helps you with the unique challenges of whatever you're writing. Do you need an app that has scene cards for mapping out a screenplay, or do you want one that reduces distractions and helps you focus on getting words onto the page? The best app also supports your method of writing. Do you like to write in pieces that you can move around while revising? Do you need to keep track of copious footnotes? Do you publish directly to a website?

No matter what type of writer you are, you won’t have trouble finding an excellent writing app that speaks to you. Below are summaries of some of the highest rated apps, based on our independent testing, as well as guidelines for how much you might expect to spend.

Best for Screenwriting

Bottom line:.

Final Draft is the best writing software for anyone in the screenwriting business. It has all the tools you need to get the script right, from both a story and technical perspective.

Best for Genre Templates

For long-form works, Scrivener is the best writing app on the market. It gives you what you need to research, compose, reorganize, and edit your writing for a low price.

Best for Distraction-Free Interface

Ulysses is the best writing app for those who want a distraction-free interface that doesn't skimp on features. Note that it's only available for Apple devices, however.

Best for Screenwriting on a Budget

Fade In is a capable screenwriting app with most of the features scriptwriters need. Its low, one-time cost should appeal to anyone who wants to produce professionally formatted scripts on a budget.

Best for Online Writing (Medium, WordPress)

Taking minimalism to the extreme, iA Writer may have the fewest built-in distractions of any writing app. It's inexpensive and a great choice for bloggers and short-form writers.

Best for Word Processor Power

Storyist packs the power of a full word processor into an app dedicated to writers. It's excellent for Apple users who want more features than distraction-free apps offer.

Best for Web-Based Novel Writing

Novelize is one of the few writing apps that works on the web. It's easy to use and capable enough to handle young adult series, novellas, and other simple pieces.

Best for Referencing Films While Writing

If you write screenplays, teleplays, or novels, you should consider Script Studio. This writing app offers sample screenplays to help you structure your work plus some genuinely unique features, but it doesn't support collaboration and can't track your writing goals.

Best for Scene-Based Writing

The free and stats-heavy yWriter is ideal for writers who crave organization and data about their work, though anyone looking for a distraction-free experience should look elsewhere.

Best for Minimalist Interface

Byword, an inexpensive writing app for macOS and Apple mobile devices, publishes your work directly to Medium, WordPress, and other platforms. It's not ideal for long-form writers, however.

Best for Real-time Collaboration

WriterDuet offers compelling collaborative screenplay-writing features, but it's far more expensive than competing software for writers.

How Much Do Writing Apps Cost?

Apps for writers tend to be less expensive than other kinds of software. Many sell for a one-time fee, although a few require a subscription. In addition to the cost of the desktop app, you should also factor in the fee for a service's mobile app, which is often sold separately.

There are three types of writing apps in this story:

Low-cost, lightweight apps that cost $10–$30

Writing apps for long-form writers (such as book authors) that cost either $50–$60 to own outright or $50–$60 per year when sold as a subscription

Screenwriting software, which costs anywhere between $70–$250

Some writing apps include storage, but many don't. To make sure you never lose your work, you should back up your work early and often. A cloud storage service , such as Dropbox or iCloud, is often the most convenient solution. The good news is that pages of text don't take up much space, so you may be able to store a few works in your existing cloud storage account without paying for more space. Just keep in mind that you could eventually end up having to pay more for storage.

What's the Best App for Screenwriting?

As a genre, screenwriting has unique requirements. Scripts for movies, television, and the stage must clearly distinguish between action, scene descriptions, spoken dialogue, and so forth. Scripts do this through formatting. For example, lines of dialogue are always centered on the page, while the name of the character who speaks them is always centered and in all caps directly above the lines. The rules of formatting are standardized so that all the people involved in creating the final product—actors, film crew, editors, directors, among others—can understand the script and do their jobs.

Because the formatting for screenwriting is exceedingly precise, it helps tremendously when a writing app applies the correct formatting automatically. Most professional screenwriters use Final Draft , which is the industry standard. In addition to suggesting the correct formatting, Final Draft has a beat board where you can map out the beats of your story and view them on a timeline above your script as you write.

Fade In is a great, low-cost alternative to Final Draft, while Script Studio offers sample scripts to help you structure your work.

What's the Best Writing App for Long-Form Works?

Book authors spend a lot of their time simply organizing their manuscripts. Whether it's for fiction or nonfiction works, many authors put an incredible amount of effort into outlining their chapters and sections, moving them around, and trying to structure everything into one cohesive piece. The same can be said for other types of long-form works, such as dissertations, graphic novels, and so forth.

We have two favorite apps for long-form writers. One is Scrivener , which has templates and tools for a variety of genres and forms. The other is Ulysses , which is better for writers who find themselves distracted by toolbars, menus, and options; it has a great distraction-free mode.

Writing for Medium, WordPress Blogs, and More

Book authors and screenwriters aren't the only types of writers, of course. Many writers create shorter pieces that they publish directly online, often without ever passing through the hands of an editor, agent, publisher, or movie producer. If you're publishing on Medium or WordPress, it sure is handy to have a writing app that can seamlessly export your work to those platforms.

Ulysses and iA Writer both integrate with Medium and WordPress. Like Ulysses, iA Writer is a distraction-free writing app, but it's much more pared-down. It has some neat functions, such as text transclusion (Opens in a new window) , which allows you to use inline commands to import and order sections, files, and images. In other words, you can make a document that essentially says, "Pull in all the text from this file, then place this image after it, and then pull in the text of this other file." Using this method, the text of your document could be all of four sentences long and yet produce a final piece that, when exported, is 25 pages long.

Distraction-Free Apps That Support Markdown

If you're after minimalism, getting an app with a distraction-free mode or view is a great place to start. You may also want to write in Markdown language.

Markdown is a very lightweight set of codes that you use to apply formatting instead of using the rich-text formatting options that are common in word processors. If you've ever typed asterisks around a word to make it bold * like this* , that's Markdown. The idea is that by removing menu options and toolbars for formatting, you won't get distracted by them, and instead, you'll focus on your writing.

Ulysses, iA Writer, and Byword all support Markdown natively and focus on delivering you a distraction-free interface. A few other apps allow you to write in Markdown, but they don't necessarily emphasize it or minimize other kinds of distractions.

What's the Best Writing App?

Every writer has unique needs and desires. Do you need an app that works on both Windows and macOS, or how about one that's web-only, such as Novelize ? Is learning a new way to format text a deal-breaker? Does your final submission need to meet industry standards the way screenplays and teleplays do? The range of software dedicated to writers is impressive.

If nothing tickles your fancy in this roundup, check out our summary of other apps for novel writers . Finally, if you decide that a dedicated writing tool just isn't for you, and you'd rather just use a plain old word processor, we've rounded up the top office suites to help you out there as well.

Compare Specs The Best Writing Apps for 2023

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Pcmag stories you’ll like, about jill duffy, columnist and deputy managing editor, software.

Jill Duffy

My latest book is The Everything Guide to Remote Work , which goes into great detail about a subject that I've been covering as a writer and participating in personally since well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

I specialize in apps for productivity and collaboration, including project management software. I also test and analyze online learning services, particularly for learning languages.

Prior to working for PCMag, I was the managing editor of Game Developer magazine. I've also worked at the Association for Computing Machinery, The Examiner newspaper in San Francisco, and several other publications.

Follow me on Mastodon . I'm currently on hiatus from Twitter @jilleduffy, but maybe I'll be back. Who knows?

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Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The 17 Best Writing Apps to Boost Your Writing in 2023

Whether you’re writing an email, a blog post, or a full-on novel , you’ll likely find the task impossible without the right tools. Which raises the question: what are the best writing apps to help you with everything from basic composition to firing-on-all-cylinders productivity?

This blog post sets out to answer that question. Here we’ve divided our favorite writing apps of 2023 into three categories (writing apps, editing apps, and focus apps) and provided brief reviews of each, so you can decide which ones you can’t live without!

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.

Which writing app is right for you?

Find out here! Takes 30 seconds

Otherwise, let's dive in! Let’s start with apps that fulfill the most essential need every writer has: getting words down on the page.

While Google Docs and Microsoft Word are more-or-less fine, a dedicated writer like yourself deserves something more substantial. Here are seven writing apps designed specifically for creative writing, with various organizational tools to take your work to the next level. 

1. Reedsy Book Editor

reedsy book editor

Price: Free Runs on: Web Best for: Authors seeking an elegant, distraction-free writing interface that typesets your work into a professional-grade book

With its sleek interface and easily navigable formatting options, the Reedsy Book Editor is a first-rate choice for modern authors. You can drag and drop chapters, insert images, and even track changes to look at past versions of your work — a function that most paid creative writing apps don’t offer. And if you find that you're falling behind on your writing schedule, you can just enable its built-in goal reminder system, which will encourage you to get back on track. 

The Reedsy Book Editor's advanced typesetting features will also save you hours of work when you get to formatting your book for publication. You can create intricate front and back matter and export it as a clean, professional file that can be instantly uploaded to any ebook retailer or print-on-demand supplier. If you’re looking for an all-in-one writing, formatting, and typesetting tool, look no further than the Reedsy Book Editor. Start using it for free right now.

2. Scrivener

writing apps scrivener

Price: Free trial for 30 days, $45 license fee Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Window Best for: Novelists and other long-form writers who want an elaborate, organized interface

You’d be hard-pressed to find a list of book writing software that omits Scrivener, and for good reason: it manages to be both streamlined and incredibly sophisticated at the same time. With Scrivener, you can choose a template for your project (novel, essay, screenplay, etc.) and get organizing right away. The left-hand sidebar includes sections and virtual notecards for every element you could think of, and you’re able to arrange these elements however you like.

More advanced features allow you to track your research, create specialized materials like front/back matter, and even analyze the content of the text itself. Needless to say, Scrivener is an excellent book writing app for authors, and indeed ideal for  any  writer who values attention to detail. You can read our full review of Scrivener 3 right here.

writing apps ulysses

Price: $4.99/month or $39.99/year subscription Runs on: Mac and iOS devices Best for: Writers who want to productivity-hack their formatting

At first glance, Ulysses looks a lot like Scrivener, but closer inspection reveals that they cater to different experience levels and interests. While Scrivener is known for its steep learning curve, Ulysses offers several tutorials alongside its features. This is especially useful because Ulysses uses “Markdown” rather than manual formatting — for instance, in Ulysses, you’d type # to create a header, or > to create a blockquote.

While it may seem inconsequential now, writers who familiarize themselves with Markdown will likely find that it helps them keep their “flow” during a writing session, and it also makes editing much easier. Other than this, Ulysses is a fairly standard writing app; it’s not as outline-friendly as Scrivener, but you’ll have no trouble staying organized with keyword labels, split view capability, progress tracking, and all your projects lined up neatly in the sidebar.

writing apps 2022

Price: Flat fee of $25 Runs on: PC and Mac Best for: Authors looking for a software that will help them smartly and fluidly outline their books

Plottr may be the one plotting software to rule them all. While Scrivener and Ulysses are built to be all-purpose writing platforms, Plottr was created with one main objective in mind: to help you outline and plan your story.

To that end, it shines. Plottr lets you easily build the scenes, plots, and arcs of your story, which its intuitive interface then allows you to visually organize, re-arrange, color-coordinate, and filter until your plot begins to flow and make sense to you.

Additional features like timelines, plot cards, and starter plotting templates (including the Hero’s Journey and Dan Harmon’s Story Circle ) are built into the program to help you plot smarter. The sum of its parts is a software that achieves the impossible: making this plotting process, dare we say it, fun.

Looking for some more guidance on your fiction-writing journey? Check out this post on how to write a story in 6 steps.

5. iA Writer

writing apps ia writer

Price: Free trial for 14 days, $29.99 for Mac, $19.99 for Windows Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows (free trial available for Android) Best for: Writers who prefer simplicity over style

Reviews often compare iA Writer to Ulysses because it, too, employs Markdown for formatting. However, the interface is much simpler and more naturally integrated into your screen. This minimalist design fits perfectly with the mission of iA writer, which is “to keep you focused on just writing.”

In the upper-hand toolbar, you can still access features like dark mode (shown above) and syntax highlighting for different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and so on). But the purpose of iA Writer is to facilitate writing, and its setup clearly reflects that — a definite boon for distraction-prone and clutter-averse writers.

Which famous author do you write like?

Find out which literary luminary is your stylistic soulmate. Takes one minute!

writing apps ywriter

Price: Free Runs on: Windows Best for: Authors who like to break their stories into bite-sized pieces

Pivoting to the non-Apple side of things, we have yWriter, a book writing app designed for Windows in a similar vein to Scrivener. yWriter boasts a well-organized interface that divides your story into scenes rather than chapters, which is less stressful for easily intimidated writers. This app is also great for tracking your progress, with features like a storyboard to review your narrative arc, and reports you can generate about your daily word count, the state of your draft, etc.

But perhaps the best thing about yWriter is that it’s a free writing app — astounding in light of all it provides. The only “missing” feature is story templates, which experienced writers can disregard anyway. However, we’d caution users not to disregard yWriter’s intended platform, as the Mac trial is pretty glitchy and unreliable.

7. Storyist

writing apps storyist

Price: Free trial for 15 days, $59.99 license fee Runs on: Mac and iOS devices Best for: Screenwriters who are just getting started

Now let’s talk about screenplay writing apps. Though Storyist provides a solid foundation for novel writing, screenplay and stage play projects are where the app really shines. Upon creating a new project, you’ll work from a highly intuitive script template where each new line prompts you to choose action, character, dialogue, etc. This ensures proper formatting and keeps you conscious of which elements you’re using, so you don’t overdo it on dialogue or forget to transition between scenes.

You can also organize your characters, settings, and images via the sidebar tabs, which may be useful for screenwriters who like strong visuals to supplement their work. But Storyist is feature-minimal for a reason: it’s supposed to be basic and affordable for beginners, with just enough formatting flair to make you feel like an up-and-coming Hollywood darling.

8. Final Draft

final draft

Price: Free trial for 30 days, $249.99 license fee Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows Best for: Professional screenwriters who are ready to level up

Speaking of Hollywood, if you’re already such an advanced screenwriter that you’re frustrated by the limitations of “beginner” apps, Final Draft is the program for you. In addition to line-by-line formatting and other standard scriptwriting features, Final Draft offers countless options for comments, collaborations, content analysis, and more!

You can track story elements and measure your character’s traits using the inclusivity analysis feature. You can tweak your “beat board” until you find the arrangement that works perfectly for you. When you’re ready to bring in editors, you can all work simultaneously in real time. And if you want to shop your script around, Final Draft will export the file flawlessly.

The only drawback of Final Draft is the price tag — a struggling screenwriter may not have $250 to spare, no matter how stellar the software. If this sounds like you, stick to Storyist or a similar app for the time being, but keep Final Draft in mind for when you’re able to upgrade.

And what about when you’re ready to upgrade not just your tools, but your entire text? Well, that’s what this next section on editing apps is for.

But remember, no app can replace a human edit.

Luckily, all the best editors are right here on Reedsy! Sign up to meet them today.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

All writing is rewriting, as they say. If you’re ready to take on the “rewriting” stage of your project — or if you prefer to edit as you write, either because you’re a perfectionist or you just want to save yourself the work later — these five apps will let you revise to your heart’s content .

9. Grammarly

writing apps grammarly

Price: Free Runs on: Web, including browser extension Best for: Writers who want to carefully check short pieces, such as articles and emails

Grammarly is the writing world’s go-to spelling and grammar checker outside of standard word processors. Like any good editor, it underlines the errors and weak phrases in your writing — but Grammarly also goes above and beyond by providing a label and detailed reason for each correction, so you’ll actually learn from your mistakes

On top of these notes, Grammarly has a number of nuanced features to ensure your writing accomplishes exactly what you want it to do. You can “set goals” in terms of your audience, formality level, and tone (happy, confident, urgent, etc.) and analyze your text for factors like clarity, engagement, and delivery.

All this makes for a very well-rounded writing experience. However, we will say that Grammarly, with its goal-oriented interface and meticulous suggestions, is better for short-form copywriting than long-form storytelling.

So if you write a ton of emails, Grammarly could be perfect for you! But if you write books, you might benefit more from the tools to follow.

10. ProWritingAid

writing apps prowritingaid

Price: Free trial with limited features, $70/year subscription Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Long-form writers hoping to hone their personal style

ProWritingAid often draws comparisons to Grammarly, but this app’s approach to editing is a bit more holistic. Though it still points out significant errors, ProWritingAid’s suggestions tend more toward enhancing the flow of your prose — for example, reducing passive voice and filler words — than nitpicking for grammatical technicalities.

You’ll also find more methods of analysis with ProWritingAid, including auto-generated stats regarding your vocabulary, sentence structure, and more. ProWritingAid will let you know which words you’re overusing, which areas are inconsistent, and how you might connect your ideas more smoothly. Overall, it’s a great tool that will undoubtedly help you polish your writing (though keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to access the full range of features).

11. Hemingway

hemingway app

Price: Free online, $19.99 license fee Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Authors who value crisp, clean prose above all

Both a useful tool and clever homage to one of the twentieth century’s greatest authors, Hemingway is a must-have app for writers who like to keep things short and sweet. The purely prose-based editor gives feedback on sentence length, word usage, passive voice, and adverbs — simple elements that can nonetheless make or break a piece.

The app employs different-colored highlights to help you trim the fat in each area, and also identifies the text's reading level to ensure you’re targeting the right audience. But that’s pretty much it! Just as simplicity was a trademark of Hemingway’s prose, so it is of this app’s design.

12. Readable

readable app

Price: Free online, $4/month for Readable Pro account Runs on: Web (no browser extension yet) Best for: Short-form writers who need their work to be easily digestible

Readable ’s core mission is similar to Hemingway’s: to make your prose more, well, readable. But Readable has a few more bells and whistles to it, which may be helpful for writers who want really thorough textual analysis. Besides pointing out run-on sentences and other indicators of purple prose, this app collects tons of relevant statistics, from text composition to reading time. You’ll also receive scores on multiple readability scales — Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, etc.

