Are you always hunting for new and free writing software because you believe writing doesn’t have to cost a fortune?
All you need is a notebook and a pen to write, but since we’re in the digital age, it’s fun to try new writing tools for organizing ideas, drafting stories, and even writing a full-blown screenplay that’s completely free.
So if you’re a novelist, screenwriter, or someone who just wants a clutter-free program to write with, then we recommend these five completely free writing software programs.
Ellipsus
Ellipsus is a simple distraction-free online writing app. All you need is to sign up for a completely free account and write away. The software is simple to navigate. It’s perfect for writers who are always online and on the go.
Best features:
- Strong online collaboration
- No generative AI
- Full sync across any devices
- Simple navigation menu
- Compatible with any OS as long as they have internet access
Obsidian
Obsidian is a note-taking app that functions like a second brain for writers. You can connect your notes and ideas with internal links, which is great for world-building or research-heavy projects. Your writing is stored in plain text Markdown files, so you’re never locked into one system.
Best features:
- Completely free software installation with only a $4/month fee for 1 sync vault and $8/month for 10 sync vaults to access notes across any device and OS
- Cross-platform apps across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
- Strong collaboration with teams and friends
- Free plugins to expand new features
- End-to-end encryption
Zettlr
Zettlr is an open-source Markdown editor that’s great for academic papers. It comes with citation tools for research writing, and helps manage multiple documents at once. So if you’re working on a blog, research paper or a novel, Zettlr is a great option too.
Best features:
- Zotero integration
- Citations (BibTex, JSON, et al)
- Standard compatible Markdown support
- Active community forum
Trelby
Trelby is great for aspiring screenwriters. It’s a free, open-source screenwriting software that takes care of formatting guidelines so you can focus on dialogue and scenes. It’s clean, fast and doesn’t come with complicated menus. It runs on Linux and Windows.
Best features:
- Automatic screenplay editor
- Includes spell-checker, screenplay formatting errors, and export to PDF, TXT, RTF, HTML, and Final Draft
- Provides statistics and reports for a detailed breakdown of lines, scenes, and more
Manuskript
Manuskript is solely for novelists in mind. It has outlining tools, character sheets, and a plot manager to organize big novel projects. It has a distraction-free mode, which helps if you want to just write. The software is compatible with Linux and Windows.
Best features:
- Outliner
- Distraction-free mode
- Novel assistant
- Completely free to download
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