best creative writing app iphone

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The 10 Best Writing Apps for iPhone (2021)

Writing applications are one of the most useful apps on your iPhone or iPad, but they are not often the first apps that come to your mind. Perhaps, most individuals don’t often write on their iOS devices and probably because they are happy with built-in apps. No matter how many unique possibilities are accessible today, there is no real excuse not to explore the rich world of iOS writing applications.

There is a writing app for every writing phase; various writing applications accomplish different things, which is why many writers work with many simultaneously. Here is a list of the best writing apps for iPhone 2021.

ProWritingAid

Many people consider Scrivener to be the ultimate writing tool for iPad and iPhone in several particular areas. Multiple features distinguish Scrivener from other writing apps, but adaptability is the main feature.

Scrivener helps you write from scripts to book reports. No matter what you write, you will have access to its remarkable capabilities, which allow you to modify, analyze and dictate anything from the notepad application that may never be useful.

Scrivener helps you save your research and project notes while you are still writing, and at the end of your work, you can gather all the data that make up your project and add them to a Word or PDF.

Compatibility:  Mac, iOS, and Window and it has a free trial of 30days, a $45 license fee

Ulysses is similar to Scriveners at first sight, but deeper investigation shows that diverse experiences and interests make them dissimilar. In Ulysses, for example, you might write # to establish a header or > to set up a block quotation, which means that it’s not manual formatting but rather a ‘Markdown.’

Ulysses is a very standard writing application. It is not as outline-friendly as Scrivener, but you will not have difficulty staying organized with keyword labels, progress monitoring, split view capacity, and all project lined up neatly in the sidebar. This is just one of iPhone and iPad’s best writing apps.

Compatibility: Mac and iOS, and it is $4.99 per month.

iA Writer is just what you need when you want to write without distractions. Yes, this app may only look simple, but it offers a great deal. Its plain text style provides a blank slate for any writing you need, and it is also packed with plenty of excellent text-editing functions that allow you to manage your work effectively. Reviews typically connect iA to Ulysses because Markdown is also used to format.

The iA is nevertheless more precise and incorporated into your screen more naturally. This basic style fits well with the task of the iA “to keep you focused while writing.”

Compatibility:  Mac, iOS, Windows, and it has a Free 14-day trial; on Mac, it is $29.99, and Windows is$19.99.

Storyist gives an excellent basis for novel creation; the app glitters in screenplay and stage game projects. When starting a new project, you work from a very intuitive script template to select action, character, dialog, etc. It ensures that you format correctly and that you are aware of the things you use, not to overdo it or neglect to switch between scenes.

The sidebar tabs also allow you to organize your characters, settings, and photos, useful for screenwriters who want strong graphics to complete their job. However, the Storyist is a modest app for one reason: it is essential and economical for novices with just enough formatting skill to make you feel like a new Hollywood sweetheart.

Compatibility: it runs on Mac and iOS, and it has15 days free trial with a license fee of $59.99

ProWritingAid is often compared with Grammarly; however, the editing technique of this tool is a bit more integral. While it still highlights significant errors, ProWritingAid’s app tends to increase the flow of your writing. For example, it reduces passive voice and filler words rather than nitpicking grammatical technicalities.

You will also find more exciting features in ProWritingAid analysis, including self-generated vocabulary statistics, phrase structure, and more. ProWritingAid lets you discover which terms you overuse, which regions are inconsistent and how you might more easily link your ideas. Overall, this is a tremendous tool that will certainly help you refine your writing (albeit you have to pay for accessing the full range of capabilities).

Compatibility:  iOS, Windows, and Mac, it has a free trial, $70/year membership with limited features.

Writing begins with an excellent piece of concept. Every item you write starts with one idea: a word, a character, a place, or something. Then, it becomes problematic when you try to figure out how to develop your concept and make it a whole, and for this, iMindMap has a solution.

This app allows you to map your brain and creative processes essentially. You may design sophisticated flowcharts from a simple base to highlight the progression of a concept. iMindMap presents you with the fantastic technique to convert a clutch of ideas into a unified structure for a writer with troubles keeping them all in place.

Compatibility : it runs on all iPhone and iPad Notepad apps.

Hemingway is a handy tool and an intelligent tribute to one of the finest writers of the twentieth century; it is a must-have for every writer who enjoys shorter and pleasant things. The pure prose base app delivers reviews on the length of a phrase, use of the word, passive voice and adverbs, and some basic things that can yet make or break a single part.

The software uses colored highlights to assist you in cutting the space in each area and identify the reading level of the text to guarantee that your target audience is the proper one.

Compatibility:  iOS, Mac, and Web. It is accessible online and also has a $19.99 license fee.

While Scrivener and Ulysses is an all-around writing app, Plottr was established with one core aim, which is helping you to outline and plot your writings.

If you are a story writer, Plottr is the best app for you. This application helps you build your scene, plots quickly, and acts which its in-built interface enables you to arrange, rearrange, color coordination, and filter until your story starts flowing and begins to make sense to you.

Compatibility:  it runs on iOS and Mac; its flat fee is $25.

Squibler is a sleek new app to help you write more rapidly and cleverly. It recognizes that the completion and publication of drafts are much more than just drafting them. The software is designed to assist you with everything. And that’s what it does with delicacy.

Squibler’s objective is to allow you to organize your writing best to make it clear.

Squibler provides this with a range of tools to support you in your organizing, tracking, motivating, and storing all your research and ideas in a safe and accessible location.

Compatibility:  iOS and a free 2-week trial and $9 per month after trial.

Pages may not be as popular as Google Docs, but they do contain more excellent information. The calling card pages are its skill to write exceptional documents.

Pages make it possible to create practically any kind of document that seems distinctive with many templates and custody options.

Compatibility:  iOS

You do not need to bother about your writing skills; all you need is the perfect app running on your iPhone and works perfectly for your writing style. You can choose any writing app from the above and keep your writing experience enjoyable.

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Appreciate the effort, Any chance of re-writing this around what is arguably the most important formatting feature – font size and margin that Corresponds to the small real estate of the iPhone. I’ve used a lot of these apps – they are pinching / re-sizing nightmares. Would love to see a re-do on this one. The demand for a user-friendly iphone writing app is there. We just need more focus on the information side.

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If you're serious about writing, consider getting serious about your writing tools. These writing apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS , and Android put your words into the right format, adding polish and professionalism to your creations.

Best Word Processor for All Genres: Microsoft Word

Hundreds of templates make creating any document simple and fast.

Easily add charts, graphs, and images.

Built-in translation tools.

Overwhelming interface.

Full app is expensive.

Only one person can edit shared documents at a time.

No writing tool list is complete without Microsoft Word. This word processor is the best option for all genres, complete with hundreds of templates to choose from, endless formatting tools, and a robust online support system. From a poem to an e-book to a novel, Word can help you do it all. You can even create your own Word templates .

Word is available for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. You can start with a free trial of Microsoft 365, which includes other Microsoft applications as well. If you choose to purchase, packages range from $69.99 a year to a one-time payment of $149.99. If those prices are too high for you, you can also use Word for free .

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Best Tool for Long-Form Content: Scrivener

Keyboard shortcuts make writing a breeze.

Templates are ready-made to jumpstart your creativity.

Easy to manage and rearrange pages and chapters.

Has a learning curve.

Spelling and grammar check are not enabled by default.

Intended for users who have an intermediate understanding of word processing.

Do you write long-form works like novels or non-fiction books? If so, you need a tool that performs some of the low-level tasks for you. Scrivener offers ready-made templates that eliminate the need to spend time on tedious formatting tasks.

This application also includes features for storing details about your characters and other critical background information, writing sections and placing them in your manuscript later, and viewing a detailed outline built from synopses that you write for each chapter. If you don't like the flow, you can move chapters around. When you're ready to publish, Scrivener makes it simple to compile and export a completed manuscript.

Scrivener is available for macOS, Windows, and iOS. You can try it free for 30 days. After the trial, a standard license costs $59.99 or $50.99 for students.

Best Screenwriting Application: Final Draft

It has everything professional screenwriters need to meet industry standards.

Powerful story mapping tools.

Integrates with Storyboard Pro.

May not be great for beginners due to the hefty price and steep learning curve.

You must sign in to the platform each time you use it.

No support for real-time collaboration.

Final Draft is used by 95 percent of film and television productions. Why? There are hundreds of templates to choose from and Final Draft automatically paginates and formats your script to the industry standard, allowing you to focus on writing.

With advanced tools, the program allows you to easily brainstorm and collaborate as well as plan set pieces or store character research with customized visualizations.

Final Draft offers a free 30-day trial. After that, the cost is $199.99. The program works with both macOS and Windows and also offers a mobile app for iOS devices.

Best Organizational Companion: Evernote

Add photos, audio snippets, and more.

Robust collaboration tools.

Search for text in PDFs, images, scanned documents, and handwritten notes.

Only 60 MB of monthly upload space is available for free.

May include more features than you need for simple note taking.

Free version limits you to two devices.

To electronically capture ideas on the fly, use a text-based note app on your device. For an enhanced organizational experience, we recommend Evernote. It enables you to collect many types of input, including whiteboard photos, website screenshots, different document formats, audio recordings, and your handwriting. You can separate items into different notebooks for multiple projects.

Evernote is free to download for both Android and iOS devices, or you can use it online. Users can upgrade to Evernote Premium for $7.99 per month or Evernote Business for $14.99 per user per month.

Best Application for Distracted Writers: FocusWriter

The tool is easy start using as soon as it downloads.

Free with no catches.

Simple, intuitive interface.

There are no editing functions outside of cut and paste.

Need another word processor for editing purposes.

No mobile version.

Given all the distractions in the world and especially online, it's easy to get off track during your writing time. FocusWriter allows you to focus and get your work done. The interface is basic, with all the tools hidden beyond a screen until you need them, so it's just you and the document in front of you. Hidden timers and alarms alert you when it's time to stop.

Best Writing Software for Bloggers: Google Docs

Changes to your documents save automatically, so no more lost work.

View the history of edits and track changes.

Collaborate in real time.

The Google Docs app for mobile devices is slower than the desktop version.

Limited options for adding charts and other visuals.

Fewer formatting features than premium word processors.

One of the best things about Google Docs is how easy the program makes it to collaborate with others. No more "version shuffle" as you send drafts and revisions back and forth in email.

When you share a document with your blog editor, they can insert suggestions, comments, and changes right there. Then, when it's time to implement the changes, accept the revisions and close comments about issues you resolved. You can even use Google to work on Microsoft Word documents.

Google Docs is a free online tool that's also available as an app for Android and iOS devices.

Best Writing App for Novelists: Werdsmith

Keeps track of your writing goals and tells you how close you are to reaching them.

Lots of helpful templates and formatting options.

Publish your writing to the web from the app.

Must purchase a membership to use the novel and screenplay features.

Text formatting tools could be more intuitive.

Not worth the price if you don't regularly use all the features.

Werdsmith is a portable writing studio, complete with instant formatting for novels and screenplays. You can even use it to publish your online writing portfolio. Werdsmith features a clean design, it's easy to use, and it's the perfect place for keeping your notes and finished work. The goals and stats function helps keep you motivated.

Werdsmith is free to download and use for iOS devices. In-app purchases are offered through a membership for $4.99 per month. Members receive four new themes, novel and screenplay writing tools, hundreds of writing prompts, and more.

Best App for Journalists: Dictation

It's designed for one thing: dictation. This simplicity makes it an easy tool to use on the go.

Accurate transcriptions.

Helps prevents strain on your joints and back.

Without the pro version, you'll see an ad after each dictation you create.

Doesn't integrate with word processing apps, so it can be tedious to use.

No word counter.

For journalists who interview individuals for news stories and features, a good dictation tool is a must-have. Dictation is a speech-to-text app that translates voice to text for mobile devices. It can also be used to dictate any voice while on the go. It's perfect for capturing your brilliant ideas as well.

Dictation is free to download for iOS devices. Dictation Pro, which costs $44.99 per year, removes ads and allows you unlimited app usage.

Best Application for Editors: TextEdit

When the full-scale capabilities of a word processing program are unnecessary, TextEdit fills in the gap.

HTML and JavaScript support.

Save files in various formats (.DOCX, ODF, and others).

Only available for macOS devices.

No third-party plugins.

Formatting issues when you copy-and-paste.

This simple tool is perfect for editing documents, including Word files, on the fly and converting them into other formats seamlessly. Need to change a Rich Text Format (RTF) document to another format quickly? TextEdit is the perfect app for that. You can also easily create and edit HTML documents for the web.

TextEdit comes standard with macOS.

Best App for Song Writers: Lyric Notepad

Record yourself performing and attach the file to your song.

Counts syllables and tracks rhyme schemes to help you maintain your flow.

Inexpensive pro version.

The interface is a bit clunky.

No way to back up your lyrics to the cloud.

No search tool.

For poets, rappers, songwriters, and lyricists, inspiration can strike at any moment. That's why it's important to have a tool available at your fingertips. Lyric Notepad goes beyond typical word processing tasks to track rhyme and syllable schemes, help you find new words, and record your lyrics, all in one app. The built-in notepad allows you to add notes about your songs as you write and the metronome helps you easily keep time.

Lyric Notepad is free to download for both iOS and Android devices.

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10 Best Creative Writing Apps (For iOS & Android)

If you wish to turn your passion into a fulfilling and financially rewarding career, you’ll need some tools to make your writing better than ever. Following is my list of the best creative writing apps that will power up your creativity and put you on the right path to success as a writer. You can also check Thoughtsoncloud if you want to learn about mobile app development and perhaps create your writing app.

The 10 Best Creative Writing Apps for iPhone or Android Users:

1. writing analytics.

Writing Analytics is primarily a writing tracker app that helps writers and editors get rid of distractions while writing. The app has a built-in tracking engine that tracks your words as you add and delete them, monitors your writing session, and does so much more. It provides the right tools to keep you motivated. Radek Pazdera, a London-based writer and engineer, built the app out of his sheer interest in writing and his frustration with the writing process. The app keeps the distractions out of the way so you can stay focused on what matters. This is probably one of the best go-to writers’ tools to stay focused.

2. Evernote

Evernote is a leading note-taking app that helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects, memos, and to-do lists. It allows you to collect and organize text, pictures, videos, and audio recordings. These notes are then backed up to the cloud, which is accessible to you using any of your internet-enabled devices. With Evernote, you can jot down ideas, save voice notes to your phone, or save images so you can view them later. It’s your go-to tool if you want to organize a lot of documents, lists, images, or links. It might be a bit confusing to use at the beginning, but once you get used to the app, it becomes a really powerful tool .

Ulysses is the ultimate text editor for Apple Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It helps creative writers like you focus on the writing by taking care of text layout, formatting, etc. It’s an ideal app if you want to just let the words flow and let the app take care of the formatting for you. It supports Markdown for basic formatting though. It is best for prolific writers who are struggling to manage multiple web-based projects at a time. You’ll find its built-in publishing mechanics helpful and easy to use, making it one of the best creative writing apps you can install on your smartphone.

4. JotterPad

JotterPad is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor that gives you the best of both worlds – a distraction-free interface of a note-taking app and professional features of a full-fledged word processor. It makes your writing streamlined, flexible, and highly personalized. It supports both Markdown and Fountain syntax for writing and editing in a plain, readable format. JotterPad is a great tool for writing books , novels, essays, poems, screenplays, and drafts. The free version is a clean text editor with cloud support.

5. Writing Challenge

Writing Challenge is a fun, game-based app that turns each writing session into a fun game. It’s an exceptional app designed to spark imaginative ideas for creative writers of all sorts. You can find great ideas anytime and everywhere, and this beautiful app helps capture and turn those notions into creative pieces. You can even challenge your friends for a group game with a timer that makes the mind contest even more fun and challenging. It is a great app for beginners to master free writing.

6. The Brainstormer

7. storyist.

Storyist is a powerful writing application for MacOS X and iPad. It helps you create, review, and revise your writing projects. It creates a powerful writing environment for novelists and screenwriters to put their ideas into writing. Storyist helps keep all your work organized and accessible. It is a screenwriting app for use on computers, smartphones, and tablets, offering plot, characters, and setting tools. You can sketch out a story using index cards and refine it further with a customizable plot, character, and setting sheets.

8. Grammarly Keyboard

9. hemingway.

Hemingway is a web-based app named after Ernest Hemingway, an author who believed in simple writing that readers can easily understand. You can write your document directly on the app or paste the document into its editor. It’s a color-coded readability checker that points out issues, such as readability and sentence length. Once you copy and paste the content to the editor, Hemingway quickly analyzes it for common errors and complex sentences. The Hemingway app helps your writing become more to the point and clearer for the readers.

10.  MS Word/Google Docs

11. freedom.

Freedom is not exactly a writing app per se, but it is worthy to have a spot on your list of the best writing apps. When it comes to writing projects, one of the biggest obstacles is digital distractions. Wouldn’t you be more productive if your social media notifications were temporarily disabled while you’re writing? This is exactly what Freedom offers – a distraction-free writing environment . It blocks all disrupting websites and apps across all your devices, so you won’t be sidetracked by those silly phone notifications while you’re typing on your laptop or your computer.

Key Takeaways

There are tons of resources available that aid in writing, but you should know which one is right for you to better your writing habits. The abundance of options can be both good and bad. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with some clarity and guidance. When choosing the best creative writing apps , it’s easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles a specific app offers. So, try out some apps I’ve listed and find the right ones that will help you write more effectively and efficiently.

Rafal Reyzer

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

37 Best Writing Apps to Improve Your Skills

Our regularly updated list features the best writing apps and software for authors, bloggers, and freelancers.

Writing apps can help you improve your writing skills, stay organized, streamline workflow, and allow you to get into the creative flow. Whether you’re a screenwriter , playwright, novelist, content writer or blogger, these helpful apps allow you to get your ideas out and develop outlines quickly. Our article reviewed the best writing apps and recommended which suits each writing style and project best.

At A Glance: Our Top 4 Picks For Writing Apps

• Best Writing App: Grammarly
• For Planning And Writing Stories: LivingWriter
• Best Alternative: ProWritingAid
• For Long-Form Writing: Scrivener

Grammar Checkers

1. grammarly, 2. prowritingaid, distraction-free writing tools, 5. ia writer, 8. novelize, best apps for novelists, 10. scrivener, 11. autocrit, 12. storyist (for mac), 13. ywriter, 14. the novel factory, 15. hemingway app, organization tools, 16. dynalist, 18. writer.com, 19. livingwriter, 20. microsoft word, 21. plain text, 22. day one, 23. evernote, ai writing tools, 25. wordtune, 26. articleforge, 28. jasper ai, 29. chat gpt, text and speech tools, 30. fromtexttospeech.com, collaboration tools, 32. google docs, 33. zoho writer, screenwriting tools, 34. script studio, 35. fade in, 36. final draft, 37. writerduet, a final word on the best writing apps.

Using the best grammar checkers in your writing allows you to identify and correct grammar as you work. They offer advanced features that can be great for spotting tone differences, trickier grammar errors, and stylistic suggestions. These tools create a seamless writing experience ensuring your writing is ready to go, with little need for proofreading or heavy editing afterward.

Use for:  Grammar checkering Pricing:  $29.99 per month

Grammarly is a powerful grammar checker, plagiarism detector and AI writing assistant. We use it every day to check work on this site. Both the free and premium versions are useful. It provides several editing recommendations, such as avoiding passive voice, using shorter sentences, alternative suggestions for using a broader vocabulary, etc. Many of these features are invaluable when trimming your word count. You can find out why I like this premium grammar checker in our Grammarly review .

We tested dozens of grammar checkers, and Grammarly is the best tool on the market today. It'll help you write and edit your work much faster. Grammarly provides a powerful AI writing assistant and plagiarism checker.

Use for:  Proofreading and grammar checking Pricing:  From free to $25+ per month

ProWritingAid is another proofreading and grammar checker writing app that will help you improve your writing and refine the art of self-editing. ProWritingAid works similarly to Grammarly , but it’s more affordable. I recently published a detailed review and video comparison if you need clarification on this writing software and how it compares to the apps above. 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.

Use for:  Grammar-checking Pricing:  $13.99/month

Ginger software is an affordable alternative to Grammarly . Ginger Software is somewhat useful for writers who don’t consider English their primary language. It enables you to translate documents written in Spanish, French, German, and more into English. It will also check for grammar errors. Read our comparison of Ginger Vs. Grammarly .

Use for:  Grammar and spell check Pricing:  $14.99/month

Linguix acts as a spelling and grammar checker. It’s more affordable than Grammarly’s premium plan. It’s ideal for anyone who writes for a living or as a hobby. Students will also benefit from using it to prove their essays or assignments. While it does an excellent job at catching typos, it won’t catch sentences that run on or are challenging to understand. Read our Linguix review .