As with ProWritingAid , you’ll have to upgrade for full access to features like keyword density and quality control. This may be worth looking into if you create content for a living, but for writers whose work doesn’t depend on SEO, the free version of Readable should serve you well.

13. NaturalReader

naturalreaders app

Price: Free Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Writers who need fresh eyes — or rather, ears — for editing

Reading one’s work aloud is a great way to catch awkward phrasing and typos. But what if you’re already so accustomed to your own prose that, when reading to yourself, you skim right over these issues?

That’s when you can turn to NaturalReader, the best text-to-speech reader we’ve found this side of an actual person. To use it, simply copy/paste your writing into the text box, choose a voice and reading speed, and follow along with the magnified text at the bottom. You can pause, rewind, fast-forward, and change the other settings at any time; it’s all incredibly easy and conducive to comprehension. (Just make sure you’re actually listening, not zoning out.)

We’d recommend NaturalReader for anyone with a short piece to proofread, as it may not be practical to feed your entire book through the app. Then again, if you’ve got the time, have at it!

Now let's talk writing apps for focus and organization. Buckling down and getting started is often the hardest part of the writing process. Fortunately, these apps will help you cut out distractions, organize your thoughts, and regain inspiration when writer’s block rears its ugly head!

14. FocusWriter

focuswriter app

Price: Free Runs on: Mac and Windows Best for: Overstimulated writers who want to get back to basics

Thought Ulysses and Hemingway were minimalist? You ain’t seen nothing yet. FocusWriter is exactly what it says on the tin: it compels you to focus on writing and nothing else. The interface takes on the appearance of a sheet of paper, and lacking any elaborate formatting options or research notes to mess around with, you have no choice but to write.

You can still adjust the font, track your progress, and even set a timer for writing sprints using the toolbar at the top — but it safely tucks these features away from view. If in-app distractions are your kryptonite, FocusWriter might be the solution you need.

15. Freedom

freedom app

Price: Free trial for 7 sessions, $6.99/month or $30/year Runs on: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android Best for: Internet-addicted writers who can admit they have a problem

Of course, even a super-basic interface can’t protect you from distractions that lurk outside that interface. That’s why you need Freedom: app- and website-blocking software to curb your Internet and social media procrastination (which, let’s be honest, is an issue for all of us).

Freedom allows you to set timed blocks, schedule blocks in advance, and even “pause” before visiting distracting sites. It certainly covers all the bases in terms of potential diversions; users can customize a list of distracting websites and desktop apps, plus connect Freedom to their phones to block distractions on there as well.

But perhaps the nicest thing about Freedom is that it feels truly freeing — between the gentle branding and the ultimately self-imposed limits, you’ll come away feeling not restricted, but relieved that you can get some writing done at last.

16. Evernote

writing apps evernote

Price: Free basic plan, $4.99/month for premium Runs on: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android Best for: Multitalented writers who want a single space to collect all their thoughts

Another one of the best free writing apps out there, Evernote takes written organization to a whole new level. With dozens of templates for everything from classroom note-taking to personal planning to structuring a novel, Evernote makes admin not only easy, but fun!

Besides abundant organizational templates — again, all for free with the basic plan — Evernote also lets you tag everything in specific categories, share your notes with collaborators, and even chat with them in-app. One of its coolest features is the Web Clipper, which you can use to save any excerpt of web content that appeals to you. More than anything, Evernote is a work-saving app designed to be adaptable and accessible for all kinds of writers and their projects.

17. Reedsy Prompts

reedsy prompts

Price: Free Runs on: Web Best for: Writers who just need a spark of an idea to get started

Okay, this one’s not exactly an app, at least not yet. But after comparing Reedsy Prompts to similar writing inspiration apps like Writing Challenge and The Brainstormer, we can honestly say it has much more to offer. For one thing, you’ll get five new prompts every single week — and not just on the Reedsy Prompts page, but sent straight to your email inbox. And if you write a short story based on one of those prompts, you could win $50 in our weekly contest!

That said, if you’re not inspired by the prompts of a particular week, you can explore the infinite possibilities of the 700+ prompts that already live on the Reedsy Prompts page. Though you’ll only be able to enter the competition with one of the five featured prompts for that week, we’re always excited to see what our users create… so if you write a story based on any of the available prompts, make sure to let us know.

At the end of the day, that’s what writing is all about: creating something wonderful and unique to share with others, whether it’s an informative article, a personal essay, or a 300-page book. Whatever your writing project, we hope these apps can be of use to you — and indeed, of service to everyone who gets to enjoy your work.

Compare the best writing apps of 2023

Didn’t find what you were looking for here? Check out our list of novel writing software for some more intensive writing programs, or this list of writing tools to help hone your creative process.

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Free or various subscriptions

Notebook (opens in new tab) is one of the more elegant alternatives to the like of Evernote and Google Keep, and it’s an ideal choice for fans of folders.

The app lets you create ‘notebooks’ and then within these there are ‘notes’ which look a bit like the pinboard-style notes of Google Keep. It’s a handy way of organizing your notes, so that you can have, say, all of your notes related to travel in a travel notebook, so they’re easy to find and keep track of.

These notebooks though can have images as covers, so they’re more than just functional – they’re also pretty.

And you don’t have to make use of the notebooks if you don’t want to – you can always just type in a keyword search for a specific note, or choose to view all notes in a list.

Notebooks also supports to-do lists, audio notes, attachments and more, so it’s a fairly full-featured option, and handily it works across platforms, so you can use it on Android, iOS, PC and Mac.

All of this is free, but optionally you can get a monthly or yearly subscription to unlock more storage, larger note cards, the ability to save emails as notes, collaboration tools, and more.

Typewise Keyboard

Free + $1.99/£1.89 monthly subscription

Typewise Keyboard (opens in new tab) aims to reinvent the smartphone keyboard, by opting for hexagonal keys which are 70% larger than typical smartphone keyboard keys and therefore easier to hit, reducing typos.

Typewise Keyboard also has numerous gesture controls, which can speed up typing significantly once you get used to them, as can the presence of not one but two spacebars, or rather, space hexagons.

Other notable features include a focus on privacy, as everything is stored locally, and an absence of permissions (there’s just one required in order to enable vibration).

There’s an autocorrect feature too, and if you don’t get on with the hexagons you can switch to a more conventional layout – although if you’re going to do that then there are a lot of strong alternative keyboards.

Typewise is mostly free, but for $1.99/£1.89 a month (with discounts if you pay for a year upfront) you can access numerous themes, along with vibration and various additional settings and options.

We’re not big on paying a subscription for a keyboard, but most users probably won’t feel the need and there is also a lifetime licence available for $24.99/£19.49.

In any case, the free version is definitely worth a try, and worth persevering with for at least a few days, as it does have a learning curve, but we were impressed once we got the hang of it.

Free + various IAP

Are you bored of using the same old keyboard? If so, then you might want to give Fleksy (opens in new tab) a try, as it’s stylish and near endlessly customizable through dozens of themes.

Of course, the Android app also does the actual job of being a keyboard admirably. In our experience you can type on it quite fast with minimal mistakes, and the autocorrect works well. It also has extras such as GIFs, handwriting support, gesture controls, and even a whole ‘Fleksyapps’ section, which lets you access a number of apps from within the keyboard.

Say, for example, you’re mid-conversation with a friend, trying to decide where to go for lunch. Usually if you want to look places up, you’d have to switch to another app, but with Fleksy you can just access Yelp from within the keyboard and keep on typing.

You can also access the likes of YouTube and Skyscanner, and we expect other apps will be added over time.

For the most part Fleksy is free, but certain themes cost ‘Fleksycoins’, which can be obtained through doing things like watching adverts (which are never forced on you) and earning badges from your use of the app, or purchased with real money.

Email TypeApp

With the death of Inbox by Gmail , there’s a good chance you’re looking for a new email app, and the clunkily-named Email TypeApp (opens in new tab) might fit the bill.

The Android app is absolutely packed full of features, such as a unified inbox for multiple email accounts, Android Wear support, a customizable look, account color-coding, configurable menus, read receipts, the ability to unsend emails, and more.

It also has customizable Do Not Disturb days and hours – a feature that’s sadly missing from some alternative apps.

Email TypeApp is also mostly free. A few extra features such as send later and VIP notifications are chargeable, but you can unlock everything for $6.99/£5.99 and chances are you’ll be happy with the free content anyway.

If you have an Android tablet with a keyboard you might be considering doing some serious writing, and if you’re considering that then you should definitely consider using JotterPad (opens in new tab) .

This isn’t a new app; rather, it’s an old favorite of many that’s regularly updated, ensuring it remains one of the best options for writing on Android.

The core of the Android app is a distraction-free text editor, but dig into the menus and there are all sorts of tools and options. There’s Markdown support for example, a word count, cloud storage, a phrase search, a built-in dictionary, a dark theme, a rhyming dictionary, numerous fonts, and more.

Some of this stuff is hidden behind IAP, the main one being ‘Pro’, which costs $14.99/£12.99. That might seem steep, but it’s a one-off payment and if you’re writing an essay or novel on JotterPad then you should easily get your money’s worth.

Writer Tools

Free + $4.99/£4.99 monthly subscription

Writer Tools (opens in new tab) is a set of tools for anyone who’s setting out to write a novel. The app makes this daunting task a bit more manageable by letting you create characters and locations.

These sections store these details so they’re always readily available, and help you flesh them out. For example, the character creator lets you fill out all sorts of optional details such as their greatest fear and best memory.

Writer Tools also has a built-in thesaurus, lets you jot down ideas and notes, create timelines, set quarterly writing goals, and more. You can also back-up your work to the cloud, so you’ll never lose it.

This is all free, but for a monthly subscription you can get rid of adverts, access all your historic backups, add images to your characters and locations, switch to a night mode, and more. There’s a lot in this Android app, which goes some way to justifying the price, but many users will be fine with the free version.

OfficeSuite

Free + £8.49 (around $11.10) IAP

If you’re looking for office software on Android there are really only a handful of options, and OfficeSuite (opens in new tab) is one of the best, thanks largely to how feature-packed it is.

You can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations or PDFs, and you can start from scratch or use one of numerous templates as a jumping off point.

You can share documents and message contributors from the Android app, save work to the cloud, open two documents and work on them both at once in split-screen, cast presentations across multiple devices, and a whole lot more.

Most of the features in OfficeSuite are totally free, but if you’re using it a lot it’s probably worth upgrading to OfficeSuite Premium, which, among other things, lets you save files in more formats and unlocks more PDF tools, such as the ability to convert PDFs to Word or Excel format, and create and use digital signatures.

Microsoft Word

Free + $6.99/£5.99 monthly subscription

Microsoft Word (opens in new tab) probably needs no introduction, but if you do much word processing on your tablet (or even your phone) and haven’t tried the Android app then you really should.

You essentially get the full version, allowing you to view, create and edit documents of various styles, including newsletters, brochures and more.

You can change the font, text color, margins, add bullet points and most other things possible from the desktop version of Word, via a slick, polished interface that’s pleasingly minimal most of the time. You can also save your documents to OneDrive, so they’re accessible from other devices.

Many of the features are free, but you’ll need an Office 365 subscription (which starts at US$6.99/£5.99 per month) to unlock the likes of page and section breaks, columns, different page orientations, and the ability to track and review changes in the Android app.

Otter Voice Notes

Free + optional subscription

Sometimes you don’t have time to take notes. Recording audio can come in handy, but often means spending time transcribing it later. Not so with Otter Voice Notes (opens in new tab) .

The Android app will automatically transcribe what’s spoken using AI, and you can teach it to recognize your voice so it can differentiate between speakers.

Once the audio is transcribed you can read it and correct any mistakes manually. The audio is also recorded, so you can listen back to the recording as well.

The really clever bit though is that Otter will detect keywords automatically, so you can search for a word and the app will find where it appears in any of your recordings. It’s a great feature that makes it easy to find specific information, even if you’ve recorded hours of audio.

You can also create groups, allowing you to share recordings with others, and all of your recordings are stored in the cloud so you can access them on any device and they won’t take up space on your phone.

The only two problems we’ve found so far is that longer recordings can take a while to be transcribed, and the transcription isn’t always perfect. It’s usually good enough that you can tell what it means though, and you can correct any errors so it’s not a big deal.

Current page: The best office and writing apps for Android

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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The 15 Best Writing Apps For iOS and Android in [2022]

Best Writing Apps For iOS and Android

Technology has always managed to help humanity and give us a hand in our daily tasks, including writing with the help of writing apps.

If writing has become an integral part of your life, you should know that there’s more assistance for you on the device that you mostly use than you could have ever imagined.

Have you ever thought of writing, editing, proofreading, inserting annotations, and keeping track of ideas to be on a mere mobile device?

Well, mobile writing apps to the rescue!

We’ve handpicked the best mobile writing apps that are not just used but are highly recommended by writers.

Technology is all about making your work simpler and quicker. Why not use it to the optimum?

Tinker with the best writing apps for writers while you plan to bring your creativity into existence.

So, let’s get into the process of making your life simpler and much more productive than before!

Affiliate Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, and I receive a commission if you purchase through one of the links, at no additional cost to you.

Best Writing Apps For iOS and Android

1. grammarly keyboard.

Grammarly Keyboard App

Price: Free app to use.

Available On: Both Android and iOS devices.

Ideal For: Students or writers looking for an excellent tool to correct grammar and spelling mistakes and improve their writing style.

Grammarly Keyword is an easy-to-use writing app for writers making it all the more efficient for mobile users.

The keyboard will check for all sorts of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors as you type text into your Written Document , Notes, or Mail .

Thus, you won’t need to have a particular check on Grammarly anymore as the editing and re-checking job would be done as you type, saving you the extra time!

If you wish to check the text that you’ve typed manually, you can tap the ‘G’ icon and again click on the keyboard icon to get back.

Additionally, you can also adjust your keyboard settings like any other keyboard and choose the correct language under ‘Language Preferences.’

No matter what you’re writing: an email, a novel, a social media post, or a blog, this app has got your back!

2. Google Docs

Google Docs App: Create Documents

Ideal For: Writers and bloggers, dealing with personal or collaborative projects on word processors.

Google Docs is one of the efficient writing apps for writers to write, edit, and format text.

You can also share your writing pieces with a click or make shared folders that your team can view and manage in real-time.

The same shared document can be accessed by as many as 100 users simultaneously while any changes are reflected real-time.

Also, the interface is relatively easy to understand, and you can always rely on Google’s helpful support options if you come across any technical issues.

The intuitive toolbar provides you quick access to the number and bulleted lists, fonts, spacing options, and other essential features.

3. Evernote

Evernote App: Organize Notes, This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free or $7.99/month premium subscription.

Ideal For: Students, writers, bloggers, and especially authors to note every detail related to their plot and characters.

Evernote is popularly known to handle notes in all formats, from PDF documents, text notes, scanned handwritten pages, images, audio clips, websites, and emails.

This writing app helps you make your notes and find them in a much easier way using Tags. It’s the most efficient way of sorting your notes and arranging them meticulously.

Evernote also comes with advanced features making images more readable.

For example, if you include an image of a cake recipe, sign, or a business card, then you’ll easily be able to search for the item as if you’d typed the text yourself.

Premium users are rewarded with the searchable option with PDFs and other documents as well.

4. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word: Write and Edit Documents. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free app for writers to use.

Available On: Both Android and iOS

Ideal For: Bloggers, writers, students, authors, and anybody who wishes to write about anything and then keep a fine record of the same.

The interface looks like Google Docs, and you can easily create, edit, and review your documents using the Microsoft Word mobile app.

This app is one of the best writing apps for writers that can help you read comfortably on your mobile devices and have a look at every minute detail in a full-screen view.

The reading view option makes the reviewing process more straightforward and much more comfortable.

You can share the document with others and work as a team – responding to their comments or suggestions and applying these changes quickly.

Additionally, Microsoft Word is well-known for its beautifully designed modern templates, rich layout, and formatting options.

5. JotterPad

JotterPad App: Writer, Screenplay and Novel

Price: Free or $0.99 per month.

Ideal For: Writers and authors to write novels and screenplays. Additionally, the app is perfect for bloggers as well.

JotterPad is one of the best writing apps if you are looking forward to streamlining your writing process, especially for screenplay writers, novelists, and bloggers.

Beginners can quickly shift from plain text to rich text with a quick click or highlight.

It’s a tedious task for screenplay writers to align their writing work after exporting them to word and other platforms.

But JotterPad is here to get you fuss-free by converting your work seamlessly into other formats without going through the pains of formatting again!

At least this time, there’s a high chance of your first draft being the final one for you.

6. MyStory.today

MyStory.today App: Write your own book

Ideal For: Short Story writers and authors.

You can write novels and short stories using this mobile device to arrange your story in the form of chapters or scenes.

It’s fun to use this tool as you won’t even know when you managed to complete an entire book of your own while you’d just been on the couch at home all day.

There is an integrated corkboard where you can write down all your ideas and move this board around throughout your book.

Arrange your chapters and continue from where you left as and when inspiration comes.

You are likely to have a rough outline of your story by adding summaries to the cards on your corkboard.

7. StoryMirror

StoryMirror App: Read and Write. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free app for writers to use

Ideal For: Writers as well as readers.

StoryMirror is one of the prominent writing apps for writers that has already built a community of millions of writers and readers on their platform who constantly contribute to daily quotes, poems, short stories, etc.

You get to read and write in different languages no matter what the genre is.

Moreover, StoryMirror is limited to stories and has a place for audiobooks, poems, and daily inspirational and motivational quotes.

The best part about StoryMirror is that they get your books published!

