Best word design software

When you sit in on a virtual conference or when your boss starts firing off their favorite productivity tips, what do you do? You open a digital document and take notes. 📝

…probably with the same word processing software you’ve used since the ninth grade. 👀

Word processing software isn’t what it used to be—it’s better.

These tools have evolved beyond the boring blank screens we felt forced to use. Now, word processing can actually be fun!

Rich text editing, dynamic formatting, intuitive writing assistance, and collaboration features are some of the greatest benefits to using top word processing software. But the best part? It’s also incredibly affordable.

Follow along as we dive into every must-have word-processing feature and the 10 best word-processing software for every team, writing style, and use case! Complete with detailed feature comparisons, pros and cons, pricing, ratings, and more!

What is a Word Processing Software?

Word processing software is an application used to capture, format, and edit any form of writing—whether it be your general thoughts, meeting notes, SOPs, or email drafts. Your mind may immediately go to typewriters, but the benefits of word-processing software extend much further than that.

Thanks to the modern development of project management software, collaboration tools, and intuitive design, word processing software can do more than you ever thought possible! You can edit one document alongside your peers, arrange documents by category, share them via simple links, and flex your creativity with rich formatting. And these days, that’s just the bare minimum!

The thing is, there are a ton of word processing software to choose from these days.

In fact, we’d bet our bottom dollar that you can think of a few off the top of your head as we speak! You might even have a top three!

But with the number of new, flexible, and exciting features being added to word processing tools each day, it’s important to know what to look for in your go-to software in order to best serve your use case and to get the most bang for your buck.

What Should You Look for in Word Processing Software?

All this talk about advanced features makes you wonder—what does this functionality actually look like?

You don’t have to settle for the basic features we grew up struggling with. You also don’t have to fork over an arm and a leg to access powerful software that can take your documents so much further!

Here is a list of our favorite, must-have features to look for in your next word-processing software:

• Ease of use: Make sure your software is easy to learn, share with others, and efficiently supports your most-used functions
• Cloud-based and a reliable offline mode: Things happen! You might lose your wifi connection, need to switch devices, or be asked to share your documents on the spot. Cloud-based software and offline functionality ensure these hurdles won’t pose any real problem
• Collaboration features: These features make it possible for you to edit and develop documents in real-time with the team! With clarity and without overlap. And consider it a bonus if you can also tag your team or comment on your text
• Custom permissions and sharing: Especially if you often work with stakeholders, clients, or other departments, it’s important to have the ability to choose who can edit, view, or give access to your work
• Version history: This is your way of keeping a digital paper trail. Plus, if you make a mistake, you’ll have the power to go back and restore your text
• Integrations: The more integrations, the more information you can pull into your documents! Plus, it goes both ways, multiple integrations with your chosen word processing software means you can also access your documents from virtually anywhere and from any other tool

The 10 Best Word-Processing Software

There’s no reason why your word-processing software can’t be exciting, dynamic, or collaborative.

Digital editors and document sharing have come a long way in the past decade and we have tons of software to show for that growth! The challenge then becomes finding a tool that’s tailored to your unique needs and aligns with your work style.

So what do you do? You refer back to this list!

We’ve researched and tested the best word-processing software to bring you 10 of our favorites based on their best features, limitations, pricing, ratings, and more!

1. ClickUp

ClickUp is the ultimate all-in-one productivity tool for teams across industries to centralize their work into one collaborative platform. ClickUp is known for its rich set of fully customizable features, including a built-in document editor to create everything from simple to-do lists to detailed wikis, then connect them directly to your workflow.

With the ability to convert text into actionable tasks, embed data from virtually any other work tool, and collaborate on documents in real-time, ClickUp Docs is the ideal word processing tool for teams, students, and enterprise companies alike.

ClickUp best features

• Advanced word processing and work management features across every pricing plan, even Free Forever
• Embed media, tables, bookmarks, and even other documents into ClickUp Docs to bring more context and value into your roadmaps and knowledge bases
• Live detection in ClickUp Docs lets teams edit, contribute, and comment on the same document in real-time
• Link Docs to tasks and add widgets to automatically update workflows from your document editor
• Turn highlighted text into action items and delegate them to the team with threaded comments and @mentions
• Hundreds of templates for any use case, including several created specifically for ClickUp Docs
• Easy and secure sharing via URL for any guest, collaborator, or even public access
• Over 1,000 integrations to embed work into ClickUp Docs from virtually anywhere
• Nested pages and styling options to create visual hierarchies within every Doc

ClickUp cons

• There can be a bit of an adjustment period learning all of ClickUp’s advanced features
• Some views are not yet offered on the mobile app

ClickUp pricing

• Free Forever
• Unlimited: $5 per user, per month
• Business: $12 per user, per month
• Business Plus: $19 per user, per month
• Enterprise: Contact ClickUp for custom pricing

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (5,680+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,540+ reviews)

2. Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a powerful word processor for anyone to create Word documents, spreadsheets, emails, and more. It’s part of the Microsoft Office Suite, which makes it easy to integrate with other Microsoft products like Excel and PowerPoint.

Word offers various features to help you stay organized, such as template options for different types of formal documents and advanced editing tools. You can add images, tables, charts, hyperlinks, and other media to enhance the look of your MS Word documents. The program also provides many features to help make creating documents more efficient, such as a spellchecker, auto-corrector, and thesaurus. 

Microsoft Word best features

• OneDrive storage to save and access documents from anywhere
• Real-time collaboration to share and edit with others
• Spelling and grammar checker
• Mobile app

Microsoft Word limitations

• Functions on the toolbar are different from version to version
• Many features of Word forms don’t transfer and cause the format to break when printing documents

Microsoft Word pricing

• Microsoft Word is available as a standalone version for $159.99 or with a Microsoft 365 subscription

Microsoft Word ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,600+ reviews)
• G2: 4.7/5 (1,000+ reviews)

3. Google Docs

Google Docs is an online word processor that makes it easy to create and edit professional documents. With real-time collaboration tools, Google Docs provides a platform for groups of people to collaborate on a single project, ensuring that everyone stays up-to-date with the document’s progress. Features like templated and automated formatting are also available to make your document look professional. 

With Google Docs, users can track changes, comments, and suggestions as they make revisions and edits. All of the documents you create in Google Docs are automatically saved in the cloud, so you can access them from any device at any time. So whether you’re on your desktop or mobile device, you can continue working!

Google Docs best features

• @Mentions to pull relevant people, files, and events
• Smart Compose helps you write faster with fewer errors
• Third-party applications with project management tools
• Comment replies from Gmail 

Google Docs limitations

• Limitations on document sizes
• Not suitable as a scalable knowledge base system 

Google Docs pricing

• Google Docs is free with a Google account

Google Docs ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (27,000+ reviews)
• G2: N/A

4. Grammarly

Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant. It helps you identify and fix grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other writing errors quickly. Grammarly offers suggestions while you’re using desktop apps or websites, including Gmail, ClickUp, LinkedIn, Google Docs, and more!

With Grammarly, you get feedback on your writing in real-time so you can improve it instantly. Plus, with its deep understanding of grammar topics and linguistics, you can trust your next report or project will be polished and professional. Grammarly makes it easy to focus on what’s important—creating strong, compelling content.

Discover the top content collaboration software!

Grammarly best features

• Style Guide to capture voice and style for consistent documents
• Text snippets to insert sentences and paragraphs in all workflows
• Tone Detector for effective communication
• In-app editor to upload documents

Grammarly limitations

• Doesn’t work for all apps and websites
• Expensive monthly subscriptions

Grammarly pricing

• Free plan
• Premium: $12/month
• Business: $15/member per month

Grammarly ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (6,000+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (1,200+ reviews)

5. WPS Office

WPS Office is a comprehensive office suite that provides you with the tools and features necessary to manage all your documents, files, and presentations efficiently. It supports popular file formats and is compatible with PC and mobile devices. With WPS Office, users can create and edit text documents, spreadsheets, and slide shows in an intuitive and user-friendly interface. 

It also includes powerful document management tools such as colorful themes, annotation, split PDF documents, and file format conversion. The software also has advanced collaboration capabilities that allow multiple users to work on the same file simultaneously. 

WPS Office best features

• 100,000+ templates organized by categories
• Multiple language support
• Text extraction 
• Watermark creation

WPS Office limitations

• Limited ability to handle different work styles and preferences
• A free plan is not available 

WPS Office pricing

• WPS Premium: $18.99 for 6 months or $29.99 for 1 year
• WPS Business (WPS Cloud Pro): Starts at $5.99/user per month

WPS Office ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,200+ reviews)
• G2: 4.4/5 (200+ reviews)

6. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper offers a simple way to start a project. The drag–and–drop feature allows users to break down complex tasks into easily manageable chunks. By inviting teammates to collaborate on projects, everyone can contribute to the conversation, comment on each other’s work, and brainstorm in real-time. 

