FocusWriter

Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows

What FocusWriter is

FocusWriter is a free word processor for Linux and Windows, built to keep the writing area clear. Its controls stay hidden until you move the mouse to the screen edges, so you can bring them up when you need them. You can make themes that set the font, colors, and background image, and work with multiple documents at once. Writing tools include spell-checking, live statistics, and daily goals. When you reopen FocusWriter, it loads your current work and returns to the place where you last stopped.

The download page offers Linux packages and Windows 10 x64 installers, including a portable Windows version. Linux packages depend on Qt and hunspell. Version 1.9.1, released July 23, 2026, is licensed under GPL version 3; its release notes say strict mode can disable unsafe Qt APIs. The maker's privacy policy says he does not collect personal data or share it. Graeme Gott describes himself as an open-source programmer and avid Linux user since 2001. Optional tips are $5, $10, $20, or another amount. For bug reports, the maker asks for operating system details, reproduction steps, expected behavior, and what happened; reports may take time to fix, and issues he cannot recreate cannot be fixed.

Who it suits

FocusWriter suits writers who want a word processor with a writing area that stays clear until they call up its controls. It also fits people who want daily goals, live statistics, spell-checking, and multiple open documents on Linux or Windows.

What it does well

The interface hides until the mouse reaches a screen edge.
Themes can set fonts, colors, and background images.
Includes spell-checking, live statistics, and daily goals.
Reopens current work at the previous position.
Free and licensed under GPL version 3.

What to know first

Available desktop platforms are Linux and Windows.
Linux packages depend on Qt and hunspell.
The maker says bug reports can take time to fix.
No free trial is offered.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
FocusWriter	Distraction-free word processor · optional tips of $5, $10, $20, or another amount	Free
Free FocusWriter	No charge stated · GPL software · desktop writing application · optional $5, $10, $20 tips	Free

As gottcode.org lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the FocusWriter website.
Choose a Linux package or Windows 10 x64 installer from the download page.
On Windows, choose the portable version if that suits your setup.
On Linux, make sure the Qt and hunspell dependencies are available.
Open FocusWriter and begin writing; it will save your place for your next session.

Verdict

Choose FocusWriter if you want a free Linux or Windows word processor with hidden controls, writing goals, and automatic return to your last position. Consider another option if you need a different platform or need assurance that a reported bug will be fixed quickly.

Questions

How much does FocusWriter cost?

The listed FocusWriter plan is free. Optional tips can be $5, $10, $20, or another amount.

Is there a free plan or trial?

FocusWriter is free to use. No free trial is offered.

Which platforms does it support?

It has desktop apps for Windows and Linux. The download page lists Windows 10 x64 installers and Linux packages.

Is FocusWriter open source?

Yes. Version 1.9.1 is licensed under GPL version 3.

Who makes FocusWriter?

The developer is Graeme Gott, who describes himself as an open-source programmer and avid Linux user since 2001.

Facts from FocusWriter's own pages

AlternativeTo popularity: AlternativeTo shows 214 likes and 14 user comments or reviews. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Bug support: The maintainer asks bug reporters to provide operating-system details, reproduction steps, expected behavior and actual behavior, and says fixes can take time. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Company identity: The maker identifies himself as Graeme Gott, an open-source programmer and Linux user. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Daily goals: Writers can configure daily writing goals. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Developer: Graeme Gott describes himself as an open-source programmer and avid Linux user since 2001. · gottcode.org, 4 Oct 2026
Developer documentation: The repository includes build and installation files plus a contributing guide, but its README describes the application rather than an API or SDK. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
Dictionary links: The official page links to LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice dictionary resources. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Download platforms: The download page lists Linux packages and Windows 10 x64 installers, including a portable Windows version. · gottcode.org, 4 Oct 2026
Independent description: SourceForge describes FocusWriter as a full-screen application that hides menus and notifications until summoned. · sourceforge.net, 15 Oct 2026
Independent feature summary: SourceForge lists daily goals, timers, alarms, typewriter sounds, themes, autosave, session statistics and spell check. · sourceforge.net, 15 Oct 2026
Latest release: Version 1.9.1 was released July 23, 2026. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Licence: The official project is released under GPL version 3. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
License: Version 1.9.1 was released July 23, 2026, under GPL version 3. · gottcode.org, 4 Oct 2026
Limit: markup: AlternativeTo reviewers complain that FocusWriter lacks syntax highlighting and Markdown compatibility. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: RTF on Windows: An AlternativeTo reviewer said Windows RTF handling appeared dependent on the WordPad engine, which Microsoft is discontinuing. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: text controls: An AlternativeTo reviewer complained that the toolbar lacks a direct increase or decrease text-size control. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Limit: typesetting: AlternativeTo reviewers describe its typesetting options as limited. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Linux dependencies: The Linux packages require Qt and Hunspell. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Live statistics: The application updates writing statistics while text is being entered. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Maker structure: The official site presents Gott Code as Graeme Gott’s personal collection of projects rather than a staffed software company. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Multiple documents: FocusWriter supports multiple documents open at the same time. · gottcode.org, 15 Oct 2026
Portable mode: A Data folder beside the executable enables running FocusWriter from a USB drive with settings stored there. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
Praise: focus: AlternativeTo’s review summary praises the distraction-free environment, customizability, typewriter mode and word counting. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026
Praise: simplicity: Reviewers on AlternativeTo describe the program as simple, lightweight and preferable to heavier office software for lightweight editing. · alternativeto.net, 15 Oct 2026