Yes, you heard it right: from cover page designing, editing, marketing to the distribution process of your book, they do it all for you.

Publishing and selling your book is made easy with StoryMirror, but if you wish to buy books or ebooks, this is a one-stop destination for you.

PenCake: Writing App. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free or $5.99 to upgrade to Premium.

Ideal For: Writers who are habitual of keeping a diary or a journal and also for those who jot their notes down on mobile devices.

Using PenCake, you can keep all your stories neat and beautiful in numerous categories such as travel, memos, novels, thoughts, daily life, hobbies, and so on.

You can reminisce the beautiful moments of your life by keeping track of them in the form of pictures and videos on this app.

With their minimal user interface, it’s easy to write and meticulously arrange all your written places.

Additionally, you’re never going to miss any data as your progress would be directly synced with Google Drive.

If you’re a premium user, you have some amazing features like night mode, various fonts, auto-sync, and security by incorporating your Face ID/ Touch ID.

9. Story Plotter

Story Plotter App: Write Novels

Price: Free and $4 per month for premium features.

Ideal For: Writers or authors who wish to create a strong plot using their stored ideas.

With this one of the best writing apps by your side, you can any day create a splendid plot for your novel, manga, drama, movie, and so on.

Your story is bound to have an exciting screenplay with the app’s plot creation function.

The plot function is undoubtedly the best thing an author can ever be equipped with.

It provides you with a quantitative estimate about how much your story has deviated from the ideal line.

Also, this app lets you know about the percentage of a particular chapter as a whole.

In addition to this function, you have some essential features like story order changes and character correlation diagrams to support your story’s character and theme setting.

10. WordPress

WordPress App: Manage Your Blog

Ideal For: Writers and readers who wish to create and consume content through blogs.

The power of publishing is not just restricted to your desktops now. It is in your hands and pockets.

The complete WordPress experience is brought to you at your fingertips as you can modify and post your blogs on the go.

The mobile app is one of the prominent writing apps that provides accurate stats to writers to know their views and visitors well.

You can go through these stats during your free time and find out where your readers come from.

Additionally, you can also visit your favorite sites and strike a conversation with authors, leave some beautiful comments, or like their work anytime, anywhere.

Adding an image or a video to your blog posts is just as simple as drag and drop.

The desktop version has been conveniently converted into a concise and effective mobile app.

Best Writing Apps For Android

11. writing prompts.

Writing Prompts App. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free to use.

Available On: Android devices.

Ideal For: Writers who just need a spark to begin their writing journey.

Writing a full-fledged story is never too easy, and you’re likely to stumble upon challenges.

However, Writing Prompts helps you get inspiration to broaden your story ideas.

You get access to 500+ prompts to begin your first line, 700+ stock prompts to find a plot for your story.

There are around 1000+ user-submitted writing prompts where you can gain inspiration from the community.

Writers are known to be creative, and this app has gotten on a mission never to hinder that piece of your skillset.

12. Writer Plus

Writer Plus App: Write On The Go. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Price: Free and $0.99 – $15.99 per month.

Ideal For: Writers, bloggers, and authors wanting to work on a no-distraction word processor.

Writer Plus is one of the fantastic writing apps that has several features to organize your work into folders systematically.

The app comes with smartphone-specific designs with minimal interfaces to let your words flow rather than cluttering your workspace.

Its essential features such as undo and redo, word count, and night mode have been reasons for excellent play store rating.

If you’ll be using a Bluetooth keyboard, this creative writing app has excellent keyboard shortcuts for you.

Many features have been incorporated concisely to make the app lighter than Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

13. Pure Writer

Pure Writer App: Editor and Markdown

Price: Free or $3.99 for Pro Mode.

Ideal For: Writers and authors who find it surprisingly satisfying to write while lying in bed.

The app’s winning aspect is its simple design which is far more convenient to leverage. A few advanced formatting options support it.

For example, if your character’s name is Leonard, you type Leo every time, the writing app would automatically replace it with Leonard.

Additionally, all your written work gets seamlessly saved after every two seconds; if not, the user gets notified.

You get access to the preview mode, find & replace, and a custom theme option with the Pro Mode.

Additionally, if you genuinely want to go in your writing-hard zone, keep the app on its focus mode that will hide the status bar icons to offer you a distraction-free screen.

14. Novelist

Novelist App: Write your novels. This is one of the best writing apps for writers.

Available On: Android devices

Ideal For: Novelists and ebook writers who are looking for a great text editor.

Novelist is one of the perfect writing apps for authors to keep track of various writing processes such as plotting, wording, framing the setting, and exporting novels or short stories.

The material design user interface is a big yes-yes for writers.

Additionally, you’re also offered multiple formatting options, a rich text editor, and Google Drive support.

You can include the big scenes in your story and have a glimpse into all such scenes using the app’s timeline feature.

Its novel-specific features make it worthy enough to be used by novelists even though more of these features are available on Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Writco App: Publish and Write Stories

Ideal For: Writers, readers, and authors who would like to write and share their thoughts, stories, and poems.

This app is one of the efficient mobile writing apps in the multilingual social writing space for writers and readers.

You can read, write, and share stories, quotes, poems in digital and book format.

Additionally, if you’re an aspiring author, you can also publish your book with this platform.

There’s no limit on the word count, unlike other apps. It supports a large amount of content, and your content’s authority is duly given to you.

You can improve your writing style by participating in exciting writing challenges and win excellent prizes and cash rewards.

Final Thoughts

There are numerous writing apps available for you to explore, but you should know whether they would be worth your time.

These 15 writing apps are handpicked to add value to your blogs, stories, poems, and everything you jot down in your personal diary.

The effort I put into writing this informative blog post is to make your writing journey effortless and, till then, happy writing.

Check out the other article that I’ve written about: Best Book Writing Software .

2 thoughts on “The 15 Best Writing Apps For iOS and Android in [2022]”

Awesome post with best writing apps for writers. I truly appreciate your research and hard work in writing this article.

Glad to say that you have provided the best writing apps for every writer. You have presented each app in an impressive way along with their key features and every necessary detail that are true enough to understand & educate the readers. Yes, I am aware of all your included apps except PenCake, and Writco. So kindly, thanks for making me aware and providing in-depth information. Using your included apps will be a great helping hand and will undoubtedly improve the writing skills.

After going through this complete post, I really gain ideas and learned about various writing apps. I am sure that this post will definitely help lots of people, readers, and especially writers.

Eventually, thanks for sharing your knowledge and such a helpful post.

Regards, Aadarsh

Hi Aadarsh,

Thanks for your thoughts on this blog post.

Writing apps are essential for writers so that they can do their writing tasks hassle-free.

I took much effort to write this informative article to help people write seamlessly with these writing apps.

Also, these apps have good reviews, and people can know through the reviews how it helps them.

Comments are closed.

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The Best Writing Apps For Mac [2022]

By Justin Meredith 0 comments Last updated January 21, 2022

Today, we’re going to be covering a topic that’s near to my heart – the best writing apps for Mac. I started my writing career at the same time as I purchased my first Mac, and so I’ve been using writing apps just as long as I’ve been using macOS. In my mind, it’s hard to think about one without the other.

Over the years, I’ve tried a bunch of writing apps, and in this post, I’m going to share my favorites with you.

Some of these are free, but most aren’t. I’m considering these as serious writing tools and not just something to type in. After all, nearly every computer comes with a free app that you can use to write down your ideas and thoughts.

Instead, I’m going to be focusing on professional apps. These are the apps I use (or have used) daily to write articles, blogs, novels, poems, journals, and a bunch of failed ideas. Most of these apps are going to be word processors, but not all. I’ve also included apps for outlining, spellchecking, and automating certain aspects of the writing process.

Alright, enough introduction! Let’s get into it.

TextExpander

Microsoft word.

Go beyond the best writing apps for macOS

The best writing apps for mac.

Although this list is in no particular order, I did want to kick off my picks for the best writing apps by talking about my personal favorite.

writing apps 2022

Typora was one of the first apps I started using when I purchased my Mac. It was free at the time, still in beta, and I don’t even remember how I stumbled into it.

Regardless, I have written in Typora every day since downloading it. I am writing in it right now, and when it comes to just opening a doc and starting to write, I never bother to open anything else.

Typora is a markdown editor that’s packed with all of the essential features, is highly customizable, but is still trim and simple. There are other markdown editors in this list, but I find them to be either too cluttered with unnecessary features or too simple to be useful.

This app is perfectly in the middle for me. I adore writing in Typora. It’s pleasant to look at, lightning-fast for formatting, flexible, and straightforward. My job would be a lot crummier without it, and I highly recommend that everyone reading this article give it a shot. Especially if you’re writing short-form content.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Typora is Scrivener. No list of the best writing apps would be complete without this titan of novel writing. This is one of the most feature-packed, powerful, and downright excellent writing apps out there.

writing apps 2022

For those that don’t know, Scrivener is an app for writing long-form content. That includes novels, novellas, short stories, whitepapers, and anything much longer than ten pages.

While Scrivener has a lot (and I mean a lot ) of features that make it great for this, to me the core of this is its organizational components. You can easily divide your text into folders, chapters, and sections, attach notes to each of these sections, create notes for characters and your plot, and much more.

Before using Scrivener, I was using a binder to keep track of all of this information. I would open it and scratch out ideas, then start typing the story up on my computer. With Scrivener, the binder and the novel become one piece.

It is a pricey app at nearly $50 but well worth it if you can scrape the cash together. I do not think you need to be a professional novelist to purchase this app. The structure and features make trying to put a book together in something like Microsoft Word seem like a nightmare. If you only download two apps from this list, it would be Typora for short-form writing and Scrivener for long-form.

Next on our list of the best writing apps is one that you’ve probably seen an annoying amount of ads for. Grammarly is an extremely popular app, and yet probably still not as popular as it should be.

writing apps 2022

In essence, Grammarly is just a good spellchecker. Not only will it make sure you’ve spelled everything correctly, but it’ll check that your using the right forms of certain words, help you replace wordy phrases, and grade the tone and reading difficulty of what you’ve written.

Another neat feature that I find myself using a lot is the ability to change the region your writing for. So I can write in my native American English then convert it to UK English with Grammarly.

I wouldn’t say that Grammarly is a mind-blowing app in the way that the first two suggestions in this list are. That said, it is one that I find myself using several times each day. I haven’t tried the paid version before, so I can’t comment on its usefulness. Though I will say that I’ve never felt that I needed it, especially since it’s a subscription and not a one-time purchase.

Also, one mark against Grammarly that I have to mention is how slow it is. This app takes at least eight seconds to open on my M1 iMac and every click results in a loading screen. I’m pretty sure this is because it’s just a port of the web app version, so it isn’t optimized for desktop whatsoever. Hopefully, this changes in the future, because right now, I do always find myself waiting on Grammarly to get things done.

The next item in our list of the best writing apps is a bit of a sideways one. TextExpander is not a word processor or an app for spellchecking. Instead, it’ll help you automate certain segments of your writing.

writing apps 2022

TextExpander allows you to program certain typed words and phrases to automatically expand into other words and phrases.

For example, I use a standard outline format when writing most of my articles. So I have text expansion set up so that whenever I type “!outline” a title, blank summary, blank intro, and blank conclusion appear. I have similar expansions for my email, name, address, certain URLs that I type often, today’s date, and more.

Expansions can also be used to correct or replace certain phrases with the right spelling or punctuation. For instance, every time I type “aka” it’s instantly replaced with “a.k.a.” and “realtime” is replaced with “real-time”.

You can even do some basic automation with TextExpander. You could type something like “!workemail” in the “To:” field of an email draft, and it would replace it with the recipient, jump to the “Subject:” line and fill it in, then jump to the content of your draft and fill that in for you, too.

Technically, I use Keyboard Maestro to accomplish this, but that’s only because I bought it before TextExpander. TextExpander is a much easier app to use and is geared exclusively for this purpose. If you’re someone who finds themselves typing the same things over and over, you can use a text expansion app to speed up your work significantly.

Another app that long-form writers will love is Scapple. Made by the same team behind Scrivener, Scapple is a feature-packed mind-mapping app.

writing apps 2022

In my view, Scapple is the Typora of mind-mapping apps. It has all of the benefits of being a digital tool while feeling as simple as using a pencil and paper to start mapping out your ideas.

You can easily and intuitively draw shapes, write in these shapes, connect them with lines and arrows, and continue to build on your maps infinitely. If you’re someone who finds mind-maps helpful, then there isn’t anything out there much better than Scapple.

The one downside of this app is that it isn’t updated very frequently. The developer keeps it compatible, but new features and visual retouches are few and far between. It’s been nearly unchanged for several years now, which makes me a bit worried that it’ll fall by the wayside eventually. For now, though, Scapple is still perfectly usable and a great addition to any writer’s toolkit.

MarsEdit was built for bloggers. It is a markdown and HTML writing tool, so you’ll find that the writing style is a lot like Typora.

writing apps 2022

What sets it apart, however, is that MarsEdit is designed for writing blog posts and articles. It can plug directly into your WordPress website, allowing you to publish to your blog right from the app.

You can even add tags, titles, links, and other bits of metadata that are key to keeping your blog organized and SEO-friendly.

Beyond that, MarsEditis a pretty straightforward writing app. It doesn’t have too many robust features, instead focusing on what it does best. It’s free to use but does offer some paid-exclusive features. These features include adding multiple WordPress accounts, easy media adding, and even comment replying.

For bloggers, it doesn’t get much better than MarsEdit, unless you prefer to write directly in WordPress like a madman.

Unfortunately for Ulysses, it’s always been labeled as “the Scrivener alternative”. While this might be annoying for the developers, I have to agree with the title!

writing apps 2022

Ulysses is a writing app that feels like it was designed by Apple with the goals of Scrivener. It’s built for long-form writing and has many of the same organizational tools that Scrivener has. None of these features are as rich or complicated as Scrivener, however, and the interface feels much more like an Apple ecosystem app than Scrivener does.

Additionally, Ulysses can sync across Apple devices. This means that you can start writing on your desktop, grab your iPad, and pick up right where you left off.

Scrivener, conversely, offers a mobile app for iPad and iPhone. This version of Scrivener syncs with itself, but not with the desktop version of Scrivener. For that, you need to use Dropbox.

Overall, Ulysses isn’t for me. I prefer the more feature-rich Scrivener, even if it’s locked into the desktop a bit more. If you prefer more flexibility and find Scrivener to be overwhelming, however, then Ulysses offers a more streamlined alternative.

If Ulysses is the Apple-fied alternative to Scrivener, then that’s what iA Writer is to Typora. It’s an extremely similar app, offering elegant markdown writing and editing. You can export to HTML, post to WordPress or Medium, and focus on your writing with minimal UI distractions.

writing apps 2022

iA Writer is a bit more restricted when it comes to features included in the best writing apps that have been mentioned so far. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! It just depends on what you’re looking for. I’m sure there are plenty of writers who will love using this app.

Of course, no list of the best writing apps is complete without Microsoft Word. I’d love to say that Apple’s Pages is just as good as Word, but it’s not. The only advantage it has is being free and built into macOS.

writing apps 2022

In every other way, Microsoft Word is superior. The interface is better, the features richer, the updates more substantive. Microsoft Word is the word processor, the workhorse we’re all familiar with.

Whether you’re working on a novel, putting essays together for school, or even writing for a living, Microsoft Word will get the job done well. It’s not my cup of tea at this point in my career, as I prefer more specialized apps to get the job done. But for the vast majority of people, it’s been the go-to for the last several decades.

As far as free alternatives to Microsoft Word go, I think Google Docs comes before Pages. It’s free, easily accessible on all of your devices (even non-Apple ones), is popular among everyone regardless of their OS, has plenty of features, a great UI, allows for real-time collaboration, and a bunch of other powerful features that are easy to overlook.

writing apps 2022

Although I try to avoid using Google products for privacy reasons, it’s impossible not to use Google Docs if you write for a living. It’s gradually become the standard in the writing industry thanks to its simplicity and wide availability.

If you’re strapped for cash and just want something to brute force your writing with, Google Docs will carry you to the end of time. After all, you just need a way to get the words down!

And that’s it! Those are the best writing apps for Mac right now. I’ve used all of these apps and much, much more. Still, these are the ones that have stuck with me throughout the years. My daily drivers are:

If I could only use one of these apps for the rest of my life, it would be Typora, and if I could choose two, it would be Typora and Scrivener. In other words, those are my highest recommendations!

For more insights, news, and guides on all things Apple, check out the rest of the AppleToolBox blog .

See you next time!

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Best Resume Writing Apps 2022

We find the best resume writing apps to get you applying for jobs fast.

Best Resume Writing Apps 2022

There’s one app that sits at the top of our listings of the best resume writing apps, and that’s LiveCareer. As a web app, there are few compatibility concerns, and it’s full of useful features. There’s more to it than resume creation too - the app is well connected, and is capable of publishing your resume directly to job sites and social media. It’s hard to beat.

The web app is a huge trend in software at the moment, and resume writers have capitalised on it. Every single one of the best resume writing software packages we tested was a web app, with downloadable applications now looking rather out of date in comparison. It helps that resume writing software has a defined end, and therefore can limit the amount of tools and options it throws at the user rather than a general-purpose app such as a word processor or desktop publishing program. In this way, having the application run entirely in the browser makes a lot of sense, as it speeds up the process, and means you’ll be downloading completed files and applying for employment in no time. 

If you need more advice we have guides to the best online grammar checkers (opens in new tab) , and the best typing software (opens in new tab) to help you get faster.

1. LiveCareer: Best resume writing app overall

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LiveCareer: My Perfect Resume

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

More than just a resume-building site, LiveCareer is a fully featured web app that combines templates, connectivity with other sites, and cover letter creation to form one of the very best pieces of resume software available today.

