Free and open first

Best Document Creation Software in 2026

This list covers software for creating documents on macOS, Windows, iOS, the web, Linux, and Android. It is for people comparing tools for writing and document work on a budget.

25 apps
Research read 28 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

FocusWriter

Free plan Open source LinuxMacWindows

Choose FocusWriter if you want a free Linux or Windows word processor with hidden controls, writing goals, and automatic return to your last position.

8.9 Open source Visit site
2

LibreOffice Impress
by LibreOffice Impress
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Impress offers presentation creation, templates, illustration tools, and offline editing at no listed charge. Its lack of real-time collaboration is an important limitation for teams editing together.

8.9 Free plan Visit site
3

Overleaf
by Overleaf
Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4

Choose Overleaf if you need to write and compile LaTeX documents with collaborators, or want templates for academic and technical writing.

8.8 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
4

Craft
by Craft
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

Choose Craft if you want notes across web, desktop and mobile, with offline access and real-time sharing.

7.6 Free plan · paid from $6.40/user/mo (annual) Visit site
5

Apple Pages

Free plan iPhoneMacWeb

Pages covers writing, page layout, file conversion, and collaborative review while keeping core document work free.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $2.99/mo Visit site
6

Dropbox Paper
by Dropbox Paper
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

Dropbox Paper combines collaborative documents with task and timeline features at no charge. Its web-based access and mobile timeline limitation are important to consider.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $0.99/mo (annual) Visit site
7

Google Docs

Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+1

Google Docs combines document editing, collaboration, offline access, and compatibility with Word and PDF files.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
8

Hancom Office

Free plan WebWindowsMac+2

Hancom Office combines document editing, cloud connections, and collaboration across several platforms.

7.4 Free plan · pricing on request Visit site
9

CryptPad Rich Text

Free plan Self-hostedWeb

Choose CryptPad Rich Text for collaborative documents when browser encryption, link-based sharing, and open-source self-hosting matter.

7.3 Free plan · paid from €5/mo Visit site
10

Etherpad
by Etherpad
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Etherpad combines collaborative editing, detailed revision history, and self-hosting with broad app and API support.

7.2 Open source Visit site
11

LyX

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

LyX combines structured writing with TeX and LaTeX capabilities, plus support for references, equations, and a range of formats.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
12

TeXstudio
by TeXstudio
Free plan LinuxMacWindows

TeXstudio combines LaTeX editing, document checks, build tools and PDF viewing in a free desktop application. Check the operating-system requirements, particularly for Windows 11 and macOS 10.x.

6.9 Free plan Visit site
13

Zoho Writer

Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+5

Zoho Writer combines document editing and review with offline desktop apps and automation tools.

6.9 Free plan Visit site
14

Microsoft Word

Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

Word covers document editing across web, mobile, and desktop, with offline editing and collaboration. The free plan is web-based; desktop Word and additional storage appear in paid plans.

6.7 Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo (annual) Visit site
15

Reedsy Studio
by Reedsy Studio
Free plan Web

Reedsy Studio provides a free web-based starting point, with Craft and Outlining adding distinct writing tools. Consider its web-only access and basic export formats when choosing it.

6.7 Free plan · paid from $4.99/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
16

Apache OpenOffice Writer

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

6.6 Free plan Visit site
17

Polaris Office

Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

6.5 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
18

WPS Writer

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

WPS Writer covers document writing across a broad set of platforms, with offline work, collaboration, and revision tracking.

6.3 Free plan · paid from $5.83/mo (annual) · 3-day trial Visit site
19

Calligra Words

Free plan Linux

6.2 Free plan Visit site
20

Scrivener
by Scrivener
Free trial iPhoneMacWindows

Scrivener combines structured long-form drafting with research, screenwriting, non-fiction, publishing, and offline features.

5.9 From $23.99 · 30-day trial Visit site
21

iA Writer
by iA Writer
Paid MacWindowsiPhone

iA Writer combines offline writing, export options, publishing tools, and version history across its listed desktop and mobile platforms.

5.6 7-day trial Visit site
22

Ulysses
by Ulysses
Free trial MaciPhone

Ulysses is a paid, Apple-platform writing app with publishing, export, history and offline capabilities.

5.6 From $39.99/user/yr · 7-day trial Visit site
23

Quip

Paid iPhoneMacWeb

Quip combines team collaboration with Salesforce-linked sales workflows and offers features by subscription tier.

5.4 From $10/user/mo (annual) Visit site
24

SoftMaker TextMaker

Paid AndroidiPhoneLinux+2

4.9 From $4.99/mo Visit site
25

WordPerfect

Paid Windows

3.8 From $203 · 30-day trial Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Check whether a free plan, free trial, or open-source licence fits your needs. Compare paid starting prices, collaboration, offline editing, export formats, version history, templates, maximum file size, and supported platforms before choosing.

Questions

Are free plans available for document creation software?

A free plan is offered by items in this category. Check the listed plan details and compare them with paid options before choosing.

Can I find open-source document software?

Open-source code is offered by items on this list. Review the licence if you need to read, change, or redistribute code.

Do document tools offer free trials?

A free trial is offered by items on this list. Check the trial terms and the paid starting price before signing up.

Which platforms are covered?

The list includes software for macOS, Windows, iOS, the web, Linux, and Android.

What should I compare between tools?

Compare free plan, paid from, real-time collaboration, offline editing, export formats, version history, document templates, and maximum file size.

Questions

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