Essayist
by Essayist
What Essayist is
Essayist is a specialized word processor for academic writing that includes a reference manager. It formats page setup, citations, footnotes, and references according to a selected style, including APA 7, MLA 8 and 9, Turabian 9 (Chicago), and several Harvard variations. References can be found through built-in Google Scholar and book or journal search, added from a URL, or entered manually. Supported reference types include journal articles, books, websites, legal cases, datasets, and interviews. Writers can add figures, tables, equations, captions, numbering, tables of contents, abstracts, appendices, and chapters. Essayist imports BibTeX and exports PDF or Word files, with optional Zotero connections for collections, metadata, and PDF attachments. It works offline on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. The apps require macOS 11 or later and iOS 15 or later. Pricing starts at $9.99 a month, with a free trial and no free plan.
Who it suits
Essayist suits students, researchers, professionals, and other academic paper writers using Apple devices.
What it does well
- Automatic formatting for citations and references
- Built-in Scholar and book searches
- Supports figures, tables, and equations
- Offline use on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- PDF, Word, and BibTeX support
What to know first
- No free plan
- Apple platforms only
- Requires macOS 11 or iOS 15 minimum
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | A 3-day free trial, then $9.99/month · Subscription | $9.99 a month |
| Yearly | A 7-day free trial, then $79.99/year · Save 33% | $79.99 a year |
As essayist.app lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Essayist combines academic document tools and reference management in one Apple-focused application. Its citation styles, offline mode, and export options suit structured academic writing, while subscriptions require payment after the trial.
Facts from Essayist's own pages
- Audience
- Essayist is designed for academic paper writers, including high school and college students, researchers, and professionals. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Automatic formatting
- It formats page setup, citations, footnotes, and references according to the selected citation style. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Citation styles
- The site lists APA 7, MLA 8 and 9, Turabian 9 (Chicago), and several Harvard variations. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Data storage
- The privacy policy says essays and attachments stay on the device and in the user's iCloud account, and the company does not run servers that store this content or have access to it. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- standard · essayist.app, 22 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- No · essayist.app, 22 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Canada · essayist.app, 28 Sept 2026
- Import and export
- The site lists PDF and Word export and BibTeX import. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Essayist offers an optional Zotero connection for importing collections, reference metadata, and PDF attachments. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- Yes · essayist.app, 22 Sept 2026
- Offline mode
- Yes · essayist.app, 22 Sept 2026
- Platform requirements
- Essayist is available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad; it requires macOS 11 or later and iOS 15 or later. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The policy says the apps have no advertising, third-party analytics, or tracking, and do not use documents, notes, or references to train AI models. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Product
- Essayist is a specialized word processor with a built-in reference manager for writing, citing, and managing references. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Reference lookup
- References can be added through built-in Google Scholar and book and journal search, by pasting a URL, or through manual and custom entry. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Reference types
- Essayist supports references such as journal articles, books, websites, legal cases, datasets, and interviews. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site provides a Help Center and lists [email protected] for email support. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
- Writing tools
- Users can add figures, tables, and equations with formatted titles, captions, and numbering, along with sections such as tables of contents, abstracts, appendices, and chapters. · essayist.app, 12 Oct 2026
Where Essayist stands on Freedom251
- Writing Apps#112 of 135