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Best free writing apps in 2023

Bring your words to life with the best free writing apps

Best distraction-free
Best with markup support
Best free Word alternative
Best word processor
Best for Mac
Best online
How to choose
How we test

The best free writing apps serve up more than just text tools - they also offer betters ways to manage and organize all your ideas, outlines, and projects.

Like the best free word processors , writing apps help you get your thoughts on the page without breaking the bank (or your train of thought). But we’ve also made sure they’ll make it easier to save, share, and sync all your documents and keep them safe, whether you need a desktop writing app for work, school, or play.

If you struggle to stay focused, we’ve tested some of the best free writing apps come with distraction-free layouts or gamification challenges to keep you in the zone. We’ve also reviewed those built for professional document creation, with advanced business features such as speech-to-text transcription and online collaboration tools.

Our picks cover the best apps for writing on the web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS - so you’re always ready whenever and wherever creativity strikes.

Scrivener: best writing software for authors Scrivener is packed with all the features a novelist needs, helping you track plot threads, store notes on characters and locations, structure your work and (most importantly) get some serious work done. It's not a free writing app like the tools below, but it's well worth the investment if your budget will allow it.

Best distraction-free writing app

1. focuswriter.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

FocusWriter helps writers combat one of their biggest challenges: distractions. One of the best free writing software tools out there, it's specifically designed to let you just concentrate on your writing.

The stripped-back interface is deliciously sparse - ideal for when you just need to get your head down and write - and not dissimilar to a moderately powerful version of Notepad, featuring support for TXT, basic, RTF, and ODT files.

Even the toolbar is hidden until you actually need it. Just swoop your cursor to the top on the screen to reveal a barren menu, from basic formatting to themes and timers.

Features are light within the software, but FocusWriter isn’t made for heavy editing sessions. It’s designed to make the act of writing flow seamlessly onto the page.

Elsewhere, the writing app boasts the ability to add themes and your own background images, which can help you stay motivated.

The Daily Progress tool is a sweet extra, adding Duolingo-style gamification that lets you track your daily writing streak. For when it’s oh-so-easy to slip onto social media when you can’t find the perfect word, it’s a nice way to keep you within the app.

Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, the writing software also comes as a portable download, no installation required. So, you can pop it on a USB stick and plug it into any computer you’re working on.

Read our full FocusWriter review

Best free writing software with markup support

2. writemonkey.

WriteMonkey is another piece of free writing software that cuts down on the clutter to deliver uninterrupted writing sessions.

The free word processor, cleverly described as zenware, is unbelievably pared back compared to more traditional writing apps.

There’s very little in the way of distracting ‘screen furniture’, which means you’re better positioned to concentrate on the writing process. And absolutely nothing else.

But don’t let that stripped-back approach fool you. As one of the best free writing apps, WriteMonkey is still rich with the sort of core features that matter to writers.

However, most options are hidden in a context menu (so you’ll need to right-click to view it). It also only supports TXT files, which may limit those looking to read, write, or edit across multiple formats. It is, at least, a portable download, letting you take it wherever you need.

If you’ve enjoyed Markdown, the simplified text-editing language that lets you format, annotate, classify, and link as you type, then great. WriteMonkey’s inner workings will instantly chime.

First-timers should spend a little time with this free writing software, to uncover that intuitive simplicity.

Read our full WriteMonkey review

Best free alternative to Microsoft Word

3. libreoffice writer.

Writer, the open-source, free writing software, serves almost all general writing needs.

LibreOffice is a near-perfect example of free office software - a familiar, feature-rich take on the office suite. What the veteran software package lacks in Microsoft polish (its interface is undeniably old-fashioned, for starters), it makes up for in its price-point: free. For that, you get access to six tools: Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and Writer.

Earning it a slot on our list of best free writing apps is the fact that LibreOffice Writer packs the full editing toolbox.

This isn’t just a note-taking app for staving off distractions when you’re deep in the zone; it’s for when you’re in pure writer-mode.