The best distraction-free writing tools provide a minimalistic space for writers to focus without being side-tracked by too many features, bright colors, or editing options. They offer a focused environment where writers can concentrate on their writing. Often, these tools have full-screen modes, customizable backgrounds, and no alerts. It can be a great way to get into the flow state when writing and let your creativity shine.

Use for:  Writing articles and blog posts Pricing:  From $29.99/month

iA Writer is a distraction-free writing app for short blog posts and articles. This iPad, iPhone, and Mac writing app helps writers overcome distractions through the Focus Mode feature. It also has a full-screen mode highlighting the line you are typing and will fade out everything else on the document. This is one of the most ingenious features for focusing your mind on the current point, which is helpful, especially in creative writing projects. Read our iA Writer review .

Use for:  Productive and focused writing sessions Pricing:  $10/month or $100/year

Novlr is ideal for creating a production workflow and finishing your writing project with time to spare. This app is aesthetically pleasing and browser-based, automatically saving cloud content. It has a “focus mode” that sets the mood for writing without distractions. You can also track stats, write collaboratively, and organize outlines. Use this writing app on any browser.

Use for:  Writing articles and blog posts Pricing:  From $5.99/month

Ulysses is a powerful, intuitive, distraction-free Mac OS and iOS writing app. Windows and Android writers are still looking for a solution. It also has features such as a Markup-Based Text Editor, keyboard shortcuts so writers can work quicker, a library to organize notes and documents, a space to set writing goals, publish directly to WordPress and Medium, etc. It’s a good choice for bloggers and content writers. Read our Ulysses review .

Use for:  Best for writing novels Pricing:  $9/month or $65/year

Novelize is an intuitive web-based app ideal for novelists and creative writers. With a simple workflow, it has built-in tools for managing notes and rearranging sections. It encourages writers to focus and get into the flow state when writing. Cloud-based storage ensures that work is accessible from anywhere, at any time, so it won’t be lost when creativity strikes.

The best writing apps for novelists offer features such as manuscript organization, plot timelines, and character development tools. They’re a great assistant to writers who might need extra help developing their ideas. Many of these tools offer outline templates with various themes, such as Hero’s Journey or Voyage and Return. These apps help novelists easily plan, write, and finish their work.

Use for: Preparing a book to self-publish Pricing:  $199

Vellum is a writing app that authors can use to prepare a book for self-publishing. One of the trickiest parts of self-publishing is creating a book that looks good. Or at least, it was. With Vellum, you can create beautiful-looking e-books and print books in minutes. I prepare all my books for self-publishing with Vellum, and it’s a delight to use. Read our Vellum review .

Use for:  Writing books and longer-form works Pricing:  From $49/month

I can’t recommend Scrivener enough as a writing app for longer-form works. Scrivener allows writers and students to organize their ideas and manage more complicated writing projects using the desktop and mobile writing app. It’s also available on iPad. Scrivener also has plenty of keyboard shortcuts to speed up the writing process. Read our Scrivener review .

Scrivener is our go-to app for long-form writing projects. It's popular with best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. 

Use for:  Editing and learning to write Pricing:  Free, paid is $30/month or pro version for $300/year

AutoCrit is a self-editing app built for novelists and storytellers. Beyond just checking for spelling and grammar errors, it includes tools to examine the pacing and momentum of your work, dialogue, and more. It points out instances of passive voice, showing vs. telling, using cliche phrases, and even if you overuse certain words or phrases. Read our AutoCrit review .

Use for:  Organizing plots and developing characters Pricing:  $59

Storyist is a versatile writing app ideal for novelists, screenwriters, and non-fiction writers. Storyist is one of the best story-building apps available for Mac. It has an intuitive workspace that can be used for organizing plots, developing characters, and integrating research. There are also collaborative editing tools available for teams to use. It’s ideal for self-publishing and collaborative projects alike. 

Use for:  Organized and structuring work Pricing:  Free

yWriter is a powerful writing app designed for authors and novelists who prefer a structured and organized approach to writing. This app is on Mac and Windows and mobile for Android and iOS. yWriter allows writers to store details about their work and turn them into data charts and tables – visually representing various statistics within the writing.

Use for:  Fiction writing  Pricing:  $7.50/month

The Novel Factory is a type of novel writing software for fiction writers. It offers a step-by-step tutorial to writing your first novel taking you through scenes, characters, themes, etc. I don’t write fiction much these days, so I haven’t tested The Novel Factory extensively. It reminded me a little of the Scrivener fiction template. Listen to our interview with Katja Kaine of the Novel Factor.

Use for:  Self-editing Pricing:  $19.99

Writers can use Hemingway Editor to improve their writing and self-editing skills. Paste your text into the application, and it will provide suggestions for removing unnecessary words here and there, such as adverbs or tautology. It also suggests reframing specific sentences from passive voice to active voice and much more. Hemingway is beneficial to reducing your word count without leaving out any essential points from your article. Read our Hemingway app review .

Organization tools for writers help writers re-organize their notes, ideas, and plot outlines with helpful features. This can include creating folders, tags, categorizing notes, and building outlines. Intuitive apps can enhance the writing experience by managing research information and organizing the creative process.

Use for:  Outlines Pricing: Free or $7.99/month

Writers can use Dynalist to create outlines for articles and book chapters. This app is helpful if you’re a writer who likes to outline their work in advance. It also supports Markdown and can be used as a to-do list tool. The free version is good enough for most writers unless you value a revision history. Read our Dynalist review .

Use for:  Outlines Pricing:  From $25 – $65/year depending on plan

Plottr is one of the best tools for creating outlines for your novels. Various outlining templates, including The Seven Point Plot Structure and The Hero’s Journey, are available. Following one of these intuitive templates is a great way to get your ideas on paper and get into the flow of waiting. Plotter can be used on Mac or Windows computers and also has a mobile app.

Use for:  Business Writing Pricing:  $11/month

If you write fiction or casual blog posts, Writer.Com is not for you. Instead, it’s intended for marketing teams, brand agencies, social media managers, sales and HR departments, PR, and more. It can act as a style guide-building platform, so team members can mandate and learn rules for style in terms of the language and tone to use when writing. Read our Writer.Com review .

Use for:  Fiction writing Pricing:  $96/year or $9.99/month

.LivingWriter is a new story-writing app for writing stories or a book. Rather than using a word processor, Living Writer is accessible via your web browser. Like Scrivener, it helps writers arrange their plots and stories using boards. Living Writer contains a series of outline templates for famous story structures like the Hero’s Journey. Read our Living Writer review .

Living Writer contains time-saving templates for authors and novelists. iOS and Android apps available

Use for:  General writing Pricing:  $139.99/year or $6.99/ month

Microsoft Word is a classic writing app for all general writing projects. Although it’s a pricey option, MS Word is reliable, versatile, and easy to use. It works well on Mac and Windows PC and mobile on both iOS and Android. MS Word is a standard writing application for creating documents to print, note-taking, and more! However, its grammar checker could be better, so I recommend using it with the Grammarly plug-in.

Use for:  Writing whatever, wherever Pricing:  Free

If you’re a writer on a budget, you don’t need to spend any money buying expensive writing software or apps. Instead, you can use the free text editor with your operating system. Just open up Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on a Mac and get to work! I like plain text editors for writing something short quickly and easily, without thinking about it too much.

Use for:  Journal writing Pricing: $2.95/month

Day One is the best journal writing app on the market today. It’s much more than an online diary. You can also add photos, audio, and video to your entries. You don’t need to sit down and type anything up; you can record directly into your Apple Watch. As journalling is quite a hard habit to stick to, the ease of use makes it much more accessible. It also automatically uses geotags that add location, date, time, and weather to your entries. Read our Day One review .

Use for: Writing articles and blog posts Pricing: Free

Evernote is a good app for saving research and story ideas. I use Evernote to record ideas for blog posts and book chapters during the day. Jotting down notes immediately when ideas come to you is a fantastic way of capturing random moments of inspiration and overcoming writer’s block. It also has integrations, team collaboration, and more. Read our guide: What is Evernote ?

Use for: Markdown text editor Pricing: From $5.99

Byword is a Markdown text editor. It’s mostly aimed at Apple writers. Byword is not ideal for authors, but bloggers and web developers will find it useful. While it offers Markdown support, it can also support keyboard shortcuts to allow you to Preview your work ahead of publishing. It even boasts MultiMarkdown support, cross-referencing and footnotes, and metadata.

If you’re still familiar with Markdown, Byword has a guide to get you started. It’s $5.99 to download for iOS and $11 to download on Mac. Read our Byword review .

Artificial intelligence writing apps leverage the latest AI technology to assist writers when generating ideas, content, and outlines. Using AI in writing has many new benefits, such as conquering writer’s block, fact-checking, structuring outlines, completing paragraphs, and more. Prompting AI tools to assist with writing can improve productivity and generate creative ideas.

Use for: AI rephrasing and writing  Pricing: From $9.99/month

Wordtune can help you to write better sentences. It’s helpful for employees or freelancers sending emails to editors or writers struggling to find the best way to phrase something. This AI rephrasing tool can help you perfect the tone of what you are trying to write. It can also suggest ways to shorten sentences or expand your thoughts. It also has an online editor. Read our Wordtune review .

Use for: Content generation Pricing: From $27/month

Article Forge is ideal for businesses that need to create content. The app uses artificial intelligence to scan existing web pages for keywords or a topic. It will analyze the content and then rewrite it in its language. The article will be generated in minutes. Read our Article Forge review .

Use for: AI writing tool Pricing: $9/month

Rytr is a tool for businesses looking to create content or even bloggers facing writer’s block. Having it create content from scratch could provide better results. However, it does a solid job of rewriting and improving existing posts. It also does a decent job of mocking up product descriptions if you provide the context. Plus, it can function as an editing tool. Read our Rytr review .

Use for: AI copywriting Pricing: From $29/month

Jasper.ai is a godsend for marketers and entrepreneurs looking to create short-form content. This includes email subject lines, product descriptions, blog introductions, social media posts, and video titles. It’s one of the best apps if you’re looking to use AI to boost your content. It can even help bloggers tackle writer’s block too. Read our Jasper AI review .

Use for: Writing blog articles and copywriting Pricing: Free or $20/month

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm with its AI writing capabilities. Use it to brainstorm ideas for your next novel or blog post, build detailed outlines, fact-check, and build world lore. This is a versatile browser application that can adapt to your needs with ease. It’s an excellent option for combating writer’s block and generating fresh ideas. It’s available on Mac and Windows and as a free mobile app. Read our ChatGPT review .

Text and speech writing tools allow writers to convert their text to speech and vice versa. This is an excellent tool for hearing your work during editing to ensure the content flows and makes sense. It’s also a great way to quickly get your ideas on paper when a creative idea strikes.

Use for: Converting writing to MP3 Pricing: Free

FromTextToSpeech.com is a browser-based application that allows you to turn your writing into MP3 files that can be downloaded to listen to. Many authors recommend reading work aloud to ensure it flows well, so using an app like this is a great way to proofread your novel.

Use for: Transcriptions and dictation Pricing: $1.25 per minute of audio

Rev is another useful dictation app for writers. Using the iPhone or Android app, you can dictate a draft into your phone and then upload it to Rev for transcription by a human at $1 a minute. Alternatively, if you interview someone, you can save time by transcribing these interviews to write better non-fiction articles. It’s more accurate than using a dictaphone but at a cost. If you’re on a budget, use an AI transcription service. Read our Rev review .

Collaboration tools are an excellent way for writers to collaborate on a project. This is especially useful when multiple authors work on a novel, screenplay, or presentation. Many of these tools allow for feedback and tracking changes, ensuring smooth communication among the team members. Here are our top recommendations for collaborative tools:

Use for: Word processor Pricing: Free

Google Docs is a free writing app and an excellent alternative to Microsoft Word. It’s a reliable choice if you like collaborating with other writers or an editor online. It works almost anywhere, assuming you have a reliable internet connection. Its functionality for handling large documents, like a book, has also dramatically improved.

Zoho Writer is less known than Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Zoho Writer offers a writing assistant to help with readability, grammar, and more issues. It also allows live collaboration with team members and offline editing in your browser. Plus, there are a decent number of templates or formatting options. It’s split into three workspaces: Compose, Review, and Distribute, where you can write the content, work with collaborations and then publish or share it. Read our Zoho Writer review .

Screenwriting tools are tailored explicitly to screenwriters and playwrights. They peroxide a structured environment for screenwriters with outlines, formatting, and timeline generation. Often, they have built-in templates that adhere to industry standards, helping bring their ideas to life with ease.

Use for: Writing movie scripts Pricing: F$199.95

Script Studio is a versatile app best suited for scriptwriters. However, it can also be used for other works, such as novels. The most notable feature of this app is the inclusion of popular movie scripts that can be used as a model for your work. The templates are an excellent way to learn the format and polish your movie script. Some features allow you to draft, plot, and organize the works, making it a top choice for aspiring movie writers.

Use for: Screenwriting Pricing: $79.95

Fade In is an excellent tool for aspiring screenwriters, with automatic formatting that allows you to bring your scripts to life. It’s best suited for screenwriters looking to create a first draft of their screenplay. With a convenient beatboard feature, writers can map out the beats of their stories and view them on a timeline above the script. 

Use for: Screenwriting Pricing: $99.99/month

Final Draft is the default app of choice for screenwriters. I’ve experimented with Final Draft, and it strikes me as an example of powerful writing software but with a bigger learning curve than your typical word processor. Read our Final Draft review .

Use for: Collaborative screenwriting Pricing: From $9.99 – $13.99/month

WriterDuet is an industry standard for screenwriting, used by millions of screenwriters for TV shows and blockbusters. This highly-rated tool allows writers to collaborate with other writers on their teams in real time. It can also incorporate text and video chat during writing sessions. Other features include locked and colored pages, sharing and publishing feedback, and stats and reports about your writing.

Two of the best writing apps to try today are Grammarly and ChatGPT. For more general writing, Google Docs and Ulysses are both great. Writing apps are a great way to organize your thoughts and express your ideas. Once you’ve started writing, it’s easy to complete with the help of a comprehension app like the one listed in our guide.

It’s time to start on that writing project you’ve been dreaming about. Pick the best writing app that suits your needs from our guide, and start writing. Embrace the power of writing apps to help unleash your creativity and build your next novel, non-fiction book, screenplay, or blog.

The best iPhone apps of 2023

The best iPhone apps you can download today, tested and rated

• Best new app and best iPhone camera apps
• The best animation apps and video editors for iPhone
• The best art and design apps for iPhone
• The best entertainment apps for iPhone
• The best health, diet and exercise apps for iPhone
• The best kids' apps for iPhone
• The best music and audio apps for iPhone

The best office and writing apps for iPhone

• The best productivity apps for iPhone
• The best travel and weather apps for iPhone

Our favorite iPhone apps for file management, video memos, writing, email, spreadsheets, notes, presentations and calculations.

• $49.99/£44.99/AU$79.99

iA Writer is a text editor that initially feels stripped back, like a typewriter, but that’s packed with features that help you write efficiently and effectively – even on a phone.

Although the interface is sparse, plentiful customization options let you bend the app to your will. These include a raft of style and writing aids that can rid your work of redundancies, a quick preview of rendered Markdown, a Lightning menu in which you can stash favorite commands, and several export options.

The integration of Wikilinks means you can also very quickly connect and cross-reference documents. This reduces the need to dig into the file browser and makes it more natural to quickly write on your iPhone – which opens up the possibility to write pretty much anywhere.

Contact Pics Adder

• $1.99/£1.99/AU$2.99

Contact Pics Adder does what you’d expect from its name: adds pics to your contacts. You might question why you need an app for that. After all, you can edit contacts within Apple’s Contacts app. However, the process is laborious.

That’s not the case in Contact Pics Adder. From the off, you can – with a single tap – view only contacts that lack a photo. From there, you can jump to a Bing web search. If you can’t find a photo, you can head to a social network instead and pluck one from there.

A lot of thought has gone into streamlining the process of finding and adding images. The app pulls data from contacts to refine searches with buttons named after locations and business names. Cropping is swift. And you can even shoot an in-app screenshot and use that as the basis for your pic.

Moleskine Journey

• $4.99/£3.99/AU$6.49 per month

Moleskine Journey is a swish scheduling app from the people who make those nice notepads favored by designer types. But rather than being yet another calendar, Journey is designed to bring wellness to your life.

The app is split into four sections. Planner is an events ticker that can draw in Calendar events – and with a view we wish Apple would steal. To this you can add images, titles, links, and tasks. The last of those are also collected in the bespoke Tasks tab, and the Projects tab enables you to organize more complex groups of elements by topic.

My Day is where the wellness bits happen. This outlines your day’s schedule, and enables you to add goals, record your food, define habits, and journal with words and photos. Try doing all that with a paper notebook!

Remote Control for Mac – Pro

• $9.99/£9.99/AU$14.99

Remote Control for Mac – Pro enables you to control your Mac using your phone so you don’t have to bother with the Mac itself, and although there’s a lot going on in this app, it somehow gives you an interface that’s immediate and coherent.

Using taps, you can flick between media keys, direct input, app launching, triggering menu items, and special commands like restart and sleep. Naturally, some of these work better than others. During testing, responses to media buttons and app launching were instantaneous, but direct input with a Mac display on an iPhone is understandably fiddly.

Still, if you’ve a headless Mac you need to command – or just one elsewhere in your home you can’t be bothered actually walking over to – this app is first-rate stuff.

• $3.99/£3.99/AU$5.99

Cardhop is designed to effectively replace Contacts on your iPhone. It uses the same iCloud information (so you can switch back to Apple’s app at any point), but presents it in a far more usable manner.

Individual contact cards are more clearly laid out. Tapping on a phone number or email doesn’t trigger a call or open Mail – instead, you get options regarding what you want to do with that data. The notes field usefully remains anchored to the foot of the screen, so it’s always available.

Back in the main view, there’s a dynamic search field that uses natural language, so you can input phrases to get at information, or to add new contacts. In all, this is an essential app for anyone who regularly dips into Contacts, but wants something better.

• $3.99/£3.49/AU$5.99 per month

1Password , like iCloud Keychain, is used to store website logins and payment information. But this app then goes further, being able to house details for servers, app license details, notes and identities.

The other big advantage is 1Password being a standalone app. Launch it and use Face ID or Touch ID and you’ll quickly be browsing your logins and data, which can be further refined through the use of favorites and tags. A first-rate password creator is bundled, too, for when you need a new or replacement website password.

The core app is free to try for 30 days, after which point a subscription is required. However, this unlocks the app across a range of supported platforms, including macOS, Android and Windows – something iCloud Keychain cannot compete with.

• Free or $0.99/79p/AU$1.49 per month

Noted is a rich-text notepad and voice memos app combined. This isn’t a new concept on the iPhone – other apps do much the same. But Noted differentiates itself by enabling you to mark important moments within the recording.

This is achieved using #TimeTags. As you type up notes while recording, tapping a button places a tag inline. When you subsequently tap a tag, your recording instantly starts playing from the relevant moment. This means you can take basic notes during a meeting or lecture, and then flesh everything out later, without having to constantly scrub through a recording to find the relevant parts.

You’ll need a subscription to make the most of the app – not least to record more than a handful of notes – but for many people, #TimeTags alone will be worth the outlay.

PCalc is a traditional calculator – like the super-powered equivalent of something you might find sitting on a desk. If you want something more conventional than the calculator meets sort-of spreadsheet Soulver , PCalc is simply the best there is on iPhone.

For a start, the app’s almost absurdly feature-packed. There’s multiline and RPN, a paper tape, and multiple undo. Need conversions and constants? Done. Engineering and scientific notation? Sure. You can even edit the individual buttons, if you for some reason want the 6 key to be massive.

The app has a slightly odd sense of humor, too. Head into the Help section in its Settings and fire up the ARKit About PCalc screen, and lob anti-gravity bananas about the place. This is a calculator with leaderboards and achievements, and – we say again – anti-gravity bananas . Buy it.

Just Press Record

• $4.99/£4.99/AU$7.99

Just Press Record is a highly usable audio recorder and transcription tool. It’s also an excellent example of how to take an app that’s extremely simple and add new features without drowning it in complexity.

To start, you still tap a big, red button, and then record whatever you want to say. Saved recordings head to iCloud, meaning they can be accessed on any device. On your iPhone, they’re found in the Recents and Browse tabs, the latter listing them by date.

There’s also a Search tool – which might seem redundant until you realize every recording is automatically transcribed. Naturally, this doesn’t always nail context – during testing, it mixed up ‘synced’ and ‘sinked’ – and you have to manually say punctuation (such as ‘comma’).

Still, this means that you can share text rather than just audio files, and that every utterance you make can potentially be found by keyword, instead of you scrabbling through a huge list of recordings. It’s really smart stuff.