The Master Doc feature allows anyone to create a hub for other docs. For complex or long-term projects, organizing documents from the start will boost productivity. It provides you with an efficient way to access and manage all the related documents by creating links to them. You don’t need to spend extra time searching for files. Search or navigate within the master document!

Dropbox Paper best features

• Search bar to find  publicly viewable docs associated with a team member’s email address
• Keyboard shortcuts to highlight specific text
• Custom templates to standard forms
• Auto-generated table of contents

Dropbox Paper limitations

• Limitations on file upload sizes in a Dropbox account
• Basic users can only be signed into three devices at a time

Dropbox Paper pricing

• Plus: $9.99/month for 1 user
• Family: $16.99/family per month for up to 6 users
• Professional: $16.58/month for 1 user
• Standard: $15/user per month for 3+ users
• Advanced: $24/user per month for 3+ users
• Enterprise: Contact Dropbox for pricing 

Dropbox Paper ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.4/5 (100+ reviews)
• G2: 4.1/5 (4,400+ reviews)

7. Notion

Notion is a document-based workspace for your notes, tasks, documents, and databases. It’s a versatile tool as a word processor to track any information, from project milestones and task reminders to travel plans and personal ideas. 

Notion’s operating system makes it easy to organize whatever you need to keep track of. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you can quickly set up custom workspaces tailored to whatever type of project or goal. Plus, Notion allows you to link between different databases and notes, create checklists, embed media, and more.

Check out the best Notion alternatives!

Notion best features

• iOS, Windows, web browser, MacOS platforms
• Calendar, Kanban boards, lists, and gallery views
• Real-time collaboration
• Bidirectional linking

Notion limitations

• Pricey premium plans compared to other word processors on this list
• Limited project and task management features

Notion pricing

• Free plan
• Plus: $8/user per month, billed annually
• Business: $15/user per month, billed annually
• Enterprise: Contact Notion for pricing 

Notion ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,100+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (1,000+ reviews)

8. Coda

Coda is a powerful document editor for creating and managing content. With Coda, you can create documents from scratch, edit existing ones, track changes, collaborate with others in real-time, and share them securely. The editor provides a range of tools to help you write fluently and quickly—including text formatting, image editing, tables, and hyperlinks. 

Coda also comes with built-in collaboration features, so you can invite people to join in on projects and discuss changes easily. With its easy-to-use interface and intuitive tools, Coda is a word processor solution for anyone looking to build professional documents!

Coda best features

• Building blocks to upgrade documents into boards
• Dashboards to view connected data
• Google Calendar and Slack integrations
• Drag-and-drop basic templates

Coda limitations

• Not scalable as a document database compared to other word processors
• Limited integrations with other apps 

Coda pricing

• Free plan
• Pro: $10/month per Doc Maker, billed annually
• Team: $30/month per Doc Maker, billed annually
• Enterprise: Contact Coda for pricing 

Coda ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (40+ reviews)
• G2: 4.7/5 (300+ reviews)

Bonus: Compare Coda Vs. Airtable

9. Evernote

Evernote is an online note-taking application to help you be more productive and organized. With Evernote, you can store anything from text-based notes to images, videos, and audio recordings. You can even add reminders and read web pages offline. Evernote is available for various platforms, including mobile devices. Plus, it has a Web Clipper browser extension!

No matter what type of project you’re working on, Evernote makes managing the details easier. Whether it’s brainstorming new content ideas or planning a business meeting, Evernote gives you the freedom to capture, organize and sync all your information. With features like searchable tags and categories, you’ll have the tools to find what you need, when you need it.

Connect Evernote and ClickUp to manage your notes in one place!

Evernote best features

• Calendar view to connect schedules and notes
• Document scanner to go paperless
• Due dates and reminders functionality
• Google Calendar integration

Evernote limitations

• Limited number of saved templates on all plans
• Evernote Teams account has a shared 30 GB of uploads per month

Evernote pricing

• Free plan
• Personal: $6.67/month, billed annually
• Professional: $9.17/month, billed annually
• Teams: $14.99/month per user

Evernote ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.4/5 (7,700+ reviews)
• G2: 4.4/5 (1,900+ reviews)

10. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free open source office suite designed to make completing everyday tasks easier. It’s an open-source product, meaning that it’s free and available to all users. LibreOffice includes programs for word processing, presentation building, spreadsheet editing, database manipulation, formula editing, drawing, and more. 

Together these tools provide an intuitive user experience and help individuals create their best work. With LibreOffice, you can develop financial reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. If you want more functionality, extensions are available through the LibreOffice repository. 

LibreOffice best features

• Formula editor to insert mathematical and scientific formulas
• LanguageTool APIs for grammar checking
• OpenDocument Format (ODF) extensions
• Custom templates 

LibreOffice limitations

• Outdated interface compared to other free word processing programs
• Not scalable as a long-term document database 

LibreOffice pricing

• LibreOffice is free

LibreOffice ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.3/5 (1,600+ reviews)
• G2: 4.3/5 (200+ reviews)

ClickUp—More Than the Average Word Processor

It’s time to ask for more from your word processing software, ClickUp Docs will show you how. 🙂

Edit with the team, turn your thoughts into actionable tasks, and connect your documents directly to your workflow, all without leaving your editor! No other word processor can enhance the value of your documents like ClickUp can. But the best part? ClickUp does it all for free.

Access ClickUp Docs, unlimited tasks, tons of templates and resources, more than 1,000 integrations, and so much more when you sign up for ClickUp today.

Word processing software helps you manipulate a text document and create or edit a text document.

A quality word processing software can also provide output options such as printing or exporting a text document into other formats.

Without word processing software, you would have difficulty processing paragraphs, pages, and even papers.

Not many people know that early word processing software was standalone devices, but word processors come as lightweight software that’s easy to install with technological advancements.

Another great advantage of word processing software is that it allows you to store documents electronically, display them across screens, or fully modify documents before printing them.

Even though word processing software isn’t complex to learn, it might take a bit of time to learn how to take full advantage of the software with so many functions.

Also, keep in mind that some word processing software comes from the office bundle that includes other processing software.

In this article, you’ll learn more about word processing software and see 15 of the best examples.

Whether you’re a writer, editor, or only need quality word processing software to prepare your documents pre-printing, at least one of these 15 software will be a good pick!

Even though most word processing software has similar features and offers similar benefits, the small but significant differences between these word processing software examples can make a huge difference for personal use.

1. Microsoft Word

The most known word processing software is Microsoft Word, and chances are high you’ve used it at least on one occasion to process or create text documents.

Word is the most known word processing software because the creator of Windows creates it and it often comes integrated with the Windows operating system.

However, Word is also known for the benefits it offers. Improved search and navigational experience combined with the ability to work with others simultaneously are just some of the benefits.

Along with that, Word gives you the ability to access, share, and work on your documents from almost anywhere.

With plenty of options to create, edit, and process text, Word also has additional visual effects, turning text into diagrams, and combining visual aspects into text documents.

Instant help when creating documents is another great integration that especially helps writers. Exporting and having document flexibility is helpful when producing specific documents for your studies or work, and it’s just one of many benefits of Word.

2. iWork Pages

iWork Pages is a must-have word processing software for Apple users. Even though Microsoft Word is available for macOS, iWork is a great native alternative that helps Apple users process, create, and work with word documents.

iWork Pages was previously known as AppleWorks, and it is part of the official Apple iWork suite.

Not only Pages can help you create documents, but they can also help you to collaborate with others efficiently, create animated documents from your data, and even build interactive charts from your text.

What’s great about Pages is that it comes with built-in help and sample formulas, so you don’t always have to create a document from scratch. Instead, you can use templates or benefit from function suggestions to improve the way you work.

With over 30 spreadsheet templates, you won’t have to create text documents from scratch unless you enjoy creating your work from scratch. Templates can help you spend less time formatting and creating the basics of your document and yet leave you with more time to focus on your text.

3. OpenOffice Writer

Among the paid word processing software, there are a couple of free gems such as OpenOffice.

OpenOffice is a free and open productivity suite that includes Writer, the perfect software for word processing.

Whether you’re trying to draft a quick letter or working on complex text documents (maybe even writing a book), the writer is a reliable and fully equipped word processing software to handle all needed tasks.