If you’re at all proficient with Microsoft Word, you won’t have any problems using the Writer software. Layouts and functions are almost identical, and there’s support for DOC and DOCX file types, making it efficient to switch out of the Microsoft garden.

This free writing app is ideal if you’re hunting for a tool that almost perfectly replicates the Word experience without the cost.

Read our full LibreOffice review

Best free writing app for word processing

4. microsoft word.

When it comes to word processors, Microsoft Word is probably the baseline against which all others are compared. It’s the one most of us use at school, home, and work. It’s familiar, comfortable - and it’s available free on the web and mobile devices.

That may not be the best way to write your masterpiece (unless you’ve hooked up a Bluetooth keyboard). But it’s a great way to jot down ideas on-the-go. When we tested the browser-based version we found it could be a bit slow at first, and we were typing faster than the words appeared on screen. This settles down (mostly) after a minute or so.

Microsoft’s free writing apps on Android and iPhone had no such issues. Using these was velvety smooth. We especially appreciated the option to switch between mobile view and desktop view, so we could gauge how the document would appear in full-screen.

As with Google Docs, you’ll need to sign up with a Microsoft account. And, like Google, that also lets you use free versions of PowerPoint, Excel, and the like. While Word offers one of the best free writing app experiences, there’s no denying that the paid-for upgrade is superior, offering more tools, and a true desktop app.

Read our full Microsoft Word review

Best free writing software for Mac

Author promises to make it easier to ‘think, write, and cite’. It’s a promise capably delivered, with a clean interface and bags of writing features designed to make it easy to go from first draft to final copy.

If you're an Apple user in search of the best free writing apps on macOS, this one demands your attention.

Concept Maps is one of the best features. It’s a great mind-mapping tool to visualize and lay down all your thoughts while they’re fresh in your head without constraint. You can worry about whipping them into shape later.

Students and report writers will appreciate Author’s ‘fast citing’ tools - speeding up assignment-writing by correctly adding and formatting citations, references, and contents.

A paid-for upgrade of the writing software that offers exporting options is available. However, unless you need automatic formatting on export, you can stick with the free version.

Best free writing app online

6. google docs.

Google Docs is a great free writing platform for any writer. It’s an extremely clean, quick word processor available in the browser, on desktop, and phone and tablet apps. So, you can take notes wherever inspiration strikes.

Docs is more or less Google’s spin on Microsoft Word. The interface is a bit more simple than the professional office software - although it’s no less powerful.

You’ll find heaps of writing tools, including a pretty accurate speech-to-text transcription tool (just enunciate and don’t talk too fast). Keyboard shortcuts are very well-supported.

For best results, you’ll need an internet connection, though documents can be used offline. They’ll be synced, and in our experience, that happens swiftly behind the scenes.

To take advantage of the free writing app, you’ll need a Google account, which may be a deal-breaker for some - but that also opens up the rest of the Google-stuff in the Google-sphere, such as Sheets, Slides, and . With a free account, you get 15GB of storage, which should be more than enough for word documents. A Google One subscription upgrades your storage space, amongst other things.

Additionally, Google Docs is great if you want to collaborate with one or more other writers. Just be warned to stay in Google Docs for that, because exporting the data into Word or other writing applications can result formatting errors.

Read our full Google Docs review

Best free writing app: FAQs

What's the difference between a writing app and an ai writer.

AI writers vs writing apps - what's the real difference?

Artificial intelligence is growing in a big way - and when it comes to writing, it's ChatGPT that's been snatching all the headlines of late, with its ability to generate short- and long-form content based on user prompts.

Generally, an AI writer will write your content for you, based on its current learning (although often without 'understanding' the context). A writing app simply lets you write your way, in your own voice.

Some platforms, such as Canva , have even integrated AI into its Canva Docs and Canva PDF Editor services. However. its Magic Write tool acts as a writing assistant, serving up suggestions and ideas, leaving real writers to work their magic on the content. Though usually hiding in the back-end, you can also find AI integrated in other ways across other the best PDF editor apps (and even the best free PDF editor apps, too).