Pennies is all about managing your money. But whereas finance trackers have a tendency to be dry and complicated, Pennies goes for a much friendlier approach. Using the app’s colorful, straightforward interface, you can quickly and easily define new budgets around any kind of topic, and add or remove money from them.

Much of the app’s effectiveness lies in the way it encourages you to categorize your spending. Want to cut down on coffee? Create a ‘coffee’ category and get a monthly and daily budget, along with a visible reminder of when you can next spend.

Your entire history always remains available in an ongoing scrolling list, and because Pennies syncs across devices, your figures are readily available on iPad and Apple Watch too. In short, it’s the budget tracker for the rest of us.

Untitled rethinks screenwriting. Rather than you having to remember how to format your next Hollywood blockbuster, Untitled prioritizes you getting ideas down, through providing a helping hand regarding how your script should look.

This works by way of simple-to-remember shorthand, such as placing dialogue underneath a character’s name, or ‘>’ before a transition. The app’s also intelligent enough to reformat scene headers (intro/location/time) from plain English into the correct style.

On iPad, Untitled is a friendly screenwriting tool, but its relaxed, note-taking approach really feels at home on iPhone. It’s not a tool you’d likely use to fine-tune a fully polished screenplay, but it’s excellent for starting one – wherever and whenever inspiration strikes.

• $7.99/£7.99/AU$12.99

You can of course use a wide range of apps for storing real-world scribbles – photograph a journal page and you can fling it at the likes of Evernote, say. But Carbo tries something more ambitious. Your sketches and notes are cleaned up, and converted to vectors, while preserving your original stroke.

What this means is that images within Carbo retain the character of your penmanship, but are also editable in a manner standard photographs are not – you can select and move specific elements that Carbo intelligently groups, adjust line thicknesses throughout the entire image, add annotations and tags, and export the result to various formats.

It's a friendly, intuitive app to work with, and efficient, too – a typical Carbo note requires only a tenth of the storage as the same image saved as a standard JPEG photo.

Current page: The best office and writing apps for iPhone

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The 14 Best Writing Apps To Supercharge Your Writing

[Updated February 23, 2024]

There is no shortage of writing apps that promise to remove distractions and make your writing better than ever. 

The abundance of choices can be both a blessing and a curse. With so many choices and so many features within each choice, choosing the best writing apps for you can be tough. You can end up spending more time playing with features than actually writing.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through 14 of the best writing apps available today, from simple free apps to hefty, highly-customizable ones. 

Whether you’re a fiction author or a budding blogger, you’ll find something that will make you feel free from distraction and help you focus on what’s really important — your writing.

The 14 Best Writing Apps 

1. ms word / google docs / pages.

Although it may seem obvious, these standard word-processing apps should at least be mentioned in a list of the best writing apps. All of them can handle all your basic needs and they’re pretty much always available no matter where you are. You can use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Apple’s Pages on nearly any device today. 

Additionally, both Google docs and Microsoft Word have a large number of plugins available that can add additional functionality. Plus, Google Docs is a great free writing app, and you automatically get Apple Pages for free if you’re a Mac user. 

However, each of these writing apps are meant for use by the masses, and not designed specifically for writers. There are a number of more specialized apps that cater to the needs of a writer, detailed below.

Ulysses is a powerful, distraction-free writing tool that comes with a wide variety of features that definitely set it apart. With apps available for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, along with fast, easy syncing between devices, this one is great for Apple users. Syncing occurs through iCloud, so be sure you have extra space before you buy your Ulysses subscription.

In Ulysses, you can publish straight to platforms like WordPress and Medium, save drafts to an organisable library, or export documents as PDFs or eBooks. You can even set word count goals for yourself so you can stay on top of your busy editorial schedule.

Ulysses is best for prolific writers who are juggling multiple web-based projects at a time. Bloggers and copywriters will find Ulysses’ built-in publishing mechanics helpful and easy. However, at $49.99 per year, Ulysses is one of the more expensive writing apps, especially considering it can only be used on Apple devices). 

• Best For : Busy bloggers
• Price : $49.99/year or $5.99/month (free trial available)
• Available On : Mac and iOS

Reedsy is a free, web-based tool that is specifically designed for authoring books. The free book editor includes a sleek, distraction-free interface that makes typesetting your book easy and fun. With collaborative live editing and the ability to export as an eBook straight to distributors, this tool is excellent for authors who want to write books.

Reedsy also includes a marketplace to make finding collaborators easier than ever, including ghostwriters, editors, designers, and more. Editing is also really simple with track changes, versioning, and commenting. If you’re just starting out, try Reedsy Prompts, which offers five writing prompts each week. You can even submit your responses to the weekly contests where you can win cash!

If you have a varied workload, Reedsy is not the best option, as it’s really meant for book and fiction writers. But for a writer who wants to see their book typeset and pretty, this could be the perfect writing app — and it’s free.

• Best For : Book writers
• Price : Free
• Available On : Web app

4. Scrivener

Scrivener is a robust writing software thoughtfully designed with long form authors and novelists in mind. In addition to writing, the app has a strong focus on helping you organize your writing resources, whether that’s notes about specific characters in a novel or research on a specific subject. 

While it isn’t the prettiest writing tool you’ve ever seen, you’re getting everything you need for a one-time fee of $45. If you write long, complicated pieces, Scrivener makes it easy to section and organize your document with a highly customizable navigation bar.

One distinct benefit to Scrivener is it’s old-school licensing approach. Once you pay, you own that version of Scrivener forever. One drawback? If you switch operating systems or change your mind, you can’t get that cash back.

• Best For : Authors, novelists, and screenwriters
• Price : $45
• Available On : Mac, Windows, iOS

5. iA Writer

iA Writer is all about helping you get down to the business of writing. This simple interface with limited formatting options is perfect for writers who just want to focus on writing and not be distracted by dozens of additional features.

With distraction-free features like full screen mode, and a dark mode that’s great for late-night creators, this tool is really meant to do one thing: help you write. It’s also an inexpensive option with a generous free trial and several options for download.

• Best For : Focused writing sessions
• Price : $29.99 for Mac / $19.99 for Windows
• Format : Mac, Windows, iOS 

6. WriteRoom

WriteRoom is a stripped-down, bare-bones writing app that is about writing and nothing else. In fact, they go so far as to tell you that they’re NOT like Microsoft Word or any other writing tools. 

You can utilize the distraction-free, customizable interface to focus on getting your words onto the page, but not much else. You can export your WriteRoom documents, but there is no preview and you can’t sync with other devices. Without collaboration options or mobile apps, this writing app is best for writers who simply need a place to jot things down.

• Best For : Brainstorming or first drafts
• Price : $9.99
• Available On : Mac

7. Storyist

Much like Scrivener, this writing app is fantastic for helping you organize large, creative writing projects. Even with tons of features, like a script template that prompts you to enter data as you write, the app is intuitive and easy to use.

You can click on your character names to see where they show up in a story, or select a location to peruse all your scenes that happen at that spot. This app really fits well into the creative process itself, since the organization features help you see consistency (or lack of) in your writing.

With a one-time fee of $59.99, this writing app isn’t cheap. But if you’re a novelist or screenwriter, it’s certainly worth considering. 

• Best For : Novelists and screenwriters
• Price : $59.99
• Available On : Mac, iOS 

8. Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was famous for his sparse, pared-down prose, and the Hemingway Editor app is designed to help you cut the fat from your writing. The app is focused primarily on helping you craft better prose and doesn’t have any storage or organizational features. So if you’re working on a complex document, you’ll probably need to use it in conjunction with another writing app. 

You either can write your document directly in the Hemingway Editor app or paste something you’ve already written into it. If you write directly in the app, you need to start in writing mode and then switch to edit mode (unless you want real-time feedback). 

The app will then evaluate your writing and make suggestions to improve clarity, ease-of-reading, etc. For example, if a sentence is too complex or uses the passive voice, it will highlight it. If you’re looking for a full-fledged writing app, this probably isn’t the best choice. However, if you need help with editing for clarity, the Hemingway Editor is a great tool. 

• Best For : Writers who need help editing
• Price : $19.99 or free online
• Available On : Web, Mac, Windows

9. Hubspot AI Content Writer

With HubSpot’s Free AI Content Writer , you can transform your content creation process with minimal effort. Generate blogs, website copy, and more with ease, allowing you to scale your content output without the need for additional resources or budget. Drive lead generation with high-quality content across multiple platforms. Generate engaging content at the push of a button by entering a prompt or topic, and watch as HubSpot’s AI writer generates a first draft for your prospecting emails, landing pages, and blog posts. 

Overcome writer’s block with AI-assisted writing, as the AI content writer churns out outlines or drafts for your next blog or landing page. With the AI content writer, you can create AI-written content that is human-reviewed, ensuring your brand voice and unique expertise shine through. Revolutionize your content marketing efforts with HubSpot’s Free AI Content Writer.

Benefit from the integration with HubSpot’s marketing and sales tools, enabling you to create multi-channel content across email, social media, and landing pages.

Best for: Marketing, Sales, and Writing teams

Price: Free! More advanced content management functionalities are available in paid editions of CMS Hub , too

Format : Mac, Windows, iOS

10. Freedom

Freedom isn’t exactly a writing app per se, but it should definitely be in your writing toolbox. After all, one of the biggest hindrances to making progress on writing projects is digital distractions. And there are a lot of writers out there who can testify to how Freedom has helped them:

Freedom lets you block the websites and apps that distract you the most across all your devices, so you won’t be pulled away by flitting phone notifications while you’re typing on your desktop. You can even have your Freedom app play some calming coffee shop sounds so you can get in the zone.

If you write at a set time every day, you can set up writing sessions ahead of time so that your distractions will be inaccessible when you’re ready to write.

When it comes to blocking distractions, you basically have two options. You can do what novelist Jonathan Franzen did and buy an old, clunky laptop and literally glue the ethernet port shut and remove the wifi card. Or you could use Freedom, which is a tad easier. 

• Best For : Distractible writers
• Price : $30/year or $6.99/month
• Available On : Mac, Windows, iOS, Android 

10. Evernote

Evernote is best for writers with a lot going on. If you need to save a lot of links, collect images or lists, or simply organize your documents, Evernote is the way to go. The interface can be a bit confusing at first, but once you’ve gotten a feel for it, it really is a powerful tool.

If you just want to focus on writing, Evernote Premium probably has more than you need or want. However, even the free plan has plenty of useful features and includes templates for all types of writing. And their Web Clipper tool, which enables users to collect “clips” from anything on the internet, is a huge draw for digitally-minded creatives.

• Best For : Writers with multiple projects
• Price : Free or $7.99/month for premium 
• Available On : Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android 

11. FocusWriter

Opening FocusWriter feels like entering a creative space. With customizable backgrounds, a pleasing interface to write into, and a built-in timer, this writing app is perfect for creatives who need to let the words flow.

Although FocusWriter doesn’t have many formatting options, if you’re simply trying to get the words out, it doesn’t matter. Set your background to something that calms you, set a timer for 30 minutes, and write your heart out.

• Best For: Distracted creative writers
• Price: Free
• Available On: Windows, Linux 

12. Grammarly

For writers who struggle to remember the difference between “who” and “whom,” Grammarly is an extremely valuable writing tool. This app isn’t the best to write in — the adaptive editing format makes it a bit confusing — but it’s a great grammar checker to use after writing.

Simply paste your writing into Grammarly and get instantaneous feedback on passive voice, grammar, style, and clarity. You can also use their browser extension and get the same feedback while writing an email, working in Google docs, or doing just about any other online writing. 

There is both a free and paid version, with the paid version offering additional features such as plagiarism detection, word choice suggestions, formality level, and more. 

• Best For : Writers who struggle with grammar and spelling
• Price : Free or $11.66/month premium
• Available On : Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

13. Dynalist

Though it’s not exactly a traditional writing app, Dynalist is a good option for writers who like to outline their work before they write. Whether preparing to write an in-depth article, novel, or blog post, this app will make it easy to organize your thoughts.

Collaborate on your lists with others, or use the free version to in-depth lists for yourself. Features include an easy-to-organize file library and collapsible lists that will make organization easier than ever.

The premium version of Dynalist includes custom shortcuts, backup to Google Drive or Dropbox, version history, and more.

• Best For : Writers who struggle to organize their thoughts
• Price : Free or $7.99/month for premium
• Available On : Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android 

14. Airstory

Airstory is a unique writing app that merges the research and writing process with a unique drag-and-drop function. If you write non-fiction, or otherwise do a lot of research for your writing, this is a great tool to help you gather all your information and then organize it into a well-written document.

Their web clipper tool lets you save anything you find on the internet, whether that’s a single paragraph in an article or an entire page. All of your notes are organized into cards, which can be dragged and dropped into a document. 

Airstory works in tandem with other writing apps, like Google Docs or WordPress, allowing you to easily export your projects. It also comes with templates you can use to guide the writing process rather than starting totally from scratch. 

• Best For : Writers doing research-backed work
• Price : $25/month
• Available On : Web

Which Writing App Will You Choose?

Choosing the best writing can be tough. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with some clarity and guidance. 

A word to the wise. When picking what you think is the best writing app, it can be easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles a particular app offers. Ultimately, you’re looking for an app that will help you write more effectively, both in terms of quantity and quality. If a particular feature doesn’t support that ultimate objective, then it will probably be more of a distraction than anything else. 

So, try out some of the writing apps we’ve talked about and find the ones that make the biggest difference in your writing. Just don’t get so preoccupied with trying to find the best writing app that you neglect writing! 

Now get out there and start writing! 

[Updated February 23, 2024] There is no shortage of writing apps that promise to remove distractions and make your writing better than ever.  The abundance of choices can be both a blessing and a curse. […]

About Stephen Altrogge

Stephen Altrogge is a member of Freedom's content team from Indiana, Pennsylvania. Stephen is a husband, dad, writer. He drinks too much coffee and knows too much about Star Wars.

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8 Best Mobile Writing Apps for Authors: And Why I Chose Them

• by Sam Howard

It’s no secret that I recommend Atticus is my top program for authors, but as I write this, Atticus doesn’t have a good way of integrating with mobile (I hear they’re working on it).

With that in mind, I thought I would run through a number of other programs that you can use on your phone or tablet, because we are on the move so much that we really need something to at least jot down thoughts, if not do a complete writing session using just our phones.

So with that in mind, let’s talk about the best writing apps for mobile devices, specifically for Android and iOS devices.

So far, I have broken these down into eight different apps:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Final Draft

1. Scrivener (Best for Novelists)

• Pricing : $19.99 for iOS, $49 for Mac/Windows
• Platforms : iOS, Mac, Windows
• Best for : authors who like organized, distraction-free writing. 

If you’re a novelist and haven’t heard of Scrivener yet, you totally need to check it out! It’s seriously the best mobile writing app out there, especially for all my fellow iPhone and iPad users. This app is super organized and has great ready-made templates for all sorts of genres and layouts. 

Okay, so I know it has a bit of a steep learning curve, but don’t worry! There are tons of free tutorials online to help you out. Trust me, it’s sooo worth it. With Scrivener for iOS, you’ll be planning, organizing with drag-and-drop, highlighting words, and arranging everything on a virtual corkboard in no time.

The coolest thing? You can totally transfer your work between devices using Dropbox, or export it to all these fancy formats like DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, HTML, or even Multi-Markdown. I mean, come on, how awesome is that?

But, like, there’s this one tiny downside. The mobile app costs $19.99, which is a bit pricey, I know. And if you want it on your macOS or Windows devices, you’ll need to buy separate licenses. Ugh!

Now, to my Android peeps, don’t feel left out! You can still try Novlr, a browser-based app that’s super cool and works on any mobile device as long as you have internet access.

2. Microsoft Word (Best for General Writing)

• Pricing : $6.99/month for Microsoft 365 
• Platforms : iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
• Best for : general writing, including business documents, journalism, student works, etc.

Let me tell you, Microsoft Word is like, THE industry standard text editor we all know and love! It’s super versatile and user-friendly. Plus, it runs super smooth on both iOS and Android devices, so you can whip up gorgeous, professional-looking documents in a bunch of different formats. 

Now, Word is totes perfect for general writing, like those memos, email drafts, and print-ready docs we can’t escape from. But, just a little heads-up, it might not be the best choice for novel writing. I know, bummer! 

Its organization game isn’t as strong as, say, Scrivener or Ulysses, but still, it’s got our backs for most writing tasks.

Oh, and if you’re all about spelling and grammar, you should know that Word’s checker isn’t as powerful as ProWritingAid or Grammarly. But hey, nobody’s perfect, right?

I feel you – MS Word can be a little pricey. But the good news is that lots of us have access to it at no extra cost through our work or school! So, we can still get our write on without breaking the bank.

3. Google Docs (Best Free Option)

• Pricing : Free
• Platforms : iOS, Android, Online
• Best for : General writing for those on a budget, as well as collaborative projects

Google Docs is your go-to option for both Android and iOS users. If you’re on a budget and don’t need proofreading, novel writing, or offline writing capabilities, Google Docs has got you covered.

You can tweak headers, spacing, and fonts—basically, everything you’d expect from a pro word processor. Plus, it autosaves your work and keeps track of your version history. What’s really cool is how it shines when it comes to real-time collaboration, making it perfect for co-authors, bloggers, and even ghostwriters.

4. Grammarly (Best for Editing)

• Pricing : $29.95/month
• Platforms : Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
• Best for : Editing emails, memos, blog posts, social media posts

Grammarly is perfect for making your emails, memos, and those short-form projects look super profesh and error-free. No more embarrassing typos! 

And let me tell you about the Grammarly keyboard for mobile devices – it’s everything! It checks your spelling and grammar while you’re typing, giving you fab suggestions to make your writing even better. Plus, did you know that you can download your text as a DOCX file right from Grammarly’s browser app? 

But wait, it gets better! Grammarly’s browser extension is great, automatically checking your grammar and spelling on, like, every platform you can think of – Gmail, LinkedIn, Instagram, you name it! 

And, trust me, its free version is waaay better at proofreading than Microsoft Word or MacOS’s built-in checkers.

Now, if you’re thinking about going premium, I’ve got some tea to spill. ProWritingAid’s premium version is actually recommended over Grammarly’s. It can export to DOCX too and is just, like, sooo much better overall.

Honestly, using Grammarly’s browser application and extension is a total game-changer. Your emails, posts, and memos will look so professional and accurate that everyone will be super impressed.

5. Final Draft (Best for Screenwriters)

• Pricing : One-time fee of $249.99
• Best for : Screenwriters

If you’re into screenwriting, you totally need to check out Final Draft ! It’s an iOS-exclusive paid app made just for screenwriters like you!

Now, I hate to break it to Android users, but with less than 5% of users on Android, Final Draft isn’t planning on developing an app for y’all anytime soon.  But for my fellow iPhone and iPad peeps, this app is loaded with fab features: professionally formatted templates, SmartType (it remembers your character names and scenes – how cool is that?), PDF export options, element-based script searching, and even color-coded ScriptNotes! 

You know it’s the real deal when the Academy Award-winning author David Seidler loves it for its ability to change drafts quickly and on the go. And get this: Final Draft is the industry standard, used by 95% of film and television productions! 

But hey, if you’re not an Apple device user, no worries! Celtx Script is a great alternative for screenwriting. So, go ahead and unleash your inner Tarantino, girl! 

6. Novlr (Best for Productivity)

• Pricing : $10/month
• Platforms : Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge
• Best for : Distraction-free writing

Novlr is a browser-based creative writing tool that saves everything to the cloud, like, automatically!

And guess what? It has this really useful distraction-free Focus Mode, which is super customizable and perfect for getting in the zone when writing. Say goodbye to writer’s block, am I right? 

Novlr is the perfect BFF to help you get started on that masterpiece you’ve been dreaming of, with productivity vibes that give off Daily Prompt and FocusWriter energy. 

This gem has so many fabulous features: a minimalist aesthetic (clean and chic), writing stats tracking (gotta keep an eye on that word count), motivational goals, organization tools, writing style suggestions, collaboration options (for when you and your bestie are co-writing the next bestseller), day-night color schemes (because we all need some mood lighting), and super easy exporting to various file formats! 

7. Plottr (Best for Outlining)

• Pricing : $39/year or $139/lifetime
• Platforms : iOS, Android, Windows, Online
• Best for : Plotting and outlining

Plottr is a super innovative program for plotting and outlining that’s perfect for mobile and desktop.

The best part? It’s browser-based, so you can access it from, like, anywhere you have internet – phones, tablets, you name it! Talk about convenience! 

Plottr is seriously a lifesaver when it comes to organizing all those pesky plot points, creating great characters, and building those super cool worlds we all love to get lost in. Plus, it comes with ready-made templates.

These intuitive outline templates are total game-changers: The Snowflake Method, The Three Story Method, The Story Circle, The Seven Point Plot Structure, and The Hero’s Journey – they’ve got you covered, girl! 