What’s great about Writer is that it is very easy to use, so you won’t have to spend hours learning the ins and outs of the software to take full advantage of it.

Instead, you will be able to focus on producing documents of all types and letting Writer help you along the way.

With built-in features such as AutoCorrect or AutoComplete, you can quickly write your documents without having to worry about making mistakes.

Along with these two features, OpenOffice Writer comes with a table of contents, references, multi-page display, and notes to help you annotate and review documents, as well as create well-structured text documents.

Lastly, exporting isn’t going to be a problem since Writer can help you export your text document into other formats such as HTML, PDF, or even .odt.

Also, keep in mind that OpenOffice provides templates you can download and use with Writer to make your drafts easier.

4. WordPerfect

WordPerfect is described as the Microsoft Office alternative. It is an all-in-one suite that focuses on productivity and efficiency when working with digital documents (especially text documents).

Inside the WordPerfect Office, you will have access to a neat and efficient word processor that can help you quickly draft new documents, create letters or brochures, write resumes, and even start writing a book.

What’s so special about WordPerfect is that it supports collaboration with about 60 file formats, so you can import and export documents from any third-party software.

With the help of Reveal Codes, WordPerfect provides seamless formatting after you import documents from any source.

And if you’re looking to “spice up” your text documents, you can do so easily with the help of built-in PDF forms into this powerful and versatile word processing software.

5. FocusWriter

If you spend a lot of time writing documents in your word processing software, and yet you find it hard to concentrate and focus on the words, FocusWriter is a great pick.

FocusWriter is a very simple word processing software that utilizes a versatile interface hidden away from the most important part of the software. This way, you can focus on the page and text, and whenever you need to use any integrated feature, all you have to do is swipe your cursor across the edges to open the hidden menu.

With integrated features such as timers, alarms, daily goals, fully customizable themes, and even the ability to use typewriter sound effects, this word processing software will help you stay on track and get things done.

Along with these features, FocusWriter has optional features such as live statistics, spell-checking, and even the ability to use FocusWriter in 20 different languages.

These features aim to improve the user experience and make word processing tasks fun and more productive since you can set your own goals.

This is a word processing software that adds improved features that aren’t very common among its competitors.

6. LibreOffice Writer

When you are a very organized person and need word processing software that will match this, LibreOffice Writer is worth trying.

LibreOffice Writer is a modern word processing software that ensures you can edit any document quickly with the help of integrated features.

Therefore, Writer is good enough for doing quick and simple edits. Still, it’s also more than enough to finish books, edit many content pages, add diagrams, and even feature indexes into your documents.

The user interface is very neat and even though there are many features they’re hidden away so you can focus on the most important aspect of word processing: the text.

7. AbiWord

When you require a very similar word processing software to Word, and yet you’re on a budget, AbiWord is a good choice.

AbiWord is compatible with the latest operating systems and interface-wise, it is very similar to Microsoft Word. Even though it’s not the “prettiest” word processing software, it has everything you might need to get the work done efficiently, and it won’t cost you a penny.

With compatibility to work with all standard text documents, AbiWord also allows you to share your documents with others easily or even merge your letters directly with your email.

Even though AbiWord might not have all features other word processing software include, AbiWord is built on the extensible plugin architecture, so you can always find plugins to include features you might be missing.

On top of that, I should mention that AbiWord is available in 30 different languages, and it is still getting updates so that you won’t be relying on an outdated version.

8. WPS Word

WPS offers a suite similar to Microsoft Office that includes three components: the Word, Excel, and Presentation.

Word is a word processing software that is highly compatible with almost all compatible document formats, and it is even compatible with all operations systems.

Creating documents from scratch with Word is very simple, and yet with standard formatting tools everyone is familiar with, editing documents is even easier.

On top of that, Word includes many extras that are rarely found in other word processing software, such as hundreds of document templates. Therefore, if you don’t feel like creating documents from scratch, basing your documents on pre-existing templates can save you a lot of time and work.

Combining media with text is highly possible, and viewing multiple documents simultaneously improves efficiency when working with multiple documents.

With collaboration tools, password protection for chosen documents, and automatic spell-checking tools, you can easily get your work done without worrying about accuracy.

9. Polaris Docs

Polaris Office is a combination of tools that includes Docs, a highly versatile version that’s very similar to a combination of Microsoft Word and Google Docs.

It’s a very versatile word processing software that allows you to work on your documents wherever you are.

Not only is it available as computer software, but it also has a dedicated web browser version and even the app version suitable for Android and iOS smartphones.

Collaboration is guaranteed with such versatility, and when it comes down to getting the work done, Polaris Docs supports all types of documents, including sheets, slides, and more.

Saved documents can be worked on in groups, meaning that more than one person can edit the document in real-time. And if you ever decide to collaborate on a document with someone, you can invite them with a link and keep the communication open with an integrated chat in the Polaris Docs.

Feature-wise, Polaris Docs is packed with the most standard features you would expect from a word processing software, and yet the main improvement is the way you can collaborate with others and work on the same document in real-time.

10. Writemonkey

If you search for a word processing document that will leave you on your own with your words and yet will hide all functionalities in a very minimalistic and simple interface, Writemonkey makes a great choice.

Writemonkey might look like a coding interface at first, but it is a stripped-down word processing software that helps you focus on your writing.

Of course, Writemonkey is also ideal for making quick edits and even reading.

This is probably one of the lightest and smallest word processing software that is very easy to install and even easier to get used to.

What’s also great is that you have full control over the interface to customize it to your needs. On top of that, you can set timed writing or even feature a visual progress bar to make your writing work feel like a breeze.

And if you ever end up missing something in Writemonkey, you can always introduce third-party upgrades to this word processing software via plugins.

11. Dropbox Paper

When you need a versatile, reliable, and quick word processing software that’s perhaps web-based, Dropbox Paper is worth considering.

Dropbox Paper is a lightweight web-based word processing software that allows simple editing and collaboration between teams.

With Dropbox Paper, you can create documents from scratch or import existing documents to easily track any edits or changes made by your team members. On top of that, with this light word processing software, you can keep everything organized, ensure feedback is properly given, and even improve your documents.

You can do almost everything in Dropbox Paper that you would do in other word processing software. However, Paper can also serve as a co-editing software.

Whether you’re trying to improve communication in your team, improve collaboration between team members, or you’re writing a book with your partner, Paper is the place to stay productive, organized, and efficient.

12. Scribus

If you require professional word processing software to handle your business/work documents or edit and prepare your book for publishing, Scribus is a great choice.

Even though it’s a bit different from standard word processing software, Scribus allows you to choose one of the designed layouts, set your typesetting, and even improve your written documents with professional-looking quality images.

With Scribus, you can also create animations that you can place directly inside your document, or you can turn your text documents into interactive PDF presentations.

On top of that, the creation of forms or questionnaires is very simple. With OpenType support, you can now edit your existing documents with advanced features such as advanced typography.

While Scribus is a great fit for simple editing and personal documents, it excels at creating magazine covers, newspaper front pages, preparing the books for publishing, and even manufacturing artwork.

It might not be the standard word processing software most people are looking for, but it will fit professional needs easily for a very fair price.

13. SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker

When you need a simple word processing software, SoftMaker FreeOffice is a great stepping stone that won’t cost you anything, and yet it includes almost everything you might need for personal or business use.

In the FreeOffice, you will get TextMaker included. TextMaker is a small but efficient word processing software that allows you to create all types of documents and edit existing documents that you can easily import.

What’s unique about TextMaker is that it doesn’t only focus on written documents. Instead, it also offers great features for processing words on graphics. Therefore, you can use TextMaker to create great text for your images, logos, or even banners.

With many different fonts, styles, and even wrapping options, TextMaker will make all your graphics look professional and attractive yet easy to read.

Since TextMaker can import almost all types of documents, you can also export your work in the most standard formats, such as Word DOC and DOCX. However, what’s also great about TextMaker is that it allows you to create PDF files from your documents.

You can even create an EPUB eBook with the help of TextMaker, which is a great feature, considering that SoftMaker provides the TextMaker for free.

14. Zoho Docs Writer

Zoho Docs Writer is a perfect example of an online word processing software that is easy to use and easy to access. Yet, in return, you will get very reliable and advanced features you can use on any of your documents.

The writer allows you to focus on your words in a distraction-free interface, yet you can work with others in an effortless document sharing.

With the most standard features, you would expect a word processing software packed in the interface you can access via the web browser and even get unlimited versions of your document.

These versions help you compare differences and find differences after collaboration with others.

One of the most advanced yet convenient features is publishing your documents directly (if you are a content creator).

