Best Writing Apps in 2026
Updated
135 writing apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
135ranked
0free plans on this page
$1.99/molowest paid tier
9 Oct 2026last checked
0 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | The Novel FactoryWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | $6.88/mo | 5.5 |
| 102 | ILYSWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 103 | PenCakeWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 104 | JutohWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $20/mo | 5.4 |
| 105 | QuilleMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 5.4 |
| 106 | PosthavenWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | $5/mo | 5.3 |
| 107 | ThroughlineWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $39/mo | 5.3 |
| 108 | OuterlineMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $1.99/mo | 5.3 |
| 109 | PenpointWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $40/mo | 5.3 |
| 110 | WriteFreelyWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 111 | The NovelistNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 112 | WerdsmithWeb · Mac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 113 | EssayistMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $6.67/mo | 5.2 |
| 114 | ScriptoriumWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $60/mo | 5.2 |
| 115 | Calamus CompileWeb · Mac · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 5.1 |
| 116 | VerkiloWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $128/mo | 5.1 |
| 117 | HivewordNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 118 | OpenSlugWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 119 | Story Planner for WritersMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $8.99/mo | 5.0 |
| 120 | SmartEdit WriterWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 121 | FolianNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | $29/mo | 4.9 |
| 122 | 750 WordsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 123 | Papyrus AuthorWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | €149/mo | 4.9 |
| 124 | TwelvePointMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | €25/mo | 4.9 |
| 125 | BywordMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Publishing tools | Real-time collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | The Novel Factory | 5.5 | No | $6.88/mo | No | $8.25/user/mo | Yes | — |
| 102 | ILYS | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | No | No |
| 103 | PenCake | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 104 | Jutoh | 5.4 | No | $20/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 105 | Quille | 5.4 | No | $2.50/mo | — | — | Yes | — |
| 106 | Posthaven | 5.3 | No | $5/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 107 | Throughline | 5.3 | No | $39/mo | No | — | Yes | No |
| 108 | Outerline | 5.3 | No | $1.99/mo | No | — | Yes | — |
| 109 | Penpoint | 5.3 | No | $40/mo | No | — | No | No |
| 110 | WriteFreely | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 111 | The Novelist | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 112 | Werdsmith | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 113 | Essayist | 5.2 | No | $6.67/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 114 | Scriptorium | 5.2 | No | $60/mo | No | — | Yes | No |
| 115 | Calamus Compile | 5.1 | No | $4.99/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 116 | Verkilo | 5.1 | No | $128/mo | No | — | Yes | No |
| 117 | Hiveword | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | No | No |
| 118 | OpenSlug | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 119 | Story Planner for Writers | 5.0 | No | $8.99/mo | No | — | Yes | — |
| 120 | SmartEdit Writer | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 121 | Folian | 4.9 | No | $29/mo | No | — | Yes | — |
| 122 | 750 Words | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 123 | Papyrus Author | 4.9 | No | €149/mo | No | — | Yes | No |
| 124 | TwelvePoint | 4.9 | No | €25/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 125 | Byword | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
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