And get this: the Plottr app is the definition of mobile-friendly, whether you’re Team iOS or Team Android. So, seriously, give it a try and watch your creativity soar! 

8. Evernote (Best for Notes)

• Pricing : $69.99/year
• Best for : Taking notes

Evernote is the most amazing note-taking app ever! It’s award-winning and everything, so you know it’s legit. The best part? It syncs your notes across devices – though with the free version, you can only use it on two devices. Still, pretty cool, right? 

But wait, it gets even better! With a paid upgrade, you can save all sorts of stuff – web clippings, videos, PDFs, images, GIFs, you name it! Like, who wouldn’t want all of that? 

Sharing notes with friends, co-authors, or ghostwriters is a breeze, too. All you have to do is grant the right permissions, and voila! Instant collaboration. 

And Evernote is always getting better. They’re all about those free updates and working on improving things like their table function. So, if you’re not already using Evernote, you seriously need to check it out, girl! 

Which App Do You Use?

Let’s get real here – if you’re writing on the go, you need the absolute best mobile writing apps, right? They’re going to take your notes from basic scribbles to super-organized, fabulously polished works of art. 

Say buh-bye to traditional notepads – it’s time to embrace that modern technology life! With all these cool new apps, it’s so much easier to keep your notes organized and actually understand what you wrote later on. No more trying to decode those frantic, messy scribbles.

So here’s the deal: even if you’re not at your main workstation, you’ve still got to invest in the right tools for writing. The world of writing is always evolving, and there are new apps coming out all the time.

Now, I’ve gotta tell you – if you’re an Apple user, you’re totally winning in the writing app department. Sorry, Android users, but Apple’s just got so many more amazing options!  But don’t worry, there are still some awesome apps for you Android babes out there, too! 

And as I mentioned before, if you’re using a desktop, I would use Atticus over ALL of these options.

So get on out there and start exploring all those fantastic mobile writing apps – it’s time to level up your writing game, girl!

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The Best Book Writing Apps Every Writer Needs on iPhone, iPad & Mac

These are the best apps for writers who want to finally complete that novel they’ve been letting collect dust. I’ve got recommendations for apps that will help you write your story in every part. First, we’ll look at the best writing apps for planning your story, from mind-mapping to idea generating. Then it’s time to sit our butts in the chair and get started, so we’ll look at creative writing apps for actually doing your writing. Lastly, there are some tools every writer needs during and after the process, which is why I’ve got a writing app with tips for the business side of writing. As a writer, I use all of my devices to work, including the iPhone, iPad, and a Macbook. So each writer's app below will also indicate which devices it’s available on. I believe we’ve all got a book in us. Here are the nine best writing apps for getting your book onto paper and into the world.

Before we get started: If you're a writer, you probably also be a reader. For all your inspirational needs, make sure you've got a good e-reading app on hand , too.

Related:  Traveling with iPhone Life: Best Apps & Gear for the Ultimate Beach Getaway

Pre-Writing Apps (aka Brainstorming & Outlining)

Mindnode ($9.99).

Outline and mind-map your story ideas with MindNode. Organize your ideas, plots, characters, and whatever else you might need into a visually stunning and easy-to-understand map. Perfect for writers who like a solid outline or who want to brainstorm ideas on an organized canvas.

*Available For iPad / iPhone

The Brainstormer ($1.99)

Get your imagination going with The Brainstormer. The app randomly combines a plot, a subject, and a setting or style to provide instant inspiration for artists of all kinds. It’s the perfect app to generate prompt ideas and get your hand moving! Writer’s Block be gone! I highly recommend using this app to get your pencil moving at the start of your day.

Lists for Writers ($2.99)

I like to say, the only people who use baby naming websites are expecting parents and writers. Lists for Writers is a dream app because of this. Not only does it have name lists but lists for just about everything and anything else. From colors to phobias, you’d be hard pressed to think of something this app doesn’t have a list for. Which makes it perfect for creating fantastic imagery in your stories, poems, and articles.

Best Apps for the Writing Itself

Ulysses ( ios: $24.99 / mac: $44.95 ).

Ulysses is a premium software for writers. While it’s a bit of an investment, if you’re a fulltime writer or a serious aspiring author, it’s worth it. Write distraction free and layout your work beautifully. Reviewers absolutely rave over this app. I recommend getting the Mac version and using free note-taking apps, like Evernote, on iPhone and iPad. This software is truly the best for writers everywhere, regardless of your medium.

*Available For iPad / iPhone / Mac

iA Writer ( iOS: $3.99 / Mac: $9.99 )

If Ulysses is simply out of your price range, iA Writer is a fantastic alterative for a more reasonable price. Or, if you often write on your iPad, consider getting the cheaper iOS versions of iA Writer and splurge on Ulysses for your Mac. iA Writer is all about helping you focus on writing by providing a digital writing experience that’s distraction free. Write and style your work with iA Writer’s plain text and full preview modes.

Hanx Writer - Digital Typewriter App (Free)

Nearly every writer can appreciate the typewriter experience. Something about the clackity-clack of the keys helps the mind focus purely on what’s being written. Actor Tom Hanks wanted to bring the joy of typewriting to mobile phones, thus creating Hanx Writer. The current update needs some work, but I was so excited when I first tested this app out. It has in-app purchases if you want to buy different types of keyboards, but you can use the included keyboard for free and type to your heart’s content.

The Tools Every Writer Needs

Merriam-webster dictionary (free).

When it comes to words and their definitions, Merriam-Webster is the best. So it only makes sense that you’d get the free Merriam-Webster dictionary for your iPhone and iPad. And you can easily switch between dictionary and thesaurus with the tap of a button. Every writer needs one of these; we’re just lucky we don’t have to carry one around anymore.

Dragon Dictation (Free)

Are you the type of person who thinks faster than you can type? Dragon Dictation allows you to record a message, and the app will dictate it for you. It’s not perfect so check for errors, but if you’ve got an idea bursting out of your head, Dragon Dictation is a great way to quickly get it out. I used this last week to transcribe a poem I'd written on paper. There were definitely errors, but it was faster to fix the mistakes than type it from scratch. Willing to pay for a high-end dictation app? Check out Dictate + Connect ($16.99).

Agent Obvious  (Free)

Agent Obvious offers tips for writers, editors, agents, and publishers who are either in the business or want to be. Full of simple truths and a few top secrets, it’s an awesome way to get an inside look into a lit agent’s mind. Unfortunately, like Dragon Dictation, it hasn’t been updated in a few years and looks like it won’t be. But so long as it works, it’s a good resource for learning tidbits of information you wouldn’t readily find in a Google search.

Top Image Credit: Watisak Duangprasit / Shutterstock

Author Details

Conner Carey

Conner Carey's writing can be found at  conpoet.com . She is currently writing a book, creating lots of content, and writing poetry via  @conpoet on Instagram. She lives in an RV full-time with her mom, Jan and dog, Jodi as they slow-travel around the country. 

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5 Essential iPhone Apps for Every Writer

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Mobile writing apps enable you to work on projects wherever you are. Whether you’re looking for a complex word processor or a minimalist note-taking app, these iPhone writing apps can help with your task.

1. Werdsmith

Werdsmith is an ideal app for writers who want quick access to a place where they can jot down ideas, as well as somewhere to work on lengthier projects.

There are two tabs at the bottom of the home screen: Ideas and Projects . You can place your file in either one. This helps you distinguish between your jottings and the work you plan on expanding.

The features are simple, including standard heading and typography options. There’s also a word counter located at the bottom of the file that allows you to set a word goal. A percentage display indicates how much of your goal is completed.

One of the app's most useful tools is History & Undo . Here you can view your typing history in real time; the undo option will restore missing text that you’ve deleted by mistake. The premium version gives you a more in-depth view of your history.

Werdsmith allows you to create an online portfolio to which you can publish your works. Simply sign in with your email address and your account will be added to its site.

Unfortunately, you can’t export your files in any format; the only option is email sharing.

Download: Werdsmith (Free, subscription available)

If you’re looking for something a little more elaborate that utilizes Markdown language, Bear is the perfect app for you.

Its writing tools are plentiful, including rich text shortcuts, linking URLs on text, media insert, undo/redo, and cursor navigation. Cross-note links allows you to link to other Bear files on text. You can also link hashtags inside your files, which will organize them in the sidebar on the home page.

There are several useful features in the popup menu, such as duplicating, archiving, and pinning notes, as well as copying a note link. The free version allows exporting to TXT, Markdown, RTF, and Text Bundle.

Read more: Why Bear Notes Is Better Than Apple Notes

If you're drawn to aesthetics, you'll appreciate Bear's personalized theme feature. The free version comes with three themes: Red Graphite , High Contrast , and Dark Graphite . The paid version has 17 more aesthetically pleasing themes to choose from.

Upgrading Bear will unlock password protection, additional exporting support (such as PDF and HTML), and enable you to sync notes to multiple Apple devices via iCloud.

Download: Bear (Free, subscription available)

Quip focuses on productivity and prioritizes content management. It combines text documents, spreadsheets, checklists, and real-time chat. While an ideal app for teamwork, it's also useful to someone who simply wants to write down ideas or make grocery lists.

One of its best features is adding comments. This can help with keeping track of side notes that pertain to a specific part of the file. Anyone who has access to the file can view its comments, and Quip makes these highly interactive by allowing emojis, GIFs, and likes.

Not only can you share individual files with one or more people, but you can also share entire folders via email or link, and color-code them. Real-time chat makes for easy communication while collaborating, eliminating the need to switch to a separate chat app.

The free version allows you to export documents to PDF and Microsoft Word—spreadsheets can be exported to Microsoft Excel. You can also import files from Dropbox, Google Drive, and Evernote.

Download: Quip (Free, subscription available)

OneNote is ideal for organization-oriented people. It lets you create elaborate notes which you can section off into color-coded folders and place into notebooks. This makes writing a novel with multiple chapters highly manageable, as well as providing help when studying or keeping track of business relations.

Its comprehensive tools allow for diverse content creation. OneNote includes multiple text formatting options, checklists, the ability to attach media and files from your phone, and drawing tools. OneNote is also one of the few note-taking apps that incorporates audio recording. The Web Clipper lets you embed links within text.

If you’re in a hurry to jot something down without creating a new note or including it in your already organized folders, there’s a sticky note section located on the home screen—a convenient perk.

Read more: Little-Known Microsoft OneNote Features You Will Love

You can sync your notebooks across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, and the web. The free version gives you 5GB of cloud storage with OneDrive. This might seem like an enormous amount of notes, but it’ll eventually fill up if you attach a lot of media.

Download: OneNote (Free, subscription available)

Pages is an Apple offering that's free on the App Store. This impressive, full-featured word processor comes with an extensive list of templates that includes reports, CVs, letters, books, and note-taking.

Upon opening a template, you’ll see placeholder text that disappears when you put the cursor on it and start typing. The text gives you an outline of what the document will look like. It utilizes rich text shortcuts and offers a wide variety of fonts. You can also attach media files, weblinks, drawings, and audio recordings, plus insert spreadsheets.

The most impressive feature is its 3D and interactive graph objects. You can insert them anywhere in a document and manipulate their values. There's also an expansive range of icons and symbols akin to emojis.

Sharing is made easy with the collaboration option—just make sure you’re signed into iCloud. There are four export formats: PDF, Word (.DOCX), RTF, and EPUB. You can also print a document and open it through other apps.

Download: Pages (Free)

Writing on iPhone Made Easy

A good writing app should make writing easier and provide you with the tools best suited to your needs. The iPhone apps we looked at above will make the whole process of jotting down words a lot more convenient.

• Productivity
• Writing Tips

Top 7 Writing Apps: Game-Changers for Writers [Inc. AI]

Table of contents

Chelsea Forsyth

There are days when even the best writers need a little assistance getting into their creative flow. So, when one of those days strikes, you want to ensure you have a toolkit of the best apps for writers to rely on.

Writing apps can provide inspiration, improve your writing style, and help you organize your thoughts. They can also help with research, tracking your progress, and sharing drafts with editors, making them a great resource for both aspiring and established writers. Plus, many apps are even available for free!

If you’re looking for some tools to help streamline your creative writing processes, check out our list of eight handy tools. 

1. Wordtune: Using AI while keeping your content human

What kind of list of best apps for writers would this be if we didn’t start with Wordtune? 

Wordtune is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps you improve your writing by providing real-time feedback on grammar, punctuation, and style. It can be used for everything from academic writing to business emails and blog posts, making it a brilliant tool for a variety of writers. 

Wordtune can also help you to find the right words for your writing. It can provide synonyms, antonyms, and other words related to the topic being written about. It also offers definitions and other contextual information to help writers better understand what they’re writing about. For instance, Wordtune highlights words used in the wrong context, or suggests more suitable words or phrases in its place.

Plus, you can use Spices — these are tools developed to enhance your writing even further. You can ask Wordtune to “explain” the topic you’re writing about to help give your reader further clarification, or “emphasize” to help reiterate your point. These are especially useful if you’re struggling to add further detail to your writing, or if you need some help understanding a topic

Try Wordtune for free > Try Wordtune for free >

2. Scrivener: Best for writers who write long-form

Scrivener is a must-have tool for long-form writers. Both an “outliner” planning tool and a word processor, Scrivener allows you to meticulously plan your novel or screenplay by breaking down your writing into sections and ‘outlining’ what each bit will include. You can also organize notes, concepts, research, and whole documents into its “Binder” for easy access and reference. 

Scrivener differs from other apps on this list in that it won't assist you with your writing style — but it will provide everything you need to keep writing. For instance, if you’re writing a novel or a screenplay, you can write when inspiration strikes without worrying if it's in chronological order, as the drag-and-drop interface allows you to easily move sections to another place at a later date. You can also add synopses and overviews to each chapter, which helps when you want to ‘zoom out’ and look at your novel or screenplay as a whole. Plus, Scrivener allows you to keep all your notes and research in one place, supporting photos and audio files, too.

Scrivener also syncs across devices — whether it’s your Mac, Windows, or iOS device — and you can easily compile everything into a single document when you’re ready to export, with popular formats such as Word document, PDF, Final Draft, and plain text supported.

To get started, download Scrivener from the website for a free 30-day trial. Once this is up, you can either purchase it on Mac or Windows for a one-time payment of $49, or on iOS for a one-time payment of $19.99.

3. ChatGPT: Everyone's using it, but writers use it differently

The AI language model ChatGPT is a great tool for sparking inspiration and outlining ideas — just ask it a question, or command it to write something, and see what text it generates. 

ChatGPT can assist in producing high-quality content that’s grammatically correct and coherent. It also processes and analyzes information quickly, generating text much faster than a human. This can be especially useful if you need to write a large amount of content in a short amount of time — you can ask it to generate an explanation of a complex topic, for example, instead of needing to write this out yourself.   

However, as listed in the image above, ChatGPT’s responses can sometimes be factually incorrect or can include biases. Its creator, OpenAI, has also warned users that ChatGPT’s arguments can be logically flawed. And while the tool is known for its supposed versatility, we don’t recommend using it to generate creative writing. There’s only so much an algorithm can do, and thankfully humans win when it comes to being uniquely creative. 

Overall, ChatGPT is a great tool for quick, surface-level overviews; idea generation, summarizing information, and creating outlines are all made simpler by the tool. However, if you want an all-round writing assistant that helps you to construct your narrative, take a read of our article on choosing the right AI writing tool .

4. Evernote: Saving your wonderful thoughts for reference

Most writers carry a notebook to jot down ideas when inspiration strikes. But in the smartphone era, there’s a much simpler and more efficient alternative to capture fleeting thoughts — enter Evernote . Syncing across all your devices, Evernote automatically saves notes online, allowing you to keep everything that’s on your mind organised and in one place. You can add images, illustrations, and to-do lists, handwrite notes, and tag items with keywords, allowing you to always find anything you need. 

Available for free on iOS and Android devices — and accessible from within your browser — Evernote also provides offline access, so you can access your notes even without wifi.  

Take notes, plan projects, and find whatever you need at the touch of a button. Evernote is the perfect companion to a writer’s messy brain.

5. Daily Prompt: Your inspiration injection

Need a nudge to write consistently? It’s time to try Daily Prompt: Creative Writing .

Available as both an iOS app and as a web-based writing tool , Daily Prompt encourages you to get creative every day with a new prompt every 24 hours. You can let Daily Prompt provide you with a prompt, or you can browse existing prompts. Choose from genres such as horror, adventure, romance, or crime, and opt for different types of prompts like “story starters” (a creative prompt encouraging you to contine the story) or “writing obstacles” (an instruction designed to challenge you to write more creatively). 

You can use a limited version of the app on both your phone or web browser, or alternatively, you can pay a yearly subscription of $19.99. This gives you premium access, with free range over the back catalogue of prompts, early access to new features, and a seven-day money back guarantee if you change your mind. Plus, you get to join Daily Prompt’s community of aspiring authors improving their writing skills on a daily basis, and even read their stories.

6. Power Thesaurus: To find the word on the tip of your tongue

Every writer needs a thesaurus to lean on now and again. While a lot of AI writing tools provide synonyms as part of the package, there’s no harm in having a dedicated thesaurus app to rely on if you need alternatives to an overused word. 

One of the best is Power Thesaurus — available as both an iOS and Android app, and as a website. It’s quick, it’s powerful, and it provides a list of synonyms longer than any other thesaurus I’ve used. Plus, you can find the definition of the word you’re searching for, as well as see it used in a sentence, or choose from a list of antonyms. 

7. Hemingway App: Because readability matters more than you think

Hemingway App is a powerful tool for streamlining your writing style. The free online editor enhances the readability and clarity of your writing by highlighting and correcting grammar, fluency, and sentence structure. 

The platform is ideal for editing shorter pieces. If you tend to write longer sentences, Hemingway will encourage you to be clearer and more succinct in your writing by highlighting sentences that are hard to read, or phrases that have simpler alternatives. 

As well as being online, you can also download a desktop version of the app. This requires a one-time payment of $19.99 on both Mac and Windows. 

Time to write

Using a writing app or two is a great way to enhance your creativity, edit your writing, or just make your writing process more enjoyable (and productive) in general. 

Tools like Google Docs and Scrivener are brilliant for keeping you organized and efficient, whereas an AI writing assistant like Wordtune can help you to level up your language and explore ideas you hadn’t previously thought of.

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Best writing apps for iPhone and iPad in 2024

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Do you know you can write, edit, and streamline your writing processes from your iPhone or iPad? Whether you’re looking for a simple note-taking app, a powerful and professional writing tool, or an app to organize your research or manuscripts, we’ve got you covered. You don’t need to sort through countless apps! Here, I have compiled a list of the best writing apps for iPad and iPhone designed specifically for writers.

1. Notion – Organize your work

Notion is an incredibly versatile note-taking app perfect for organizing your work. You can create Notion pages for to-do lists, project plans, dashboards, or a website. I liked its drag-and-drop editor and highly customizable templates and layouts that suit your unique needs and preferences. Besides, it offers 20+ content types and supports rich media. 

You may simply create one nested page inside another and avoid maintaining folders. If you are working with other writers, you can collaborate with them by sharing pages. Moreover, it allows you to publish your journals in just two steps. Notion syncs with all devices and provides unlimited storage, making it easy to incorporate into your existing workflow.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $4.99)

2. Google Docs – Write on the go

The Google Docs app for iPhone and iPad is an excellent document creation app for writers. It is reliable and user-friendly. You can create, edit, and collaborate on documents in real time. Also, it offers professional writing tools, a built-in grammar and spelling checker, formatting options, and integrated extensions for better efficiency. 

One of the standout features of Google Docs is its seamless integration with Google Drive. It allows you to store and access your documents from anywhere. You may import and export your work in .docx, .pdf, .odt, .rtf, .txt, or .html format. Besides, its collaboration features greatly benefit writers working as a team. 

Multiple people can work, chat, leave comments, and suggest edits on the same document simultaneously. It will automatically save and sync changes across all devices. You can later track the changes from version history and restore them. Moreover, I liked its offline support that stores changes on your device and later syncs to the cloud.

Price: Free

3. Drafts – Dictate your story

Drafts is a must-have writing app for authors who want to capture their thoughts and jot down ideas quickly and easily. Thanks to the extended dictation feature, you can use it as a speech-to-text app to take notes. Later you can edit them using the writing automation tool. The best part is it syncs seamlessly with other apps, including Mail, iMessage, Reminders, Tweeter, Dropbox, Drive, WordPress, etc. 

So, you can access and share your notes from anywhere. Use the tags, flags, and archives to keep your work organized. Besides, you can create your own interface, custom fonts, and keyboard buttons to streamline your writing process and save time. The unique features like Link Mode, Arrange Mode, and text manipulation actions make it stand out.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $1.99)

4. Danger Note – Overcome writer’s block

Danger Notes is considered an essential writing app because of its self-destruct feature. First, you are required to create a timer for your notes. Then, while writing, a red bar will indicate whenever you stop for a few seconds. If nothing is typed, then all your writing will vanish automatically. 