As always with AI-generated content, whether it's the written word or an artwork masterpiece, human involvement is usually necessary and always desirable. Even if you're using the best AI writers out there, editing and proofreading is essential to give the content accuracy and emotional resonance.

How to choose the best free writing app for you

When deciding which free writing app is best, start by figuring out what sort of writing you want to do.

Do you need a handy tool for quick scribbles and jotting down ideas here and there, or are you using the writing software to write and edit an epic novel? Tools like FocusWriter and Write Monkey are great for getting thoughts on the page without friction.

It’s also worth considering if you need a writing app with a distraction-free design, so you can concentrate on what really matters to you. Again, FocusWriter performs admirably here, but as a result, you lose core typography and editing functions. Unlike LibreOffice, this isn’t the best Microsoft Office alternative if you need those tools. In that scenario, it may be worth considering looking at some of the best free office software , which includes MS Word-style apps, alongside other tools similar to Excel, PowerPoint, and so on.

Access is an important factor when using your writing software. A tool like Scribus needs to be downloaded to your machine. Lightweight apps like FocusWriter, however, offer a portable download that can be downloaded to a USB and carried with you.

Check what file formats your chosen writing app supports, too. While some let you create and edit the common DOC and DOCX files, others only allow TXT or RTF documents.

But most of all, it’s important to choose the best free writing app for your unique creative flow.

How we test the best free writing apps

Testing the best free writing apps and software, we assess how easy it is to get your words down on the page with the least amount of friction. Portable writing apps rank high, because they let you use the program on whatever computer or laptop you’re using.

We also look at performance for its intended audience. For distraction-free writing apps, do they really foster focus? For word processor-style software, does it offer good formatting and editing options?

Most importantly, we expect to see free writing apps that are genuinely cost-free - no-one wants to stumble across hidden fees and charges in the contracts.

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Steve is TechRadar Pro’s B2B Editor for Creative & Hardware. He explores the apps and devices for individuals and organizations that thrive on design and innovation. A former journalist at Web User magazine, he's covered software and hardware news, reviews, features, and guides. He's previously worked on content for Microsoft, Sony, and countless SaaS & product design firms. Once upon a time, he wrote commercials and movie trailers. Relentless champion of the Oxford comma.

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The 10 Best Writing Apps of 2023

Useful tools for novelists, playwrights, editors, and other wordy types

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If you're serious about writing, consider getting serious about your writing tools. These writing apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS , and Android put your words into the right format, adding polish and professionalism to your creations.

Best Word Processor for All Genres: Microsoft Word

Hundreds of templates make creating any document simple and fast.

Easily add charts, graphs, and images.

Built-in translation tools.

Overwhelming interface.

Full app is expensive.

Only one person can edit shared documents at a time.

No writing tool list is complete without Microsoft Word. This word processor is the best option for all genres, complete with hundreds of templates to choose from, endless formatting tools, and a robust online support system. From a poem to an e-book to a novel, Word can help you do it all. You can even create your own Word templates .

Word is available for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. You can start with a free trial of Microsoft 365, which includes other Microsoft applications as well. If you choose to purchase, packages range from $69.99 a year to a one-time payment of $149.99. If those prices are too high for you, you can also use Word for free .

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Best Organizational Companion: Evernote

Add photos, audio snippets, and more.

Robust collaboration tools.

Search for text in PDFs, images, scanned documents, and handwritten notes.

Only 60 MB of monthly upload space is available for free.

May include more features than you need for simple note taking.

Free version limits you to two devices.

To electronically capture ideas on the fly, use a text-based note app on your device. For an enhanced organizational experience, we recommend Evernote. It enables you to collect many types of input, including whiteboard photos, website screenshots, different document formats, audio recordings, and your handwriting. You can separate items into different notebooks for multiple projects.