If not, Zoho Docs Writer can help you electronically sign documents and even fill out PDF forms (or edit PDFs) without a problem.

15. Google Docs

Suppose you are not a fan of standalone word processing documents or don’t consider your computer reliable enough for your work. In that case, Google Docs is one of the most reliable web-based word processing software than most others in this space that you can get your hands on.

Along with the Sheets, Slides, and Forms, Docs allows you to not only create documents from scratch or import and edit existing documents, but it also allows you to store all your documents in the cloud for free.

You can easily access your documents from any device, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account, and yet you will easily get used to the functionality and features of the Docs.

On top of that, Docs is very flexible, so you can export them in many different formats just the way you can import documents. However, one thing to keep in mind is that you will need an internet connection at all times to access your documents or work on them.

Conclusion

Even though Microsoft Word is one of the most known word processing software globally, there is much other software that is as good and worth giving it a try.

One couldn’t do without quality word processing software, but you even get the chance to find the one that will fit your needs the most with so many choices.

Even though each one of these is similar, there are differences in the interface, functionality, and even features that the software provides.

With that being said, you can easily choose according to your needs and purpose, which I highly recommend!

Here I am going to present a list of best free desktop publishing software for Windows. These software let you create documents and prepare them to be published online. You can create and design Business cards, Letterheads, Book Covers, Greeting Cards, Posters, Brochures, Web Pages, etc. with these software.

Some of these DTP software are totally free while some are available free of cost with some limitations. You can also work on more than one documents using some software. Some desktop publisher have a list of templates which will help you in designing documents. All of these software have some features in common with some differences.

Desktop publishing is the process of creating documents with the help of page layout, images, text, shapes, etc. This article will help you to simplify your job of creating Newsletter, Business card, Letterhead, Book covers, etc. You can use text, images, shapes, templates, colors, logos, map, barcodes, etc. Some software support multiple tabs so that you can design and create multiple designs at a time. You will find that some word processing software can also be used as desktop publishing software. These can also be used as Book publishing software and Newsletter publishing software. You will learn how to design documents for publishing and also learn the process to ready documents to publish.

My Favorite Desktop Publishing Software:

My favorite free DTP software is Scribus. You can use this desktop publishing programs without any limitation. You can use various text styles and formats, layout formats, geometrical shapes, barcodes, etc. It is cross-platform and supports multiple tabs. So you can work on more than one project at a time. This desktop publishing software has features which could be helpful in designing as well. You just have to learn how to use these features.

You can also check out these list of Best Free Barcode Generator Software For Windows, Best Free Broken Shortcut Fixer Software For Windows, and Best Free Hard Drive Repair Software To Fix Bad Sectors.

Scribus

Scribus is a free desktop publishing software. It is specially designed to publish documents. It has a number of page formats and templates to choose from. You can insert frames, text, text box, various geometrical shapes, barcodes, etc. Use different fonts, insert images, export as EPS, PDF, SVG, and Image. Import text, image, vectors, and append. It supports ICC color management, CMYK color separation, Spot color, and PDF creation.

This DTP freeware supports multiple tabs, means you can design more than one document at a time.

It is a Cross platform desktop publishing software and supports Linux, BSD UNIX, Solaris, OpenIndiana, GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, and Windows desktops.

Supported Windows versions: Windows 10, Windows 8,  Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows NT, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows 98.

Note: You will have to install Ghostscript on you computer to be able to export documents as EPS files.

LyX

LyX is another free desktop publishing software. It lets you process documents using various styles. It has some awesome inbuilt features which make its versatile for desktop publishing. You can directly add text as: paragraph, quote, quotation, list, section, subsection, subparagraph, title, author, date, address, etc. You can insert mathematical expression using various mathematical operators and signs.

This desktop publishing software lets you work in multiple tabs, insert label, insert  index, use various bullets formats, insert notes, insert comments, import and export other documents, insert files, add box of different shapes and sizes, etc.

You can perform a search for case sensitive letters or whole word. Add bookmarks, use various tools like spell checker, statistics, TeX information, compare, reconfigure, etc.

Serif PagePlus Starter Editon

Serif PagePlus Starter Editon is one of the best free desktop publishing software. You can create document for new publication or cover page for books. It supports multiple tabs and lets you design multiple documents at a time. This attractive desktop publishing software lets you add pictures, text in different fonts, different templates, various shapes, various colors, etc. You can save and print your own created documents.

File>New option lets you open screenplay, sitcom for tape, sitcom for film, and stage play. These options open new document to design. It let you save your design in .sws, .rtf, etc., formats.

Note: You need to create an account on its website to download this software. Once you have created an account, verify your email, then you can easily download and use this software for free. There are some features which are blocked in the free version; to unlock these features you have to purchase this software.

Spring Publisher

Spring Publisher is another free desktop publisher software. Business card, Letterhead, postcard, etc. can be created easily. Insert text, image, map, shape, bar code, logos, etc. Image effects options are available, such as: opacity, shadows, border, filters, rotation, etc.

New Project option lets you create document from a blank page. You can also choose a template from the list.

Compatible Platform: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.

Note: Free version of this desktop publishing software lets you design documents with limited features and save documents in low quality.

OpenOffice Writer

OpenOffice Writer is a popular open source Word processor, which can also be used as a desktop publishing software. It has a list of Wizards which let you create documents for different purposes. It lets you create Letter, Fax, Agenda, Presentation, Web Pages, Business Cards, Templates and documents, HTML Documents, Drawing, Database, Spreadsheet, etc.

Other Features Which Help to Create Documents:

• Insert Date, Time, Author, Title, Subject, Special Characters, Header, footer, Head notes, Foot notes, Frame, Table, Picture, Movie, Sound, Floating frame, File, etc.
• Add bookmark.
• Add different language scripts.
• Create Envelope.
• Set interface view.
• Editing tools: auto correct, spelling checker, word counter, line numbering, etc.

Compatible Windows versions: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows 2K, Windows XP, Windows, Windows Vista, and Windows 2003.

Project ROME

Project ROME is a free software for publication of documents. It can create a documents using text, videos, images, animation, audio, graphics, etc. You can even open an existing document and edit it. Create a new document using different templates. Insert various shapes, symbols, puzzles shape, files, clipping frames, layer stacks, map, bitmap image, etc. You can customize templates sizes. Finally, save your created file as .anh format.

It is multi-platform supported software: Mac and Windows.

Note: Adobe AIR should be installed to run this desktop publishing software on Windows.

Also, note that this software has been discontinued, but its free version is still available that can be downloaded and used for free.

LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice Writer is another free word processing software which can be used as desktop publishing software as well. Create a document to be published through File>New and open text documents, database, HTML document, XML document, Labels, business card, templates, etc. It contains some templates design and you can also create your own templates. Use images, colors, background colors, text, shapes, map, text box, captions, frames, media, clip art, hyperlink, table, header, footer, etc. in a document. Finally, save your file as .odt, .ott, .fodt, .uot, .docx, .dot, .xml, .html, .rtf, .txt, etc.

This is cross platform software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

WPS Office

WPS Office is one of the best publishing software. Although it is a word processing suite, still you can design book covers, business cards, XML document, etc. It contains a list of templates, but you have to download these templates. You can save output in .wps, .doc, .rtf, .wpt, .txt, .xml, .htm, .dot, etc. formats. Print and share options are also available.

It has options to insert images, graphs, text, tables, different types of symbols, date and time, etc.

It is available for multiple platforms: Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS.

Caligra Words

Caligra Words is another freeware which helps you to create and publish different documents. It can open .odp, .doc, .kpr, .kpt, .pptx, .pptm, .ppsm, and many other files. You can add images, charts, clip art, animation, table, shapes, etc. in your document while editing. You can even use various inbuilt templates. It can save, print, and share your document through mail. It can save files as .odp and .otp files. Even though it is not a full fledged DTP software, but it can still be used for basic purposes.

Supported platform: Windows, Mac Os, BSD, and Linux.

Mobisuse

Mobisuse is a freeware which can create and publish a document. It lets you create publishing document for Windows, iPhone , iPad and many other devices as well as platforms. It has some templates which can be downloaded online. You can add image, text, text boxes, button, shapes, video, audio, etc.

Note: Free version doesn’t lets you add animation to a document.

Technically, all you need to write on a computer is Notepad, the basic line text program first introduced by Microsoft to home computer users back in the early 1980s. If you tend to use your computer for more advanced word processing tasks, such as creating brochures or even research papers, you may actually be looking for something a little more advanced.

