Writing can be a wild ride – sometimes you’re bursting with ideas, other times you’re staring at a blank page. Whether you’re crafting a novel, scripting a movie, or jotting down blog posts, the right app can make all the difference. These tools help organize your thoughts, keep distractions at bay, and polish your words. Here’s a rundown of the best writing apps to help you get stuff done in 2025, no matter what you’re writing.
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1. Scrivener
Scrivener is a writing app designed for long-form projects like novels, screenplays, and academic papers. It organizes manuscripts, notes, and research in a sidebar called the Binder, letting users navigate between sections easily. Writers can view their work as index cards on a corkboard or in an outliner to rearrange scenes or chapters.
The app supports split-screen viewing to work on multiple documents at once, such as a draft and research notes. It allows importing files like PDFs or images for reference and offers templates for fiction, non-fiction, and scripts. Users can set word count goals, track progress, and save document versions to revert to earlier drafts.
Exporting is flexible, with options for formats like DOCX, PDF, EPUB, and screenplay files. The app autosaves work and includes a scriptwriting mode with auto-complete for scene headings. It’s available on Windows, Mac, and iOS with a one-time purchase.
Perfect For:
- Novelists working on complex manuscripts
- Screenwriters needing structured formatting
- Researchers organizing notes and drafts
2. Ulysses
Ulysses is a writing app for Apple users, focusing on a clean, distraction-free interface. It uses Markdown for formatting, letting writers create headers or lists with simple symbols. Projects are organized into sheets and groups, similar to documents and folders, for managing multiple pieces of writing.
The app syncs across Mac, iPad, and iPhone via iCloud, ensuring access to work on any device. Writers can set daily word count goals and view stats like progress or reading time. It includes a note-taking feature for ideas or references and supports importing text from other apps.
Export options include DOCX, PDF, EPUB, and direct publishing to WordPress or Medium. Users can customize the interface with light or dark themes and revert to previous drafts if needed. Ulysses operates on a subscription model.
Perfect For:
- Bloggers needing simple formatting
- Apple users wanting cross-device syncing
- Writers seeking a minimalist workspace
3. Final Draft
Final Draft is a screenwriting app used for film, TV, and theater scripts. It formats scripts to industry standards, handling elements like scene headings and character names automatically. Writers can plan stories using a Beat Board to arrange plot points visually.
The app supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit a script at once. It tracks revisions with colored pages for production and includes a Navigator to manage scenes or characters. Features like speech-to-script let users dictate dialogue on Mac.
Exporting is available to PDF or Final Draft’s own format, with pagination adjusted for professional needs. The app has a dark mode and is available on Windows, Mac, and iOS with a one-time purchase.
Perfect For:
- Screenwriters formatting professional scripts
- Teams collaborating on film or TV projects
- Writers planning detailed story structures
4. iA Writer
iA Writer is a writing app with a minimalist design, using Markdown for formatting. It offers a Focus Mode that grays out all but the current sentence to reduce distractions. Writers can organize files in a library and sync them via cloud services like iCloud or Dropbox.
The app highlights parts of speech, like nouns or verbs, to aid editing and includes a typewriter mode to keep the cursor centered. It supports exporting to DOCX, PDF, HTML, Markdown, and TXT and integrates with blogging platforms like WordPress. A preview mode shows formatted text in real time.
Available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, iA Writer uses a one-time purchase model. It includes dark mode and wikilinks to connect related documents, useful for notes or projects.
Perfect For:
- Bloggers writing short-form content
- Writers needing a distraction-free environment
- Users across multiple device types
5. Google Docs
Google Docs is a cloud-based word processor for creating and editing documents. It supports real-time collaboration, letting multiple users work on a document simultaneously with live updates. Documents are stored in Google Drive and accessible on any device with a browser or app.
The app includes templates for resumes, letters, or reports and allows comments or suggested edits for team feedback. Writers can use voice typing for dictation and work offline with prior setup. Version history tracks changes, letting users revert to earlier drafts.
Exporting is available to formats like DOCX, PDF, or RTF. The app integrates with add-ons like grammar checkers and is free with a Google account, offering basic formatting tools for text and images.
Perfect For:
- Teams needing collaborative editing
- Writers working across devices
- Users seeking a free writing tool
6. FocusWriter
FocusWriter is a free writing app designed for distraction-free work. It uses a full-screen interface that hides menus, showing only the text. Writers can customize the look with themes, adjusting fonts, colors, or backgrounds, and add typewriter sound effects.
The app includes timers and alarms to manage writing sessions and tracks daily goals for word count or time. It offers basic spell-checking and displays stats like word count or pages. Files are saved as TXT, RTF, or ODT, with no advanced formatting options.
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, FocusWriter is portable on Windows, running from a USB drive. It lacks organizational tools but focuses on keeping writers immersed in their work.
Perfect For:
- Writers needing a free, simple tool
- Users wanting a customizable interface
- Creative writers avoiding distractions
7. Grammarly
Grammarly is an AI-powered app for checking grammar, spelling, and style in writing. It works across platforms, integrating with Google Docs, Microsoft Word, browsers, and mobile apps. The free version corrects basic errors, while the paid version adds advanced suggestions for tone and clarity.
The app provides real-time feedback as users type, highlighting issues like sentence structure or word choice. It includes a plagiarism checker and genre-specific advice for academic or creative writing. Weekly reports show stats like vocabulary use or common errors.
Grammarly offers a browser extension for editing web forms and a mobile keyboard for iOS and Android. It’s available on web, Windows, Mac, and mobile with a freemium model.