Evernote is free to download for both Android and iOS devices, or you can use it online. Users can upgrade to Evernote Premium for $7.99 per month or Evernote Business for $14.99 per user per month.

Best Writing Software for Bloggers: Google Docs

Changes to your documents save automatically, so no more lost work.

View the history of edits and track changes.

Collaborate in real time.

The Google Docs app for mobile devices is slower than the desktop version.

Limited options for adding charts and other visuals.

Fewer formatting features than premium word processors.

One of the best things about Google Docs is how easy the program makes it to collaborate with others. No more "version shuffle" as you send drafts and revisions back and forth in email.

When you share a document with your blog editor, they can insert suggestions, comments, and changes right there. Then, when it's time to implement the changes, accept the revisions and close comments about issues you resolved. You can even use Google to work on Microsoft Word documents.

Google Docs is a free online tool that's also available as an app for Android and iOS devices.

Best Tool for Long-Form Content: Scrivener

Keyboard shortcuts make writing a breeze.

Templates are ready-made to jumpstart your creativity.

Easy to manage and rearrange pages and chapters.

Has a learning curve.

Spelling and grammar check are not enabled by default.

Intended for users who have an intermediate understanding of word processing.

Do you write long-form works like novels or non-fiction books? If so, you need a tool that performs some of the low-level tasks for you. Scrivener offers ready-made templates that eliminate the need to spend time on tedious formatting tasks.

This application also includes features for storing details about your characters and other critical background information, writing sections and placing them in your manuscript later, and viewing a detailed outline built from synopses that you write for each chapter. If you don't like the flow, you can move chapters around. When you're ready to publish, Scrivener makes it simple to compile and export a completed manuscript.

Scrivener is available for macOS, Windows, and iOS. You can try it free for 30 days. After the trial, a standard license costs $45.00 or $38.25 for students.

Best Writing App for Novelists: Werdsmith

Keeps track of your writing goals and tells you how close you are to reaching them.

Lots of helpful templates and formatting options.

Publish your writing to the web from the app.

Must purchase a membership to use the novel and screenplay features.

Text formatting tools could be more intuitive.

Not worth the price if you don't regularly use all the features.

Werdsmith is a portable writing studio, complete with instant formatting for novels and screenplays. You can even use it to publish your online writing portfolio. Werdsmith features a clean design, it's easy to use, and it's the perfect place for keeping your notes and finished work. The goals and stats function helps keep you motivated.

Werdsmith is free to download and use for iOS devices. In-app purchases are offered through a membership for $4.99 per month. Members receive four new themes, novel and screenplay writing tools, hundreds of writing prompts, and more.

Best Screenwriting Application: Final Draft

It has everything professional screenwriters need to meet industry standards.

Powerful story mapping tools.

Integrates with Storyboard Pro.

May not be great for beginners due to the hefty price and steep learning curve.

You must sign in to the platform each time you use it.

No support for real-time collaboration.

Final Draft is used by 95 percent of film and television productions. Why? There are hundreds of templates to choose from and Final Draft automatically paginates and formats your script to the industry standard, allowing you to focus on writing.

With advanced tools, the program allows you to easily brainstorm and collaborate as well as plan set pieces or store character research with customized visualizations.

Final Draft offers a free 30-day trial. After that, the cost is $249.99. The program works with both macOS and Windows and also offers a mobile app for iOS devices.

Best App for Journalists: Dictation

It's designed for one thing: dictation. This simplicity makes it an easy tool to use on the go.

Accurate transcriptions.

Helps prevents strain on your joints and back.

Without the pro version, you'll see an ad after each dictation you create.

Doesn't integrate with word processing apps, so it can be tedious to use.

No word counter.

For journalists who interview individuals for news stories and features, a good dictation tool is a must-have. Dictation is a speech-to-text app that translates voice to text for mobile devices. It can also be used to dictate any voice while on the go. It's perfect for capturing your brilliant ideas as well.

Dictation is free to download for iOS devices. Dictation Pro, which costs $12.99 per year, removes ads and allows you unlimited app usage.