In essence, it forces you to keep writing to save your work and fight writer’s block. So, it helps to get your creative juices flowing. After completing the time limit, you may save your notes to the archives. If you are a minimalist like me, you will love its easy-to-use interface.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)

5. Ulysses – One-stop writing environment

Ulysses can be the much-needed shot in the arm for smooth-sailing writing. The app is fully featured and provides a more consistent, distraction-free writing experience. You can focus without getting bogged down by formatting or editing and maximize your productivity. After you’re done writing, the built-in markup-based text editor allows you to edit your content quickly. 

Therefore, you can devote more time to writing. Also, the integrated proofreading assistant helps to make your content error-free. Besides, everything is stored in the unified library, so you can easily access it. On top of all, you can export your docs in multiple formats, including PDF, Microsoft Word, or even eBooks. Moreover, you can publish your content on WordPress, Medium, Ghost, etc., through the app.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $5.99)

6. Scrivener – For long manuscripts

Scrivener is a compelling and feature-rich app that tackles complex and lengthy writing projects. You can break your writing project down into smaller chunks, organize your research, and keep track of your notes all in one place. In addition, you can rearrange chapters as index cards on the corkboard. So, this makes it easy to stay organized and focused on your writing part by part.

Besides, you can easily format your work for different output formats, such as ePub or PDF. Scrivener includes several writing tools, including outlining, character development, research tools, and customizable keyboard shortcuts. The best part is it lets you store all supporting material in a single project which you can access in a multitasking split-screen mode.  

Also, you can easily verify the coherence with the previous chapter. Open two documents simultaneously on the iPad, then quickly switch between writing and research. After your content is ready, combine everything into a single document and export to Word, PDF, Final Draft, or plain text. You may also share using alternate formats, using your preferred font.

Price: $23.99

7. Story Planner for Writers – Best for fictional writers

Story Planner for Writers app helps to efficiently plan, organize, and track writing projects. It provides novels, screenplays, and fiction writers with tools for quick and intuitive story organization. You can map your story arcs, scene segmentation, plot points, and character development.

Besides, the Revision mode allows you to overview the project. I liked its progress tracking feature that provides stats on a widget. You can sort projects according to tags, categories, and colors and use Drag & Drop to rearrange them. Moreover, Story Planner is secure, allowing you to set an app lock using Face/Touch ID.

All your work is automatically saved to iCloud and synced across all devices. Lastly, you may export parts of a project, choose its appearance, create PDF documents, or send them to Ulysses, Scrivener, etc. apps. 

Price: $5.99

8. MyStory.today – All-rounder novel writing app

MyStory.today is perfect for your next novel! You can manage your stories by categorizing chapters and scenes or labeling them on cards. Its built-in rich text editor offers powerful formatting options, different content styles, and spelling and fundamental grammar checks. Besides, the card-based dynamic corkboard allows you to sketch ideas for an outline and rearrange them. 

You may create chapter summaries to obtain a fast overview. The dynamic character management and location linking function let you add a new character or location to your story. Also, if you change any name, it will be updated everywhere. I liked its integrated book export feature linked with Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer.

Price: Free (In-app purchase at $2.49)

9. Fortelling – Plot your ideas

Fortelling is specifically designed for book authors. This book-writing app for iPhone provides sophisticated plotting and location tools to create the ideal fiction. You will get a single board to connect all the parts to structure your book and describe character relationships. 

Also, keep a tab on your progress thanks to writing statistics and version history. The best part is you can write your book collaboratively with other authors in real-time. Besides, the app holds weekly challenges each Sunday to stretch your creativity. You may submit a short story and get reviews from the community.

10. Grammarly – A must-have for writers

Grammarly is a one-stop solution for your proofreading needs. Though most writers use the Grammarly web extension, its keyboard app for iPhone is pretty useful. It provides real-time writing comments to ensure your content has impeccable grammar. You may also improve your writing by using the document editor and writing statistics.

It gives suggestions to condense longer sentences and enhance clarity. Besides, you may set intent, formality, tone, and audience type for better recommendations. The best part is it lets you use different synonyms and build your vocabulary. Moreover, all your proofreads are saved to the cloud. 

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $29.99)

11. Dictionary.com – Build your vocabulary

Having trouble coming up with words to use in the text? Dictionary.com app is a powerful dictionary, encyclopedia, and thesaurus , all in one platform! It retains all the functions of a decent dictionary app and provides the user with the audio pronunciation and meaning of the selected words.

Another fantastic feature is the Science and Rhyming Dictionaries. If you need a word that rhymes with the ones you have in your text, the app can provide it! You can play Word Puzzle and get words of the day and synonyms of the day. This is an excellent app for writing on the go while offline and is compatible with Apple Watch.

12. Word Keeper – Writing tracker

Writers also need to hone their skills and develop writing efficiency. That’s why I have included this app on the list. You can accomplish daily tasks, keep track of projects using charts and graphs, and arrange them. To get an accurate writing analysis with 30+ specific statistics, start one writing session at a time, work on your writing habits, and produce more.

Besides, the timer helps you concentrate on writing and track time spent on each project. Not only writing, but you can also observe your research patterns and drafting or editing phases. Additionally, its home screen offers a summary list of your daily chores. Also, you may export the data to analyze it further.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $2.99)

13. WordPalette – Play with words

WordPallette is a fun app that helps to build vocabulary. It will give six sliding lanes of text that have been cleverly jumbled. You need to rearrange them into poetic phrases. Besides, you may rapidly switch between the slider lanes and the built-in iOS keyboard. Also, it allows you to import and export phrases for better personalization.

Price: Free (In-app purchases start from $0.99)

So, that’s all for today, fellow writers!

All the best writing apps for iPad and iPhone help to increase efficiency and productivity and assist you in keeping your creativity flowing. Here I use Notion, Google Docs, Dictionary.com, and Grammarly daily. Do you use any other free writing apps for iPhone? Let me know in the comment below; I will surely check them!

Explore more…

• Best handwriting apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best AI writing apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best PDF editors for iPhone and iPad
• Best mind mapping software for Mac

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10 Best Book Making Apps for 2024

Creating a book has never been easier, thanks to the rise of intuitive book making apps.

Whether you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned writer, these tools can significantly enhance your productivity and creativity.

In this short guide, we’ll explore the top 10 best book making apps available in 2024.

Whether you’re a novelist seeking project management or a publisher aiming for polished formatting, this research-backed list has you covered.

Key Takeaways

• Streamlined writing and formatting processes can enhance productivity for authors.
• Many apps now offer collaborative features, catering to modern writing needs.
• Pricing options range from free to premium, accommodating various budgets.

Top 10 Picks for Best Book Making Apps

• Scrivener – Best for project management and organization.
• Dabble – Best for scene organization and collaboration.
• Google Docs – Best for real-time collaboration.
• Vellum – Best for high-quality book formatting.
• Atticus – Best for writing and formatting in one tool.
• ProWritingAid – Best for grammar and style checks.
• Publisher Rocket – Best for book marketing insights.
• Freedom – Best for distraction-free writing.
• Book Creator – Best for multimedia book creation.
• Book Bolt – Best for self-publishing low-content books.

How We Evaluated Best Book Making Apps

The evaluation process for the best book making apps focused on these key criteria:

• Features: We examined essential functionalities like collaboration, formatting, and project management.
• User Experience: Ease of use and intuitive design were prioritized to cater to both novice and experienced users.
• Pricing: We analyzed various pricing tiers to ensure options for different budgets.
• Support and Resources: Availability of customer support and learning resources was considered.
• Compatibility: We evaluated how well tools integrate with other platforms and devices.

The methodology involved hands-on testing, expert consultations, and extensive online research to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each tool.

Best Book Making Apps Comparison Table

1. Scrivener

Best for project management and organization

Scrivener is a highly regarded writing tool, perfect for authors managing large projects.

With its corkboard view, it allows writers to visualize their story structure and organize notes effectively.

• Excellent for organizing large projects.
• Supports various formats like ePub and PDF.
• Offers comprehensive project management features.
• Steep learning curve for new users.
• Collaboration can be cumbersome.

Key Features

• Corkboard View: Helps visualize story structure.
• Templates: Tailors to various genres for effective writing.
• Multi-format Export: Supports multiple export formats for versatility.

Scrivener is offered at a one-time purchase of $59.99 , making it a solid investment for serious writers. There is no free version, but a trial is available.

Best for scene organization and collaboration

Dabble focuses on helping writers structure their stories effectively.

With features like word count goals and cloud saves, it’s an excellent choice for collaborative writing.

• User-friendly interface for beginners.
• Good collaboration tools for co-authors.
• Subscription model can be costly long-term.
• Scene Organization: Allows easy arrangement of scenes and chapters.
• Word Count Goals: Helps track writing progress.
• Automatic Cloud Saves: Ensures work is never lost.

Dabble offers flexible pricing starting from $10/month to $20/month , or a one-time payment of $499 for lifetime access. A 14-day free trial is available.

3. Google Docs

Best for real-time collaboration

Google Docs is a well-known free tool that excels in real-time collaboration. Writers can easily share documents and receive feedback instantly.

• Excellent for collaborative feedback and editing.
• Completely free to use.
• Limited organizational features for extensive projects.
• Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users can edit simultaneously.
• Outline Feature: Helps structure documents effectively.
• Cloud-Based Access: Work from anywhere.

Google Docs is free , making it accessible for everyone.

Best for high-quality book formatting

Vellum is a premium tool known for its exceptional formatting capabilities. Ideal for authors looking to publish polished eBooks and print books.

• High-quality formatting options.
• User-friendly interface for quick formatting.
• Mac-only software.
• Higher price point compared to alternatives.
• Print and eBook Formatting: Tailored formats for different publishing needs.
• Preview Feature: See how the book will look before publishing.

Vellum is available for a one-time purchase of $249 .

Best for writing and formatting in one tool

Atticus combines writing and formatting, making it a versatile option for authors. Its cloud-based support enhances collaboration.

• Combines writing and formatting capabilities.
• Cost-effective compared to other tools.
• Newer software, may lack some advanced features.
• Multi-Platform Support: Access from anywhere.
• Cloud-Based Collaboration: Write with others easily.

Atticus is priced at $147 for a one-time purchase .

6. ProWritingAid

Best for grammar and style checking

ProWritingAid provides comprehensive grammar and style checks, helping writers improve their craft.

• Detailed analytics on writing style.
• Integrates with various writing platforms.
• Requires internet for full features.
• Grammar Checks: Identifies common mistakes.
• Style Suggestions: Helps refine writing style.

ProWritingAid is available for $96/year .

7. Publisher Rocket

Best for book marketing insights

Publisher Rocket is essential for authors looking to market their books effectively by analyzing keywords and categories.

• Helps identify profitable niches.
• Comprehensive market analysis tools.
• Requires understanding of marketing approaches.
• Keyword Research: Find the best keywords for your book.
• Market Analysis: Understand competition and reader interest.

Publisher Rocket is offered at a one-time purchase of $97 .

Best for distraction-free writing

Freedom is a productivity app that helps writers maintain focus by blocking distracting websites and apps.

• Helps maintain writing focus.
• Offers a free version.
• Mobile sync can be complex.
• Distraction Blocking: Prevents access to distracting sites.
• Scheduling: Set times to block distractions.

Freedom has a free version and a Pro version at $29/year .

9. Book Creator

Best for multimedia book creation

Book Creator allows users to create visually appealing books with multimedia support, perfect for educators and beginners.

• User-friendly for beginners.
• Supports various multimedia formats.
• Limited advanced features for seasoned authors.
• Easy Book Creation: Step-by-step interface.
• Multimedia Support: Incorporate images, videos, and audio.

Book Creator is available for $13/month with a free plan option.

10. Book Bolt

Best for self-publishing low-content books

Book Bolt is designed for authors interested in creating and publishing low-content books, such as journals and planners.

• Affordable and effective for niche publishing.
• User-friendly design tools.
• May not suit all types of books.
• Design Tools: Create covers and interiors easily.
• Publishing Support: Guidance for self-publishing.

Book Bolt offers plans starting at $9.99/month (Newbie) and $19.99/month (Pro) with a 3-day trial available.

How to Choose the Right Best Book Making Apps for Your Needs

Selecting the ideal book making app depends on your specific requirements. Consider these crucial factors:

• Purpose: Determine if you need writing, formatting, or marketing tools.
• Budget: Assess how much you are willing to spend on software.
• Features: Prioritize essential features like collaboration, analytics, or formatting.
• Ease of Use: Opt for tools that match your technical comfort level.

Emerging Trends in Best Book Making Apps

• As technology evolves, book making apps are integrating AI-driven features to enhance writing and formatting processes.
• The rise of cloud-based tools is also making collaboration easier, with many apps now offering seamless integration with other platforms and devices.
• Expect to see more automation in editing and formatting tasks , allowing authors to focus more on their creative work.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right book making app is crucial for enhancing your writing process and achieving your publishing goals.

Evaluate your needs against the features and pricing of each tool to find the best fit for you.

Explore the top picks listed above and start your journey toward creating your next masterpiece today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Most common questions writers ask about book making software.

What is the best app to write a book?

The best app often depends on personal preferences, but Scrivener is widely regarded for its project management capabilities.

How much does Scrivener cost?

Scrivener costs $59.99 for a one-time purchase.

Is there a free book formatting tool?

Google Docs offers free text editing and some formatting capabilities, but for advanced formatting, tools like Vellum are recommended.

Which app is best for collaboration in writing?

Google Docs is excellent for real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit and comment simultaneously.

What are the features of Atticus?

Atticus combines writing and formatting, supports multiple platforms, and offers cloud-based collaboration.

Tomas Laurinavicius

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The Best Pro Writing App for Mac (and iOS)

There are a lot of great options available in this golden age of writing applications for the Mac and iOS, but we believe that Ulysses is the cream of the crop. In our opinion, it’s the perfect combination of power and grace, giving you both the writing tools to help you be productive and a beautiful, distraction-free writing environment to keep you focused, making it the best writing app.

What is a “pro writing app?”

A pro writing app is a powerful writing tool engineered to meet the needs of people who get paid to write words. This is a broad audience that includes:

• Screenwriters
• Playwrights
• and much, much more

If you fall into any of these categories, write more than occasionally, or get paid for what you write, then a pro writing app is probably a great fit for you.

You could also define a pro writing app as a “focused writing app,” one that assists you in getting your words out of our head and onto the page. The mission of any pro writing app should be to help you produce words that will eventually end up being posted, printed, or published. It’s not something that gives you a ton of formatting options, but rather helps you focus on your words. A good pro writing app should provide an environment that is aesthetically pleasing and makes it easy for you to focus and create, then allows you to export your work to its final destination as quickly (and painlessly) as possible.

Since the words themselves are the end goal, it’s important that the pro writing app you choose provides you with a distraction-free user interface that inspires creativity. It should provide the essential tools necessary to make your job of writing easier, but it shouldn’t provide anything extra that could clutter the interface with options or features you don’t want or need. The design should be as minimal as possible so as not to be distracting, therefore making the features that are not included in a pro writing app just as important as the ones that are.

What makes a good pro writing app?

These are the characteristics we consider important in a pro writing app and the criteria we used when selecting the best one:

• Design — A blinking cursor on a blank page is intimidating enough, so the app must be well-designed in order to provide an inviting writing environment. Design is vitally important as it should strive to eliminate visual barriers so you can enter into a state of flow easily and do your best creative work.
• Ease of Use — The purpose of any tool is to make the work easier. If the app is not easy to use or it’s too difficult to figure out how a certain critical feature works, it can actually make it harder for you to get words on a page.
• Workflow Options — The application you choose to use should adapt to fit your workflow. It should accommodate your preferred methods and styles for capturing and creating content so you can focus on the words — no matter where you are when you decide to write them.
• Export Options — Your words are ultimately going to end up somewhere outside the pro writing app that you select. Flexible export options allow you to quickly and easily move your content from one location to another and make it simple for you to get your content out into the world.
• Sync/Multi-Platform — With the technology tools that are available today, it’s easier than ever to capture inspiration whenever (and wherever) it hits. If the pro writing app you use has companion mobile applications, it can make it even easier to record that perfect word or phrase when you think of it — even if you can’t get to your Mac.
• Update History — The tool you decide to use should be actively developed. Nothing is more frustrating than being fully invested in a platform that is no longer supported because you then have to figure out a way to get everything out and start over in a completely new system (ask anyone who used WordPerfect or QuarkExpress back in the day).
• Price — There have never been more quality options to choose from, and the competition surrounding great writing apps is fierce. This is great news for you as a writer, as it means you have a lot of affordable tools to choose from.

What a Pro Writing App is NOT

Before we dive into this review, an important distinction: a pro writing app is not a word processor. Word processors are very powerful applications that have a lot of unnecessary formatting and layout tools (for our purposes, anyway). These typically don’t translate well on export, so they have limited value unless their proprietary file formats are in fact your ultimate creative destination. And having to support all of these functions and features comes at a price, resulting in a cluttered and cramped writing interface.

All of these options and tools can also get in the way of your writing by encouraging you to tinker with layout options instead of putting words on the page. Many a writer has succumbed to what Steven Pressfield calls The Resistance by fiddling with font settings instead of doing the work.

Word processors also make it very difficult to work on your project outside the application you started with because of their proprietary file formats. Ever open up a Word document you received from someone and were welcomed by a warning message saying a necessary font is not installed? That’s a frustration of working with word processors like Microsoft Word and Pages, and an unnecessary one for our purposes. They tend to cause a lot of frustration when trying to export your words out of their proprietary file format, which quickly makes these additional tools more trouble than they’re worth.

A pro writing app is also not a specialized text editor like Sublime Text, Atom, or BBEdit. These are also very powerful applications with specific use cases, but are overkill for the person who just needs to put words on a page. That doesn’t mean you can’t write in them, just that it’s not the ideal tool to do so. These applications have a lot of very powerful features (like code completion and multiple cursors) that are great for coders and developers, but unnecessary for people who just want to write.

Our Favorite Pro Writing App is Ulysses

Ulysses is an extremely powerful writing tool with well-thought-out features that will provide great support for any writing project. It provides everything you need to be a more productive writer and still maintains a simple UI that limits distractions so you can focus on accomplishing your writing goals. It’s not cheap, but for people who get paid (or want to get paid) to write words, it is a very worthwhile investment.

When you first launch Ulysses, you’ll see the main three-pane window with the library on the left, the list of “sheets” (what Ulysses calls documents) in the middle, and the editor pane on the right. There’s also a fourth slide-over Attachments pane, but it it stays out of your way until you actually need it.

The left pane offers a couple locations for storing your writing files, including iCloud (if you want your writings accessible everywhere) and local storage (if you don’t). You can also set up “External Folders” that can point to a location like Dropbox or Google Drive. This can be handy if you use another location or app to capture ideas but you want to flesh them out and do the actual writing in Ulysses. For example, maybe you use a note taking application on your iOS device to capture ideas to plain text files in a Dropbox folder. By adding that to the Ulysses Library as a source, you’l automatically get access to those text files whenever you open up Ulysses.

This flexibility allows Ulysses to fit perfectly into my writing workflow:

• When I get an idea (i.e. “Write article on Best Pro Writing App”), I capture it using Drafts ,which saves the note to a Dropbox folder called “Notes.” This might also include a list of apps I think would be useful or other tidbits of information I’ll use when writing.
• When I’m cleaning out my inbox, I’ll find the note and create a task in my task manager. I’ll want to flesh that idea out into a post or article later, so I’ll move the file from “Notes” to another folder in Ulysses which denotes that it is a work in progress.
• I’ll work on the article in Ulysses until I’m finished with it, then export it and publish it straight to the web.

Your writing workflow may differ, but with the ability to add text from many different sources (iCloud, Dropbox, local Mac storage, etc.) Ulysses is flexible enough to accommodate a variety of workflow implementations.

Achieving Your Writing Goals with Ulysses

If you did a side-by-side comparison of Ulysses with some of the other apps we tested, you’d see a lot of similarities, but you’d also see that there are quite a few features that are available in one or more of those other apps that are missing from Ulysses. I would argue this is not only necessary in order to keep the design simple and clean, but actually helps you focus on using the tools that are available which are specifically chosen to assist you in the writing process. In our opinion, the features the developers chose to include are powerful, useful, and easy to use.

One of these tools is Goals . There are a lot of apps that offer a word count, but Goals in Ulysses are a little bit different. For example, you can set your sheet’s goal to be something specific, like at least 1,000 words, or more generic, like about 10,000 characters. Here are the progress metrics you can select from when setting a writing goal:

• number of words
• number of characters (with or without spaces)
• number of sentences
• number of paragraphs
• number of pages
• estimated reading time

Once you select your progress metric, then you need to select the specific measurement you want to use. You can select about if there are no hard requirements for what you’re writing, or you can select at least or at most  if your writing needs to meet certain maximum or minimum criteria.