Perfect For:
- Writers polishing grammar and style
- Students working on essays
- Professionals editing emails or reports
8. ProWritingAid
ProWritingAid is an editing app for analyzing and improving writing. It checks grammar, style, and readability, offering reports on issues like overused words, sentence length, or pacing. The app integrates with tools like Scrivener, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word.
Writers can use its thesaurus for word choice and get suggestions for clearer prose. It highlights sticky sentences with filler words and assesses narrative flow for fiction. The free version limits analysis to small text chunks, while the paid version supports larger documents.
Available on web, Windows, and Mac, ProWritingAid offers a subscription or lifetime license. It includes learning resources like writing guides to help users improve their skills.
Perfect For:
- Novelists refining long manuscripts
- Writers seeking detailed style feedback
- Users integrating with other writing tools
9. Evernote
Evernote is a note-taking app for organizing ideas, research, and notes. Users can create text notes, add images, PDFs, or audio, and clip web pages directly into the app. Notes are grouped into notebooks and tagged for easy searching.
The app syncs across devices, letting writers access notes anywhere. It supports collaboration by sharing notes or notebooks and includes templates for project plans or writing outlines. A search feature finds text in images or handwritten notes.
Available on web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, Evernote offers a free plan with limited storage and paid plans for more features. It exports notes as PDF or its own format.
Perfect For:
- Writers managing research materials
- Teams sharing project notes
- Users needing cross-device access
10. Notion
Notion is a workspace app for writing, note-taking, and project management. It uses blocks to create documents with text, images, tables, or databases. Writers can organize research or plot points in customizable tables or Kanban boards.
The app supports real-time collaboration, letting teams edit together, and includes templates for writing trackers or novel planning. Documents sync across devices via the cloud, and users can create linked pages for world-building or notes.
Available on web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, Notion has a free plan with basic features and paid plans for advanced options. It exports to PDF or Markdown and integrates with tools like Slack.
Perfect For:
- Writers organizing complex projects
- Teams collaborating on documents
- Users needing flexible templates
11. Reedsy
Reedsy is a web-based app for writing and formatting books. It offers a distraction-free interface where writers can focus on their manuscript. Chapters and scenes can be rearranged using drag-and-drop, and the app tracks writing goals with reminders.
The app formats manuscripts for publication, adding front and back matter automatically. It supports inserting images and exports to EPUB, MOBI, or print-ready PDF. Version history lets users revert to earlier drafts.
Reedsy is free and requires no software installation. It also connects writers to a marketplace for hiring editors or designers, though this is separate from the writing tool.
Perfect For:
- Authors writing novels or memoirs
- Writers preparing books for publishing
- Users wanting a free, web-based tool
12. Fade In
Fade In is a screenwriting app for film, TV, and stage scripts. It formats scripts to industry standards, with auto-complete for elements like scene headings. Writers can use a Navigator to track scenes or characters and plan stories visually.
The app supports real-time collaboration for multiple writers and tracks revisions with colored pages. It includes a dialogue tuner to analyze speech balance and offers templates for different script types. Exporting is available to PDF or other script formats.
Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, Fade In uses a one-time purchase model. It syncs projects via cloud services like Dropbox and has a dark mode.
Perfect For:
- Screenwriters needing affordable tools
- Teams collaborating on scripts
- Writers across multiple platforms
13. yWriter
yWriter is a free app for novel writing, organizing stories into scenes rather than chapters. Writers can use a storyboard to visualize narrative arcs and track metadata for characters, locations, or items. The app shows progress with word count or scene status.
Scenes and chapters can be rearranged easily, and the app generates reports for project stats. It exports to DOCX, RTF, or EPUB but lacks built-in grammar checking. Automatic backups prevent data loss.
Available on Windows, Android, and iOS, yWriter focuses on structuring novels without extra features.
Perfect For:
- Novelists breaking stories into scenes
- Writers needing free organizational tools
- Users comfortable with basic interfaces
14. WriteMonkey
WriteMonkey is a free, minimalist writing app using Markdown for formatting. It offers a full-screen interface that hides menus for distraction-free writing. Writers can customize themes with fonts or colors and add typewriter sounds.
The app tracks word count and writing time, with basic spell-checking using customizable dictionaries. It saves files as TXT and supports exporting via Markdown to other formats. Markup highlighting helps visually mark text for emphasis.
Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, WriteMonkey is portable on Windows, running from a USB drive. It focuses on writing without advanced organizational features.
Perfect For:
- Writers needing a free, simple tool
- Users wanting a distraction-free setup
- Writers comfortable with Markdown
15. Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is an app for improving writing clarity. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, adverbs, or difficult words in color-coded feedback. The app assigns a readability grade to show text complexity.
Writers can toggle between writing and editing modes, with basic formatting for bold, italics, or headings. It tracks word and sentence counts and exports to DOCX, PDF, or Markdown. Text can be pasted or imported for analysis.
Available on web, Windows, and Mac, the web version is free, while the desktop version requires a one-time purchase. It focuses on style, not grammar checking.
Perfect For:
- Writers aiming for concise prose
- Students simplifying essays
- Users needing quick style feedback
Conclusion
Picking the right writing app is like finding the perfect coffee shop to work in – it’s gotta fit your vibe. Whether you need a distraction-free space to hammer out a novel, a tool to format your screenplay, or something to catch your grammar slip-ups, there’s an app out there for you. Try a few, see what clicks, and don’t be afraid to mix and match. In 2025, these tools are here to help you get your ideas on the page, so grab one and start writing!