The whole process of creating your resume is automated using a wizard and a limited number of templates. Answer its questions, inputting information where necessary, and you’ll receive tips as you work, pointing the way to a better resume.

If you’ve already got a resume, you can import it into LiveCareer and use the information already on it to speed along the creation of a new one. This is an uncommon feature among resume creation services, and certainly makes building a new, better, resume much faster. Also helping to speed things up are the helpful pre-written phrases the app can suggest if you’re stumped by how to describe some aspect of your career.

The interface is clean, and intuitive to use, and while we’ve seen larger numbers of templates elsewhere, the whole thing comes together to make LiveCareer the best we’ve found for making a striking resume.

2. Resume Genius: Best value resume app

Resume genius.

If you subscribe, you can download your resume in more useful formats, such as a Word document or PDF, or send it by fax from the site. You can also store unlimited resumes on the site, so you can tailor them for specific jobs, and you can get help to create a cover letter to accompany your resume. There’s even job search functionality, and a resume critique from an experienced career consultant.

A web app with a minimalist aesthetic, you pick a template, answer questions on your education and experience, and it generates your resume. It’s a very quick process, although it’s wise to get your thoughts in order before you begin, lining up in your mind the answers to questions about exactly when you left your last few jobs, and exactly what kind of college degree you have.

The finished result can be downloaded as a text file, but you’ll need to register with the site to do so. If you choose to register, and pay the subscription, however, a few more options open up, though you’ll need to pay for them. The $2.95 14-day trial is the best value of many we’ve seen, but it’s very difficult to get off the payment plan page and on to the dashboard page where the resume you’ve created is stored.

3. CakeResume: Best for social connectivity

A web app with a free version and an intuitive drag and drop interface, CakeResume makes the creation of your resume a straightforward process, and even hosts its own LinkedIn-like network for employers seeking new talent.

It’s a good-looking app that’s easy to navigate, and can link to your social media. If you already have a resume, you can upload it to the site and it will use it to populate the fields of your profile. When the profile is completed to the site’s liking, you can turn this into a new resume, editing the information as you go. Of course, you can always create a brand new resume from scratch, and there is a good selection of templates to choose from to get you started.

There’s a choice of two web apps to use, and we’d recommend the newer one, even though it’s still in beta. It removes a lot of the limitations placed by the original editing app. There’s no help with cover letters though, and it lacks the pre-written phrases that are a highlight of other services. There’s support in the form of a blog, however.

A further useful feature is the creation of a link, which you can use to give people access to your online resume - it’s really handy for pasting into an email, but recruiters may still prefer an attachment.

4. Visual CV: Best for templates

Another web app, but one that does things in a slightly different way. It has some bold, unusual template choices too, making it a good option for someone who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Visual CV sets your resume up as a kind of web page, with a unique link you can share with potential employers. You’ll need to subscribe to unlock this ability, but if you’re applying for jobs with the kind of employer who prefers to look at a screen rather then drown in paper, it might be worth it.

You can download your resume as a PDF too, and as long as you use one of the (rather dull, but still professional-looking) free templates, you’ll not be charged for doing so. If you want a little more flair, however, it’s well worth registering for the Pro service, as this also unlocks the ability to download your resume as a Word document, so you can continue editing it on your computer.

There are twice as many templates as LiveCareer’s offering, but it loses ground in terms of the options and control over layout that it offers. Overall, though, this is a strong entrant in the resume app market.

5. Pongo: Best for online help

Not one of the most fully featured resume builders we’ve seen, but one that we can still recommend thanks to the amount of support it offers while you compose your resume.

There’s a lot happening on the Pongo website, and it can be easy to feel lost, but in among all the videos offering advice on everything from cover letters to interview techniques, and success stories from those who got hired using the site, there’s a resume builder you can use for free. Subscribe, however, and the options keep growing. There are templates (although not as many as we’d like to see), sample phrases, matching cover letters and more, though there aren’t as many ways to customize your resume away from the template as we’ve seen elsewhere.

Download options include text, Word and PDF, while the ability to turn your resume into a website is a nice addition. For anyone new to the jobs market, or perhaps returning after a long time away, this is an excellent choice to create your resume.

How much do resume writing apps cost?

Resume writing programs have largely segued into web apps rather than downloadable ones, with subscription charges that range anywhere from a $3 one-off charge for a few days’ access up to about $20 a month. Pay attention when you subscribe, though, because most services offer several different plans – and some plans limit the features or number of resumes you can create. Make sure to find a selection that works for your job search. Also, several of the programs we tested come with a free trial, but frequently the company won’t remove their watermark from free templates. It’s best to pay a little extra and remove the companies’ branding. Being able to download your resume as a Word document is also important, as unlike a PDF you can continue to edit this in Word or one of its compatible free competitors as your skills and experience grow.

How we tested resume apps

We read dozens of articles and researched the current industry standard in resume writing software before we selected which programs to test. Then we downloaded or subscribed to the ones we selected. Most of the current software is web-based, but there are few downloadable programs that have enough features and support to be worth mentioning.

In each program we created a resume and then tested the available features. We evaluated how intuitive the input options and wizard (the tool that you use to input your data) were in each program. We also looked for programs that offer additional support beyond simple resume creation. Resume software that connect with popular job search engines or give tips about acing your interview ranked higher in our comparison.

We looked for import and export options that allow you to easily transfer your completed work to new systems and give you flexibility to use the information from older resumes to create new ones. We also graded the software on customization tools, like margin spacing and font choices, as well as text size and watermarks to make sure you can create a resume that’ll stand out.  We learned there’s often a balance between having plenty of options and having so many that they become overwhelming, so we looked for a number of templates and features that was just right.

Are resume apps actually worth it?

In a word, yes. Based on our experience with the sites and services we tested, it's helpful to have the task of creating a resume broken up into more manageable chunks. Many of the programs that we used have wizards that provide helpful tips or guidance on each section. It's also convenient to be able to save personal information, like your address and home phone number, to be used over and over again as you customize resumes for different job applications. Overall, because resume writing is such a common experience, we think its hard to go wrong with these programs. They are also inexpensive enough that it’s worth a try.

Resume and job hunting trends for 2021

Economists are predicting an uneven recovery from the spike in unemployment caused by the pandemic, and the US rate might stay above 6% until the end of the year.

Keep It Short, but Not Too Short: A recent study by ResumeGo shows that recruiters are twice as likely to prefer a two-page resume than a single-page resume. The common wisdom used to be that anything beyond a single page is a strike against you, but if you have the work experience and qualifications, don’t skimp on including them. Be as thorough as possible.

Start Strong: The top third of your resume is the most important real estate. Use it to make an impression and to give the hiring manager the most important information. Include contact information, your LinkedIn account info, your most recent job and a summary statement. The summary isn’t an objective – instead, it should be a statement that catches the recruiter’s eyes. In the summary, talk about your successes and what you can add to the company you’re applying at.

Optimize Your Resume: Many companies use applicant tracking systems to monitor and update you on your application’s progress. Some of these systems can be overzealous about filtering resumes, so you may need to include some keywords used in the job posting. In some cases, you can benefit from using the particular jargon preferred by the company you’re applying at.

Customize & Cut: Make sure each resume is tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. One-size-fits-all resumes don’t really work any more. Trim your resume to the last 10 to 15 years of your job history – anything further back could date you or may be irrelevant. If you’re applying for a job as a software developer, the company hiring you isn’t interested in your high school dishwashing job.

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Ian has been a journalist for 20 years. He's written for magazines and websites on subjects such as video games, technology, PC hardware, popular (and unpopular) science, gardening and astronomy. In his spare time he has a pet tortoise and grows his own vegetables. He also has a passion for cameras and photography, and has written for TTR on these subjects.

Best Writing Apps for Android in 2022

writing apps 2022

Whether you're writing essays for school, drafting updates for your blog, or just jotting notes, everybody needs a writing app. There's no shortage of them on the Play Store, and in theory it shouldn't be hard to find a good one — it's just a place to type, right?

Turns out there are quite a few useful features that you might want to look for when settling on a writing app. You probably want an app that syncs with other devices — Android or otherwise — so that you can pick up where you last left off. Diverse file support is good, too, for those times you need to export .doc files or PDFs.

Google Docs

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

It's hard to argue with an app that comes pre-installed on most Android phones. Google Docs is an entirely cloud-based app that can be accessed from any machine that's signed into your Google account, and has full support for images, text formatting, and a wide array of file formats.

One of the best parts of Google Docs is its collaborative nature, with the ability to share your documents with others and even write simultaneously within the same file. You can even notate certain sections of a document with editor's comments for the other writers' reference. Best of all, it's completely free, without any in-app purchases or tiers to worry about.

Download: Google Docs (free) (opens in new tab)

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is another classic writing app, and it's one that you probably grew up using on your computer before smartphones were even around. Word works a lot like Google Docs, though it syncs to OneDrive rather than Google Drive (you can also set it to sync with Dropbox). The interface is familiar if you've used recent versions of Word on the desktop, and the app also serves as a PDF reader.

Some of the features, including custom headers/footers and file history, require an Office 365 subscription , so power users that need to meet specific formatting standards for, say, college essays, may not be able to get away with using Word for free. But for the majority of users, the free version should offer plenty of functionality and hold up to alternatives like Google Docs.

Download: Microsoft Word (free) (opens in new tab)

iA Writer is a fantastic writing app that focuses more on simplicity than formatting — though it does allow for the latter, as well. It features its own file browser for your documents, as well as the ability to sync your work to Google Drive or Dropbox, and best of all, it's cross-platform with support for iOS, Windows, and MacOS.

One of iA Writer's most unique features is its focus mode, which obscures the sentences you're not currently working on, but there's plenty of other great features like Markdown support, night mode, and the ability to publish directly to Medium. iA Writer is free on Android, but keep in mind that you'll need to shell out some cash to use it on your computer.

Download: iA Writer (free) (opens in new tab)

The go-to for nearly every college student, Evernote is an immensely popular writing app that's also equal parts organizer, planner, document scanner, to-do list, and much, much more. The interface can be a bit overwhelming at times, but in return, you get a wealth of features unmatched by the competition.

Evernote syncs your notes and files within its own cloud service, and offers apps for almost every device you can think of, as well as a web interface. Like the other note-taking apps in this list, you can export your writings as PDFs or other file formats, and Evernote can import from PDFs as well. If you shell out for Evernote Premium, you'll benefit from things like unlimited device access, offline notes, PDF annotation, and much larger storage.

Download: Evernote (free) (opens in new tab)

Which is your favorite?

Do you swear by one of the writers listed above? Or have you been using something else throughout the years? Let us know in the comments!

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Become a Writer Today

The 9 Best Content Writing Apps (2023)

These content writing apps are the best options for quick, concise writing no matter what you’re working on.

We’ve all got writing goals, right? And the whole point of picking a third-party writing app is to make it easier to reach those goals, preferably without spending too much money.

The good news is that we now have an excellent crop of writing programs that are being designed and updated with features specifically for writers – and without the confusing fluff of more generic text editors like Microsoft Word, etc.

Professional content creators can use these to create blog posts, articles, ebooks, digital marketing, and social media content. If you’re looking for a tool to write, edit and publish content faster, here are our current picks!

Grammarly is a top spelling, grammar and plagiarism checker. It'll help you find and fix errors fast, and it works everywhere. It's trusted by millions of writers for a reason.

Grammarly

Best Content Writing Apps Options for 2022

1. grammarly, 2. scrivener, 4. ia writer, 6. final draft, 7. prowritingaid, 8. autocrit, 9. hemingway app, our testing criteria, why you can trust us, final word on content writing apps, faqs about content writing apps, content writing app resources.

The best content writing apps

Ideal for: Freelancers, bloggers, every kind of content writer Pricing: Free/$30 per month

Grammarly

Grammarly is a popular grammar checker and extension (with both free and premium month versions). It helps correct content and fix typos on the go. It’s available for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome, and basically all devices via a suite of add-ons and plugins.

It’s ideal for content writers as you can check your content on the go using the Chrome plugin without copying and pasting from one app to another.

It’s important to note that Grammarly is not a full-text editor, only an enabler. But that’s useful if you already have a text editor that you prefer. The paid version allows you to create rules and additional scans for readability, tone, etc. It also has a plagiarism checker which is useful for checking content by other writers.

I use Grammarly primarily with Ulysses to check content and articles for grammar and typo mistakes prior to publishing. Its AI-powered writing assistant enables me to make a series of changes in a piece of content at a click.

Read my Grammarly review

Ideal for: Writers with long-term projects Pricing : $45

Scrivener compile

Scrivener ($45) is what you might call the complete package for long-form writing. It’s packed with tools that allow you to organize a book, take quick notes, and create glossaries for characters, locations, etc. It’s available on Mac, Windows, and iOS.

Beginners can easily start with templates for things like a novel, screenplay, or essay, and common tools for adjusting formatting feel very familiar here. You can also hide everything at all and turn Scrivener into a streamlined, distraction-free content editor.

The biggest downside is that Scrivener isn’t especially friendly for internet-related work like blogging and copywriting, although you can use the shorter templates for work like this. All the writing tools and organization may also take a bit of time to learn.

In short, Scrivener is good if you’re working on a big content project like an ebook or guide. However, it’s less useful for managing lots of articles or shorter pieces of content due to the lack of Markdown support and content publishing tools.

Read our Scrivener review .

Ideal for: Freelance writers and authors Pricing: $5 per month

writing apps 2022

Are you a big fan of the “Apple” aesthetic for software? Ulysses ($5 monthly subscription) is a novel-writing app with some similarities to Scrivener, but a very different interface directly inspired by Mac and iOS apps for a familiar look.

Thanks to its distraction-free writing mode, it’s easy to focus on content. The ability to plan, make notes, keep a glossary, and enable autofill for those names that you can’t quite remember is all present, but mostly stays hidden until you need it.

A final note – Ulysses has a unique markdown text format that allows you to format as you go with text commands that will be translated into formatting. Once mastered, this allows you to easily write without using a mouse, perfect for on-the-go work on an iPhone or iPad.

I also like Ulysses for managing content across a variety of sites as I can organize them using tags and folders, publish directly to WordPress or Ghost sites and check their status. Ulysses even supports preparing a book for self-publishing.

Read our Ulysses App review

Ideal for: Freelance writers Pricing: $20

iA Writer is great for minimalists.

If minimalism is your primary concern, iA Writer ($20 to $30 depending on the version) is the app for you. It’d distraction-free writing mode is more limited menus than Ulysses. And its interface keeps out of the way of your content at all times.

This has its advantages (markdown formatting and style checking are supported), but there aren’t a lot of additional tools to help you craft a book or similar projects, so you have to accept the barebones nature of the app. Fortunately, that’s just what some people are looking for.

IA Writer is more minimalistic than its rival Ulysses. However, it doesn’t contain as many document management and publication tools. That’s a good or bad thing, depending on your point of view. I used IA Writer for years to write and edit quality content.

Read our IA Writer review .

Ideal for: Authors with a draft to self-publish Pricing: Free

If you’re looking for a free option, try Reedsy.

Reedsy is a very minimalistic app with a design somewhat reminiscent of Apple Pages, excellent for focused writing without distractions or being confused by a bunch of buttons. It’s also very novel-friendly, with outline and section management that make it easy to manage chapters.

I also appreciated the change tracking options, which makes it easier to revert to a past version of your work if you made a mistake or changed your mind. Formatting is also friendly if you would like to export directly as an eBook ready for publication.

The app, however, is limited when it comes to anything other than writing novels, although you could use it for shorter works in a pinch if you have nothing else at hand. Perhaps best of all, it’s entirely free at the moment, making it a good choice for writers trying to save money.

Ideal for: Screenwriters and playwrights Pricing: $250

Final Draft is for serious screenwriters only.

Finally ($250), a recommendation for serious screenwriters: Final Draft is made to create screenplays with all the features you need for proper details and direction. That includes line-by-line formatting, comments, collaboration markup for working with a team, and a variety of tracking/glossary features to keep everything straight and develop themes more clearly.

The wide variety of tools makes this the go-to app for screenwriting, although you certainly have to pay for it. It’s not very suitable for work outside of plays and screenplays.

Read our Final Draft Review

Ideal for: Copyediting fiction and long-form writing Pricing: From free to $70 a year

Manuscript editing software

ProWritingAid is another popular proofreading tool for content editors. This web editor and plugin detect grammar mistakes and spelling errors while you write. It also helps analyze your writing style to keep content and tone consistent.

ProWritingAid provides help with sentence structure to let you create readable copy. It has a free version and a paid version that costs $70 a year.

Read our ProWritingAid review

ProWritingAid is a powerful, accurate grammar checker and style editor. It's suitable for non-fiction and fiction writers and doesn't require a monthly subscription. Save 20% per month or year.

ProWritingAid

Ideal for: Copyediting book chapters Pricing: From free to $80 a month

Manuscript editing software

AutoCrit is designed for fiction writers, as it compares written work and sentence structure to works by other well-known fiction writers.

AutoCrit analyzes a manuscript to help you find areas to edit. It will analyze features like dialog and the momentum and pace of the story.

This comparison helps writers find common writing style mistakes and redundancies. The Free Forever plan is… free. The Professional plan costs $30 a month, and the Elite plan costs $80 a month.

Ideal for: Copyediting articles Pricing: From free to $19.99 per month

Manuscript editing software

The Hemingway App is a style checker. It scores content based on readability and helps spot areas you can improve. The program highlights text that is hard to read and instances of passive voice, both of which hurt readability scores .

Hemingway App is a free content editing tool if you use the browser-based version. Content writers who want to use a desktop app need to pay $19.99. If you’re a content creator on a budget, it’s a good choice.

Read our Hemingway App review

We regularly update this roundup of content writing apps as the products evolve. We test new features by checking articles, book chapters, and blog posts for grammatical mistakes and other issues. These articles and other writing samples range from several hundred to several thousand words in length. Typically, we test content writing apps using the web, desktop, and browser apps and plugins.