Best Application for Editors: TextEdit

When the full-scale capabilities of a word processing program are unnecessary, TextEdit fills in the gap.

HTML and JavaScript support.

Save files in various formats (.DOCX, ODF, and others).

Only available for macOS devices.

No third-party plugins.

Formatting issues when you copy-and-paste.

This simple tool is perfect for editing documents, including Word files, on the fly and converting them into other formats seamlessly. Need to change a Rich Text Format (RTF) document to another format quickly? TextEdit is the perfect app for that. You can also easily create and edit HTML documents for the web.

TextEdit comes standard with macOS.

Best App for Song Writers: Lyric Notepad

Record yourself performing and attach the file to your song.

Counts syllables and tracks rhyme schemes to help you maintain your flow.

Inexpensive pro version.

The interface is a bit clunky.

No way to back up your lyrics to the cloud.

No search tool.

For poets, rappers, songwriters, and lyricists, inspiration can strike at any moment. That's why it's important to have a tool available at your fingertips. Lyric Notepad goes beyond typical word processing tasks to track rhyme and syllable schemes, help you find new words, and record your lyrics, all in one app. The built-in notepad allows you to add notes about your songs as you write and the metronome helps you easily keep time.

Lyric Notepad is free to download for both iOS and Android devices.

Best Application for Distracted Writers: FocusWriter

The tool is easy start using as soon as it downloads.

Free with no catches.

Simple, intuitive interface.

There are no editing functions outside of cut and paste.

Need another word processor for editing purposes.

No mobile version.

Given all the distractions in the world and especially online, it's easy to get off track during your writing time. FocusWriter allows you to focus and get your work done. The interface is basic, with all the tools hidden beyond a screen until you need them, so it's just you and the document in front of you. Hidden timers and alarms alert you when it's time to stop.

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There are no ads. Just tools to help you write everyday. You pay a few bucks a year, and that's it. You can write on a personal computer or a mobile device, receive daily email reminders, and download your writings.

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Write on a personal computer or a mobile device.
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Try writing every day for 10 days. Don't break your streak. You'll find that writing becomes easier. See if writing becomes a daily habit like brushing your teeth.

Do free-writing exercises to get over writer's block. Let your mind wander. Write about anything without judgment. Don't worry about spelling. It doesn’t have to be perfect nor complete.

Work on a long document in 10-minute chunks. 10 minutes of writing is about 100 words. If you write every hour for 10 hours, that’s 1,000 words (about 4 pages). If you do this everyday for 10 days, that’s 10,000 words (about 40 pages).

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The 17 Best Writing Apps to Boost Your Writing in 2023

Whether you’re writing an email, a blog post, or a full-on novel , you’ll likely find the task impossible without the right tools. Which raises the question: what are the best writing apps to help you with everything from basic composition to firing-on-all-cylinders productivity?

This blog post sets out to answer that question. Here we’ve divided our favorite writing apps of 2023 into three categories (writing apps, editing apps, and focus apps) and provided brief reviews of each, so you can decide which ones you can’t live without!

If you want to cut straight to the chase and find out which is the right writing app for you, we recommend taking this quick 30-second quiz.

Which writing app is right for you?

Find out here! Takes 30 seconds

Otherwise, let's dive in! Let’s start with apps that fulfill the most essential need every writer has: getting words down on the page.

While Google Docs and Microsoft Word are more-or-less fine, a dedicated writer like yourself deserves something more substantial. Here are seven writing apps designed specifically for creative writing, with various organizational tools to take your work to the next level.

1. Reedsy Book Editor

Price: Free Runs on: Web Best for: Authors seeking an elegant, distraction-free writing interface that typesets your work into a professional-grade book

With its sleek interface and easily navigable formatting options, the Reedsy Book Editor is a first-rate choice for modern authors. You can drag and drop chapters, insert images, and even track changes to look at past versions of your work — a function that most paid creative writing apps don’t offer. And if you find that you're falling behind on your writing schedule, you can just enable its built-in goal reminder system, which will encourage you to get back on track.