There are open source word processing programs available to everyone that have their benefits and drawback, just as there are other paid options that might or might not have what you need. If you are working with a trial and wonder how to activate Microsoft Office,> might be that your time has run out and you need to purchase the full program. While some people might be able to get by with Notepad or never go beyond needing their free trial programs, most actually need something stable and substantive. Here are the specs of the most popular word processing software for PCs.

The OpenOffice Suite

Created as an alternative to Microsoft Office, OpenOffice is a massively popular word processing program as it has been made available for free usage, worldwide. You can create macros, highlight text, change fonts, and do a lot of the same things that you can in paid programs. On the flip side, OpenOffice can be glitchy and cumbersome as well. When it comes to converting file formats, you are just as likely to get a document with perfectly formatted text as you are a file that is almost completely illegible. So, if you are planning to create and send a resume or are working on a project that has a high degree of precision, you might want to look for something more stable and predictable than OpenOffice. On the other hand, if you just need something to write up some notes, write the first draft of a story, or create a ‘things to’ list, OpenOffice is pretty solid.

Corel WordPerfect

Surprisingly, Corel is the creator of photo editors as well as word processing software. WordPerfect is interesting in that it functions a lot like Microsoft Word, but the program itself is fairly basic. There have been many updates to WordPerfect, but the menu and layout remain almost totally unchanged, so users don’t need to spend a lot of time re-acclimating themselves after getting a newer version. Perhaps this is because WordPerfect is the designated word processing program for legal professionals. Legal transcripts, which are the official written record of legal proceedings are created, saved, and distributed via WordPerfect. This means that millions of judges, lawyers, paralegals, and transcriptionists solely use WordPerfect to create and edit texts that will have a big effect on verdicts. WordPerfect users also consist of college students, stay-at-home dads, and casual computer users.

Microsoft Notepad

You may or may not have ever needed to use Notepad, which is usually located somewhere near the basic Microsoft Paint program if you are using a Windows operating system based computer. In short, Notepad is a no frill basic line text editing program. What you see is really what you get with Notepad. There’s only one default available font. You can, however, bold and italicize text. Also, the save feature allows you to pick a file name for your projects. Unfortunately, Notepad documents can only be saved in one format. Basically, if you are a programmer and you need something simple to jot down lines of code, Notepad is great. For students, Notepad won’t generally work because you won’t have enough features available to satiate your teachers. There’s nothing wrong with Notepad as it is a basic word processing tool, but it is exceedingly plain compared to other programs.

The Microsoft Office Suite

Pretty much everyone is familiar with Microsoft Word. Public schools around the U.S. have the Microsoft Office Suite downloaded onto every computer in their libraries. On home computers, Microsoft Word comes bundled so that even first-time PC users see the Microsoft Office Suite as the default word processor. Over the years, a lot about Microsoft Word has changed. From the layout even to file format accessibility, you can do a lot more with a Word document now than you could in past years. Word is a really good tool for making just about any kind of document, from invoices to book reports. If you need an inclusive word processing software that will let you convert file formats, track changes, insert pictures, and select from hundreds of fonts, this is probably the program you want running on your computer.

When you need to sit down on your computer and create a written document, you don’t need to struggle to select a program to use. In fact, you should simply have a default word processor that you go to to fulfill all of your computer writing needs. Whether you choose Notepad or even WordPerfect, once you choose a default you will get your tasks finished faster and the results will be better than expected.

In this article, we discuss some of the best writing apps available today. As you know, copywriting and professional authorship are quite in demand niches these days. These require experts to demonstrate extensive creativity and be able to spell out information in a logical order without spending too much time at it. Time is money, and would it not be great if we could save time on this laborious process of editing and formatting. Don’t you agree?

Usually, the speed of one’s copy composition is inversely proportional to the quality of a finished piece. Often, a higher speed of composition compromises the quality of writing in terms of grammar, structure, and important SEO key figures like the keyword density and uniqueness. Thanks to the wide array of modern specialized software solutions developed by leading web and mobile app development companies – writers can be aided to accelerate their writing process, organize their thoughts, and to make their editing task quicker without impacting the quality of writing. Below, we discuss some of the most prominent writing apps available today.

What Are Some Good Writing Tools? Have a look At Our Exclusive List

Currently, there are several hundred solutions available for checking grammar and spelling. But let us explore which of these writing tools can be noted as the best and most popular ones? We will first explore ten free-of-charge tools on the market:

• Grammarly
• Prowritingaid
• Ginger
• Scrivener (Free Trial)
• MS Notepad and Mac TextEdit
• Hemingway Editor
• Portent’s Idea Generator
• Canva
• OneLook
• Evernote

Let’s consider these writing apps with all of their pros and cons in a bit more detail.

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is arguably one of the most talked-about writing apps for MAC and Windows. It can help you check the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and even give pieces of advice on the tone of your copy. Grammarly’s “Tone” feature allows you to set customizable goals regarding the intent, audience, style, and the emotion of the text. It then measures a score of how well the text meets the goals that were set.

Grammarly is not only an excellent solution to quickly edit your copy, but it is also an extremely useful educational tool for students, the regular use of which will help you perfect your grammar and writing skills.

Itis a great solution for accelerating a copywriter’s workflow that, if used to its full potential, can almost replace the need of a professional staff editor.

2. Prowritingaid

Prowritingaid is another prominent application that tops the list of best free writing apps. It helps to shift focus towards a major objective in writing commercial text – the creation of unique, helpful, and interesting content. With this solution, you don’t have to manually check for redundant words and other errors throughout your copy, instead, this checker does all that for you by looking through your entire document in a matter of seconds.

With the use of Prowritingaid, you can enhance the tone of your writing and compose a better copy for better results.

3. Ginger

Ginger – an app based on natural language processing algorithms, is also among the most striking writing apps today.  Ginger’s algorithms allow it to recognize context and discover errors in the most complicated areas of a text making its text-recognizing efficiency superior to most other editing writing apps. Since the service is also available in the form of a cross-platform mobile application, it makes it a top choice among the writing apps for Android and iOS as well.

A major advantage of Ginger is its feature to link with your social media profiles and Gmail inbox. This lets you write up your social media posts and emails accurately, checking everything in real-time with the help of a conveniently embedded service, without the need to copy and paste the text.

4. Scrivener (Free Trial)

This is yet another prominent software among the leading writing tools software, which has everything to help you compose a voluminous copy with a complex structure. With it, you can subdivide your piece by chapters, create drafts, put down comments and thoughts to return to later on – all in all, everything you could have been doing on a paper notebook but with faster, more accessible and efficient capabilities.

If used efficiently, Scrivener can assist you with complex writing, including composing unique studies, course work, Ph.D. dissertations or even writing entire books.

5. EditPad

Editpad is one of the most well-rounded writing toolkits available on the internet. It provides its users with a number of free and freemium tools to write and optimize their content.

Its text editor is a great choice for writing on the go. It provides a cloud save feature, so users can access their documents from anywhere (as long as they are logged in). Users can also utilize the paraphraser of Editpad to improve the quality of their writeup in a variety of ways.

The paraphraser can help reduce the repetition of words, follow a certain content tone, and otherwise touch up the content to make it easy to read. Aside from that, the summarizer can help reduce the fluff in your write-up and make it concise and to the point.

All of these features make Editpad a versatile toolkit for writing efficiently.

6. MS Notepad & Mac TextEdit

MS Notepad along with Mac TextEdit is another writing tool that will come in handy for those who prefer simple and concise text editor software over complex and confusing programs. This software works autonomously supports an offline mode and does not take too much space on one’s hard drive. MS Notepad and Mac TextEdit are both practically identical solutions that are compatible with both Windows and macOS (the latter version allows working with both native-format documents and MS Word or OpenOffice files).

The main purpose of both the products is to help you with typing, editing, and storing text. However, with Mac TextEdit, you can also open and make changes to images, as well as add audio and video files. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

7. Hemingway Editor

Hemingway is an interactive editor you should try if you wish to make your writing simpler and more accessible to the reader. By simply copying and pasting your work into the Hemingway editor, you can view all the areas of improvement and optimization in your text, such as: which sentences can be shortened, which words can be replaced with other more fitting words or phrases, where passive voice can be removed, etc.

Hemingway offers another great feature called “readability grade levels” that helps with writing efficiently. This feature analyzes your text to measure how easy-to-read the text is, based on the choice of words and sentence structure, and suggests improvements. This efficient tool may as well eliminate the need for an expert editor for you.

8. Canva

Canva is a great editor to help you make your process of editing and formatting time-efficient. Need to compose a CV? No big deal – select from dozens of readymade templates and writing tools for students and professionals. The myriad of templates of business cards, banners, advertising forms, and logos available at Canva lets you present your copy in whichever form you wish, with an accessible user interface that is easy to use.

