It doesn’t matter what you’re writing — fiction, non-fiction, scientific books, or poetry — there’s a device on the market for you. Most writing apps share related core options: they intention to be minimalistic, provide focus modes, embody export choices, and sometimes assist syncing with weblog platforms so you may publish straight from the app.
However every device has its personal distinctive strengths. I’ve researched among the hottest ones, and I’m right here to share what I consider are the very best writing apps in the marketplace. Let’s dive in.
One of the best writing applications for writers
Relying in your writing movement and degree of experience, you in all probability have your personal distinctive expectations. On this desk, I’ve gathered the important thing highlights of every app I cowl beneath. Take a fast look — or scroll down for the total descriptions.
| App | Greatest for | Greatest options | Platforms | Person evaluation on Setapp* |
| Ulysses | Skilled and beginner writers (fiction, nonfiction, poetry) and screenwriters |
– Password safety – Folder group for chapters – Direct publishing to WordPress, Medium |
macOS, iOS | 99% |
| Paper | Writers looking for minimalism and first drafts (articles, blogs, books) |
– Constructed-in AI assist – Focus Mode and Typewriter Mode – Direct publishing to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, Micro.weblog |
macOS, iOS | 95% |
| MonsterWriter | Nonfiction and scientific/tutorial writers (theses, papers) |
– Skilled PDF formatting – Auto-citations (APA, MLA, and many others.) – Helps tables, photographs, references |
macOS, iOS | 85% |
| Targeted | Writers wanting a distraction-free, typewriter-style writing expertise |
– Typewriter-style writing – Zen mode with ambient sounds – Auto-save and edit restoration |
macOS | 93% |
| Diarly | Private writing, memoirs, and reflective storytelling |
– Stunning themes – Every day writing prompts – Password safety |
macOS, iOS | 97% |
*All these apps can be found on Setapp — a subscription platform with 260+ apps for MacBook, iPhone, and iPad. You may strive it free for 7 days, then proceed from $9.99/month.
Ulysses: For skilled and beginner writers of every kind
When writers begin speaking about apps for writing, Ulysses is at all times within the dialog. I imply, at all times [proofs below]. It’s one of the common instruments on the market — for each writing and Markdown modifying. With its easy, modern design, Ulysses offers you that Hemingway-like focus: simply you and a clear, distraction-free web page.
Sounds excellent? It will get higher.
After all, Ulysses has a built-in proofreader, grammar checker, instruments for fashion, punctuation and spell checks. It could actually even detect redundancies in your textual content. However what actually units it aside are the options designed particularly for writers. You may set day by day writing targets, monitor your progress, and get real-time stats on phrase rely and time spent writing.
Ulysses permits you to export your textual content in common codecs like PDF, EPUB, HTML, and DOCX — and the consequence appears to be like skilled, like an actual e book. It additionally integrates with WordPress and Medium, so you may publish straight from the app with no need to reformat your put up. Every little thing stays clear and intact. Customers verify this: “I don’t bear in mind when precisely I found Ulysses, nevertheless it has certainly been 10 years or extra that I’ve executed almost 100% of my work in it. I really like its options, particularly having the ability to publish on to CMSes like WordPress and Ghost. The very fact you’re working in Markdown means it’s simple to ship your textual content to just about some other app or service. Markdown guidelines.”
Platform: macOS and iOS
Greatest options:
- Permits you to lock the app with a password for added privateness
- Helps you to set up your writing into folders and simply rearrange chapters for higher construction
- Appropriate for every kind of writing initiatives, together with screenplays, poetry and novel writing
- Permits you to add photographs and recordsdata as attachments for fast preview inside your doc
What you would possibly miss:
- No superior AI options
- Restricted collaboration choices
Paper: Minimalism executed proper
My introduction to this app really began with a joke I stumbled upon on Reddit. One man stated one thing like: “It’s hilarious when a developer says they’ve been constructing an app for 9 years… after which exhibits a plain white sheet with a blinking cursor.” That’s once I bought interested by Paper — a minimalistic writing device.