You can also set a deadline if you have to finish your writing project by a specific date. Check the box to add a deadline and select it from the date picker, and Ulysses will automatically calculate the amount of text you have to write each day to finish in time. If your deadline is at night and you plan on writing that very day, there’s even an option to Write on Due Date so the additional writing day gets taken into account.

As you’re writing and making progress toward your goal, a small circle in the upper right corner of the sheet box (located in the middle pane of the three pane view) displays your progress. You can also see a much larger version of your sheet goal located in the Attachments pane. Once you’ve reached your writing goal and the circle is complete, it will turn green, giving you a very satisfying visual indication that you’ve met your goal:

You can even set goals for groups and have Ulysses track your writing history. Once you set a goal for a group, Ulysses will track your writing history so you can see the daily progress you are making on your larger writing goal. Just right-click the group in the Library and select Goal , then select the History tab to see the words you’ve typed today, your daily average, daily best, and the total progress you’ve made this week.

Keeping Everything Organized

Ulysses also gives you everything you need to keep all your writing organized. One way to do this is by using Groups . Groups are kind of like folders on your Mac, allowing you to store related sheets together in a single location. So if you are the type of person who likes to keep your computer files in a nested folder hierarchy on your computer, you’ll feel right at home using groups in Ulysses. You can even create subgroups inside of groups. For example, you might have a group called Newsletter that contains separate subgroups for Drafts you’re working on and Published newsletters. This allows you to work on your newsletter while it’s in the Drafts subgroup, then once you export it you can move it to the Published subgroup to keep everything nice and tidy.

Ulysses also lets you apply keywords to your sheets. Keywords are basically tags, giving you another way to group your files without the confines of folders and physical locations. Keywords are very flexible and allow you to quickly search for related things, regardless of their location. For example, if you’re writing a book with many characters or locations, you could use keywords to filter all scenes starring the same character or location.

But Ulysses’ killer organizational feature is Filters . Filters are kind of like Smart Folders in Apple Mail and allow you to create living folders that have content in them based on specific criteria. For example, a Filter might include documents that contain certain keywords or be based on when you wrote or modified a document, etc. These are really powerful because they allow you to combine things and quickly find anything you’re looking for — even if you have tens of thousands of sheets in your Ulysses library! Filters look almost exactly like Groups in your Ulysses Library, but the contents are automatically updated based on the criteria. So a filter set up to show us Active documents will always show us only the sheets that we’ve been working on at some point in the last 7 days.

A Clean, Customizable Interface

One of the best things about Ulysses is that it just looks great. The minimal interface is sharp, and every feature is carefully considered. Writing in Ulysses is based on Markdown formatting, allowing you to style your text as you write without all the clutter of something like HTML tags for web writers. The visual markup style makes it easy to see things like bold and italicized text, and you can also customize just about every aspect of the app to your liking. You can change the theme, change the font (or upload your own), even select different colors for individual style elements for both light and dark themes.

Ulysses also has a beautiful, distraction-free Full Screen Mode. Full Screen Mode makes it easy to block distractions and stay focused on your writing. While Full Screen Mode isn’t unique to Ulysses, there are a couple of additional features (like Typewriter Mode) that when coupled with Full Screen mode make Ulysses the ideal environment to focus on your writing.

Once enabled, Typewriter Mode can be very beneficial for helping you concentrate on your current position as you type. You can set Typewriter Mode to highlight your current line, sentence, or paragraph, which causes the rest of the text in your document to fade into the background, while remaining legible. When combined with the Mark the Current Line feature, this makes the the words you are currently focused on really pop.

Ulysses also offers a feature called Fixed Scrolling . Fixed Scrolling fixes the current line vertically on one spot while you type. You can choose this spot to be on the top, in the middle or at the bottom of the screen, or opt for variable. When using Variable , you can freely move your cursor with the mouse or arrow keys, but once you start typing the current line will remain fixed.

Ulysses also has a gorgeous built-in Dark Mode . The Dark Mode in Ulysses matches the look and feel of other pro Mac apps and can be easier on your eyes as you write.

Exporting Made Easy

Once you’ve finished writing, Ulysses lets you export your text easily to a variety of standard formats using the Quick Export feature.

The Quick Export window has a couple different sections. The first section is the format switcher, which lets you choose the format of your text output. You can choose from Text, HTML, ePub, PDF, DOCX , or, if you want to upload your text to a WordPress blog or your Medium account, Publishing . Once you choose your preferred format there are further options to choose from so your document exports exactly as you want. You can, for example, choose an export style and a page size when your output is going to be a PDF document, but not when exporting as text or HTML.

In the top right of the page are the export settings. These vary depending on the format you select.

You can then click on the downward facing arrow next to the Export button and see your export actions. Some vary based on the export format you choose. From here, you can:

• Preview to see what your exported document will look like
• Copy to Clipboard
• Open with , which lists all available applications to which you can send your output
• Send as mail , which allows you to export your output as a mail
• Airdrop which allows you to send your document to another device.

among others…

The large button at the bottom executes the default export action. You can also trigger your default action from the Quick Export window by hitting the Enter key.

Ulysses also has a very clever way of solving the image export problem inherent with Markdown files created in sandboxed Mac App Store applications.

Images in Markdown documents are usually just links to a specific file location (which you can do in Ulysses), but this can cause problems with Apple’s sandboxing rules on the Mac App Store. For example, when sending a file from an app like Ulysses to another app on your Mac, you have to explicitly permit access to image files before they can be displayed in the target application. To solve this problem, the developers of Ulysses have worked with internet genius Brett Terpstra (the developer of Marked ) to create a new file format called TextBundle which provides a way to get around traditional sandboxing limitations on the Mac. TextPack — as seen in the latest version of Ulysses for iOS — is the compressed variant of a TextBundle file.

Without getting too deep into the weeds, TextBundle is revolutionary because it basically takes all the assets that the plain text file points to and packages it all together, so if you wanted to edit the plain text file somewhere else (like a PC) all your assets are right there. This opens up some really interesting integrations for Ulysses. For example, you could send an outline in Ulysses in TextBundle format to MindNode and turn your outline into a mind map (with images attached) instantly. Or you could create a Markdown presentation in Ulysses that can be displayed in Deckset . The possibilities are endless.

Perhaps the best part about this TextBundle format though is that it’s still essentially a plain text file. That means it’s still very flexible to edit and doesn’t lock you into a proprietary format like a word processor does. And best of all, TextBundle is an open standard, making it easy for other developers to implement support for it in their own apps.

Backup & Restore

Backup is one of those things that you typically don’t think about until you really need it, and by then it’s often too late. Fortunately, when it comes to backing up your writing, Ulysses makes it incredibly easy and can even back up your work automatically.

One of the handy backup features in Ulysses is called version history . Version history works a lot like Time Machine for your Mac, only for your writing in Ulysses. So let’s say you delete a sentence in your text, and a couple of days later you change your mind and would like to turn back time to restore it. With Ulysses version history, this is no problem.

Ulysses will also automatically back up your work locally on your device. You can toggle backups on and off if you’d like, but it is enabled by default in Ulysses on both your Mac and your iOS devices. On the Mac, Ulysses stores hourly backups of the last 12 hours of work, daily backups of the last seven days of work, and weekly backups for the last six months of work. These backups are stored inside your user’s Library folder, so to prevent accidental loss of your data you’ll definitely want to make sure that you are backing up your Mac as well.

Backup works the same way on iOS, but because the backups are stored locally, Ulysses doesn’t keep as many backups on your iOS device as it does on your Mac because of space limitations. Also, there is currently no version history on iOS. On iOS, Ulysses keeps hourly backups for the last six hours of work, daily backups for the last five days of work, and weekly backups for the past two months of work.

You Get What You Pay For

The one thing that will keep many people back from Ulysses is the price. You can’t purchase the application outright anymore, and a Ulysses subscription is $5.99/month or $39.99/year (which includes access to the iOS version). And while we know that some people will balk at the fact that Ulysses is a subscription, we feel it is a fair price for a professional writing tool.

One of the main advantages of the subscription model is that it provides a sustainable business model for the developers, and when it comes to choosing a tool for your work, you want to know that it’s going to be around for a while. Many a writing app have debuted at a lower price point, and many of them are not around anymore. We believe that paying a subscription fee for a professional tool is a great business model, providing the company the resources it needs to keep the app updated. The split-screen feature that allows you to work in two sheets at once is a prime example of the kinds of updates that Ulysses pumps out.

We believe the decision to subscribe to Ulysses is an easy one — as long as you get more than $5/month of value from the application. So how can you decide if the subscription is worth it to you? There are a couple of things to consider:

First, do you currently make money as a writer? If so, it’s easy to justify $5/month for a tool that helps you achieve your writing goals by improving the speed and the quality of your writing. Subscription fatigue is a very real thing, but if you are going to use Ulysses in any sort of professional capacity, you might want to think of it as an inexpensive business expense.

Second, do you aspire to make money as a writer? If so, maybe you could take one of those entertainment subscriptions (i.e. Netflix) and convert it over to a Ulysses subscription instead. Then next time you feel like binge watching the latest show, it can be a cue or trigger to work on your writing habit instead.

Third, do you have a SetApp subscription already? SetApp is a great service from MacPaw (the makers of CleanMyMac, Gemini, and several other great Mac utilities) that provides access to a long list of incredible Mac applications. Here’s just a few of our favorites:

• BetterTouchTool
• iStat Menus
• Be Focused Pro

Since Ulysses is a part of SetApp, you can use it with your current subscription if you’re already a SetApp customer. If you’re not a SetApp subscriber and you’re on the fence about whether to subscribe to Ulysses, take a look at the other apps available and see if you can justify the $9.99/month cost that way.

Other Candidates

There were a lot of other high quality writing apps we looked at when writing this review. None of them quite measured up to our top pick in terms of creating a comfortable writing environment, but many have unique features that deserve a mention.

Scrivener ($59) was our previous pick for the best long-form writing app, and it’s done nothing to lose that crown. Unfortunately for Scrivener, Ulysses has just gotten a lot better. With the ePub export in Ulysses being so good, Scrivener is no longer the default choice when you want to publish an ebook. To be fair, Scrivener still does give you a lot more power and options when exporting, and is still your best option if you want to export to the Kindle format.

Scrivener also has an iPad version ($19.99) which is very good. It was even featured in the Best of the App Store in 2016, but requires that you use Dropbox to sync your Scrivener projects instead of iCloud. This makes sync a little more cumbersome, and we still think Ulysses is a better choice for most writing projects.

iA Writer Pro

iA Writer Pro offers a couple unique features like Syntax Control , which scans your document and highlights your adjectives, nouns, adverbs, verbs, prepositions, or conjunctions. This allows you to see if your sentences are balanced. This feature is not limited to just English and supports several other languages as well. iA Writer Pro also has a Focus Mode that highlights one sentence at a time by making the surrounding text fade into the background, reducing the temptation to edit.

iA Writer is $28.99 on the Mac App Store and has companion apps for both iOS ($8.99) and Android (Free). There’s also a Windows version which is $19.99 and offers an installable extension for syncing to iCloud. If you use a PC or Android device and want to write on the go, check out iA Writer as it is the only app we reviewed (besides Microsoft Word and Scrivener) that has support outside the Apple ecosystem.

Focused has one incredibly awesome feature that makes it worth noting called “Zen Mode.” We published an article over at Tools and Toys on music to help you focus , but Focused actually bakes this right into the app itself by providing curated soundtracks designed to help you focus and concentrate on your writing. I personally listen to a lot of the music mentioned in the Tools and Toys article when I write, and the ability to launch it from the writing app and not have to open Spotify or Apple Music (or rely on an internet connection) is a really cool idea.

Focused is $19.99 and in our opinion doesn’t offer the same level of writing assistance that Ulysses does, but is still a very polished app. Focused is also a part of SetApp, so if you have a SetApp subscription you can try both Ulysses and Focused for yourself and see which one is right for you.

Bear really isn’t a pure pro writing, but it can be used for smaller writing projects and supports Markdown formatting. It has a beautiful user interface and at $1.49/month or $14.99/year, it is a much more affordable option if you don’t need all the power that Ulysses offers.

Bear is limited in its export options though, and you won’t be able to publish straight from Bear, but it does offer some unique features, like cross-linking between notes, todos, and browser extensions to quickly clip things into Bear. Bear is really a note-taking app ( one we think does an excellent job ), but it’s so well done that it at least deserves a mention here.

Microsoft Word

We’re including this in the list only because this is what a lot of people think of when they need to write a document, but in our opinion it’s one of the worst options available. Not only is Microsoft Word very expensive (it starts at $70/year with Office 365 and goes up from there), but as we outlined above it locks you into a proprietary file format that is difficult to publish from (if you use the features that it offers). If you don’t use these extra features, then there’s really no reason to use Word as the myriad of features just clutter up the screen.

Word used to be the de facto option for sharing text documents throughout an office, but (thankfully) with the advent of plain text (and Markdown in particular), that is changing. We recommend that you use a tool that affords you the flexibility that these other formats offer.

Pages is also not a great option for the same reasons listed for Word, but at least it’s free on the Mac App Store and offers you an easy way to get started. It’s actually pretty powerful as word processors go, but still has the same drawbacks inherent with that application type we outlined earlier.

Pages does have free iOS versions that sync reliably with iCloud, so you’ll be able to sync your documents wherever you go with your iPhone or iPad. If you just bought a shiny new MacBook and want something that will allow you write on the go but you don’t have any money to spend on a fancy writing app, Pages will work, but you will run into formatting issues.

Ulysses is an excellent tool for any professional writer. It has a well thought-out user layout, extremely useful features, and a distraction-free writing interface that does a great job helping you focus on the act of writing. It offers a variety of export options and has an excellent iOS companion app for writing on the go. It requires a subscription and isn’t exactly cheap, but we still consider it an excellent value for anyone who wants a tool to help them achieve their professional writing goals.

There are a couple of other interesting options available that offer unique features, but in our opinion none of them provide the blend of a clean user interface and powerful writing tools that Ulysses offers.

Daily Writing Tips

Top 11 writing apps for ios (iphone and ipad).

Finding the best writing apps for iOS can be challenging. Arguably the best word processor in existence, Microsoft Word, was designed with Windows in mind.

Still, developers have answered the call and diehard Apple fans can still find several high-quality writing apps to help them write down their ideas.

Whether you need a full-scale word processor or a simple notetaking app, there are several great options for iOS users.

If you are writing on mobile or tablet, Byword is one of the best markdown editors out there. It isn’t flashy, it won’t cure cancer, but it will help you write down words. By default, it supports TXT, TEXT, MD, MMD, MARKDOWN, MARKDN, MDOWN, MKDN, MARKD, and Fountain file formats.

Another added bonus of Byword is that you can export your finished products as PDFs and HTML documents.

2. Editorial

Editorial comes with a little more functionality than Byword. What makes Editorial a great app is the fact that it has features like a built-in multi-tab web browser, Dropbox integration, and more.

It also comes with inline preview for taskpaper, markdown, and foundation documents.

1Writer is one of the best notetaking apps for iOS. It can easily be downloaded from the App Store for either iPhone or iPad. The app can be used to write down ideas, for research, or to revise past ideas.

4. iA Writer Pro

If you are looking for a great, free word processor, iA Writer Pro is the right app for you.

This app provides you with all the tools and features you expect from a word processor without the price.

By default, it is compatible with both the iPad and iPhone.

Pages is Apple’s response to Microsoft Word. Like any app developed by a major company, Pages works as you would expect to. It is also completely compatible with iOS because it was designed specifically for it.

Pages is great because it comes with every feature you will need as a writer.

If you require a more professional-grade word processor, Pages is exactly what you need.

What more could you expect from a program that was named after one of the greatest novels ever written? This word processor is compatible with most devices that run on iOS.

Ulysses is considered to be one of the best writing apps on the App Store and is used by many professional writers who work on iOS.

Why is Ulysses so good? It boasts a simple, yet effective design, is easy to use, has workflow options, a slew of export options, and syncs across the various iOS devices.

7. Werdsmith

Werdsmith is another great option for aspiring writers who use iOS. This free app is compatible with both the iPhone and iPad.

What makes Werdsmith great is the fact that it is loaded with features, has a great UI, Dropbox integration, and it can even be used on the iPod touch.

Bear is another example of a barebones, markdown notetaking app. It won’t blow you away with features, but it does what it does well.

This notetaking app is best used for taking notes and writing prose. You can also input your notes into Bear, making it a great app to use to study while you are transiting to and from school.

Bear is very easy to use and a great option if you want a free notetaking app.

9. Microsoft Word for iOS

Alright, you may be thinking, why are you suggesting Microsoft Word for iOS? One simple reason, because it exists.

If you are comfortable with Microsoft Word and all of its features, why change? Microsoft has created an iOS version of their flagship word processor and it works flawlessly.

A lot of iOS users make use of Pages because they think it is the go-to word processor for iOS. But, if Microsoft Word is available, why not use arguably the best word processor on the market?

10. Grammarly

Sometimes Grammar is hard. Even the best writers will tell you this. Grammarly isn’t an official writing app like the other ones previously listed.

Grammarly is a free grammar-checking app that is available on iOS. The free version will help you make basic corrections and improve your grammar, while the paid version comes with even more features.

With Grammarly, you will never struggle with spelling, syntax, and sentence structure.

11. Dictionary.com App

No one has perfect spelling. We all misspell words and rely on that wavy red line to tell us when we make mistakes.

The official Dicitonary.com app is a great choice for writers who want to bolster their vocabulary, check the meanings of new words, and help find synonyms for words that they use too much.

What makes this app even better is that it is free and it comes in a lite version.

Stop making those embarrassing mistakes! Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips today!

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3 thoughts on “Top 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)”

No mention of Scrivener? You list a lot of great tools, most of which I’ve used… but Scrivener is at the very top of that list, for me.

Autocrit is another app similar to grammarly. It points out grammatical and structural errors, but also identifies clichés and overused words.

One of my favorite tools is Siri. I’m not sure she would be considered an app, but you can ask her anything and she does the search for you while you’re typing.

Thanks for sharing!

I hadn’t realised there were so many alternatives! In my experience, one thing to bear in mind when choosing an iOS writing app is where else you might need to pick up the same document to continue writing. With Word and Pages, it’s easy to continue on a Mac or PC. In my opinion, Pages is slightly easier to use on iOS than Word, but I still use Word all the time on my iPad as Word is what I use for most of my work when on my home PC. With Microsoft OneDrive, it’s really easy to pick up where I left off, either way around.

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Creative Writer - easy writing 12+

Find words for your thoughts, resonanca it d.o.o..

• 3.7 • 264 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Infinite source of writing ideas! Recycle texts from the greatest writers - combine words into something new, original and beautiful. Forget writer's block forever! Let the writers help you write. Creative Writer provides language expressions for your writing sessions, drawn from actual books: bestselling novels, literary geniuses, traditional and modern poetry, movies, TV series, song lyrics, hip-hop, gangsta RAP and other sources. FEATURED BY APPLE ** Best New Apps (US/UK) ** Say It With Emojis ** Tell Your Story ** Become a Writer ** Unleash Your Inner Poet ** Try Something New ** High School Toolbox ** Tools for Teachers ** Enhanced with 3D Touch ** Type Away EASY TO LEARN. SIMPLE TO USE. You don't have to type a word: just tap on the stream of suggested words, picking words until the sentences come out. Or combine normal typing with predictive writing. You can easily switch among genres: Poetry, Prose, Classics, Dialogues, Lyrics, You & Me, Cooking, Quotations and Romance. GET INSPIRED • Compose songs • Write short stories • Write poems • Smash your writer’s block • Record the stream of consciousness • Learn English - explore, have fun with words WRITER'S PACK An endless source of writing ideas, words, prompts and sentences for your writing sessions. Millions of text segments analyzed and clustered into 7 powerful predictive models: Prose (best-selling novels), Dialogues (movies, TV series), You & Me, Lyrics (popular songs, RAP), Romance, Classics (Shakespeare, Goethe, Joyce, Kafka, Proust, Dostojevski, and others) and Quotations. DICTIONARY PRO Install the Dictionary PRO and throw yourself a brainstorming party! Dictionary PRO puts examples, definitions, rhymes, antonyms, synonyms, and more at your fingertips. ===== • "Unleash the verbal artistry within! It's a fantastic idea, one I haven't seen replicated anywhere else.” — Janel Torkington, AppsZoom • "If you need a little nudge when it comes to figuring out how to say something, Creative Writer needs to be in your writing toolkit." — Best iPad apps for writers, Allyson Kazmucha, iMore • "When the writer needs a voice, he/she creates one with Creative Writer." — Jessica Lares, Customer Reviews ===== Includes a beautiful notepad where you can write your story or collect interesting sentences, edit and share. **No internet connection needed! ===== Some ideas about the app or need support? [email protected] Check us out on Vimeo, resonanca-it.com or hit us up @writing_force

Version 6.4

Ratings and Reviews

264 Ratings

I'm in love with this app

It hits the spot between my geeky interest in computer AI and storytelling. I've only mainly used it for my niche in a niche hobby (solo roleplaying), but now I have the urge to write stories with the creative keyboard. Allowing the creative keyboard to be used in other apps is a brilliant idea. The only thing it's really missing is the ability to import your own texts, which Word Palette does. I would love to be able to import customized data sets exclusively based on Lovecraft, for example. Great app.