Although the service is not free, it certainly is worth its cost. It is worth paying a few bucks for an advanced and efficient tool like Canva once, then hiring an expensive graphic designer.

If you want to create qualitative text for a landing page (to tell about new products), your blog (to educate your audience), or guest posting (to grow ranks & increase brand awareness, article writing tools can be the perfect solution for you. So, let’s consider these writing apps with all of their pros and cons in a bit more detail.

9. Portent’s Content Idea Generator

Portent’s Content Idea Generator will be of great help during one’s creativity crisis – when you are unable to generate fresh ideas and create interesting, unique, and viral content. Its easy-to-use interface asks you to define the main subject of your article (even one word is enough), and in return generates an intriguing headline with content suggestions in an instant. The ideas that are suggested are adequate for you to come up with a few thousand words for a long read.

Try it and you will never fail at creating unique and interesting content again.

10. OneLook

OneLook is another accessible web service that can be a great assistant for professional writers. It is a complete online collection of dictionaries, where you can simply search for the meaning of words and get results from over 30 orthographic, linguistic, explanatory, and other anthologies. OneLook’s reverse dictionary feature is also an efficient tool for writers to look up exact words and synonyms by describing their definition. You should try it out if you want to enhance your vocabulary and knowledge of words.

11. Evernote

Evernote is another top contender among the best writing apps for Windows and MAC Apps, which is used to create notes. From the perspective of a professional writer, this piece of software can come in handy as a storage place for useful links, plans for future articles, and random thoughts to be elaborated later on. In general, you can make good use of Evernote if you need to note down ideas and useful information about your content.

This way you can simplify your workflow and produce a well thought out and structured copy.

Not Found An App Of Your Choice Yet? Here are a Few Additional Free Writing Software Options

If you still haven’t found anything that fits your requirements among the above-mentioned writing software variants, look through these ten additional solutions for professional writers:

• Google Docs
• Libre Office
• AbiWord
• Calmly Writer
• Zoho Writer
• Apple Pages for Mac Users
• WPS Office
• SoftMaker Free Office
• iA Writer
• Focus Writer

Let’s take a brief look at each of them individually:

12. Google Docs

Google Docs is globally-renowned online writing software that lets you unload your local storage and work with a copy in your browser, using various useful gadgets for writers. The standout features of Google Docs include collective editing and autonomous editing mode, which allows users to save changes made in offline mode on reconnection to the Internet.

Google Docs is an efficient tool if you don’t want to store important data locally on your devices’ hardware. The more documents there are, the more memory they take and create a CPU stress load. This is why Google Docs is preferred by users because it transfers all their copy to the cloud and even if a device shuts down unexpectedly, all the info is synchronized and saved on the cloud in real-time and can be processed further on via integrated writing apps.

13. Libre Office

LibreOffice is a complete package of free writing tools that allow users to work with various text and graphics formats. It is available in both desktop and web versions, and contains writing apps for Windows as LibreOffice Writer (for text files’ editing with additional visual HTML editor available), LibreOffice Calc (for digital sheets and tables’ editing), LibreOffice Draw (for the vector graphics creation), LibreOffice Impress (for presentations), LibreOffice Base (for connection with external DBMSs and HSQLDBs), and LibreOffice Math (for mathematical formula’s editing).

If you frequently include data consisting of irregular letters and symbols in your copy, this software will make your life easier. With LibreOffice, you won’t have to switch between tabs and windows to copy and paste symbols anymore.

14. AbiWord

AbiWord is a free writing software similar to Microsoft Word and is compatible with MS Word, RTF, OpenOffice, and WordPerfect files. This piece of the book writing software can serve as a great replacement for the MS Word while offering additional capabilities and features.

We recommend trying out AbiWord if you are not satisfied with everything MS Word has to offer.

15. Calmly Writer

Calmly Writer is a web service with an intuitive interface dedicated to real-time text editing. It is professional writing software, basically equivalent to Google Docs, that is more focused on features adapted closely to the requirements of professional writers.

Calmly Writer is a must-have writing tool if you work on large writing tasks regularly. This writing software provides better and extensive text formatting capabilities than other alternatives like Google Docs and even features a Dark Mode option which provides a comfortable reading experience.  We believe that this is one of the best writing apps for Windows to use if you write content regularly.

16. Zoho Writer

This book writing software is a handy app for mobile users, that allows you to access the editor from your smartphone or tablet if it is connected to the Internet. With Zoho Writer, new content can be written offline with all the changes automatically synced up once the internet connection is restored.

This piece of software can also be easily linked with other Zoho services, as well as with Dropbox and Google Apps. Moreover, it has a document merging feature, which can be useful for writers that work with several sources of information at the same time. You should try this alternative if you have had issues with MS Office’s built-in writing tools.

17. WPS Office

Created by a software development company based in China, WPS Office is among the most competitive alternatives to a regular MS Office software package. Its basic version is freeware and saves documents in formats as diverse as *.docx and *.xlsx (however, you will have to purchase a paid version for such features). It also allows you to work with multiple tabs simultaneously, save documents in PDF, use a built-in Google search bar, and queue several documents for printing. Additionally, WPS Office also supports the OLE technology and encrypts data upon saving a document.

Altogether, the interface of this software is pretty similar to that of Microsoft Office and you will not have many issues in figuring out how to work with it.

18. SoftMaker Free Office

SoftMaker FreeOffice is a freeware solution from German developers that contains a text editor, digital sheets editor, and a separate app for presentations. It is an ideal option both for professional and common use. It is not only an alternative to Microsoft Office, but it can also be integrated with it. This software provides a proprietary file format and also supports the commonly used .doc, .xslx, and others.

Another great feature of SoftMaker FreeOffice is that it can be launched straight from your flash drive, which means that you can use it on certain portable devices as well. You should try SoftMaker FreeOffice if you are looking for a multipurpose solution.

19. iA Writer

iA Writer is available in two versions – a full-scale product for Mac OS X and a compact application for iPhone and iPad. It is inspired by the minimalistic visual design of Apple iOS and is one of the best text editors for journalists, bloggers, and everyone who works regularly with text. If you want to get extensive text formatting capabilities, you should probably go for other, more functionality-focused writing tools (e.g., Pages, which we discuss below). However, if convenience, accessibility, and interface conciseness are the main features you are looking for, then this solution will be a great choice for you.

When working with iA Writer, you can employ convenient hotkeys and change color schemes of the whole editor. The available skins look visually appealing and all the formatting options are conveniently available to use.

20. Apple Pages for Mac Users

Pages are one of the professional text editors from the category of writing apps for Mac. The interface design of this book-writing software is what makes it a professional editor, where despite the extensiveness of all the features, the interface is easy-to-use, intuitive, well-structured, and customizable.

This is one of those writing apps that will be a trusty companion for professional copywriters, journalists or anyone wishing to write a copy that doesn’t require much formatting and can be passed on to editorial right away.

21. Focuswriter

A Focuswriter is a distraction-free text-editor with efficient features like an autonomous spell check, focusing function (highlight fragments of text you are currently working on), a selection of visual themes, convenient text navigation, and extensive support for major operating systems. Another key feature of a Focuswriter is its ability to launch the app right from a flash drive, while you can also launch it on your pocket devices without any problems.

This book writing software looks original and different from most text editors out there which makes it a go-to software for writers.

Best Tips To Use Specialized Software To Create High-Quality Content

All of the aforementioned software solutions would allow striving writers to achieve their ultimate goal – enhancing their professional writing skills. Here are some tips to help you create the highest-quality content with the help of these book writing software:

• Minimize your mistakes. You should always analyze recommendations provided by the writing apps to minimize the number of common errors you make over time;
• Use comments. When you are working on a document collectively, try to define all the changes made using the “comments” feature on the app. The simplest way to do that is to comment on particular chunks of text via writing apps’ built-in features instead of rewriting it at once;
• Unload your thoughts. It can be quite difficult to keep everything in mind when working on a large copy. You can use Evernote or similar software to sort everything out and employ your thoughts gradually.
• Formatting first, text later. For marketing-focused writing such as mottos and the advertising copy or something similar, the most sensible order of things to do would be to work out the visual design of your feature first and then fill it up with text.
• Always compose a plan. This goes for book-writing especially. A basic draft will always help you accelerate the process without losing important thoughts. Writing apps such as Scrivener are of great help at that.
• Integrate apps with your workflow gradually. Don’t try to master all the top writing tools at once. Take it slowly, figure out the pros and cons of each app. Otherwise, you will risk wasting a lot of time without much effect.