I checked it out — and sure, you actually get a clean white area to put in writing in.
Nevertheless, that does not imply Paper’s characteristic set is poor. In no way.
To discover all of Paper’s options, simply click on the menu within the upper-left nook of your Mac. There, you’ll uncover all formatting choices and that they are often executed utilizing keyboard shortcuts. You may as well use these drop-down menus to make modifications to your doc — like switching views or adjusting formatting.
Among the many coolest options is Focus Mode (yeah, you will get even extra focus!). It dims every part on the web page besides the road you’re at the moment engaged on. There’s additionally a Typewriter Mode, the place your present line stays centered, and the remainder scrolls out of view above.
The developer himself says the app’s energy lies in serving to writers get by the primary draft — whether or not it’s an article, weblog put up, or e book. Completely agree.
Platform: macOS, iOS
Greatest options:
- Supplies built-in AI assist
- Helps exporting on to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.weblog
- Export choices embody PDF, HTML, RTF, RTFD, .docx, ePub, plain textual content, and even PNG
- Permits monitoring writing or studying time, with totally different studying pace settings
Stuff you would possibly miss:
- The Markdown editor has a little bit of a studying curve
- Restricted to the Apple units (macOS and iOS solely)
- The value could be excessive if bought outdoors of Setapp
MonsterWriter: For nonfiction and scientific writers
MonsterWriter is usually promoted as a device for writing theses or different tutorial papers, however I can confidently say it’s additionally a fantastic selection for anybody creating non-fiction or scientific content material.
With MonsterWriter, you get a distraction-free interface that feels a bit like Google Docs — however a lot cleaner and extra structured.
The app is constructed that can assist you meet tutorial and scientific formatting necessities with ease. It helps computerized citations in APA, Harvard, MLA, and IEEE codecs. Your work could be organized utilizing tags, and you’ll insert tables, photographs, references, footnotes, and extra to make your writing richer and extra dynamic.
On the left facet of the display screen, you’ll discover a to-do record. Yep, proper inside your writing area!
When it’s time to export, it can save you your work as a PDF, Markdown, HTML, Microsoft Phrase doc, and even publish it on to a Ghost weblog from inside the app.
Platform: macOS, iOS
Greatest options:
- Exported recordsdata — particularly in PDF — seem like professionally formatted books
- Constructed-in non-distracting to-do record retains you targeted
- You may think about writing as an alternative of formatting
- References and citations are dealt with fantastically and mechanically
Stuff you would possibly miss:
- No built-in AI assistant
- Restricted to macOS and iOS
- Higher fitted to non-fiction and tutorial writing than for fiction or poetry
Targeted: For a distraction-free writing course of in typewriter-style
Typically, all you want is a distraction-free atmosphere that brings again the old-school typewriter vibe. That’s the place I’d advocate utilizing Targeted. It offers you a minimalist area the place your present line stays locked within the middle, and former strains blur and scroll upward — similar to on a typewriter.
For much more focus, strive Zen mode. It performs ambient sounds and expands the web page to full display screen, so all you see is your writing.
Customization choices are minimal. You may select a background coloration — white, beige, or black — and choose from six typefaces.
To correctly format your paperwork, you’ll must get the dangle of Markdown modifying. If you happen to’ve by no means come throughout it earlier than, it might sound intimidating — however belief me, it takes possibly half-hour to be taught the fundamentals. Listed below are few examples:
- # H1 Heading
- ## H2 Heading
- ### H3 Heading
- *italic*
- **daring**
- [Setapp](https://www.setapp.com)
See? Fairly simple.
Platform: macOS
Greatest options:
- Exhibits phrase and character counts as you write
- Has auto-save, together with the power to get better earlier edits
- Integrates AI instruments (powered by Apple Intelligence) for rewriting, summarizing, altering tone, and extra
Stuff you would possibly miss:
- Export choices are restricted to HTML, RTF, and PDF
Restricted to macOS, no cellular app obtainable
Diarly: For memoirs and reflective storytelling
In case your inventive writing leans towards mushy, heat, and nostalgic — suppose tales, memoirs, or blog-style reflections — I can completely see you working in Diarly. It’s technically a journaling app, however because of its export choices, you may simply use it to put in writing a e book.