I’ve written and published dozens of articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications including, Forbes and Lifehacker. I’m also a best-selling non-fiction author, a trained journalist, and a copywriter.

Content writing apps like the above form a key part of my writing workflow for non-fiction. I use these types of software regularly to improve my work and also to check work by freelance writers who publish content on this site.

These are some of the best apps content writing tools for content writers for getting started on large projects, and I encourage you to think about trying at least once if you want to find a content writing job .

If you’re unsure which use for your writing process, I suggest starting with Scrivener and seeing how you like its features. iA Writer is also a good choice for bloggers and new content writers. You could also use Grammarly to check your content for grammar and typo mistakes.

Most of these apps have free writing trials for a couple of weeks, so you really can shop around if you want. If you only want to dip your toe in the water, download the free version of Grammarly instead and let it help you out! When you’ve tested out these apps, you may be ready to try out more advanced content optimization software .

Do I Have to Use a Content Writing App?

No. But I like these writing apps because they add specific features that you aren’t going to find on the average text or web editor, especially when it comes to writing novels or other large projects.

Do All Content Apps Cost Money?

Many do, but there are some free options for content creators. Reedsy is a notable example. If you are only interested in basic text editing functions, you should look at a variety of free web apps that allow for speedy wordsmithing without any additional costs. Even something like Google Docs or FocusWriter could be all you need.

Is My Content Private on a Writing App?

Always, always check the security and privacy details of content writing tools. The ones I listed are pretty good about understanding that writers’ work needs to be private and unaccessible (unless you are in a collaboration), and have some safeguards in place to help prevent issues. In some ways, they are safer than using a traditional cloud app or web app.

Can Content Writing Apps Make Me a Better Writer?

Many can. In addition to helping you organize your writing, some apps help monitor your content for tone, phrasing, potential synonyms, etc. You may have to spend some time with these features to get used to them, but they can help. And apps like Grammarly are entirely devoted to “watching you write” so you can improve as you go.

Is There a Content Writing App Specifically for Novels?

Yes, our picks Ulysses and Scrivener are both excellent for writing full novels, including the ability to keep track of multiple characters and places, outline a plot, and go chapter by chapter as needed. This is a spot where content writing apps really show their value, and serious novelists should definitely consider choosing one.

What Does a Content Writer Do?

Writing For Content Mills

Best Writing Apps

Best Content Marketing Blogs

What Is Content Editing ?

Interview With Bernard Huang: Clearscope Founder

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writing apps 2022

Tyler has been published on Huffington Post and Motely Fool. His article and blogs experience includes working for The Content Standard, Mad Mobile, Digital Landing, and Apass Education, among many others.

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Grammar Guide

Best Writing Apps for Windows and Mac 2023

Krystal N. Craiker

Krystal N. Craiker

Blog Manager and Indie Author

best writing apps

For writers, technology is a major asset. You no longer have to rely on countless journals, loose pages, and scribbled notes to write a book, article, or essay.

There are hundreds of writing apps available, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. How do you know which writing apps are worth the money? Which applications are right for your needs as a writer?

As an author and content writer, I have a genuine passion for writing technology. It’s become a bit of a joke in my fiction group that I’m always switching programs to find The One True Writing App.

Let me save you the trouble of trying every new option that comes your way. Check out all the reasons you need a writing app, what to look for, and what the best programs on the market are for every writer’s needs.

What Is a Writing App?

Top 3 benefits from using writing apps, features to look for in the best writing apps, 9 best writing apps for windows and mac, conclusion on the best writing apps.

A writing app, short for writing application, is any software designed for writing. That seems obvious, but these days writing apps go far beyond a traditional notepad application.

Today, writing applications support multiple areas of the writing process: brainstorming, plotting, drafting, editing, and even formatting.

Not every writing application does all these steps. Each app has its strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to understand what you need for your personal writing process.

Keep in mind that no app is perfect because every writer is different. But I’ve selected the apps that are pretty close to perfect—depending on your needs.

Why use a writing app? Is it really worth giving up your trusty pen and paper for a piece of technology?

Absolutely. Even the most basic writing apps will help you improve your writing process.

1. Organization

The best feature of a great writing app is that everything you need can be safely stored all in one place. Writing apps can hold all of your notes, dabbles, outlines, and drafts in one place.

Basic writing apps focus solely on word processing and aren’t designed with long documents in mind. With basic writing apps, you can use headings for easy navigation, or you can save things to one folder for your project. More advanced apps will allow you to quickly navigate between your notes and your draft.

You’ll never have to wonder where you jotted down that one great scene. You don’t have to worry about grabbing the wrong journal when you go on a writing retreat, or about suspicious coffee stains blurring your outline.

2. Efficiency

Whether you’re drafting a book or a blog post, writing is a multi-step process. A great writing app will save you several steps, making the entire process flow that much easier.

Can you brainstorm, write, edit, edit again, format, and send to your editor all with one program? Some writing applications will get you pretty close. But the best writing apps allow you to combine at least two steps of the writing process into one program.

3. Big-Picture Views

It’s easy to get stuck on one part of a manuscript or article. You’re zoomed in, thinking about how to fix a plot hole or improve your prose. It’s difficult to view your project as a whole when you’re hyper-focused on one piece.

When you have outlines, notes, and quick navigation to other sections in one app, it’s much easier to take a step back. You can focus on cohesive writing with excellent pacing when it’s all right in front of you.

writing apps tip

Everyone has different requirements for their perfect writing software, which is why there are so many great apps on the market. But there are a few features that make a great writing app, no matter what your individual needs are.

Easy to Learn

Writing has enough steps—you don’t want to spend a ton of time learning a new app. Look for a writing program with a simple user interface. You should also look for plenty of tutorials or in-depth help pages.

“Easy to learn” is difficult to classify because everyone has different comfort levels with new technology. It’s a great idea to try out a trial or free version of a new writing app when possible.

Cross-Device Accessibility

A great app will be accessible on different devices and platforms, so your writing will sync no matter where you are. What happens if your main computer dies? Can you pick up your manuscript where you left off?

Cloud-based programs are great, but be sure they also have offline access in case you’re writing in a cabin in the woods. Mobile apps are fantastic when you want to jot down the perfect scene during a trip to the grocery store.

Security is two-fold when it comes to writing apps. First, you want a reliable program that won’t leak your personal information or sell it to partners.

But, you also want your writing to be safe. You don’t want your drafts to disappear. Be aware of how writing apps store your data. If there’s a glitch, you want your work to be easily recoverable.

One-Stop Shop

The more your writing app can do, the better. It will save you time and money when you don’t need multiple programs for every step of the process. Look for an app that can manage at least two steps of the writing process.

Great Customer Service

It’s guaranteed that issues will arise with any technology. But a great customer support experience makes all the difference. You may not get a chance to try out customer service before you buy, so check out reviews from people who have.

A grammar guru, style editor, and writing mentor in one package.

ProWritingAid

So, what writing apps make the cut? It really is hard to choose, but I’ve picked some of the best writing applications for all levels and all types of writers.

1. ProWritingAid

Before I worked at ProWritingAid, I was a loyal user. So when I say ProWritingAid is one of the best writing apps, I mean it.

ProWritingAid is so much more than a grammar checker. It’s truly a writing app because it doesn’t just tell you what to change. It helps you improve your skills with stylistic feedback, document goals, tutorials, articles, webinars, and more.

You can create sub-docs in the web editor if you’re working on longer documents with multiple sections. It’s easy to stay organized.

You can write directly in the web editor and edit as you go. You can also use one of the many integrations, like the Chrome Extension or ProWritingAid Everywhere .

ProWritingAid gives you the type of feedback you get from critique groups or line editors. You can set goals for dozens of document types. It’s great for anyone who writes, not just professionals.

ProWritingAid also has some of the highest security qualifications, so you can guarantee that your writing and your personal information are safe.

2. Google Docs

There’s nothing wrong with a simple writing app, so Google Docs is a great option. And you may not realize just how customizable the program is for your writing needs.

It’s easy to create folders to store notes, outlines, or drafts. You can create sub-folders, too.

For example, you might have a folder for your entire book, then a sub-folder for character profiles. You can use separate files or headings in one document to navigate between chapters and scenes.

Let’s say you use the same outline for all your quarterly reports at work. You can create templates for yourself and quickly make a copy. There is even a templates gallery from Google for certain document types.

Google Docs’ biggest strength is in collaboration. Share your document across teams at work, with your critique group, or with your editor. Leave in-line comments or toggle between editing and suggesting modes.

You can even add extensions to turn Google Docs into a true one-stop shop. Try ProWritingAid’s Google Docs extension to edit and improve your writing.

3. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has been around for a long time, and there’s no shame in keeping it old school. It’s a powerful and reliable word processor.

When you’re writing a long document, like a book or thesis, you can use headings and the navigation pane to rearrange sections. Your formatting options are practically endless with Microsoft Word, although there is a learning curve.

You can use Microsoft OneDrive to save all your work to the cloud and access it on different devices—even your phone! There’s also a web version of Microsoft Word and other Office products if you’re writing on a device like a Chromebook.

While Word has a built-in spell checker, it’s very basic. Use ProWritingAid’s Word integration for in-depth editing right in your document.

4. Scrivener

Scrivener remains the gold standard for novel-writing software, even with new competitors. Scrivener users have brand loyalty and for good reason. It’s a powerful tool that you can use for plotting, drafting, and formatting.

There’s a big learning curve to get the most out of all of Scrivener’s features, but it’s a great app for in-depth planners. Plus, you can find templates from other writers if you aren’t quite sure where to start.

The dual-pane layout allows you to pull up multiple scenes or notes at the same time. Scrivener uses a corkboard layout that is great for visual thinkers.

An advantage of Scrivener is that it’s a one-time payment rather than a subscription. But you can only use your license on one computer at a time. Scrivener also has an iOS app that syncs in real time, but it’s not available for Android users.

Scrivener will backup to whatever location you choose on your computer, and it creates backups every few minutes. I always recommend saving your projects to a cloud storage folder, like OneDrive or Dropbox. This way, if you need to put your license on a new computer, you can pick up where you left off.

Another great feature is the formatting tool. You can format for eBooks, paperbacks, or agent queries with a click of a button. You can also integrate ProWritingAid Everywhere with Scrivener to edit directly in the app.

Are you a student? Scrivener has dissertation templates. You can store your research and your drafts all in one place.

5. Campfire

Campfire is making a name for themselves as one of the most powerful novel-writing apps. Campfire has a focus on worldbuilding, with features such as languages and maps for fantasy and sci-fi writers.

But any writer can benefit from Campfire’s writing features. Create plot timelines, detailed character profiles, and more. The manuscript feature allows you to write directly in the same program that you take notes, plot, and build your world bible. Crafting a series? Digitally link elements in the same fictional world to access across all your books.

Because Campfire is so customizable, there’s a learning curve for each module. Luckily, there are amazing, short video tutorials. You can even publish your work on your Campfire profile, and there’s a collaboration feature to share with other users.

Campfire has recently launched their mobile app, and it just gets better with every update. You can use a desktop version of the writing app, work in your browser, or work on your phone.

I can vouch for their excellent customer service. I encountered a strange glitch, and they responded in a timely manner with a fix.

One thing that sets Campfire apart from competitors is their a la carte pricing. If you’re writing historical fiction or contemporary romance, you might not need a species module or a language module.

Only pay for what you need—although you do get a limited amount of every module for free to see how it works.

9 best writing apps

6. LivingWriter

LivingWriter is another great novel-writing app. It’s got a clean interface and easy-to-use manuscript feature.

This app has amazing plotting features, much like Campfire and Scrivener. But LivingWriter focuses on plot structure more than the others. There are common plot templates you can use to outline your story. Even nonfiction writers can draft their book in this app.

Once you’ve plotted, you can link your outline and other elements to scenes in your story. Character names will link to their individual profile—so if you’ve forgotten if your love interest has green or blue eyes, you can find the answer quickly.

You can navigate and drag-and-drop scenes using a sidebar or a cork board layout. You can also create mind maps if you’re more of a visual plotter. Set writing goals for yourself, and share chapters and scenes with your writing buddies.

LivingWriter also has an excellent mobile app for both iOS and Android.

Dabble is a great writing application option for people who want something fancier than Microsoft Word but not as in-depth as other novel software.

Dabble allows you to store all your notes and backstory alongside your manuscript. The interface is clean and simple.

This app has one main plotting tool: a drag-and-drop plot grid. You can easily see where your plot lines merge at a glance. Video tutorials will show you how to use this plotting device.

Dabble also boasts a focus mode, which is perfect for easily distracted writers. There’s a desktop app and a browser version, both with full functionality, so you can write on any device, online or offline.

8. Final Draft

We can’t forget the screenwriters among us! The industry standard for screenwriters and playwrights is Final Draft.

Final Draft will provide the formatting for you as you write. You can even include dual dialogue (when multiple characters speak at once).

Need a visual for the prop master? Quickly insert images directly into the screenplay. The collaboration and editing tools are also easy to use. Insert in-line comments and track changes from co-writers, directors, and editors.

Final Draft is available on any Mac or PC, and you can activate your license on two computers at once. After it’s downloaded, you can write offline or online. IPad and iPhone users can also download the Final Draft app for on-the-go writing.

The company also offers discounts for students, teachers, military, and first responders.

9. Rocketbook

Some writers really prefer to handwrite their notes and first drafts. But transcribing those notes can be a time-consuming hassle.

Enter Rocketbook. With a special notebook and pen, you can handwrite lists, conference notes, plot ideas, or whole scenes.

Then use the Rocketbook app on your phone to sync your notes to a cloud storage of your choice. You can send your writing to multiple locations at once—you can even email it to people.

The app can search your handwritten notes for keywords. It will also transcribe your handwriting into typed formatting with just a click.

Plus, Rocketbook is reusable, so it’s better for the environment.

It’s hard to decide on the best writing app for yourself. Luckily, most of these apps have free trials or limited free versions, so you can check them out and see if they are right for you.

What are your favorite writing apps? What features do you look for in a writing program? Let us know in the comments.

ProWritingAid

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound. Check out her website or follow her on Instagram: @krystalncraikerauthor.

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The 10 Best Apps for Note-Taking in 2023

Taking notes is easy if you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

writing apps 2022

writing apps 2022

Whether you're a full-time student, taking an online course, or trying to stay organized in business or at home, note-taking apps for computers and mobile devices make it easy to gather, sort, and store information. Here are our picks for the 10 best note-taking apps for students or anyone who wants to stay on top of the flood of information in their lives.

The note-taking apps on this list include apps for iOS and Android devices as well as Windows and Mac desktop PCs.

Best for the Apple Universe: Notes

Preinstalled on iOS and macOS devices.

Supports the Apple Pencil for iPad note-taking.

Use Siri voice commands to create a note.

Share Notes for group lists.

Syncs between iOS devices with the same iCloud account.

No support for Android or Windows devices.

Notes is the Apple note-taking app, and it's deeply integrated with iOS and macOS. This handy tool lets you jot down quick notes or use an Apple Pencil or your finger to take handwritten notes. Easily create checklists and share with others so that everyone can tap to check off an item or edit the note. When you set up iCloud , you can keep your notes in sync across all your devices.

Notes is incredibly powerful and feature-rich. Pin important notes to the top of your list, add photos, create sketches , scan paper documents into Notes, add attachments and tables, search notes, and use Siri to start a note.

Download For :

Best for Group Projects: Notability

Edit PDF documents.

Group notes by subject and create dividers.

Supports the Apple Pencil.

Syncs notes with audio and listen to the original source.

Work two notes side-by-side.

No Android or Windows support.

Notability is a  third-party app for Apple devices that's a good alternative if you don't like the feel of Notes. Notability is solid when it comes to creating and editing text and image notes. However, its real appeal is its ability to edit and annotate PDFs.

Notability's audio features are also noteworthy. Have collaborators leave audio notes when working on a project. Record a lecture or meeting and let Notability sync your notes to the recording so you can replay what was said. Share Notability notes using Google Drive, AirDrop, any email service, and Dropbox.

Notability is $8.99 on the App Store and $1.99 on the Mac App Store.

Best for the Google Universe: Google Keep

Bright, colorful design.

It's easy to find content.

Set location- and time-based reminders.

Share lists to collaborate with others.

Notes sync across devices.

Users say the browser-based version can be buggy.

Google Keep is a free Google service you can use to create and edit notes that automatically sync to the cloud from your Google account. In addition to the usual note-taking features, such as lists and audio recordings, Google Keep lets you set location-based and time-based reminders, organize notes with labels and colors, collaborate on notes, and more.

Download Google Keep on your iOS or Android device, install its Chrome extension, or use the web version of Google Keep .

Best for Multiple Devices: Notebook

Has Firefox, Chrome, and Safari browser extensions for clipping and saving media.

Available on multiple platforms.

Group notes into notebooks.

The Recipe Card feature pulls a photo and instructions from supported sites.

Record meetings with the Audio Card feature.

Need to make a Zoho account to use the product.

Notebook is a fantastic free app available on multiple platforms, with supportive browser extensions that make it easy to gather notes from the web. The app automatically detects when you create an audio, video, or another type of note and formats it accordingly. For example, a sound recording displays audio controls, while a note with location data features a map.

Notebook offers several ways to capture and organize thoughts, supporting text, video, audio, PDFs, information from other programs like Word or Excel, and more.

Best for the Microsoft Universe: OneNote

Converts handwritten notes into editable text.

Works with the Surface Pen and Apple Pencil.

Acts as a digital sketchbook.

Syncing notes can take some time.

OneNote is Microsoft's free note-taking app. It's available on multiple platforms for smartphones, tablets, desktops, and the Apple Watch. OneNote lets you create text and media notes, record audio, and use the Surface Pen on compatible  Surface devices . It's compatible with other stylus devices, as well, including the Apple Pencil.