The Reedsy Book Editor's advanced typesetting features will also save you hours of work when you get to formatting your book for publication. You can create intricate front and back matter and export it as a clean, professional file that can be instantly uploaded to any ebook retailer or print-on-demand supplier. If you’re looking for an all-in-one writing, formatting, and typesetting tool, look no further than the Reedsy Book Editor. Start using it for free right now.

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2. Scrivener

Price: Free trial for 30 days, $45 license fee Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Window Best for: Novelists and other long-form writers who want an elaborate, organized interface

You’d be hard-pressed to find a list of book writing software that omits Scrivener, and for good reason: it manages to be both streamlined and incredibly sophisticated at the same time. With Scrivener, you can choose a template for your project (novel, essay, screenplay, etc.) and get organizing right away. The left-hand sidebar includes sections and virtual notecards for every element you could think of, and you’re able to arrange these elements however you like.

More advanced features allow you to track your research, create specialized materials like front/back matter, and even analyze the content of the text itself. Needless to say, Scrivener is an excellent book writing app for authors, and indeed ideal for any writer who values attention to detail. You can read our full review of Scrivener 3 right here.

Price: $4.99/month or $39.99/year subscription Runs on: Mac and iOS devices Best for: Writers who want to productivity-hack their formatting

At first glance, Ulysses looks a lot like Scrivener, but closer inspection reveals that they cater to different experience levels and interests. While Scrivener is known for its steep learning curve, Ulysses offers several tutorials alongside its features. This is especially useful because Ulysses uses “Markdown” rather than manual formatting — for instance, in Ulysses, you’d type # to create a header, or > to create a blockquote.

While it may seem inconsequential now, writers who familiarize themselves with Markdown will likely find that it helps them keep their “flow” during a writing session, and it also makes editing much easier. Other than this, Ulysses is a fairly standard writing app; it’s not as outline-friendly as Scrivener, but you’ll have no trouble staying organized with keyword labels, split view capability, progress tracking, and all your projects lined up neatly in the sidebar.

Price: Flat fee of $25 Runs on: PC and Mac Best for: Authors looking for a software that will help them smartly and fluidly outline their books

Plottr may be the one plotting software to rule them all. While Scrivener and Ulysses are built to be all-purpose writing platforms, Plottr was created with one main objective in mind: to help you outline and plan your story.

To that end, it shines. Plottr lets you easily build the scenes, plots, and arcs of your story, which its intuitive interface then allows you to visually organize, re-arrange, color-coordinate, and filter until your plot begins to flow and make sense to you.

Additional features like timelines, plot cards, and starter plotting templates (including the Hero’s Journey and Dan Harmon’s Story Circle ) are built into the program to help you plot smarter. The sum of its parts is a software that achieves the impossible: making this plotting process, dare we say it, fun.

Looking for some more guidance on your fiction-writing journey? Check out this post on how to write a story in 6 steps.

5. iA Writer

Price: Free trial for 14 days, $29.99 for Mac, $19.99 for Windows Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows (free trial available for Android) Best for: Writers who prefer simplicity over style

Reviews often compare iA Writer to Ulysses because it, too, employs Markdown for formatting. However, the interface is much simpler and more naturally integrated into your screen. This minimalist design fits perfectly with the mission of iA writer, which is “to keep you focused on just writing.”

In the upper-hand toolbar, you can still access features like dark mode (shown above) and syntax highlighting for different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and so on). But the purpose of iA Writer is to facilitate writing, and its setup clearly reflects that — a definite boon for distraction-prone and clutter-averse writers.

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Price: Free Runs on: Windows Best for: Authors who like to break their stories into bite-sized pieces

Pivoting to the non-Apple side of things, we have yWriter, a book writing app designed for Windows in a similar vein to Scrivener. yWriter boasts a well-organized interface that divides your story into scenes rather than chapters, which is less stressful for easily intimidated writers. This app is also great for tracking your progress, with features like a storyboard to review your narrative arc, and reports you can generate about your daily word count, the state of your draft, etc.