Enough about Writing Apps & Software! Let’s Answer Some Common Questions For You

A small FAQ for you to get a better understanding of the professional software and editing tools today.

Do authors use Microsoft Word?

Yes, they do! Despite the innovativeness and diversity of numerous similar yet advanced writing apps, Microsoft Word remains the most popular professional tool for writers. On the other hand, an online version of this renowned writing software – Google Docs – can be a sufficient alternative if you are concerned with the safety of your text. Google Docs can be an irreplaceable writing tool for anybody who needs to access their copy on mobile devices (some people on our team consider it one of the best writing apps for Android) or laptops on a regular basis – even if your device’s battery dies at the most inappropriate moment, all data will be saved in the cloud automatically.

What font do writers use?

Although Microsoft Word’s default font type is Times New Roman, most of the copywriting clients require the use of 11 pt Arial (which is a more plain alternative to Times New Roman). It is considered to be better perceived visually and can be scaled to any text-size. We would recommend you to focus on Arial font to make your work look as professional as possible.

What format should I choose?

For the overall format of your copy it is preferred to use up and down, left and right paragraph indents, which are usually set by default. A single line interval should also be employed, and don’t forget about headlines. Instead of making the text bold and bigger, use proper headline styles in your text to make it look more professional.

Is proofreading necessary?

It surely is. Sometimes it happens that links added to the text lead to either outdated or changed information sources. You should also take time to look through your copy after editing, as this will allow you to find mistakes you might have made while composing and correct them.

Conclusion

With all modern writing software apps we have listed above, it becomes much easier to focus on the task of writing without having to bother about formatting, editing, and proofreading. Try out at least one of the writing apps we have discussed to see for yourself what productivity-boosting opportunities you may be missing out on right now!

Top 8 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Word

When selecting a good program, I considered an intuitive UI, great editing features, multiple formatting options, extensive file compatibility, numerous ways for file exporting, etc. I also checked whether the alternatives offer some extra tools, like fixing spelling and grammar errors, their ability of word counting, typing with voice, etc.

Top 3 Microsoft Word Alternatives

• DLP features:
  Microsoft 365 Online

• Great cross-platform choice:
  Google Docs

• Customizable CRM to suit your needs:
  Zoho Docs

The following substitutes are great for generating and editing documents, presentations and spreadsheets. The majority of options listed here support Microsoft Office files and various document extensions.

Also, the Article Considers:

• Supports all MS Office documents:
  LibreOffice

• Has a command-line interface:
  AbiWord

• The greatest choice for Apple users:
  iWork Pages

• All-in-one solution:
  ClickUp Docs

• Supports all MS Office documents:
  LibreOffice

1. Microsoft 365 Online

Being one of the most popular collaborative authoring tools, Microsoft 365 Online allows modifying and editing files together with other users. Enterprise E5 users can take advantage of the Threat Intelligence feature that protects them from threats. It also offers extra security features, like multi-factor authentication.

2. Google Docs

3. Zoho Docs

4. LibreOffice

LibreOffice Writer is on the list of the greatest free alternatives to Word, as this program can work with DOC and DOCX files. It also contains various tools that are offered by Microsoft Word. Besides, LibreOffice is compatible with different OS, including Windows, Mac and Linux. The program is great for professional writers as it can handle even the most complex writing projects with diagrams, indices, etc.

Many users consider LibreOffice to be the best free alternative to Microsoft Word, as it offers a great variety of add-ons and templates that greatly extend the functionality of this software. The latest LibreOffice edition offers even more features, fixes, import and export options.

5. ClickUp Docs

6. AbiWord

This Microsoft Word substitute is fitted with features and layouts that make it similar to Microsoft Office. Besides, this software does not require much space on your hard drive (just 20MB). AbiWord allows creating tables, embed graphics, etc. Moreover, with its Mail Merge tool, you can fill out the fields of your electronic letter automatically.

7. iWork Pages

iWork Pages has many document templates that allow you to create various types of documents, like reports, newsletters, books, resumes, etc. This software allows changing fonts, adding charts or performing other actions in one click. Besides, iWork Pages offers robust password protection and exports files in a great variety of formats.

You can work in iWork Pages using various devices, including computers (via iCloud). This Microsoft Word substitute is designed for creating various school papers. iPad owners can use Apple Pencil for drawing or making notes. This software also supports collaboration in real-time, meaning that you can work on the same project with your classmates or colleagues without problems.

8. WPS Office Writer

WPS Office Writer is probably the best free alternative to Microsoft Word for those who are used to a classic version of Microsoft. This software contains similar templates and menu tabs, which is why you will quickly master this tool. Besides, this software integrates with various platforms.

Although WPS Office Writer is similar to Microsoft Word, it has some special features, like dark and eye protection modes, password protection, the ability to open many documents in one tab, etc. Besides, this software can work with Word formats, PDF and Google Docs. If you register in the system, you will be able to use your personal cloud storage space for storing documents. Thanks to encryption and password protection, you can secure your data.

You don’t have a license for MS Word? Or are you looking for an alternative to MS Word? When you want to type something on your computer, the first software that comes to your mind is MS Word. For it is the most popular and mostly used everywhere from schools, colleges, to offices & even your home. However, MS Word is not free software, and you need to pay for it, just as a subscription. That alone makes most of us set out to search for a word processing software that is free of cost and has the maximum features inculcated into it.

In this post, we will discuss some of the best free word processors available in the market. Read on!

The Best Free Word Processing Software

1. WPS Office’s Writer

You might have heard of Kingsoft Office, which was a popular office application suite quite a few years ago, It has now been rechristened to WPS Office and is more presentable with many new features. The word processing application in the suite is known as Writer, and it supports many types of interface layouts like full-screen mode, dual page, hide menu mode, eye-protective mode, which colors the pages with a slight tint of green.

WPS Office writer allows the users to create cover pages, table of contents, add custom dictionaries, encrypt documents, and much more. You can download WPS writer from the official website, free of cost.

Download WPS Office

Also Read: 7 Best Alternatives Of Microsoft Office In 2020

2. TextMaker From FreeOffice

Text Maker is a free word processing from the office suite provided by Free Office. The user interface is similar to MS Word Processing software, where you can choose between a classic menu style and a ribbon style. Users have access to many options like making eBooks, Export PDF or EPUB, creating a table of contents, and chapters along with footnotes. Other features include the ability to preview documents, add comments and objects, use shapes and track changes.

Download FreeOffice

Also Read: Best G Suite Alternatives for Professionals Users

3. Open Office Writer

One of the few best free word processors which support portability with the help of a flash disk is Open Office writer. But that is not the unique feature, Open Office Writer also allows the users to add notes to the side of a document and facilitates wizards, which can automate and ease the process of creating letters, faxes and agendas.

Open Office writer also lets the user unlock all the settings to make the entire interface blank and available for writing only. The other parameters include adding images in the document, editing and formatting styles and page properties and many more, making it better than MS Word processing software.

Download OpenOffice

Also Read: The Best Thesaurus Apps for Writers

4. WordGraph

Word Graph is the best free word processor, which can access files stored on cloud services like OneDrive and Dropbox. It also allows the users to add content in the form of charts, illustrations, tables, graphics etc. to your document. The WordGraph can also create PDFs, table of contents, indexes from a simple document.

Word graph also includes a spell checker, but it does not run automatically, and the user has to check the document for errors after completing the document manually. However, it can be downloaded as a standalone instead of downloading the entire suite of office applications.

Download WordGraph

5. AbleWord

If you are looking for a free and simple word processor, then Able Word is the software you need to install on your computer. It has an easy to use interface that also looks pretty decent. Additionally, the software is swift and supports all major file types. There are no confusing settings and features with no clutter of unnecessary buttons.

It is supported on all Windows operating systems and can also import a PDF and convert it into a document. However, it does not have an automatic spell checker, and the user has to perform a manual scanning after the document is done.

Download AbleWord

6. AbiWord

Another one on the list of the best word processing software is Abiword, which has automatic spell check and auto-saving feature. The interface is well organized and not cluttered or confusing. AbiWord allows the users to share the documents with others on a real-time basis with changes made reflecting on both sides.

Other extra features include grammar checker, Google Search, equation editor, web dictionary and many others as well. The software is 100 percent functional but has been removed from the official website and is available on Softpedia.

Download AbiWord

7. Jarte

Like AbiWord, Jarte also allows the users to open multiple tabs in one interface and open various documents. Users can also install different dictionaries during setup to provide a vast range of words. The advance configuration can be set to open the last file that you were working upon when the program is launched afresh. It is supported on all Windows operating systems from XP to 10.