OneNote saves all data to the cloud and syncs with other devices through a free Microsoft account. You may have a Microsoft account in use with OneDrive , Office, or Outlook.

Best for Real-Time Collaboration: Microsoft Whiteboard

Streamlined design.

Offers real-time collaboration.

Use your finger or a stylus.

Generates an email summary of your board.

Mark "Do Not Erase" to keep a board safe.

No Android support.

Must use on a device with integrated touch.

Microsoft Whiteboard is an innovative tool that replaces traditional physical whiteboards. Draw or write on the digital whiteboard within the app, and team members with access can see your changes in real-time. Anyone with access can add their edits and comments as if they were in a meeting in the same room.

You'll need a Microsoft account or Microsoft 365 account to use this free tool.

Best for Long-Form Content: Bear

Focus Mode helps avoid distractions.

Supports the iPad trackpad.

It's great for journaling.

Supports multiple export options.

Organize ideas with hashtags.

Need to upgrade to a paid subscription to access important features.

No Android version.

Bear combines the features of a note-taking app and a word processing app to create a powerful tool for long-form content and journaling. It supports syncing between Macs and iOS devices, creating to-do lists, and multimedia elements. Bear shines when it comes to its text formatting, which is on par with programs such as Microsoft Word.

Bear is free to download and use. You'll need to upgrade to a monthly ($1.49) or yearly ($14.99) Bear Pro subscription to unlock additional features and functionality.

Best for Reliable Note-Taking: Evernote

Sync content automatically between devices.

Dictate notes on Apple Watch.

Set reminders and get notifications.

Clip articles from the web.

Need a paid subscription to access more features and storage.

Evernote is a popular cloud service that lets you create, organize, and store various media types, including text, photos, videos, audio files, and web pages. The app has a solid reputation for its quality, features, and reliability. Capture and organize ideas, create notes, scan and digitize your paper documents, and share everything when you want to collaborate.

Evernote is free to download and use. You'll need to upgrade to Evernote Premium for $7.99 a month to use advanced features.

Best for Data Management: Notion

Has Chrome and Firefox web clipper extensions.

Arrange content with drag-and-drop functionality.

More than 20 block types to choose from.

Collaborate in real time.

Syncs across all your devices.

The block system can be limiting.

Notion takes an informational approach to note-taking, using databases, wikis, calendars, reminders, and more to help you manage all aspects of your projects. Instead of folders, Notion uses a nested-content approach to organize information to create an all-in-one workspace. Take notes, add tasks, manage projects, and collaborate in real time with your team.

Notion is free to use and download. Consider upgrading to Personal Pro ($4 per month) or Team ($8 per month) for additional features and tools.

Best for Researching: Roam Research

Focuses on connecting thoughts.

Link notes to organize ideas.

Great for journaling.

Works only in a browser with no offline functionality.

Roam Research is a unique tool built on the idea that ideas feed off of each other, allowing you to link notes into a web of information. Quickly create new notes and open other notes at the same time. Create personal wikis, link ideas to other ideas, and easily find the information you stored earlier.

Try Roam Research for free for a month. If it's worthwhile, pay $15 per month or $165 per year.

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Best iPad apps for writers in 2022

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There are still people who think that iPads are only good for consuming content like watching films, reading books and playing games. Clearly, none of these people have tried to write on a Kindle.

For writers, the iPad does offer every bit of this content consumption, and it offers it extremely well. But every iPad, iPad mini , iPad Air , and iPad Pro is also a writing studio that is about as light and convenient as you could imagine, and at least as powerful as you could hope.

You really should buy some kind of external keyboard, or keyboard case, if you're going to be doing serious writing on any iPad. Typing thousands of words onto the glass is not ideal, and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and now also iPad Air isn't essential.

But you want one of those options and you don't want the other.

Beyond that, you are able to do just about every type of prose writing you need to on an iPad, straight out of the box. Without any other apps than Apple provides, you have a full word processing solution in Pages, for instance.

There are things Pages is poor at, though, such as scripts and screenplays. They can be written in Pages in theory, but in practice, it's no better at them than Word is.

So there are specific needs to use alternative apps, and there are plenty of alternative apps to satisfy requirements like that. Plus there are apps that do the same thing yet one just works better for you than others.

Microsoft Word

It's like the ancient old days when you might have a preference for which type of pencil you use. You know they all get the job done, yet just one is right for you.

That does mean that any roundup of the best writing apps for iPad is unquestionably subjective. And any unquestionably subjective roundup is bound to leave out your favorites.

Don't take that as a failing, do take it as your opportunity to enthuse in the AppleInsider forums. And also this: the reason people get very passionate about writing apps for the iPad is that they are worth it.

Apple will never say that it only makes iPads for writers, but they're so good for all writers and authors that you have to wonder.

Main word processors for iPad

We used to write everything in one word processor, whether it was a novel or a shopping list. We did so partly because they were built to handle everything, but mostly because they were so expensive that you only ever bought one.

That's changed because of the iPad and the App Store, but while there is a booming market in more specialized writing tools, there are still a couple of heavyweights that would could make a case for being your sole text editor.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft made a mistake choosing to keep Word off the iPad for years. Once users were required to find alternatives, they did, and they also found that they liked them.

Then once a user has moved to an alternative on the iPad, they very easily moved to the same alternative on the Mac. And what they routinely found was that this alternative, whichever it was, didn't crash as often as Word, it didn't drive them spare twice a day.

So Microsoft Word went from being a synonym for word processor and into just one more of your choices.

It has not come close to reclaiming the total dominance it once had. But when it did come to the iPad, it came in a completely new and rewritten form — which was better than we'd had on the Mac.

That wasn't to say it was as powerful, but starting from scratch meant adding in only features that users need. The bloated Word for Mac was regenerated into the slim Word for iPad, and there is a huge amount to like about it.

Microsoft Word is a free download from the App Store, but then requires one of many alternative subscriptions starting from $6.99 per month.

Pages

Apple Pages

Pages — free on iPads, Macs and iPhones — does not get as much love as it should. Where Microsoft likes you to see how powerful it is by displaying every tool and option it can, Apple wants you to be able to just get on with your writing.

Consequently, Pages hides away its powerful features until you need them. And unfortunately, that can have the effect of making it look as if Pages does not have these features.

Pages looks simple but it's not just a note-taking app. It is not as powerful as Word, but for the giant majority of writing tasks, Pages is Word's equal — and can subjectively feel better to you.

Only, Word and Pages both date back to the days when everything we wrote was then printed out on paper to be sent to publishers. Today you might be struggling to remember where your printer is.

Word and Pages continue to be used for writing that is going online, or certainly being sent digitally to book publisher systems like Affinity Publisher and Adobe InDesign . But they are not ideal for it.

Worse than not being ideal, if you copy text from either of them — most especially Word — and then paste it into an online content management system, you can get problems. Peculiar formatting, odd characters, even unexpected spacing issues can all arise because these two produce heavily formatted text.

Between a word processor and a text editor

You can't really have both a full word processor without issues like this, but you can have tools that do tiny, specific writing tasks. And you can have some in the middle, neither full word processors nor bare text editors, yet somehow better than both.

The iPad and Mac app iA Writer is a calming, relaxing kind of writing tool which lacks the powerful features of Word and Pages, such as longform book options, but will make you not care.

For iA Writer knows that writing has to be written, that it has to be put down on screen from out of the writer's head. Until then, there's nothing to format, nothing to create footnote citations about.

So this app concentrates on pushing aside features, interruptions, and really even any non-essential options. It's for making you concentrate on your writing.

For the iPad version, iA Writer costs $30 on the App Store.

Drafts 5 (the text is greyed-out because the actions panel is showing on the left)

Now Drafts 5 practically bills itself as a text editor, which is a way of saying you can basically type into it but mustn't expect anything fancy. Except Drafts 5 is replete with fancy tools and options.

Its chief aim is to get you writing immediately. Start the app, start typing. No pause, no waiting for a moment, no tapping on a New or a Plus sign.

There's also no obvious formatting, no obvious controls, it's just a blank page for you to get your words down. There is formatting, though, you can use Markdown controls to set headings and bold, italic and so on.

And what's great about Drafts, beyond just the practical feel of it all, is that once you do have your words written, there is an enormous amount you can do. Take that text and email it directly to your publisher, send it to your Kindle, send it out as a text message, or publish as a blog.

Drafts 5, which is also on the Mac and iPhone, has a library of Actions that let you create whole workflows for your work.

Drafts 5 is free to download from the App Store, and then costs $20 per year.

Specialized prose writing apps for iPad

Somewhere between the word processors of this world and the better text editors, there are apps that you might call writing studios, or writing environments. They are apps that work to help you with the business of writing as well as the job of typing text.

Scrivener, for instance, knows that when you're writing a novel, you are in it for the long haul. It knows you may need research, and it definitely knows that once you're up around 80,000 words or more, you need help keeping track of everything.

So Scrivener will let you write sixty chapters one after another if that's what you like, but it will also then slice that text up. If you have a character who only appears in chapters 4, 7, 11, and 33, then you can have Scrivener show you solely those chapters.

Scrivener

Look at the entire manuscript to get the whole picture, or concentrate on a specific segment. Scrivener bounces between both of these as you want, and it also offers a slew of extra writing, or rather writer, tools.

Such as how it handles research. You can drag images, URLs, whole web pages, and even entire other documents into the research section of your book.

Then whenever you open your iPad to write, everything you need is there. And when you're ready to send the manuscript to a publisher, they get everything — except the research.

Scrivener for iPad costs $20 on the App Store.

Ulysses is a curious writing environment for writers, one that is either completely compelling or just does not feel right to you at all. Rather than having documents per se, Ulysses offers you one single app with one single file — within which you can create countless pieces of writing.

Those are called Sheets in Ulysses and, like Scrivener, you can write them all in one go or you can slice them up.

Ulysses

It's a Markdown editor which means it feels bare, like Drafts can, and it doesn't have the same full-feature sense that Scrivener does. But wherever you go, whenever you open your iPad, you don't just have your latest writing, you have all of your writing.

All of it. Every bit since you started using Ulysses, anyway, and that grows into a very compellingly handy library of all your work.

Ulysses is free to download, then costs around $40 per year. It's also available as part of Setapp .

Specialized writing tools for scripts

As yet, there's no breakout hit app for writing haiku poetry. But there are a lot of apps for writing scripts and screen plays.

Scrivener is one of them. As well as prose, you can switch to a scriptwriting mode in Scrivener and it is a good writing tool for screenplays.

Screenplays have very specific formats and margins, developed over the last century and every bit is the way it is for a reason. It could be a reason that helps location scouts later on, rather than being any use to the writer now, but each reason is real and each formatting requirement is needed.

And they are just fiddly enough that it's only right an iPad should do as much of that work for you as possible. Let you concentrate on what's happening in the script, while your writing app looks after making it readable on the screen.

Final Draft 12

The most famous and the longest-running screenwriting app is Final Draft, now in version 12. It is very, very good on the Mac and PC.

Don't ask any Final Draft user if there's anything they dislike about it, you haven't got time, but still it's very, very good.

Whereas the iPad app is just good, approaching pretty good. It's had some bugs over the years and the company's support hasn't always been marvellous, but there are writers who solely use the iPad version and don't even have a Mac.

Final Draft

If they did have a Mac, they'd find out that the computer version of Final Draft is expensive. For Mac, it's officially $250 , though it tends to go on sale a great deal, and once you have one the company is good at selling you upgrades that are expensive, but seem cheap next to buying the full thing.

On the iPad, though, it costs $9.99 on the App Store. It's some writers' sole professional tool and it costs less than a book.

Alternatively, there is also Celtx, which used to be practically a clone of Final Draft and has the advantage that it's free on the App Store.

As yet, there isn't an iPad version of what might be Final Draft's best competitor on the Mac, Highland 2 . It's modern, slick, and it's built by professional, working screenwriters with long success in the industry.

They say that an iPad version is in the works, but no release date has been announced yet.

Utilities for writers

You could spend all your writing time just checking out utility apps for writers, like dictionaries and outliners and programs that make up your plot for you.

However, save yourself some trouble. Skip those ones where they say you just put in a name and choose a genre like comedy or western, and they'll outline your story for you.

But speaking of outlines... You may not be the kind of writer who plans anything out, you could be a pantser — one who writes by the seat of their pants.

Whether you like outlines or not, you can be required to write them for certain publishers or producers. When that's the last requirement before they start paying you, suddenly you can get to be very fond of outliners.

OmniOutliner

Try OmniOutliner 3 for iPad when you have any thing like a book structure to create, or an event to program. It's free to download and try, then costs from $19 .

There is an outliner in Word, but it's built for academics and is like working in treacle. There was an outliner in Pages, but Apple removed it.

Actually, you can jury-rig an outline in Pages using heading styles, but moving around it, changing text, grouping ideas together, it's as bad as Word.

Scrivener also has its own outliner and that's pretty powerful. But the separate, standalone OmniOutliner is the kind of writing tool that turns you from a user into a fan.

The best writing apps for iPad

This has been about the best writing apps for iPad, but it's really about the best writing apps for writers and those are on the iPad. We are now most definitely spoiled for choice for straight writing tools, and it is a fantastic thing.

And we have even more choice when it comes to writing being part of a larger project, a larger business. Then there are apps like Notion and Craft which are good for handling lots of information, or DEVONthink which is like a bionic research and writing too.

There may never be an end to the best writing apps for iPad, and there certainly won't be an end to the debate over just what constitutes the best.

But what doesn't change is that each of these runs on every iPad from the regular one, through the iPad mini, and on up to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro . We can have superb writing apps, and we can have them anywhere we go.

After you write your novel, you may want to try to publish it. We'll be talking about that very soon.

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Writing apps for Windows: Selecting a development technology

This article contains the information you need to get started building apps for the Windows desktop environment.

Developer at desk

Windows offers a wide range of options for building apps, including C++ , .NET , and other emerging technologies such as open source tools on WSL and Rust . With so many choices, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Visual Studio is the go-to development environment for most Windows developers, providing various starting points for different types of apps, each with their own strengths and project types ( here's a quick C# tutorial ). Every app type includes an app model that defines the app's lifecycle, a default UI framework, and access to a comprehensive set of APIs for using Windows features.

If your app will only run on Windows, we recommend using the Windows App SDK and WinUI 3 . If you need your app to be cross-platform, consider .NET MAUI , a Progressive Web App (PWA) , or React Native for Windows . There are many other options available as well ( here's a list of popular options ), but the above are some good starting points.

Create a WinUI 3 app

The Windows UI Library (WinUI) 3 is the latest and recommended user interface (UI) framework for Windows desktop apps, including managed apps that use C# and .NET and native apps that use C++ with the Win32 API. By incorporating the Fluent Design System into all experiences, controls, and styles, WinUI provides consistent, intuitive, and accessible experiences using the latest UI patterns.

WinUI 3 is available as part of the Windows App SDK . The Windows App SDK provides a unified set of APIs and tools that can be used in a consistent way by any C++ Win32 or C# .NET app on a broad set of target Windows OS versions.

Install tools for the Windows App SDK

If you have already installed the required developer tools, you are ready to Create your first WinUI 3 project .

Cross-platform options

WinUI also serves as the basis for cross-platform technologies that provide great native Windows experiences using a variety of coding languages. .NET MAUI and React Native for Windows harness the power of WinUI on Windows, while also enabling execution on other operating systems. Another cross-platform option, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), are websites that function like installed, native apps on Windows and other supported platforms, while functioning like regular websites on browsers.

.NET Multi-platform App UI (MAUI) is an open-source, cross-platform framework for building Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows applications that leverage the native UI and services of each platform from a single .NET code base. Because .NET MAUI favors platform native experiences, it uses WinUI 3 and the Windows App SDK so apps get the latest user experience on Windows. This gives your apps access to everything you get with WinUI 3 plus the ability to reach to other platforms.

.NET MAUI for Windows is a great choice if:

Get started with .NET MAUI

For more information about .NET MAUI, see the following links:

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) provide access to open web technologies to provide cross-platform interoperability. PWAs provide your users with an app-like experience that's customized for their devices. PWAs are websites that are progressively enhanced to function like installed, native apps on supporting platforms (including Windows), while functioning like regular websites on other browsers.

When installed on Windows, PWAs are just like other apps. For example:

Get started with PWAs

For more information about building PWAs, see the following links:

React Native is a development platform which allows building cross-platform apps. React Native for Windows brings React Native support to the Windows 10 and Windows 11 SDKs, enabling you to use JavaScript to build native Windows apps for all devices supported by Windows 10 and Windows 11. This includes PCs, tablets, 2-in-1s, Xbox, Mixed reality devices, etc.

With React Native for Windows, you write most or all of your app code in JavaScript - or TypeScript - and the framework produces a native UWP XAML application. If your app needs to call a platform API, you can usually do so through one of the many community modules , or if a module does not yet exist, you can easily write a native module to expose it .

Here are some reasons to choose React Native for Windows:

Get started with React Native for Windows

For more information about React Native for Windows, see the following links:

Other app types

For more information about the app types you can choose from, see the following tabs.

Win32 desktop apps (also sometimes called classic desktop apps ) are the original app type for native Windows applications that require direct access to Windows and hardware. This makes this the app type of choice for applications that need the highest level of performance and direct access to system hardware.

Using the Win32 API with C++ makes it possible to achieve the highest levels of performance and efficiency by taking more control of the target platform with unmanaged code than is possible on a managed runtime environment like WinRT and .NET. However, exercising such a level of control over your application's execution requires greater care and attention to get right, and trades development productivity for runtime performance.

Here are a few highlights of what the Win32 API and C++ offers to enable you to build high-performance applications.

