Unlike any traditional note app, a writing app focuses on a minimalistic look and a distract-free writing experience. Instead of bombarding users with endless editing options such as highlighter, table, different font styles, and colors, you get to concentrate on words and text. We shall look at the widely accepted and used apps with a simple interface and ample features. Of course, they come at a cost, and some of them offer a trial.
1. iA Writer
iA Writer carries a simple and clean look. At first, it might seem like another Notepad app, but you will be surprised by the number of features and options on offer when you dig deeper. For instance, it packs a feature to help you highlight parts of speech. The practice helps to spot superfluous adjectives, weak verbs, and unwanted repetitions. You can tweak your text accordingly and follow it as a routine to make your writing crisper. My favorite from the bunch is the Focus mode. As the name suggests, Focus mode only focuses on the sentence or paragraph that you’re working on. We have seen similar add-on on other apps but we think iA Writer has the best implementation. Apart from that, it carries all the bells and whistles such as Markdown support and HTML view that lets you judge how things will look when they are published on online blogging platforms Medium or WordPress. Apart from Mac, iA Writer is also available on iOS, Android and Windows. It is priced at $29.99 as a one-time payment on Mac App Store. Download iA Writer for Mac
2. Drafts
Drafts is another critically acclaimed writing app for Mac. After installing it, all you need to do is open the app and start drafting your post. You don’t need to perform any setup. You can even add new posts right from the macOS menu bar. You don’t have to navigate through a home screen. Developers have paid close attention to the UI as it feels fluid and the animations are also smooth while going between drafts. All the new entries you make are available in the Inbox section. From there, you can use the tagging system to organize notes. The text editing options range from custom fonts, line height, margins, spacing, and even different font styles. The app plays perfectly fine with the macOS dark theme, which means it can smartly adapt if prefer writing after sunset or in low-brightness mode. We appreciate the seamless sharing and third-party integration. For example, you can mail the draft to your editor with a single click from the editing menu. Users can also save the post to iCloud Drive, Evernote, OneDrive, Google Drive, Google Docs, and even publish to the WordPress platform. Neat! Drafts is an Apple exclusive software. It’s accessible on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Drafts comes with a 7-day trial, and after that, it will cost you $29.99 per year to include fancy features like widgets, Family Sharing, and other Pro-level features. Download Drafts for Mac
3. Ulysses
Among the others on this list, Ulysses wins hands down with the organization of your work. Ulysses’ unified library holds everything you ever write in it. The app can smoothly manage all kinds of writing projects, big or small. When it comes to customizations, you can change Theme, Font style, viewing options, and more from the settings menu. Ulysses also lets you add images, keywords, and goals while writing. It’s extremely useful for long-term writing projects or assignments with fixed word counts. Ulysses also has an edge over its rivals when it comes to sharing options. The app lets you convert a note into HTML, ePub, PDF, or DOCX. And even better, Ulysses supports publishing platforms such as Ghost, WordPress, and Medium right from the app itself. Ulysses is accessible on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. While being Apple software platform exclusive, its annual subscription set you back by $49.99 per year while providing full syncronization of documents and access on all your devices. Download Ulysses for Mac
4. Scrivener
Scrivener was an underdog for a while but it all changed with the Scrivener 3 in late 2020. The company finally overhauled a rather dated look with modern design and elements. One of the best aspects of Scrivener is the Binder add-on. As its name suggests, Binder helps you keep all your notes, research, and manuscript files in one place. You can easily access it from the sidebar. We like how Scrivener offers a separate notes area in every section to jot down ideas. It comes in handy when you are running through dozens of thoughts for various sections of the novel or book. As for export options, you can share the file in Word, PDF, or plain text. The app uses Dropbox to sync data between devices. Scrivener is available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Windows. The app asks for $49 as a one-time payment. Download Scrivener for Mac
5. Bear Notes
Okay, we know that this app carries the word Notes in its name, but there is more to this app. Bear has one of the best user interface among all writing apps for the Mac. On top of that, the company is smartly adding the right amount of features to keep you engaged in writing. Bear Notes takes you directly to the notes page. Swipe left and you can access the notes from the hamburger menu. The company is currently working on a new editor that should bridge the gap between Bear and other writing tools. The exporting options include support for PDF, HTML, JPG image, Docs, and more. Who doesn’t like to add themes? At least, we do. Bear gives multiple Theme options, including dark, high contrast, red, snow theme, and more. Bear Notes supports iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Apple Watch. The subscription price is set at $1.5 per month. Download Bear Notes for Mac
Start Your First Draft
While writing is a creative activity, a good writing app can certainly make it a pleasant experience. That’s why you must choose your companion app carefully for your next writing project. Share your favorite free ones in the comments below. Next up: Looking to stay organized on Mac? Read the post below to learn about the top seven Mac apps to stay organized. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
