The Best Writing Apps For YOU And Me 2025
Free and paid
I write.
In fact, I write A LOT. And for all of this writing, I need a good writing app. At least one.
So, what’s the best writing app out there 2025?
I don’t know, but here are my favorites 😜
What and Why
Before we begin, what should a good writing app be capable of?
A great writing app should do a few key things, in my opinion:
provide a distraction-free environment,
support easy formatting (Markdown is a huge plus)
help you organize your work
and make publishing or exporting seamless.
With that in mind, here are my top 5 picks for 2025 ⬇️
#1 Notion
Is this really a surprise?
Notion is still my go-to writing app, though it’s not your typical distraction-free writing tool. Instead, it shines when it comes to organization and managing content.
If you’re juggling multiple projects, Notion’s structure makes it easy to keep everything sorted. It’s also packed with features that help you analyze your best-performing pieces and plan future content.
I use Notion a ton. Basically for everything.
The Upsides:
Organize and tag everything effortlessly
Filter and sort content to reveal patterns
Track performance and generate new content ideas
Markdown support
Free with optional premium upgrades
AI integration if needed
The Downsides:
Feature-heavy, which can feel overwhelming
The design is functional but not particularly inspiring
Limited exporting option
No direct publishing to my favorite platforms like Substack or Medium
No built-in grammar/spellcheck unless you go for Notion AI
#2 Ulysses
For Mac and iOS users, Ulysses is hands down one of the best writing environments out there. It’s beautifully designed, distraction-free, and integrates seamlessly with platforms like Medium.
The Upsides:
Clean, focused writing experience
Built-in grammar and spell check
Markdown support
Progress tracking and insightful stats
Direct publishing to Medium and other platforms
The Downsides:
Not as strong in content organization compared to Notion
Limited to Apple’s ecosystem
Paid subscription ($5.99/month or included in SetApp*)
#3 iA Writer
If you crave simplicity, iA Writer is the way to go. It’s a no-frills, distraction-free writing app that keeps you laser-focused on your words.
The Upsides:
Minimalist interface with zero distractions
Markdown formatting
Syntax highlighting (shows parts of speech as you type)
Built-in grammar/spellcheck
Cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Android, iOS)
The Downsides:
Lacks organization and content management features
One-time $49 fee per platform (no subscription, but no free version either)
#4 Google Docs
Google Docs might not be built for distraction-free writing as much as the previous two, and it can’t beat Notion in terms of capabilities, but it’s a powerful and flexible option — especially for collaboration. Kind of the in-between version of the first three. It’s also free.
The Upsides:
100% free, unlimited documents
Real-time collaboration and revision history
Access anywhere with an internet connection
Plenty of sharing and exporting options
Growing add-on ecosystem (grammar checkers, templates, etc.)
The Downsides:
Not ideal for focused writing sessions
Formatting for blogs/websites requires manual tweaks
No direct publishing to Medium, Substack, etc.
Basic organization tools (folders, but nothing like Notion)
#5 In-app editors
You might not need an app at all. In-app editors for many platforms have become quite good. Medium’s editor is fine but lacks a few things. Substack’s editor is really not bad.
For many platforms you use, the built-in editor could be enough. But there are some downsides. First though:
The Upsides:
No extra tool needed
Usually simple and easy to use
Free (or integrated into the platform you already use)
The Downsides:
Sometimes no auto-save or good saving feature, so beware of losing content
Not too feature-rich
Sometimes clunky
Not available as standalone apps
Honorable Mentions
If none of these 5 quite fit your workflow, here are a few alternatives worth considering:
Apple Notes — If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, it’s free, fast, and syncs seamlessly.
Google Keep — Great for jotting down quick ideas, though not ideal for long-form writing.
RemNotes — A solid choice if you want something like Notion but with a focus on spaced repetition and knowledge management.
Evernote — Still around, though many have moved on to better options.
Scrivener*— The ultimate tool for novelists and long-form writers. Great for structuring big projects but has a learning curve.
The Bottom Line
For pure distraction-free writing, iA Writer and Ulysses are hard to beat.
If you need top-tier organization, Notion is king.
For collaboration and general flexibility, Google Docs still holds its ground.
And if you don’t want extra stuff, the built-in editors are a good way to go 2025.
Personally, I shifted towards Notion for content management years ago, and I use it for almost everything, including writing. Never had an issue with it.
At the end of the day, the best writing app is the one that fits your creative process. Try a few and see which one clicks for you.