Useful, Easy and Rewarding

This allows for creativity to live in a constant state of inspiration. It places new words, ideas and thoughts in a random manor and at the same time gives the tools to effortlessly form lyrics, poetry and more with a few taps. Now this isn't a magic button. You'll still need to bring your own skills to the table, though through it you'll be exposed to new ways of writing than you may be used to. It's incredibly useful for breaking out of a box and freeing your mind to try many new styles and concepts at once, giving a more rewarding result at the end of the writing process. Having purchased the in-app content, as I use them specifically for lyric writing, I have to say I'm very pleased. Two thumbs up. 👍🏻👍🏻

It’s an interesting concept, but something feels off

I tried to use this app many years ago when it first came out and didn’t like it’s suggests. Now I have downloaded it again, purchased the additional language packs, and tried it once more: and although the interface improved and there are like categories and stuff, but the verbal engine still isn’t quite right. Instead freeing me for creativity and empowering me with an arsenal of new words, I feel like this app keeps trying to “put words in my mouth” and confuse me into saying things that I don’t mean. Ultimately, it’s logic is based on texts written by other authors, so it’s bound to draw its inspiration from them, not *you*. And unless we can teach a machine to read our minds, I don’t know if this challenge can be over come.

App Privacy

The developer, RESONANCA IT D.O.O. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

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

Information

• Power Mode $1.99
• Writer's Pack $3.99
• Dictionary PRO $2.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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The best writing apps for iPhone and iPad

Writing isn’t always a breeze but luckily for us, there are a lot of apps out there to help use stay focused, organized, and in some cases, motivated. No matter if you’re writing a grocery list or ta book, some of these apps are sure to have some features you’ll love. Check out our list of the best writing apps for iPhone and iPad.

14 Aug 2021, by  Christine Pamintuan

Narrative Writer

Narrative writer app for iPhone and other devices is a novel writing app for any web browser, with full feature parity on each platform. Live sync in this narrative iPhone app for writing pushes your words to all your devices in real-time. The versions feature saves regular automated snapshots, so you never lose a word. Detailed stats help you track your progress, and an integrated proof reader checks your grammar, spelling, and style in any of 12 languages.

• While using the app, the user interface fades out, so you are free to concentrate on your words
• When you work on any device, your words are pushed up to the cloud, and then synced down to any other devices you are using
• Get motivated, with detailed stats and charts on your writing progress
• An integrated proof reader checks grammar, spelling, and style issues, in several languages and dialects
• Export your work to share with others, or for publishing

Storyist, one of the best writing apps for iPhone is a powerful writing environment that lets you create, review, and revise your work wherever inspiration strikes. With this book writing app you can produce submission-ready manuscripts and screenplay, sketch out a story using index cards and then refine it with customizable plot, character, and setting sheets, review and revise on the go, keep all your writing organized and accessible.

• Rich text editor with support for fonts, colors, comments, images, headers, footers, and style sheets 
• Files interface with the ability to collaborate with other writers, browse version history, and sync with your favorite cloud storage service
• Automatic manuscript and screenplay formatting with familiar tab and return key shortcuts
• Color-coded index cards
• Support for Storyist for Mac, RTF, Plain Text, Fountain, and Final Draft FDX files

journi - Offline travel journal / diary

Journi is the easiest way to capture your life as beautiful timelines with photos, notes, maps and more. Turn them into printed photo books in seconds & easily define which photos are private! Use it offline, create timelines together & sync across all your devices!

• Turn your adventures into beautiful stories with photos, text, maps, stamps, weather, flights and more.
• Order your unique photo book with one click.
• Use Journi offline, without Internet.
• Invite friends to follow or share your journi via iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, etc.

Creative Writer - Fun! Easy! Write! - Ideas for Writing and Texting - Flow of Words, Poetry and Lyrics

Creative Writer gives you a stream of suggested words and all you do is tap on the

• Recycle text from books 
• Combine words into amazing new pieces of art
• A talking robot that talks and types by itself
• Live in a constant state of inspiration
• Free with in-app purchases

Wordsmith allows you to use your iPhone or iPad to write anywhere, anytime. Take down your brainstorm ideas, work on your ongoing project, and show off what you’ve written with friends. The app backs up all of your work in the cloud so it’s kept safe. The free version limits how many projects you can work on at one time and gives you just the standard theme. In-app purchases allow you to remove the limits or try out new themes. You can set writing goals to help provide you with motivation, get feedback from your friends, and never again make the excuse that you can’t write because you don’t have your project with you.

• Custom fonts and themes
• Get motivation
• Share and get feedback
• Back up your work

Brainsparker creativity & creative thinking prompts for brainstorming new ideas

Brainsparker works like a pack of cards. Need some inspiration? Launch the app, shuffle the cards, and tap on the screen to pick one for some fresh ideas. There are hundreds of creative thinking prompt cards to give you a mix of quotes, trigger words, images, questions, and actions. Use the app to overcome blocks, come up with new plot ideas, get inspiration for journal ideas, brainstorm concepts for products, and more. You can schedule a daily brainpsarker, share your brainsparker cards, and download free journals, templates, and creativity workouts. You can use this app alone or in a group for workshops and training sessions or with clients.

• Hundreds of cards with inspirational quotes
• Boost your creativity with a scheduled brainsparker every day
• Use it for teaching, blogging, brainstorming, writing, journaling, or more
• Use in brainstorming meetings at work

One of the ultimate writing apps, Scrivener remains one of the best apps for those who want to put together a story. This app was specifically designed to create manuscripts and thus utilizes a variety of tools to make you feel like you are working on a digital storyboard, and even multiple storyboards simultaneously. Users can import research files including PDFs and media and have it open while they write. There are dozens of writing and format options and users have the ability to write in any order and organize their work later on. Completed drafts can be shared via Markdown apps or via email or synced via DropBox.

• Work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Write in any order
• Avail a plethora of format options
• Import research files of various formats
• Export in various formats and share with Markdown apps or email

Lists for Writers - ideas for creative writing

Lists for Writers is another great tool for your toolbox and will offer help to novices and experts and everyone in between. It gives you prompts and ideas made up of action words, names, obsessions, occupations, plot lines, character traits, and more. There’s a shuffle feature if you just want a random prompt, or you can search the list as well. There’s a notepad so you can collect interesting list items, dictionary support, and more. You won’t regret buying this app. There are so many lists it’s impossible to write them all here, but just a few are Facial Characteristics, Phobias, First Names (male and female), Last Names, Body Types, Hair, Emotions, Hobbies, Bad Habits, Archaic Locations, Setting, Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, Conflicts, Plot, and Weather.

• An amazing tool for writers
• List upon list of prompts and ideas
• Shuffle for random words
• Search for a specific list
• One-time purchase

Prose is a community of people who share your love of reading and writing. Just download the app, sign in, and publish your written products. Read others’ work, get involved in feedback, and receive feedback for your own work. You will love the Instagram-type feed where you will post your creative work. It offers a simple interface and beautiful design that keeps calling you back. You will follow and interact with other writers, and they will interact with what you publish. There are challenges to enter, with amazing prizes like ebooks, publication with various platforms, and more. What are you waiting for?

• Social community of writers
• Publish your work on your feed
• Get feedback from other writers
• Enter challenges to win amazing prizes
• Free writing app for iPhone and iPad

Characterize - Character Creator & Random Name Generator for Fantasy Names, Pirates, Aliens & More

Characterize gives writers, storytellers, and role-players ideas for new characters. The app offers a random name generator, stat picker that offers detailed traits, and the option to save and share. Generators you get include Modern Children, Modern Families, Modern Humans, Modern Men, and Modern Women. Bundles you can buy include Science Fiction, Mythology, Genres, Fantasy Race, European Languages, and Asian Languages. There are many other packs you can buy, like Heroes and Villains, Aliens, Anime and Manga, Pirates and Scallywags, and more. Don’t ever get stuck coming up with character ideas again!

• Trillions of default names
• Perfect companion for your stories, role-playing, and more
• Come up with a near-infinite number of names for free
• In-depth character creator

Webster's Writer's Dictionary

Webster’s Writer’s Dictionary is more than just a dictionary. But you can use it to get inspiration, too. Have you ever paged through a dictionary looking at all of the words and reading the antonyms and synonyms? Taking leaps through the book because one word led you to another, and another…that’s what this app can do for you. There’s also a Word of the Day widget available as an in-app purchase. The app offers predictive text so when you’re typing in a word to search, you’ll see a huge list of possibilities so who knows? You might stumble upon a word or combination of words you would never have thought to use otherwise. Check it out.

• Improve as a writer
• Learn new words
• Use words you already knew, in different ways
• Fun to explore
• Free with in-app purchase

Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts uses scene elements, words, current events, colors, genres, sketches, and more to provide inspiration and writing prompts for when you need a boost. There are five prompt generators you can use to come up with ideas, and you can store your favorites by tapping the favorite star. There are more than 250 scene elements, 60 sketches, 400 words, 10 colors, and 80 genres included to generate millions of unique prompts for your writing. Each pack includes hundreds more new scene elements. You can store an unlimited number of protests in your favorites and quickly swipe through them.

• Get inspiration for your writing with prompts
• Uses five generators
• Millions of unique prompts
• Save your favorites
• Paid writing app for iPhone and iPad 

IEW Writing Tools Lite

IEW Writing Tools Lite is a free app that offers you lists and charts to help write organized papers. It uses the structural models and stylistic techniques from the Teaching Writing: Structure & Style program. It is meant to give you the tools you need to organize the way you write, no matter the style. There are also word choices to help you vary your sentence style. You get Dress-Ups, Sentence Openers, Decorations, Triple Extensions, Teeter-Totters, and Word Lists in addition to Structure Models. This app works for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

• Organize your writing
• Structural models and stylistic techniques
• Word choices
• Sentence openers

WriteRight: enjoy writing

WriteRight contains a huge number of antonyms, synonyms, and phraseology that helps you replace expressions that you use too much and spice up your writing. It makes intelligent replacements preserving gender, number, and conjugation. The iPad version offers an optional keyboard with frequently used symbols and Markdown keys. Functions include find and replace, character/word count, quick navigation through long text, and the option to select and transfer as many files as you want. It offers a minimalist appearance so it won’t distract you from your writing and it’s easy to set up and use.

• Smart replacements
• Preserves gender, number, and conjugation when suggesting other words
• Synonyms and antonyms
• Phraseology

7 minimalist writing apps for iPhone

Super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.

• Gorgeous writing space
• Silky-smooth typing
• Deep personalization (Pro)
• Markdown or Plain Text
• Syncs with iCloud
• Writes and edits texts with ChatGPT AI
• Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, or Ghost
• Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, image, or clipboard
• Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Get focused. iA Writer offers a unique writing experience that lets you concentrate and clarify your message. Used by half a million people worldwide, its powerful interface is crafted to cut out noise, let you focus on what you want to say, and help you structure and trim your text. Available for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android.

Simple and Powerful

No rulers, no formatting bars. iA Writer provides the crisp, uncluttered environment you need to write well, supported by discrete, powerful features, from Content Blocks, to Syntax Highlighting.

Focus and Flow

Focus is the key to good writing, and the guiding principle behind iA Writer. With shortcuts and simplified settings, you can keep your hands on the keyboard and your mind in the text.

Ownership and Control

We think every craftsperson should own their own tools, so when you download iA Writer, you own it. No forced subscriptions, microtransactions, or compatibility concerns. Your work, your files, your app.

Hack Your Syntax

Highlight parts of speech to improve your writing. Spot superfluous adjectives, weak verbs, and unwanted repetitions. Developers have long used syntax highlighting to improve their code. Now you can hack your text.

Power of Style Check

Style Check is like having a personal editor-in-chief on your device, carefully reviewing your text for redundancies, clichés and filler words as you type. It’s simple, different, and powerful.

The Original Focus Mode

Focus only on the sentence or paragraph that you’re working on. Introduced in 2010 with the original iA Writer, Focus Mode has since been copied by many writing apps. This is the original, and still (we think) the best.

Flexible Content Blocks

Swap sections around, add media, and construct your content with flexible building blocks of text, .csv tables and image files. Stitch separate chapters together into one master file. Express yourself through experimentation.

Optimized Typeface

We have created an innovative typeface for iA Writer, specifically designed to enhance the writing experience. The family comes in three flavors: classic Mono, Duo for larger screens, and Quattro for small devices.

Parallel PDF Preview

iA Writer now offers a live, paginated PDF preview, parallel to the text you are editing. Instantly see how your document translates into PDF pages, as you edit.

Advanced Markdown to Word Export

iA Writer features one of the most advanced Markdown-to-Word export functions available anywhere. Quickly export your Markdown documents to MS Word (and back too!). Includes support for tables, images and footnotes.

The Ultimate Writing App for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Powerful features and a pleasant, focused writing experience combined in one tool, made for people who love to write and write a lot — this is Ulysses.

Like 12 Fingers, 25 Hours a Day

Some things simply work better when you’ve got the right tool. Ulysses’ well thought-out features boost your productivity through the entire writing process; its distraction-free interface keeps you in the flow so you can get things done.

Projects Cannot Get Too Big

Be it college essays, blog posts, or the next Great American Novel: No matter what you’re working on, Ulysses is equipped for managing writing projects of all sizes and ambitions.

Built-In Proofreader and Editing Assistant

Write with confidence: Ulysses’ built-in grammar and style check helps you avoid mistakes and meet the right tone. Available for over 20 languages, it offers suggestions for capitalization, punctuation, semantics, redundancy, style and more.

Let Your Words Shine

After you’re done writing, Ulysses can turn your texts into beautiful PDFs, Word documents, ebooks and even blog posts. Everything is just a click away, with on-the-fly switching of styles and a live preview built right in.

Powerful, beautiful Markdown editor for iOS. 1Writer combines all the basic text editing features you would expect with all the advanced features you will ever need. Use 1Writer to write, research, revise, and share your ideas with maximum efficiency.

1Writer provides a distraction free writing environment. You can create and edit plain text or Markdown files. It does have many features including inline Markdown preview, word count, dark theme, TextExpander support, insert photo, an extra keyboard row, and many more. See the formatted results with inline Markdown preview while you write and a full, rich-text preview when you're done.

Pick and choose existing Dropbox or WebDAV folders you want to sync or sync them all. Work offline and your changes will be synced next time you connect to the Internet. It also supports iCloud Drive - start a new document on your Mac and continue editing it in 1Writer, and vice versa. You can send text to 1Writer from Safari and other apps via the Share extension or 1Writer URL scheme.

1Writer has a powerful action system. It comes with a ton of built-in actions. Generate a link to share your document in plain text or PDF. Email your document in plain text, formatted text or PDF, and much more.

You can create even more powerful custom actions using URL scheme or JavaScript - text manipulation, replace the clipboard contents, perform a find & replace, insert a document template, look up synonyms - the possibilities are endless.

iWriter Pro

iWriter Pro is elegant and minimalist text editor with built-in MultiMarkdown support.

Clean and Simple

iWriter Pro is designed to be easy yet powerful text editing app. It provides distraction-free writing experience with a bunch of handy features.

Markdown Highlighting

Markdown is a good way to format your text, apply styles, insert lists and block quotes. iWriter Pro automatically highlights text as you type.

iCloud Support

Use iCloud to store your documents. You can easily create, view and edit your files on Mac, iPad and iPhone devices.

Markdown Notes for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Bear is a beautiful, flexible writing app for crafting notes and prose.

Ready when you need it

Bear works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so you can write wherever inspiration strikes. Use todos to stay on task across every device.

Organize easily

Link notes to each other to build a body of work. Add hashtags to organize the way you think. Use Face/Touch ID to protect sensitive notes.

Write your way

Bear is perfect for everything from quick notes to in-depth essays. A focus mode helps you concentrate, and advanced markup options are an online writer's best friend. Full in-line image support brings your writing to life.

Gorgeous settings

Packed with beautiful themes and typography and Dark Mode, Bear makes your writing look great before and after publishing.

Keep notes safe

With Bear Pro, you can encrypt individual notes to keep them safe and lock Bear to keep away nosy friends, family, and coworkers. Set a unique password that only you know, use Face/Touch ID to open your notes, and know that your Bear is safe from everyone.

Edit and export

Bear's simple tools take the effort out of writing, whether you need to hit specific word counts and reading times, or you need to convert your writing into PDF and Word docs. With Bear's custom markup shortcuts, you can add style and links with just a tap or keystroke.

The joy of writing, elevated. A distraction free writing app built with an intelligent editor, smart organization & a design brought to perfection after years of iterations.

Practically magic

The pure joy of bringing words & thoughts to life is what makes writing magical. Unable to write freely, that flow is disturbed. It takes the magic away.

While most apps have a toolbar that makes you choose different options & rest of them support markdown with a syntax that is visible all the time...

Spaces blissfully integrates Markdown & hides all your syntax, as soon as you move your cursor away. It's practically magic!

People loveeeee Spaces

Thousands of people already in love, and we couldn't be happier! Just getting started.

Everything you need

Pin, archive, add to favorites or simply mark your notes as unread to visit them one more time. Sort your content into spaces using hashtags and/or add them into custom filters.

At your fingertips

All your options, spaces & filters available at a swipe with the gesture perfected to milliseconds after 100+ tests so that you get a flawless experience. Every. Single. Time.

An app you can trust

Spaces is built by a truly independant team of passionate people. All your data is synced using Apple Cloudkit.

We don't have access to your data, it is synced directly using Cloudkit, which also powers native Apple apps like iMessage, Reminders etc.

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Best Free Writing Apps in 2024

Showing 83 writing apps that match your search.

Grammar Lookup

Grammarlookup.com uses artificial intelligence to check grammar and punctuation mistakes in your writing, eliminate spelling errors and highlight 1000s of style issues to make your writing exceptional among other writers.

Platforms: Online

Best for: Editing, Proofreading, Essay, and Free

Website: https://www.grammarlookup.com/

Base price:

Premium price:

★★★★★ Performance

★★★★ Features

★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.7 ★ on Capterra

Campfire Write

Campfire is a versatile writing tool organized into modules, each one offering a different type of story element you can create. Keep track of each character's motives, history, eye color, and more. The Characters Module gives you an easy way to make quick notes or detailed character sheets about anyone in your story. Upload your map to the Maps Module, add pins to integrate it with the rest of your story, and nest other maps to keep things organized.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, Online, PC

Best for: Outlining, Drafting, Book, Story, and Free

Website: https://www.campfirewriting.com/

★★★ Performance

★★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.0 ★ on Reedsy

Ghostwriter

Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience, including a full screen mode and a clean interface. With Markdown, you can write now, and format later.

Platforms: Windows, Mac, PC

Best for: Drafting, Book, Story, Poetry, Journal, Blog, Essay, and Free

Website: https://ghostwriter.kde.org/

★★★★ Performance

★★★ Features

★★★★★ Value

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Remember everything and tackle any project with your notes, tasks, and schedule all in one place.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android, Mac, Online, Chrome, PC

Best for: Note-taking, Outlining, Book, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Story, Blog, and Free

Website: https://evernote.com/

★★★★★ Features

Also rated 4.4 ★ on the App Store

The best outlining app for your best work. Where brilliant ideas are captured, fleshed out, and realized.

Platforms: Online, Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, PC

Best for: Outlining, Book, Story, Blog, Essay, and Free

Website: https://dynalist.io/

★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.2 ★ on Google Play

SSuite Wordgraph Editor

SSuite WordGraph is a free and very useful alternative to Microsoft's Word, OpenOffice's Writer, or anything else out there claiming to be the latest and greatest. You don't even have a need for .NET or even JAVA to be installed. This will save you a lot of hard drive space and precious computer resources.

Platforms: Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Chrome, Android, PC

Best for: Drafting, Story, Book, Essay, and Free

Website: https://www.ssuiteoffice.com/software/wordgraph.htm

QuillBot offers you top-notch tools for perfecting your writing, from our Paraphraser and Summarizer to our Plagiarism Checker. At QuillBot, we’re committed to making writing painless by building the most robust writing and research platform in the world.