The 2 issues I really like most about it are the gorgeous look and the instruments it gives for overcoming author’s block.
First, the app is actually beautiful. You may coloration your textual content and backgrounds — mild inexperienced, pink, you identify it — use elegant typefaces, add photographs, and extra.
Second is the day by day prompts. While you open a brand new entry, you will see a listing of considerate inquiries to spark your writing. Issues like: What act of kindness did I do immediately? or I wish to share this with somebody… and even If immediately have been the final day of my life, what would I wish to do?
You’ll additionally get a day by day affirmation or a candy piece of recommendation. They’re so type and uplifting, I can’t assist however smile each time I see one.
So in case your writing fashion entails diving deep into your ideas, feelings, and reflections, I believe Diarly is without doubt one of the finest areas you could possibly select to pour your coronary heart out.
Platform: macOS, iOS
Greatest options:
- Stunning coloration themes like mild inexperienced, sulfur pool, mild blue, pink, and extra
- Phrase rely and entry statistics
- Export choices: Markdown, PDF, or RTF
- Password safety
- Constructed-in AI assistant
What you would possibly miss:
- It’s finest fitted to private writing and brief tales
- Each bit is saved in its personal word, so it’s not ideally suited when you want writing in a single steady area
- Just one word at a time could be exported
AI assistants to shine your writing
Typically, all of us want a bit of assist — and I do know a few AI assistants that may assist you in your writing journey. On this context, I’d advocate two: Plus and Elephas.
Basically, they work equally. You simply choose textual content in your editor, then use a shortcut or the menu bar to convey up a context menu the place the app gives help. It could actually show you how to summarize, regulate tone, translate, repair grammar, or clarify a tough time period. One of the best half? You don’t want to change to a different app. Every little thing occurs proper the place you are writing — no distractions, no breaking your movement.
Whereas Plus (screenshot above) features completely as a context menu device — and it is extremely highly effective — Elephas gives one thing additional. It could actually run as a standalone app in a separate window and comes with a characteristic referred to as Tremendous Mind.
Tremendous Mind permits you to construct your personal data base and work together with it like a private analysis assistant. For instance, say you’re writing a few historic interval you’re unfamiliar with, or it is advisable to describe the local weather in a rustic you’ve by no means visited. Simply import your analysis — PDFs, web sites, movies, even audio — and ask questions. The AI will show you how to fact-check quicker and keep away from errors in your writing.
How do you publish a e book your self?
Each app I’ve talked about right here consists of export choices that allow you to save your work as a clear PDF or one other doc format. However these recordsdata normally aren’t fairly prepared for self-publishing. You should still must make structure tweaks or regulate the formatting to satisfy your printing home’s necessities.
In that case, I like to recommend an app referred to as SwiftPublisher.
Professionals usually use Adobe InDesign or different superior instruments to design e book layouts, however these could be actually intimidating when you’re a newbie or haven’t any expertise with design software program. That’s precisely why I counsel Swift Writer. It’s constructed for individuals who must create print-ready layouts with out the steep studying curve or specialised expertise.
Your job is principally to stick your textual content right into a template after which regulate issues like alignment, spacing, and margins.
Will or not it’s extraordinarily simple? No. However will or not it’s tremendous exhausting? Additionally no.
Particularly because the app gives a ton of sources proper from the beginning — suppose tutorials, together with video guides — that can assist you get the dangle of publishing design.
Mac apps for authors, multi function pack
So, what writing software program do authors use to attain their boldest targets? The reply is that they in all probability use a mixture of instruments. If you happen to’re the kind of one that wants a minimalist editor, you may strive Paper, Diarly, Ulysses, or MonsterWriter. Need some AI magic? Get Plus and Elephas.
Fortunately, on Setapp, everybody — from a scholar and beginner author to an educational {and professional} author — can discover the very best e book writing software program for MacBook. Enroll immediately and check out all of the talked about apps for 7 days free.