Download Jarte

8. WriteMonkey

Write Monkey, a simple best free word processor that provides an interface with no distractions at all and is dedicated to capturing the Writer’s mind with focus. To access any option or setting, the users will have to make a right-click to open the menu. Once the menu option is highlighted, the users can open developer tools and make the required changes.

Download WriteMonkey

9. RoughDraft

Rough Draft is a free word processor that supports RTF. TXT and DOC files only and has an auto spell check feature. It allows shortcut keys for every command and also enables users to change the mode of writing from Normal, Screenplay, Stage Play and Prose. The application interface includes a file browser that can keep up to 100 files open. Users can choose which document they want to write on, and then continue with having to open and close each document.

Download RoughDraft

10. FocusWriter

Image Source: FocusWriter

FocusWriter is the last one on the list of best word processing software, which is regularly updated and has a minimal interface. The interface automatically hides all menus and buttons so that the Writer can focus without obstructions. The full-screen mode blocks all other activities to be displayed on the computer.

FocusWriter includes an alarm that is set with regards to your typing goals. It runs on all major platforms like Windows, macOS and Linux. FocusWriter supports all basic formats and editing with an application of colourful themes.

Download FocusWriter

Which One Did You Choose from the Best Word Processing Software?

That concludes the list of the best free word processors among a hundred others. The software described in this list are free of cost and can be easily installed. Although some of them are not being updated, these software are stable versions and have reached the best of their capacity when you compare them to a word processing software. Do not expect any high-end features like MS Word as those premium features have a price to pay.

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Well, many of us believe that apart from using Microsoft Word for all our document creation needs, we don’t have any other option to go for. And it’s not wrong to an extent as we have only heard about this doc creation tool from our childhood till now.

But due to rising user demand and competitive market, many Microsoft Office alternatives (called word processing software/word processor) have recently emerged and gained user trust. The best thing about these alternatives is that some of them are absolutely free to use to its full capacity, which in our books is a winner.

Today we will explore the topmost used and trusted word processors other than Microsoft Word and choose the best one as per your needs. Out of these word processing software, it will be a combination of online and offline word processors that you can install on your system. Before starting with the list of alternatives, let’s take a look at what actually a “Word Processing Software” is?

Also Read: Best File Sharing Software For Windows PC

What is Word Processing Software/Word Processor?

In order to know the options, first I must know what is the thing I’m looking options of? Correct?

So Word Processing Software or Word Processor is something that allows you to create, edit, and print the documents. It gives you the control to manage all these options including storing it on electronic devices, display on a screen, or modify the amendments you want to make.

In short, a word processor is the same you use MS word for doc creation, make content changes and takeout print in case you need it. Microsoft Word is also an example of the word processor.

Now I hope everyone has a basic idea of what a word processing software means. So, let’s take a good look at the best free alternatives of MS Word:

The free word processors can be categorized into two segments as below:

1. Online word processing software

2. Offline word processing software

1. Online word processing software

Instead of saving the files on your local hard drive and sharing it via email to the other person, it’s always better to work on an online doc. It has all the features of auto-saving and sharing the file with the link given. As simple as that. It has its drawbacks too that can make you switch from online to the offline use of word processors.

Below enlisted are some popular online word processing software:

A. Dropbox Paper

Offered by the online cloud storage provider, Dropbox is a free online word processor. In order to use it, all you need is a Dropbox account. Once you are logged in, you get full access to the online suite. Apart from creating the text document, you can do a lot of things using the tool.

Designed specifically from a professional point of view, Dropbox Paper stores every created document onto the cloud. From this platform, you can perform many tasks including document link-sharing, assigning tasks to team members, remove or download the document for offline purposes.

In order to go ahead and access this amazing online word processing software, Dropbox Paper, click here.

B. Google Docs

One of the most popular and widely used word processors, Google Docs is literally the backbone of some of the organizations. Exactly like MS Office, it lets you create documents, presentations, or work on excel flawlessly (unless there is internet interruption). With many features to count, it’s a treat for professionals who work with the same files and keep each member of the team updated on any changes.

The best part which I experienced is that it automatically saves the file in real-time while you are working on it and store it there only. From that platform only, you have the option to share the file online, download it, or email as an attachment in many formats and those are many, I tell you.

Now in case you no longer have an internet connection, enable offline access and resume your work. Isn’t it great?

Go ahead and enjoy the Google Docs here.

C. Etherpad

A highly customizable Open Source online editor, Etherpad provides collaborative editing in real-time. Like Google Docs, this word processor lets you edit documents, save them, and collaboratively work on the same document. For example, you can write articles, create to-do lists and collaborate on the same task with your friends or colleagues at the same time.

Sometimes users are a bit hesitant of signing up and providing their email addresses, however, with Etherpad, there is no need to sign up. You can directly go to the link, create a new pad, start writing, and share it with your group to work on the same doc at the same time.

Use Etherpad, the real-time online word processor.

D. Zoho

Another online free word processing software, Zoho is also a combination of the features, the above mentioned are embedded with. Considered as a powerful word processor, Zoho is available across all of your devices and collaborates with teammates/friends in real-time. All you need to do is sign up on the page and you are good to go for using its extraordinary services.

Some of the quite effective factors Zoho follows are “write together” “a crisp, clean space” that says a lot about the perks it has to offer. Some of the other features Zoho has including Zia, the writing assistant, WordPress integration, and many powerful tools for work.

Get started with Zoho here and explore the powerful online word processor.

2. Offline Word Processing Software

While many believe and prefer working on an online document that provides real-time saving and multi-users working on the same file at the same time, others go with offline document creation tools that don’t involve internet connection for file-sharing. Maybe they don’t want anyone to review their work unless it’s done and ready to be forwarded. Whatever the reason, we have several free word processing software that can be downloaded and installed on your local computer. Without further ado, let’s check out the offline word processing software below:

A. WPS Office Free Writer

Previously called Kingsoft Office, WPS Office Free Writer is an offline word processor that majorly comes with three products i.e. Writer, Presentations, and Spreadsheets. Available from Android to iPhone and Windows to Linux, WPS Office is a complete office suite with PDF editor.

A Few of the perks the WPS Office word processor comes with are it opens multiple document tabs and has the feature of eye protection and night mode. Some of the downside points can be that there are paid versions in order to suppress ads and use advanced features. But if you aren’t concerned with ads and want to use Office suite for a basic level, this word processor is the best for you.

Go ahead and download WPS Office free writer here.

B. Apache OpenOffice

Compatible with other major office suites, Apache OpenOffice is free to download. A bundle of 6 different products (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math), OpenOffice is a bit similar to other offline word processing software and easy to learn and use.

This leading free doc creation alternative to MS Word, OpenOffice is compatible with Windows XP to Windows 10, macOS, and Linux. Since it is an open-source word processing software, the updates are freely available to download and use.

Explore Apache OpenOffice products here and start creating documents offline for free.

C. Jarte

Another leading and widely used word processor, Jarte is also free to download and offline doc creation software. Jarte is based on the Microsoft WordPad word processing engine built into Windows and works flawlessly only on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, or 10.

Undoubtedly, Jarte is a small, portable, and touch-enabled word processor whose documents are fully compatible with Word and WordPad.

“It’s one of life’s little ironies that in a country with free speech, a program called Word costs over a hundred dollars. Fortunately, we also have Carolina Road Software and their free-of-charge word processor, Jarte.” – PC World magazine

“I found Jarte to be a kick!” – Kim Komando (Kim Komando Radio Show)

Tap, download, and enjoy Jarte (one of the fast and easy to use a word processor).

D. FocusWriter

As the name suggests, FoucsWriter is a tried and proven word processor that provides multiple ways to create a distraction-free interface and I think that’s what any writer will need. No distraction!! In order to stay on the deadline, you can also create short term goals to make sure that you won’t miss out on any teeny-tiny details.

Compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, FocusWriter has been translated into many different languages. The feature of auto-hiding the menu and any other additional buttons so that you can enjoy the full-screen view while writing on your document really stand out. You also can customize the colors and layouts of the document creation tool.

Go ahead, download this amazing word processing software and start writing without any distraction.

Wrapping Up

As there is cutthroat competition in the market, you will encounter many MS Office suite alternatives which claim to be the best at what they do, however, to save your time from that part, we have mentioned here the best ones you can go for.

In case you aren’t happy with the word processor you’re looking for, take advantage of the free trial of Microsoft Office so at least you get to explore the full capabilities of Microsoft Word for a whole month.

Next Read: Best PowerPoint Alternatives