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There are thousands of different kinds of software for writing. What is best for you? They exist for the same reason that this question always gets asked (especially on this subreddit): because there is no perfect program. They are merely tools for different purposes. It depends on you, the writer.
What if you happen to write your text on a Commodore 64? Then you seek the correct floppy disk. Are you concerned with price? Free software! Self-publishing or kitchen laptop notetaking? I have journeyed through the cyberlands seeking answers. This is not a comprehensive list, the point is to point out some popular programs. I hope it can be useful to someone. Just follow the links if you want more. Emphasis on actual writing, popularity, how modern the programs are and free & open source. If the list were to be expanded, and put somewhere for people to see, I hope it might help people find information and their own tool.
EDIT: Added links and some programs. EDIT2: Thanks for the additions! My Mac knowledge is limited, I hope we can build a decent list together.
Text editors: Write simple text in simple programs. Programs that write plaintext .txt files with or without further functionality (such as macros or keybinds or distraction free mode.).
Text editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Notepad | Windows | Proprietary | Default in windows, very simple |
Notepad++ | Windows | Free & open | Plaintext with many tools. |
gedit | Linux/Win/Mac | Free & open | Simple text editor. Can go distraction-free, some customization with plugins. |
Vim & Emacs | Linux/Win/Mac | Free & open | Highly customizable text-based classics. Require learning, keyboard-heavy. You can do everything with them, with configuration and right plugins. |
Leafpad | Linux | Free & open | Very lightweight GUI editor. |
Ulysses | Mac / (Windows) | 45$ | Multi-featured editor that focuses on content for creative writers. You can attach notes and images to text, but editor is plaintext-only, markup-based. |
Distraction free editors: Write even simpler. Many other programs (such as Scrivener-style editors) integrate this kind of functionality.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
FocusWriter | Linux/Mac/ Windows | Free & open | Simple, customizable program for focused writing. |
Calmly Writer (online) | All | Free | Web app for simplicity. |
PyRoom | Linux / Mac | Free & open | Keyboard-oriented, very simple. |
QuiEdit | Linux / Windows | Free & open | Supports Markdown. |
iA Writer | Mac / Android | 10$ | Minimalist editor for Mac. |
Font Files
Outliners and note taking software: Take notes and organize quickly.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
KeepNote | Linux / Win / Mac | Free & open | Outline libre into HTML |
Leo | Linux / Win / Mac | Free & open | Flexible tree structures |
Fargo (online) | All | Free & (open) | Dropbox storage, scriptable |
Vault3 | Win / Linux / Mac | Free & open | More libre outlining, optional encryption. |
KeyNoteNF | Windows | Free & open | Take note! Popular notebook with encryption. |
Evernote | Win/Mac/Mobile (no Linux native) | Free + subscriptions | Notebook for saving online, too. |
Microsoft OneNote | All (web) | In office365, proprietary | Let Microsoft handle your data. Moving between Evernote and OneNote is made simple. |
OmniOutliner | Mac | 10$ | Minimalist outlining experience. |
Word processor: When layout starts mattering. Word processors concern themselves with how the text is presented in addition to just the actual text.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Word | Win / Mac | (70$ / year in office365) | One everyone knows. Has multiple variants. Some DTP capabilities. |
Pages (iWorks) | Mac | Proprietary | Apple's take on word processing. |
LibreOffice | Win / Mac / Linux | Free & open source | MS Word-like, popular alternative. Some DTP capabilities. |
TextEdit | Mac / Linux | Free & open | Default in MacOS, very simple word processor. (or advanced text editor..) |
Adobe InCopy | Win / Mac | 59$ / year | Same formatting engine as Adobe's InDesign. |
AbiWord | Linux / Win | Free & open | Libre & lightweight. |
Scrollistic | Windows | Free + subscriptions | A chapter based word processor with e-publishing features. |
Outlining word processors: To help you be a productive author, store notes and write and track and organize all in one. Export into flexible filetypes.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Scrivener | Mac / Windows / Linux beta (2015) | 45 $ / 43€ / (beta for Linux is free) | Popular program designed to help authors produce text. Organization of novel & research. Manage your writing project well. |
yWriter | Windows | Free | Author-oriented Scrivener-style. |
Manuskript | Linux / Win / (Mac in development) | Free & open source | Scrivener-style, in-development, novel assistant. Can import and use FocusWriter's distractionless mode. |
Novlr (online) | Web | 10$/month | Cloud-based novel writing software with many upcoming features. |
Quoll Writer | Windows | Free & open | Minimal interface editor with tools to manage your story. |
Storyist | Mac | Proprietary |
Online word processors: Welcome to the internet. Edit by yourself or with your friends (or enemies).
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Google docs | All | Free | Save it all online. |
MS Word (online) | All | Free | No, save it here! |
Apple Pages (iCloud) | All | Free | No, here! |
Authorea | All | Free | 'Google docs for scientists'. Latex support. |
Screenwriting software: Editing text for screenwriting. Many other programs, such as Scrivener, also work very well. These programs are specialized to the task.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Final Draft | Mac / Win | $250 | 'Industry standard' |
Celtx (online) | All (online) | Free + subscriptions | Full of features for multiple platforms. |
Movie Magic Screenwriter | Win / Mac | $150 | Yet another popular screenwriting program. |
Trelby | Linux / Win | Free & open | Libre screenwriting. |
Adobe Story | Web / Windows / Mac | 10$ / month | |
Fade in | Win / Mac / Linux | $80 |
Document processors: For further layout fun, lengthy and complex documents, technical publishing.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Latex | All | Free & open | If you know the language. Popular in academic writing. Good formula editing. |
LyX | Linux / Win / Mac | Free & open | Write Latex without knowing how - and it looks like a word processor. It's magic! |
Adobe FrameMaker | Windows | $999 | Technical writing Adobe style. |
Broadvision Quicksilver | ? | ? |
Desktop publishing (DTP): When layout matters. Whatever you publish, you might want to look at these.
Editor | Operating system | Availability | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Adobe InDesign | Win / Mac | 240$ / year | The major desktop publishing software. |
Microsoft Publisher | Windows | Part of Office 365. | Entry-level DTP. |
Scribus | Linux / Win / Mac | Free & open source | Popular libre alternative to InDesign. |
QuarkXPress | Win / Mac | 399 € | Once king of DTP, still kicking. |
Canva (online) | All | Free + subscriptions | Design your documents online. |
Lucidpress (online) | All | Free + subscriptions | That's my line! |
Others:
Dos Files
pandoc - Universal document converter. Free & open source, Linux / Mac / Windows / other Unix-like.
Organize Text Files
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