Website: https://quillbot.com/

Also rated 4.6 ★ on Capterra

Slick Write

Slick Write is a powerful, free application that makes it easy to check your writing for grammar errors, potential stylistic mistakes, and other features of interest. Whether you're a blogger, novelist, SEO professional, or student writing an essay for school, Slick Write can help take your writing to the next level.

Best for: Editing, Proofreading, Essay, Blog, and Free

Website: https://www.slickwrite.com/

Also rated 4.4 ★ on Capterra

Unload your thoughts by creating a personal layout with notes, links and media in a second to visualize your creative process and move forward faster.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, Online, PC

Best for: Note-taking, Journal, Blog, Essay, Story, Book, and Free

Website: https://xtiles.app/en

Also rated 4.9 ★ on Capterra

With Scrittor store all your ideas, thoughts and whatever your mind tells you.

Platforms: Android, Chrome

Best for: Note-taking, Story, Book, Blog, Journal, Poetry, and Free

Website: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shahid.nid

Also rated 4.4 ★ on Google Play

Danger Notes

Don’t stop typing. If you do all your work will disappear and be gone forever. Danger Notes is the ultimate writing tool to help fight writer’s block. Whether you are writing a term paper, an essay, a book, your best-man speech, promising rap lyrics or just free writing, Danger Notes will help you fight writer’s block by forcing you to keep writing in order to save your progress from being deleted.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad

Best for: Note-taking, Book, Story, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Blog, and Free

Website: http://swivelapps.com/apps-by-david/dangernotes.html

★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.8 ★ on Capterra

Writemonkey

Writemonkey is a Windows zenware writing application with an extremely stripped down user interface, leaving you alone with your thoughts and your words. It is light, fast and free.

Platforms: Windows, PC, Mac

Best for: Drafting, Book, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Story, Blog, and Free

Website: https://writemonkey.com/

Also rated 4.5 ★ on TechRadar

What makes a good writing app?

Put simply, what makes a writing app good for you will depend on the kind of writer that you are. 

• If you’re an author , you might be interested in a writing app with outlining, planning, and formatting functionalities.
• If you’re a student , you’re probably in the market for a writing app that blocks out distractions while you’re writing.
• If you’re a screenwriter , you’ll want a writing app that’s specifically dedicated to writing screenplays.

Or, if you’re none of the above, worry not: that’s why we built this directory of writing apps. Whatever you need, we’ve gathered the outstanding writing apps of 2024 across multiple categories (drafting, editing, note-taking, etc) and platforms (Android, iOS, online browsers, etc) in one place. Feel free to use the filters to make your quest for the perfect writing app even easier!

So what are the best writing apps of 2024?

We can now put an end to the age-old debate of which writing app is best: Microsoft Word vs. Google Docs ? 

The answer, of course, is neither! Hopefully, this directory will point you towards a much better match that actually fulfills your writing needs. We objectively evaluated each writing app based on four metrics.

• Performance: How seamlessly does the writing app do what it’s purported to do? How good is the user experience, from top to bottom?
• Features: How many bells and whistles are built into the app to augment its use?
• Accessibility: Is it widely available on many different operating platforms (e.g. iOS, Windows, mobile, desktop, etc)?
• Value: Is it worth the cost that it would take to download it?

Here are some general recommendations to give you a headstart.

The best writing app for authors

If you’ve been searching for an all-in-one outlining, writing, formatting, and typesetting tool, look no further than Reedsy Studio . Used by over 50,000 authors every month, it’s publishing’s most trusted companion to take them from a first draft to a professionally exported manuscript.

💰 Price:  Free

🚉 Runs on: Web

The best writing app for note-takers

Evernote is the king of written organization. In addition to its free organizational templates, Evernote also gives you impressive tagging capabilities, an omnipresent Web Clipper, and the ability to share notes with collaborators, so that you’ll never forget anything again.

💰 Price:   Free basic plan, $4.99/month for premium

🚉 Runs on: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android

The best writing app for screenwriters

Along with standard scriptwriting features, Final Draft enables you to measure character traits using its inclusivity analysis feature, and tweak your “beat board” until you find your perfect arrangement. And when you’re ready to bring in editors, you can all work simultaneously in real time.

💰 Price: Free trial for 30 days, $249.99 license fee

🚉 Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows

I’ve found the perfect writing app. What next?

Congratulations! Now the fun part begins: actually writing the project that you’ve got in mind.

For authors, this means that you have a long and exciting road ahead. In addition to a writing app, we recommend that you arm yourself with some writing knowledge before you embark on it: whether it’s an understanding of story structure or careful thought put into your character creation, all of it can help you realize your goal of a novel.

If you don’t know where to start, check out the list of free resources below. Good luck, and happy writing!

Free online materials

• How to Plan a Novel
• How to Write a Book
• Story Structure: 7 Types All Writers Should Know
• How to Create a Character Profile
• 500+ Creative Writing Classes
• Plot Generator
• Character Name Generator
• Book TItle Generator
• The Best Literary Agents Seeking Submissions

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Best Creative Writing Apps

Some students are natural born storytellers with creativity and imagination spilling from their fingers. There are plenty of reasons to encourage students to love creative writing. The skills gained from creative writing ultimately contribute to language mastery. Let us help you to find some other great apps to support your children's creative writing, in a digital capacity.  Whether you’re journaling or brainstorming ideas for a new story, book, or blog post, a writing prompts app could change everything.

Here at the Educational App Store we are relentless in our pursuit of apps which are suitable for test preparation and which can help support teachers, parents and ultimately students sitting for their tests and, in their general studies and wiser learning too.

If you want your children to master the basics of creative writing, try these apps to encourage your children to want to write.

1. Vocabulary Builder: Daily Word

Vocabulary Builder is an app to help people who are already proficient in English to expand their vocabulary. It provides a word of the day, browsing, and quiz-type features to let learners develop the variety of words at their disposal. You will save time if you use the words learned to also think about what sort of vocabulary might be useful for this piece of creative writing. These word lists feature loads of good vocabulary to use in creative writing. They provide a fantastic way to boost vocabulary in your class.

Available on:  Android

2. Night Zookeeper

(Android, iPhone, iPadWebsite)

Night Zookeeper is a fun-to-use creative writing application that encourages encourages children’s creative writing and wider creativity skills whilst being great fun to play both during class and at home. From drawing and writing about magical animals, to playing word games and competing in writing competitions, Night Zookeeper offers children the chance to explore their potential and get better at creative writing. Night Zookeeper is a popular writing website for kids which inspires children to express themselves and to be creative writers.

Available on:  Website

3. Writing Challenge for Kids

(Android, iPhone, iPad)

Writing Challenge for Kids is a fun and simple-to-use app that can help spark the imagination of children, and support them with planning and writing stories. Children are presented with a range of prompts that they can choose from. Each prompt gives children ideas for how to start and develop their story, including references to settings and character, which keeps their imagination flowing throughout the process. Writing Challenge is one of the best apps to help kids develop creative writing and digital publishing tools.

Available on:  Android, iPhone and iPad

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Hand-picked educational apps by teachers that will improve your child's learning.

4. Book Creator

Bookcreator is a very simple, self-explanatory tool, where both teachers and students can create their own books using a diversity of templates, fonts, styles, as well as media, such as videos, images and sounds. Book Creator has a wide variety of applications in the classroom ranging from creative story writing to presentation style projects. Bookcreator app works so well in encouraging student engagement with easy-to-use interface, fun templates, colorful designs and tons of tools to spark creativity. It is a perfect tool for creative writing, digital scrapbooking, journaling, digital diaries and so much more!

Available on:  iPhone and iPad

5. Shake-a-Phrase: Fun With Words and Sentences

Shake-a-Phrase is a fun language app for creative writing prompts, vocabulary, and parts of speech practice. The app assists in enabling student to create stories by giving students prompts for characters, scenarios or simple sentences. The ability to change the theme and then shake the device to change the phrase is great fun.   

6. Writing Prompts

(iPhone, iPad)

This is a cool writing-prompt app that does basically everything you need it to: offer writing prompts to encourage/inspire you to write more. With Daily Prompt Premium you can access our Novel Writing Package. This includes 31 specially selected prompts to help outline your novel in a structured way. Daily Prompt is the easy way to make writing progress on a daily basis.

7. Word Creativity Kit - The creative writing tool for kids

A fun app to spark creative imaginations to create poems and stories. The goal of the Word Creativity Kit is to encourage children to play around with words and language as they learn to become the writers of tomorrow!  We like how students can get a jumpstart on the creativity process by using a selection of randomly generated words.

8. Storybird

Storybird lets kids create personalized stories, is committed to inspiring user creativity by providing a variety of colorful and vibrant Illustrations. This impressive creative writing-centered site offers an easy-to-use tool to help kids make picture books, longer books, or poems. You can learn about writing, storytelling, reading skills. They'll practice being creative and flex their imagination, and sharing stories may help them gain self-confidence to write more.

Available on:  iPhone, iPad and Android

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The Best Apps for Distraction-Free Writing

We are bombarded by distractions every moment of every day. Some of them are of our own making; others are basically unavoidable. As I sat writing this story my Fitbit reminded me to get up and move, I received well over 100 emails, Duolingo told me it was time for a lesson, Google let me know it was screening a suspicious call , and I received an alert to water my plants. All of this noise would make it hard to accomplish any task, but it’s particularly problematic when you’re trying to write.

Even the tiniest of distractions can completely disrupt your flow when you’re trying to put words down on a page, and so a whole cottage industry has cropped up around making tools for distraction-free writing. These apps can’t stop telemarketers from calling you or deflect the deluge of Instagram notifications, but they do strip away the extraneous nonsense found in traditional word processors like rulers, toolbars, and tables, and focus on what’s most important: words.

Distraction-free writing apps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and at various price points. Here are a few of my favorites.

Google Docs

Sometimes the best tool is the one you’re already using. Google Docs wouldn’t qualify as “distraction-free” by most measures. It has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from an office suite. But if you go up to the View menu and click “Full screen,” you get a surprisingly clean and minimal interface.

In full screen mode, you see a page with words, rulers along the top and sides, and a document outline on the left. That’s it. The toolbar and most other interface elements are removed. You can hide the rulers and document outline as well; just go to the View menu.

To make Docs as close to the other distraction-free apps in this roundup, go to Tools, Preferences, and turn on Enable Markdown. This allows you to format your work with simple text cues like putting words between asterisks to style them with italics. My biggest complaint is that there’s no dark mode for Google Docs at the moment.

The best feature of Google Docs though, is the price: Free.

At the other end of the price spectrum is iA Writer . The desktop app for macOS is $50. And if you want to use it on your iPad or iPhone, that’s another $50. Windows and Android users get a bit better of a deal at $30, but the experience isn’t quite as smooth, and features generally come to Apple’s platforms first.

That being said, I think it might provide the best experience of the bunch. Even in standard mode, iA Writer is a clean and minimal text editor with a decent amount of customization and support for simple Markdown formatting .

But the real magic happens when you click the focus mode button in the top bar. There are a few ways to customize focus mode, but by default the line you’re actively typing on is highlighted and centered. As you move on to the next line, the completed text fades to a dull gray and moves upwards. It’s not too different from what you’d experience with a typewriter.

iA Writer has dark mode and shortcut integration for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Plus it’s just plain pretty. Given the high price though, you have to be pretty dedicated to the idea of a distraction-free working environment to spring for iA Writer.

The basic layout and feature set of Ulysses isn’t terribly different from iA Writer. There’s a sidebar for navigating and organizing your files, and a large main pane for composing. But it’s definitely more feature-rich, including tools for goal tracking and proofreading. Thanks to its simple but thoughtful organization system, you could probably even use Ulysses as a note-taking app in a pinch.

Like iA Writer it has a typewriter mode with line highlighting and text scrolling. But you have to turn on the various parts of it individually the first time. One of its bigger draws is its styles that allow you to export documents using templates customized for scripts, novels, blog posts, and more.

The knock against Ulysses is that it’s available only as a $40 annual subscription. And it’s strictly for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. If you’re a Windows user, you’re out of luck.

FocusWriter

This is perhaps the most bare-bones of the bunch, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. FocusWriter has all the basics you’d expect from a text editor, including spell check and the ability to have multiple documents open simultaneously. It also has tools for serious writers, like stat tracking and goal setting.

Unlike most of the other apps here, FocusWriter uses rich text (RTF) for formatting instead of Markdown. It probably has the most customizable interface of the bunch, though. You can meticulously choose the interface colors, fonts, and background.

One of the biggest draws will be that it’s free and open source, though right now it’s available for Windows and Linux only. While you can probably get it running on macOS if you know your way around a command line, it will take some legwork, and there’s no mobile client or file syncing.

The idea of distraction-free writing is, inherently, kind of gimmicky. But OmmWriter is probably the most gimmicky of the bunch. It doesn’t just strip away the extraneous nonsense; it aims to immerse you in an environment conducive to a flow state. That includes gentle soundscapes to help you focus and even various typing sound effects to enhance the vibes.

If you want more audible feedback while typing, but don’t want to invest in a nice mechanical keyboard, this might do the job. Though, the very slight lag between your fingers hitting the keys and the sound coming out of the speakers bugged me.

Otherwise, the UI is pretty bare, with a resizable text box in the center and a few buttons to the right for changing settings. It’s the cheapest of the commercial options here at $9.93 for macOS or Windows. But you can also give it a whirl in your browser by playing with a stripped down version for free.

Scrivener has a dedicated following among long-form writers, and for good reason. While the app does have an excellent distraction-free mode, complete with typewriter-style scrolling, it also sports advanced organizing tools that you’re sure to appreciate if you’re working on a book or a screenplay. It’s made specifically with longer writing projects in mind.

Its project outlines make it simple to collect research or rearrange ideas until you find what clicks. When it comes time to actually write, the full screen composition mode gets rid of everything but the text box. It’s the most minimal of editors.

Scrivener is available on macOS and Windows for $60, or iOS for $24. Unfortunately you will have to purchase a separate license for each platform, which could get expensive if you use multiple devices.

This is perhaps the best deal of the bunch if you’re looking for a true distraction-free experience without having to jump through a lot of hoops. For $15, Calmly offers some customization of the interface and basic stat tracking, but mostly it’s just focused on writing.

Like many of the other apps, Calmly is Markdown based, so your resulting files are just plaintext and easily transferred between apps. What you won’t find here are any file management tools or flashy export options, though it does allow you to insert images and add comments, which many of the other apps don’t.

Calmly is available as a desktop app for Windows, Linux, and macOS, but there’s also a stripped down web-based version that is free.

Obsidian isn’t really a distraction-free writing app; it’s a full-featured notetaker. But its clean UI and reliance on Markdown make it a pretty solid writing tool. Plus, its wealth of customization options and deep catalog of extensions mean you can turn Obsidian into the specific writing environment that suits your needs. You can add typewriter-like modes, or set up goal tracking to monitor your productivity. You can just as easily remove features and strip away any of the bits you don't want.

The best part is that Obsidian is free for personal use. If you want to use it as more than just a text editor, I highly recommend you spring for the $4 monthly subscription. This enables file syncing, which keeps all your work in order across all your devices. Obsidian is also platform agnostic and available for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Just don't let browsing and trying out all those extensions become a distraction itself.

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12 ways to create a new note quickly on your iPhone or iPad

Check out these 12 fast and easy ways to create a new note on your iPhone or iPad, helping you capture ideas and tasks in seconds.

Apple Notes is my primary note-taking app, and I use it regularly to pen thoughts when I’m on a call or save the address of an interesting eatery when outside. However, we all know for a fact that unlocking the phone, finding the notes app, opening it, and then creating a new entry is often time-consuming.

So, I’ve compiled a list of ways to start a new note instantly without much looking around. Of course, I use a few of them on my iPhone, and it has already made taking notes quicker and more comfortable for me.

1. Use Siri

There are times when you may not want to use the keyboard to take a note. In these cases, just say something along the lines of “ Hey Siri, take a note saying, new topic idea, how to get new Siri animation on iPhone . ”

Just remember that using Siri may not be practical for taking lengthy notes. But you can address this by making Siri listen to you longer or by using dictation .

2. Add Notes app button to iPhone Lock Screen

iOS 18 allows you to replace the flashlight and camera icons with other actions of your choice. So, if like me you take a lot of notes, you can replace the Camera button with Quick Notes . The Camera button is redundant anyway since you can launch it instantly by swiping left on the Lock Screen .

3. Add a Notes widget on the Lock Screen

Adding a custom Notes app widget on the iPhone or iPad Lock Screen is suitable if you prefer a simple tap as opposed to touching and holding the new note button we explained above. This will also be your go-to method if you have not updated to iOS 18 or if you’re on an iPad.

1) Open the Shortcuts app and tap the plus button to create a new one.

2) Search for the Create Note action and add it.

3) Tap Folder , pick a folder where you’d like to save the notes created using this shortcut, and hit Done .

4) Now customize your Lock Screen and add the Shortcut widget.

5) Tap the shortcut widget and select the Create Note shortcut you just built.

Going forward, tap the Create Note shortcut button under your Lock Screen clock to start writing down your thoughts in a flash.

Also see: 15 ways to quickly run a shortcut on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

4. Tap the iPad Lock Screen with your Apple Pencil

Just tap your locked iPad screen with your Apple Pencil and handwrite your note.

5. Use Globe key + Q

Press the Globe key + Q on your iPad’s physical keyboard to create a Quick Note.

6. Swipe from an iPad corner

Another easy way to create a Quick Note on iPad is to swipe diagonally from the bottom right corner of the screen with your finger or Apple Pencil.

You can customize these gestures in:

• iPad Settings > Apps > Notes > Corner Gestures.
• iPad Settings > Apple Pencil > Pencil Gestures > Bottom Left/Right Corner.

7. Take notes from Control Center

Go to your iPhone or iPad Control Center and add the Note or Quick Note button here . With that added, you can open Control Center from the Lock Screen or Home Screen to log a thought quickly.

8. Add Notes to iPhone and iPad Dock

If you have too many Home Screen pages, it may take a while to find the Notes app on the right page. You can address this by adding the Notes app to the bottom Dock, which is shown on all Home Screen pages.

9. Add Notes app widget to the Home Screen

Another way to quickly start a new note or get inside existing ones is to add a big New Note widget to your iPhone Home Screen . You can even add this widget to multiple Home Screen pages if required.

10. Use Spotlight App Shortcuts

Open Spotlight by swiping down on the Home Screen and type the initials of “ Note .” You will see the New Note app action to create a new note.

11. Use Home Screen Quick Actions

Touch and hold the Notes app icon on the Home Screen, App Library, or Spotlight, and select New Note , New Checklist , New Photo, or Scan Document .

12. Use the Share Sheet

There is no need to open Notes if you want to save something when you are inside an app. For instance, if you have to save a web page link to Notes, you can use the Share Sheet instead of copying the link and manually pasting it into a note. Just tap the share button and select Notes from the iOS Share Sheet .

Check out next: How to use live audio transcription in Apple Notes

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Apple Intelligence: How to Use Writing Tools

• Writing Tools in Apple Intelligence are integrated into the default keyboard of iPhone and iPad.
• On Mac, you can select a text and right-click to access the tools.
• You can summarize, rewrite, and concise the text using Writing Tools.

How to Enable Apple Intelligence Writing Tools on iPhone, iPad & Mac

• On iPhone and iPad, select the text and then tap on ‘>’ adjacent to cut, copy, paste, and Format options. Tap on Writing Tools.

• On Mac, select the text, right-click, and then click on Writing Tools.

How to Use Apple Intelligence Writing Tools

Get rid of typos with proofread.

The first tool in the suite is Proofread and it works as intended. As someone who literally makes a living out of surfacing error-free content, the Proofread tool baked right into the keyboard makes life a bit convenient for me. Apple Intelligence’s Proofread Tool in Writing Tools highlights typos, grammatical errors, and missed punctuation marks.

Rewrite Text in a Friendly or Professional Tone

Concise the Text

There are situations when you want to concise the text to post on social media with a word limit (X, I’m looking at you). Here, Writing Tools’ Concise feature works perfectly. I tried it on a long text of 120 words and the tool shortened it to 70 words, which is great. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can try again or revert back to the original text altogether.

Summarize and Turn Long Text into Key Points

Turn Numbers into Tables Quickly

Apple Intelligence Writing Tools Don’t Work with Controversial Text

To put the tools through thorough testing, I tried using tools on controversial text containing swear words and some other unaccepted words, the tool didn’t throw up any result. Instead, it displays that Writing Tools was not designed to work with this type of content.

Anmol Sachdeva

With 6 years of experience as a writer and editor in the tech media industry, Anmol is an enigmatic savant in all kinds of tech. He loves to scour internet for new information. When not conjuring words, Anmol can be found watching Manchester United matches or glued to his MacBook watching re-runs of his favorite TV shows for upteenth time.

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