Get started with Win32

You also have access to modern Windows platform features and APIs provided by the Windows App SDK . For more information, see Modernize your desktop apps .

WPF is a well-established platform for managed Windows applications with access to .NET or the .NET Framework, and it also uses XAML markup to separate UI from code. This platform is designed for desktop applications that require a sophisticated UI, styles customization, and graphics-intensive scenarios. WPF development skills are similar to WinUI 3 development skills, so migrating from WPF to WinUI 3 is easier than migrating from Windows Forms.

Get started with WPF

Windows Forms is the original platform for managed Windows applications with a lightweight UI model and access to .NET or the .NET Framework. It excels at enabling developers to quickly get started building applications, even for developers new to the platform. This is a forms-based, rapid application development platform with a large built-in collection of visual and non-visual drag-and-drop controls. Windows Forms does not use XAML, so deciding later to rewrite your application to WinUI 3 entails a complete re-write of your UI.

Get started with Windows Forms

The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) provides a common type system, APIs, and application model for all devices in the Universal Windows Platform. Not only can you use UWP to create desktop applications for Windows PCs, but UWP is also the only supported platform to write a single native universal app that runs across Xbox, HoloLens, and Surface Hub. UWP apps can be native or managed.

UWP is a highly customizable platform that uses XAML markup to separate UI (presentation) from code (business logic). UWP is suitable for desktop apps that require a sophisticated UI, styles customization, and graphics-intensive scenarios. UWP also has built-in support for the Fluent Design System for the default UX experience and provides access to the Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs .

Get started with UWP

You will not have access to the APIs provided by the Windows App SDK . To use the Windows App SDK, you will have to migrate your UWP app to WinUI 3. For more information, see Migrate to the Windows App SDK .

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10 Best Writing Apps for Chromebook

10 Best Writing Apps for Chromebook (Offline Support)

author-Arjun Sha

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook (Updated 2022)

List of best writing apps for chromebook, 1. google docs.

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 1

2. Calmly Writer

Apart from that, what I love about this app is the focus mode where every other element disappears from your sheet the moment you start typing. However, you can access a few  markdown formatting options like header, bullets, hyperlinking, word count, and more.

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 2

That said, it does bring some degree of formatting options that are likely to help you in the writing process. In addition, Writer also allows you to add photos, a feature which is lacking in Calmly Writer.

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 3

4. Microsoft Word

However, the important point is that Microsoft insists on buying a separate Office 365 subscription to access the app which means another additional cost for you.

Microsoft Word

Check Out Microsoft Word   (Free, Premium subscription starts at $9.99 per month)

5. iA Writer

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 5

6. FocusWriter

We have mentioned ample Android apps for writing on Chromebooks, but do you know, you can also use a Linux app for offline writing? Well, here is FocusWriter that has a full-screen interface and comes in a hide-away UI. You can immerse yourself in writing and create a customizable ambiance with background images, colors, font, themes and more.

focuswriter

7. JotterPad

jotterpad

8. Writer Plus

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 8

9. Simplenote

Best Writing Apps for Chromebook 9

10. Scrittor

scrittor

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11 comments.

Your article although content seems thorough, I see now from other comments made here, my be too ” loose”. Alot of these comments , seems valid for information you are not supplying. So how about ,rewriting your article and allowing hour truth to come forward , as a more Direct approach. People are needing Pros and Cons. So we can see better choice. Answer each specified action, with same intention. Maybe with each, compare the others . So we can see what’s better for us.

I need to write edit my final draft for book. Straight words no graphics. Chapter headers. Storeing document on disk or.

I am 72 no technical knowledge , will be working from home so always plugged in. Will not need internet. Thank you for help.

Marilyn Maxxwell, if you look on the list at #5 iA Writer, you will see that it has built-in dictation mode. I haven’t tried that app yet so perhaps the dictation mode is not available in the free version but I would give it a try if I were you. Just thought you may have missed it!

Thanks to Beebom for taking the time to compile such a great list of apps for all of us writers! I plan on trying each one to see which suits my needs best. Although from your thorough descriptions, I have a feeling that Jotterpad may be the app for me. I mostly write articles and poetry but have just begun research for my first novel and finding the right app for this project will make the process that much easier. Regards, Cathy H.

This article is soo ANNOYING! WHICH programs work OFFLINE??? What about iWriter??? Why can’t you do your damn job and spell it out?!?! UGH! I can’t connect to the internet, I NEED to work offline? KThxbye

hi , pls if you found the way tell it to me

Can you please let me know when Scrivener has an option to install/download Chromebooks? I really want to get the app, but it’s not available for Chromebooks–yet

Scrivener will likely never be ported to ChromeOS. They took years to get a Windows version, and have made no indication they’re working on an Android port.

I’m also wanting to know when Scrivener will be available for my Acer Chromebook please…any update received yet?

Why thank you, Beedom, is that right? I need to a writing~

Marilyn Maxxwell, I recently purchased my first Chromebook. I’ve taken it everywhere and have found it very responsive to my needs, even when there is not an internet connection. There are Cloud based Google applications such as Documents, and you can also add this app directly to your Chromebook so that you can work offline.

I did notice that Grammarly only works if you are online, so I plan on writing my content anytime, then doing my review and edits while connected to wifi.

Hope this inspires you to look further for the truth.

…Thanks for such a thorough eval of available writing software for Chrome OS. I’m offering this as simple feedback, not as questions, so you might know better what potential readers need from you.

We bought 2 Chromebooks from HSN last fall, because they were touted as fully loaded, giving immediate access to everything online, and intuitively updating themselves, only to find them totally unusable without an independent internet connection.

We’re both elderly writers, artists, & photographers who love to travel so we have need of tools we can use equally well from a roadside park to a Beverly Hills hotel! I need to be able to make Tables of Content, bibliographies, endnotes, footnotes, & revision notes as I do a lot of scripture work. My husband, not so much. (He has me!) We both need dictation capabilities.

Although you mention dark mode and markdown formatting, as an “enduser” only, I have no concept of either though I looked them up online.

Thanks again. I’m glad I found your article.

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It isn’t theoretical. Millions of people are already using apps like ChatGPT to write books, create art, and develop code.

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It’s going to be the “ greatest force for economic empowerment ” society has ever seen. It’s going to take away our jobs . It’s going to “ generate a new form of human consciousness .” It’s going to kill us all .

Generative AI — or the new artificial intelligence that can create original content, including essays, fine art, and software code — is the talk of the town in Silicon Valley.

If you’re one of the over 100 million people who have used ChatGPT , or created a pop art-style illustrated portrait of yourself using Lensa , the popular image-generating app, you know what the latest version of this technology looks like in action.

Apps like ChatGPT, created by the Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI, are just the beginning of generative AI’s full range of capabilities, according to its boosters. Many believe it’s a once-in-a-lifetime technological breakthrough that could impact virtually every aspect of society and disrupt industries from medicine to law.

“AI had a ‘wow’ moment” in November with the release of ChatGPT, said Sandhya Venkatachalam, a partner at the prominent VC firm Khosla Ventures, which was an early investor in OpenAI. She compared recent advancements in generative AI to the creation of the internet itself.

“I think this is absolutely on the same order of magnitude. That’s a personal belief.”

For the past two decades, Silicon Valley has lacked a true technological breakthrough. In the ’80s, we had the advent of the personal computer; in the ’90s, the internet; and in the 2000s, the mobile phone and the suite of apps built on it. Since then, the tech world has been waiting for the next big invention (some are still bullish it could be Web3 or AR/VR). Now, many are seeing generative AI as a contender.

But people in Silicon Valley are prone to making grand proclamations about new technologies. If you’ve watched the rise and fall of crypto or heard grandiose plans about how we would all be living in the metaverse by now, you may be wondering: Is the excitement about generative AI just hype?

The answer is that while there’s plenty of inflated hype about generative AI, for many people, it’s much more real than Web3 or the metaverse has ever been. The key difference is that millions of people can — and already are — using generative AI to write books, create art, or develop code. ChatGPT is setting records for how quickly it’s been adopted by users — it took the app only five days to reach 1 million users (by contrast, it took Instagram 2.5 months and Twitter two years to hit the same milestone), according to a recent Morgan Stanley report. Even though it’s a nascent technology, almost anyone can quickly grasp the potential of generative AI technology with apps like ChatGPT, DALL-E, or Lensa. Which is why so many businesses, giant and small, are jumping to capitalize on it.

In just the past few months, we’ve already seen how generative AI is setting the business agenda for major tech companies. Google and Microsoft — which are fiercely competing with each other — are rolling out their own chatbots and baking generative AI into their core products like Gmail and Microsoft Word . That means billions of new users could soon be using the technology not just in one-off chatbot conversations, but in the apps we rely on every day to work and communicate with each other. Other major tech firms Meta , Snap , and Instacart are fast-tracking generative AI into their main apps, too.

It’s not just the tech giants. The buzz around generative AI has kick-started a new wave of investment into smaller startups at a time when money in Silicon Valley is more tight than it used to be: The North American tech industry overall saw a 63 percent drop in startup deals in the last quarter of 2022 compared to the year prior, according to Crunchbase News.

The most convincing evidence that generative AI is more than hype is that all kinds of people, including many who wouldn’t think of themselves as tech experts, are using ChatGPT for unexpected reasons. College students are using the technology to cheat on essay exams. Job seekers are using it to avoid the dreaded task of writing a cover letter. Media companies like BuzzFeed are using it to generate listicles and help with the reporting process.

“There used to be this question about ‘is this technology ready for building useful products for people?’” said Peter Welinder, the vice president of product and partnerships at OpenAI. “What ChatGPT really showed is that people are using it for all sorts of use cases, and people in various professions are finding it useful in all parts of life.”

There are plenty of questions and concerns about the new technology. If left unchecked, generative AI could perpetuate harmful biases , enable scammers , spit out misinformation , cause job loss , and — some fear — even pose an existential threat to humanity .

Here’s what to make of all the excited, nervous buzz around generative AI.

Separating hype from reality

From VC cash to industry events to hacker houses filled with 20-somethings working on their next AI project, generative AI has sparked a frenzy in tech at a time when the industry needed some excitement.

In 2022, investors poured more than $2.6 billion into 110 deals toward generative AI startups — a record high for investment in the field, according to a recent report from business research firm CB Insights. Some of the biggest investments in this space have been from major tech companies: Microsoft invested $10 billion in OpenAI in January , and Google invested $300 million in the generative AI startup (and OpenAI competitor) Anthropic in February.

“We get one of these technology waves every 14 years,” said James Currier, co-founder and partner at technology venture capital firm NFX. Currier’s firm has invested in eight generative AI companies in the past several years, and he’s personally talked to around 100 generative AI startups in the past two months. “It’s going to change everything a little bit.”

But despite the increase in overall funding in this space, many generative AI startups are on tight budgets, and some don’t have any funding at all. Among the 250 generative AI companies the report identified, 33 percent have zero outside equity funding, and another 51 percent were Series A or earlier, which shows how young many of these companies are.

A big challenge facing these AI upstarts: The cost of training a single large AI model can be millions of dollars. Because of increasing volumes of data on the internet, the average cost of training the kinds of machine learning models that generative AI runs on could grow as large as $500 million to train a single model by 2030, according to a recent report by advanced AI research group EpochAI .

“We are not experts in training 200 billion-parameter models. It’s a sport of kings,” said Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of Neeva, an advertising-free search engine that recently launched an AI version of its product. “You need lots of money that we don’t have.” Instead, Ramaswamy said that startups like his can win by focusing on specific use cases — in his, search — but that before building a product, startups “need to figure out, ‘Is this a fad? Or is it creating unique user value?’”

None of these hurdles seems to be dampening the excitement surrounding the new AI and its potential. In recent months in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, there’s been a boom in generative AI meetups, co-working spaces, and conferences that feels like a return to the excitement of the mobile startup boom of the late aughts. In February, San Francisco hosted a generative AI focused hackathon, women in AI lunch, and “Building ChatGPT from scratch” workshop, among dozens of other AI-focused events. Young tech founders have nicknamed the San Francisco neighborhood Hayes Valley “Cerebral Valley” because of a sudden concentration of AI-related events and companies in the area.

“I’m very bullish on this whole AI wave because it feels like it’s at the level of the app store being released,” said Ivan Porollo, co-founder of the Cerebral Valley newsletter and AI community . Porollo is a tech entrepreneur who recently moved back to San Francisco. “It just feels different. It feels like a generation of technology that’s going to affect our future for the remainder of our lives.”

At a sold-out conference of over 1,000 people on Valentine’s Day in San Francisco that was hosted by Jasper, a startup that uses generative AI to create marketing copy, the atmosphere was charged with optimism and excitement. Attendees largely ignored the stunning waterfront views of the Bay Bridge as they stared at the stage, listening intently to executives speak from some of the top generative startups like OpenAI, Stability AI, and Anthropic.

“I think this is going to rewrite civilization,” said Nat Friedman, the former GitHub CEO turned investor, sitting cross-legged onstage for an interview. “Buckle up.”

Friedman was one of many speakers that day who were adamant that recent advancements in AI are revolutionary, even if they weren’t perfect yet.

Many of the founders I’ve been talking with at these generative AI events have promising ideas, like a platform for architects to generate designs based on written descriptions of the style of building they want to build, or an app that generates a daily email of all the top social media posts you want to read based on your interests. But most of their startups are still extremely early-stage, with either just an idea, or a rough demo, to show.

So far, one of the more developed use cases for generative AI is for creating marketing and other media content. Jasper is one of the biggest examples of that. The two-year-old company creates marketing copy like blog posts, sales emails, SEO keywords, and ads using AI. In 2021, the company said it made $35 million in revenue , and as of December, had close to 100,000 paying customers , including brands like Airbnb, IBM, and Harper Collins. In November, the company raised $125 million in funding at a $1.5 billion valuation. Jasper did not disclose its costs to Recode — so we don’t know if it’s making a profit.

Some media companies like BuzzFeed have also started using OpenAI to create personality quizzes and help staffers brainstorm. And open source generative AI firm Stability AI says it has paying clients in the film industry who use its software to autogenerate images.

But the bigger promise of generative AI is that it will change our world beyond writing ads. The tech’s biggest proponents hope it will transform fields like medicine and law by diagnosing disease or arguing cases in court better than humans can. Leading academic experts caution we’re very far from that, and some question if we’ll ever get there.

“I’m not convinced that some of the really fundamental problems with these [AI] systems, like their inability to tell if something is true or false ... I’m not sure that those things are going to be so easy to fix,” said Santa Fe Institute professor Melanie Mitchell, who specializes in AI and cognitive science. “I think these problems are going to turn out to be harder than some people think.”

Some regulators also have their doubts. The FTC recently published a blog post warning tech companies to “keep your AI claims in check,” and “not to overpromise what your algorithm or AI-based tool can deliver.”

“If you think you can get away with baseless claims that your product is AI-enabled, think again,” the post stated, echoing a critique of recent AI buzz that many companies are simply tacking “AI” onto whatever they’re doing just to capitalize on the hype.

AI hype has existed for a while. In 2019, a VC firm’s study found that 40 percent of European “AI startups” didn’t really use AI in their main businesses. Now, with the recent fanfare around generative AI in particular, some critics worry the AI buzz is mostly hype. It doesn’t help that some attempts by major companies to integrate AI have backfired, like Microsoft’s Bing AI chatbot giving unhinged responses to people, or tech publication CNET’s botched attempt to automate financial columns that ended up widely plagiarizing other people’s work and publishing misinformation.

I asked the venture capitalist James Currier whether he thought there was a risk in overhyping generative AI.

“I think this is the sort of cultural issue that people have with Silicon Valley, which is that we like drinking the Kool Aid,” he told me. “We should be drinking the Kool Aid and getting excited about stuff, and thinking hard about what we can create. Because at this point, the technology is just waiting for us to catch up to it.”

The limitations and dangers of generative AI

For all its potential, generative AI also has major limitations and poses serious risks. I would put those risks in three categories: making factual errors, promoting offensive content, and taking over human beings’ livelihood or autonomy. Now that major tech firms Google and Microsoft are in a race to beat each other at this technology, we’re seeing this tech rolled out to the masses while it still has problems.

To the first point, generative AI can get the facts wrong. A lot. Upon release, Microsoft’s version of ChatGPT, BingGPT — equipped with a freshly updated index of the entire internet — couldn’t tell you when the new Avatar movie would be playing near you (it recently insisted that Avatar 2 was not yet in theaters ). And Google’s demo of its to-be-released chatbot, Bard, gave an incorrect answer about who invented the first telescope.

“These systems are extremely good at some things, but they often will make these weird, very un-human-like errors and really show that they are not thinking the way that humans think,” said Mitchell.

For the past several years, it was hard to gauge just how advanced generative AI was because much of its development was done in private. Google — which employs some of the world’s leading AI scientists — was long considered the industry leader in the field. But aside from research papers and some behind-the-scenes work, the public couldn’t really see Google’s generative AI capabilities.

Everything changed when OpenAI partnered with Microsoft to fast-track its own latest generative AI technology, ChatGPT, to the masses. Fanning the flames, Microsoft plugged into the underlying ChatGPT technology to build its own standalone “BingGPT” chatbot, challenging Google’s dominance in search and setting off a technological arms race.

“I hope that with our innovation, [Google] will definitely want to come out and show that they can dance,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told The Verge last month. “And I want people to know that we made them dance, and I think that’ll be a great day.”

Google, under immense pressure to show its own generative AI capabilities, announced it will be releasing its own AI chatbot, Bard , in the coming weeks. The company says it has taken longer than some of its competitors to release generative AI technology publicly because it wants to make sure it’s doing so responsibly.

“The strategy we’ve chosen is to move relatively slowly in the space of a release in these models,” Douglas Eck, Google director of research on its AI-focused Brain team, recently told Recode. “I think history will tell if we’re doing the right thing.”

Google’s caution until this point is for good reason: If left unchecked, generative AI can do worse than just getting the facts wrong. The AI can reflect racist and sexist biases from the data it’s trained on, as seen with the image-generation app Lensa sexualizing its female avatars . On a macro level, it can create economic instability by replacing jobs at an unpredictable scale.

AI can also be intentionally misused. One recent example: A reporter used an audio generative AI tool to create a fake recording of his own voice, then called his bank and successfully hacked into his account using the recording. Another: Microsoft’s AI chatbot left New York Times reporter Kevin Roose “deeply unsettled ” when, during the course of a lengthy philosophical conversation, the chatbot told Roose it wanted to be alive, professed its love for the reporter, and encouraged him to leave his wife.

The worry is that AI could be used to manipulate people’s emotions and sense of reality, whether that’s on purpose (like a scammer using AI to impersonate someone else) or through unintended behavior from the AI itself (such as in the case of BingGPT going “unhinged” with its emotionally loaded responses).

Going 10 steps further: Some of generative AI’s most ardent proponents also worry it can one day outsmart humans, posing an existential threat to humanity. OpenAI, which originally began as a nonprofit, was created in large part because of a fear of what’s called “AGI” — artificial general intelligence — which is the idea that AI will reach a general intelligence level that matches or surpasses human abilities.

When Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, was asked at a recent tech event about the best and worst case scenario for AI, he said that the “the bad case — and I think this is important to say — is, like, lights out for all of us.”

Many preeminent scientists are still debating this idea.

“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race,” Stephen Hawking told the BBC in 2018 . It’s an idea that may seem far-fetched but, as my colleague Kelsey Piper wrote , is increasingly plausible to the people who are actually building this technology.

“Since the beginning of AI, people have kind of fantasized about, ‘Will we have these robots that are like the ones in the movies that can really do everything a human can do and even more?’” said Mitchell. “But we don’t have a set of criteria that we can say, ‘Well, it’s achieved these 10 things, and we know it’s fully intelligent.’”

Although we might be far from the world of killer AI robots seeking revenge over their human overlords, the fact that creators of generative AI worry about its misuse is another reason we should take it seriously.

The major tech players in generative AI — big tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, as well as OpenAI — also have internal policies and teams weighing the harms of these products. But critics say that tech companies’ business interests can go against its ethical ones. Google shook up its ethical AI team in early 2021 after two of its leaders, Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell, said they were pushed out over concerns that the company was censoring their critique of bias in large-language models.

Many — including some tech companies themselves — have called for outside regulators to step in with guardrails. While government has historically been slow to catch up to developing areas of technology, some states and cities have already passed legislation limiting certain kinds of AI, like facial recognition and policing algorithms . We might start seeing the same kind of patchwork regulation around generative AI.

In many ways, this new form of AI is easier to understand than other recent tech trends, like blockchain or the metaverse — which are very conceptual — because it’s tangible. You don’t need a $400 VR headset or a crypto wallet to see what generative AI can do. All you need is to load up a ChatGPT screen or type in some words that spit out art like DALL-E.

For better or worse, generative AI has major potential to reshape our concept of creativity, and the proof is in the products. Which is why I can say that it will probably be more than just a trend. If you don’t want to take my word for it, try it out yourself.

Correction, March 6, 2 pm ET: This story has been updated with Peter Welinder’s VP title.

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Amazon kindle 2022 review: adorable, portable and affordable.

Amazon Kindle 2022

The 11th-gen Amazon Kindle launched in late 2022 has been my travel companion and late-night reading device for about two months. It’s improved over the previous Kindle in almost every way. It offers a USB-C port (finally), a better display, and battery life – all packed into a more portable design. I’ve loved my time with the device, and here’s what you should know before upgrading to or buying a new Kindle.

Amazon Kindle 2022 review: Design and display

The latest Amazon e-reader comprises of small updates that make a big difference. The Kindle 2022 is lighter at 158 grams, and measures less wider. You won’t be able to notice the difference between the two devices side-by-side until you hold them and realize that the new one is less wider than the predecessor, making it more pocketable.

The big upgrade comes in the form of USB-C at the bottom. This means, you can now charge your Kindle with the same wire as your Android smartphone and laptop. This update was due for a while, and I’m glad it’s finally here. I no longer need to keep a separate Kindle charger – big win!

Like the 10th-gen e-reader, the Kindle 2022 features a 6-inch display. Unlike the more expensive Kindle Paperwhite, the display is still recessed under the bezels making it susceptible to collecting dust but this isn’t a big deal.

Amazon Kindle 2022 display

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But what’s like the Paperwhite here is the display resolution. The Amazon Kindle 2022 offers the same 300ppi resolution as its more expensive counterpart. This makes the text more legible on the small display. I had no problems viewing sentences in any lighting condition. While the Paperwhite sports 17 LEDs, Kindle 2022’s four LED system serves the screen size well.

You can’t adjust the color temperature on the Kindle 2022. That feature is still limited to the more expensive Amazon e-readers. It wasn’t a problem for me but if you are used to night mode that turns your smartphone display yellowish at night, you might have to go through a learning curve.

Overall, I find the design portable and the display bright enough to be read on beaches. But you’ll have to be extra careful with the Kindle 2022 on beaches or by the pool because it doesn’t have any sort of IP rating.

Amazon Kindle 2022 review: Software

The Kindle 2022 runs Amazon’s updated UI that was introduced in 2021. When you’ve setup the device, you get two options, Home and Library. I like to stay on the latter, since Home is filled with book recommendations that Amazon thinks you’d like to read. I am yet to find a book that I would buy from the recommendations. In Library, you can sort the books by a number of options like most recent, title, author and publish date in both ascending and descending order. It also allows you to view the books in the form of grid, list or collection. I stayed on grid for the most part.

You can toggle the book cover display option to set the cover of the book you are currently reading as the screensaver. Amazon also lets you choose the screen refresh option. I let it stay off because I didn’t want the refresh to happen after each page while I read short proses in Pillow Thoughts or A Gentle Reminder. And it automatically refreshes after approximately 25 pages, so you need not worry about that. The UI lets you choose spacing as well.

I find the UI a bit confusing. To go back to Home from the book, you need to tap at the top for the option to show up. I’d prefer it to show up like it does on the Kindle app on Android and iPhone – by tapping on any part of the screen. As of now, if you tap in the middle of the display, it takes you to the next page. I’d like that to change.

The Kindle 2022 lets you connect a pair of earbuds or headphones via the accessibility settings if you’d like the book to be read to you. The option is called VoiceView Screen Reader in the Accessibility menu. For poems that usually lack punctuations, it is not ideal. I don’t blame the reader because it doesn’t know where to pause or stop due to the lack of punctuations. But it could be a good substitute for reading while you’re on0the-go and want to stay immersed in the book. You can choose the reading speed to your liking.

What you can also do is share ePub books with your Kindle and read it on your device. All you need to do is email your ePub files to the supplied Kindle email address. It takes a few minutes to show up on the e-reader but it works.

Amazon Kindle 2022 review: Performance and battery life

The Kindle 2022 is faster than its predecessor. When compared to the 2019 Kindle, the 11th-gen Kindle is smoother and more responsive to touch. However, it’s not the smoothest or the fastest if you are used to your smartphone, which is a given with the e-ink technology. I’m using another e-ink tablet (Boox Tab Ultra) alongside this, and it is faster but it is also very expensive.

The latest Amazon e-reader also boasts double the storage at 16GB, which is a surprise because the $40 more expensive Kindle Paperwhite still starts at 8GB. But hey, I’m not complaining – more storage, the better.

According to Amazon, the Kindle 2022 can last up to six weeks with daily 30 minutes of use. It lasted me about two months on a single charge with sporadical usage. This is the best battery life on a $100 e-reader that I’ve come across in a long time.

Amazon Kindle 2022 review: Verdict

I consider the Amazon Kindle 2022 or 11th-gen Kindle a big upgrade ver its 2019 counterpart. With a better anti-glare display, long-lasting battery life, USB-C port and minute changes to the design for pocketability, the Kindle 2022 is a hit at Rs 9,999 or $99.

If you are a 10th-gen Kindle reader, the new one would be a good upgrade for you. However, if you are sure that you need a bigger display and you enjoy reading books by the seaside, you should consider the Kindle Paperwhite.

Prakhar Khanna

Werdsmith: Writing App 4+

Write poetry, scripts, books, werdsmith pty ltd, designed for ipad.

Screenshots

Description.

Writing can be hard. Werdsmith makes it easier.  Werdsmith turns your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch into a powerful writing studio that inspires you to write. With features to motivate you and help you break through writer‘s block, you‘ll find yourself writing more than ever. --Here's how it works-- 1. Capture your ideas Whenever inspiration strikes, Werdsmith makes it easy to quickly capture it before it gets lost. Staring at a blank page? The app can suggest different ways to start your story. 2. Start your project When you‘re ready to get started, Werdsmith will take care of all the busywork so that you can focus on writing. The app automatically formats your chapters, remembers and suggests your character names and if you’ve got writers block, can even learn your writing style and write the next line of your story for you. 3. Create a writing ritual Creating a habit of daily writing is a crucial step to becoming a successful writer. Werdsmith helps you choose a time of day that works for you, and will remind you to write. 4. Set a goal Add a word goal to your project, and we'll show you your progress as you write. We‘ll even show you how many words you've written and how long you've spent writing, and you can track your daily stats in one of our widgets or from the Apple Watch app. 5. Get feedback and publish When your draft is finished, you can share it privately with your editors, publish it to your readers, or export it to 1000s of other apps or your computer for printing or editing. All your projects stay up to date between iPhone, iPad and Mac, automatically backed up and protected. Werdsmith can fit into your existing writing process, or you can treat it like a fresh start. It's up to you. Join writers from 175 countries who’ve written over 3 million projects using Werdsmith. Many of our writers have gone on to publish books and make an impact in the world of writing. Join us! --- Things you might want to know: Werdsmith supports iOS devices on iOS 14+ and Macs with an M1 processor or newer. You can use all of Werdsmith's features for free, but there are limits, for example in the number of projects you can add, the number of writing prompts you can create, or the amount of time you can spend in Novel Mode or using app themes. You can increase or remove these limits by becoming a Werdsmith member. Sync, backup and sharing features are optional, but require a free Werdsmith account. If you choose to become a member, you’ll be charged through your iTunes account at the end of your one-week free trial period, unless you cancel your membership at least 24 hours before it begins. Your subscription will renew automatically, unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage, upgrade, downgrade or cancel your subscription in the app's Settings or by going to your App Store account settings. Keep in mind that any unused portion of your free trial period is forfeited if you purchase a membership before the end of the trial. Please read our Privacy Policy at werdsmith.com/privacy and our Terms of Use at werdsmith.com/terms. Feel free to contact us if you need help! A big thanks to the writers who've supported Werdsmith over the years. We couldn't do it without you.

Version 5.1.5

This version includes minor bug fixes.

Ratings and Reviews

Scared to update.

I’ve been using this app since 2016 and use it to write every single day. I would be absolutely devastated if anything happened to everything I’ve written in that time. Since I first downloaded it, there haven’t been many changes to the layout or anything major. I’m sure the new changes are for the better but I’m just really nervous about how they may change all the ideas I’ve written so far. I love this app and rely on it so much you have no idea. I’d just like to know if there’s any major changes to how ideas are organized that I should worry about before I update the app. Thank you for your time. Truly love this app, would just hate to see it change completely after using it for so long… ^ also will there still be a passcode? That’s a very important feature for me… ^ sorry, my last review I think you responded to was from a while back… Thanks for your responses! I feel a lot better about updating now knowing that it’s nothing too major. Although I will miss the custom passcode, that’s understandable. Maybe it could make a comeback in a future update lol. Thank you for your time and patience, sorry to be a bother lol. Really love this app <3

Developer Response ,

Hi there! We believe this version is a big improvement, but totally understand your concern. The major change is that your projects list is now on the top of the main screen for faster access (rather than in the second tab). There's also a search box to find older ideas and projects. If you'd like to be extra safe, you can back up your work before you update - just go to Profile > Settings > Archive > Export. Please keep in mind the custom 4-digit passcode has been removed (it was an unpopular feature that caused some issues) but you can still use Touch ID/Face ID or your device's passcode. All that said, if you'd prefer to stay on the old version, the update is completely optional! Get in touch if you need more help -Nathan

Great mobile word processor!

I’ve used Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and other mobile word processors. This is the only app I’ve been able to stick with for more than a few days (it’s been a few months). It’s simple; which I like. If you want bells and whistles, you might have to look elsewhere. But I find that’s what makes this processor far better than the others. You simply jump into a document and start writing. There’s very little to distract yourself with. You can write and save multiple documents—they are well organized on your dashboard. It has a dark-mode, which is key for me. The idea generator (which uses AI to either create a writing prompt or auto-complete a section of your own writing) is pretty good. It definitely keeps you writing if you feel stuck; even though you will most likely end up revising the suggestion it gives you. It does what it sets out to do. I personally feel this is the best word processor for writers like me—easily distracted procrastinators, who struggle to sit down and focus. You will find it much easier to “face the blank page” while using this app.

Amazing, highly recommended.

Hello Werdsmith team, I would like to start this off to say, how this app has encouraged my love of writing into a passion. I am very glad I downloaded this app when I had the chance. Even though, I’ve had Werdsmith for less than a year, I still adore it. I used to not even know how to properly use a comma, semi colon, nor have a A in my English class. My favorite part of the whole set up would have to be, how you distinguish ideas and projects into separate categories. Love it! It’s to die for, therefore I am that type of person. 😂 Anyways, even though I did give you guys a five-star rating, I hope you wouldn’t mind if I made a suggestion. I know a heap load of apps have this nowadays, and was wondering if you could add an (a free) nighttime theme. That would help out a lot. I normally write later in afternoon when I have the chance and it’s almost blinding to look at a full out white screen. Now, I know you have different themes, but I don’t want to spend that type of money. I simply have the free version. I hope you guys take my commentary to consideration. Thank you, have a good day and or night. -Summer Werdsmith
Hi, thanks for taking the time to write your review and we're glad you're liking the app! To answer your question about who the membership is benefiting, we personally believe that both parties benefit. The membership allows us to continue working on the app so that the user has a product that is constantly evolving and improving. Without our subscribers, we wouldn't be able to spend as much time improving it, updating it with suggestions made by our users and providing customer support. Thanks - Nicole.

Subscriptions

App privacy.

The developer, Werdsmith Pty Ltd , 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 Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

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

Information

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Best writing apps for the Mac 2023

Mac Studio with iA Write

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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.

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.

When you purchased your Mac, you unlocked this beautiful app for free. Get it today!

When you purchased your Mac, you unlocked this beautiful app for free. Get it today!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Which app is best?

Why you can trust iMore Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

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.

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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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writing apps 2022

Asigra takes on HYCU with SaaS app backup

Canadian data protector Asigra is launching a SaaS app backup product with an SDK for developers to write connector modules and marketplace for customers to buy them. HYCU has competition for its third-party SaaS app backup connectors and marketplace.

There are a huge number of SaaS apps and writing connecting code to link backup software to every SaaS app’s APIs is impossible for any single backup supplier. Asigra began working on a scheme to have MSPs and their partners write connectors instead around the end of 2021.

Eric Simmons, Asigra CEO, said in a statement: “IT professionals are coming to understand that the protection of SaaS application data throughout an organization is not only a legal obligation but also vital for protecting reputation and finances. The importance of this cannot be overstated and drives our focus on protecting the entire SaaS application spectrum.”

SaaS adoption is widespread. According to Fortune Business Insights : “The global Software as a Service (SaaS) market size was valued at $215.10 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow from $251.17 in 2022 to $883.34 billion by 2029,” a 19.7 percent CAGR. Asigra reckons the average user has nine SaaS apps while the average company uses 137. There should be a single backup facility for SaaS app customer data and Asigra intends its SaaSBACKUP to be exactly that. 

Asigra’s software already works with the most popular SaaS apps – M365, Google Workspace and Salesforce. Connectors are needed for the mass of other SaaS apps.

Asigra graphic

The software has an SDK and supports multi-tenancy and AWS, S3-compatible storage, and Wasabi and Backblaze as backup destinations. But it also supports the use of an MSP’s preferred storage backend, either a cloud vault or an on-premises object store, as well. It has a pay-for-use business model and a marketplace for discovering and accessing connectors. Security is helped by having more than one person needed to make backup decisions such as storage vault deletion.

It is partnering with third-party supplier Augmentt so potential customers can discover their SaaS app exposure and manage it.

Asigra SaaSBACKUP screenshot

Asigra says SaaSBACKUP software adapts to and protects data in an unlimited number of SaaS environments, and provides mass deployment across hundreds or thousands of SaaS application users simultaneously. New users are automatically detected and included in the backup environment. Users can recover data at any level of granularity, including recovering a single email or a complete email system. When the lost data is identified, restorations are made to a user’s account or alternative location. Data can be protected for as long as required, and encrypted and defended with multi-factor authentication to meet regulatory and compliance mandates.

The SaaSBACKUP beta program will start in May 2023. Managed service providers may register to participate in the program here . Asigra thinks it will announce general availability in North America for MSPs in the third 2023 quarter, and GA for the UK and mainland Europe, VARs and VADs in the fourth quarter. Support for other geographies will come in 2024, along with multi-language facilities and a SaaSBACKUP marketplace for connectors and any other services.

Both HYCU and Asigra have independently recognized that protection of customer data in the great mass of SaaS apps isn’t always covered by the backup software vendors writing their own connectors. Hence the proposition of having it done by third parties. We think other backup vendors might come to the same conclusion. If they want to enter the general SaaS data protection market, they will have to provide an SDK for their software, motivation for connector writers, a what-SaaS-apps-do-I-use facility, and a marketplace for finding and accessing connectors. 

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