But perhaps the best thing about yWriter is that it’s a free writing app — astounding in light of all it provides. The only “missing” feature is story templates, which experienced writers can disregard anyway. However, we’d caution users not to disregard yWriter’s intended platform, as the Mac trial is pretty glitchy and unreliable.

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7. Storyist

Price: Free trial for 15 days, $59.99 license fee Runs on: Mac and iOS devices Best for: Screenwriters who are just getting started

Now let’s talk about screenplay writing apps. Though Storyist provides a solid foundation for novel writing, screenplay and stage play projects are where the app really shines. Upon creating a new project, you’ll work from a highly intuitive script template where each new line prompts you to choose action, character, dialogue, etc. This ensures proper formatting and keeps you conscious of which elements you’re using, so you don’t overdo it on dialogue or forget to transition between scenes.

You can also organize your characters, settings, and images via the sidebar tabs, which may be useful for screenwriters who like strong visuals to supplement their work. But Storyist is feature-minimal for a reason: it’s supposed to be basic and affordable for beginners, with just enough formatting flair to make you feel like an up-and-coming Hollywood darling.

8. Final Draft

Price: Free trial for 30 days, $249.99 license fee Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows Best for: Professional screenwriters who are ready to level up

Speaking of Hollywood, if you’re already such an advanced screenwriter that you’re frustrated by the limitations of “beginner” apps, Final Draft is the program for you. In addition to line-by-line formatting and other standard scriptwriting features, Final Draft offers countless options for comments, collaborations, content analysis, and more!

You can track story elements and measure your character’s traits using the inclusivity analysis feature. You can tweak your “beat board” until you find the arrangement that works perfectly for you. When you’re ready to bring in editors, you can all work simultaneously in real time. And if you want to shop your script around, Final Draft will export the file flawlessly.

The only drawback of Final Draft is the price tag — a struggling screenwriter may not have $250 to spare, no matter how stellar the software. If this sounds like you, stick to Storyist or a similar app for the time being, but keep Final Draft in mind for when you’re able to upgrade.

And what about when you’re ready to upgrade not just your tools, but your entire text? Well, that’s what this next section on editing apps is for.

MEET EDITORS

Polish your book with expert help

All writing is rewriting, as they say. If you’re ready to take on the “rewriting” stage of your project — or if you prefer to edit as you write, either because you’re a perfectionist or you just want to save yourself the work later — these five apps will let you revise to your heart’s content .

9. Grammarly

Price: Free Runs on: Web, including browser extension Best for: Writers who want to carefully check short pieces, such as articles and emails

Grammarly is the writing world’s go-to spelling and grammar checker outside of standard word processors. Like any good editor, it underlines the errors and weak phrases in your writing — but Grammarly also goes above and beyond by providing a label and detailed reason for each correction, so you’ll actually learn from your mistakes

On top of these notes, Grammarly has a number of nuanced features to ensure your writing accomplishes exactly what you want it to do. You can “set goals” in terms of your audience, formality level, and tone (happy, confident, urgent, etc.) and analyze your text for factors like clarity, engagement, and delivery.

All this makes for a very well-rounded writing experience. However, we will say that Grammarly, with its goal-oriented interface and meticulous suggestions, is better for short-form copywriting than long-form storytelling.

So if you write a ton of emails, Grammarly could be perfect for you! But if you write books, you might benefit more from the tools to follow.

10. ProWritingAid

Price: Free trial with limited features, $70/year subscription Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Long-form writers hoping to hone their personal style

ProWritingAid often draws comparisons to Grammarly, but this app’s approach to editing is a bit more holistic. Though it still points out significant errors, ProWritingAid’s suggestions tend more toward enhancing the flow of your prose — for example, reducing passive voice and filler words — than nitpicking for grammatical technicalities.

You’ll also find more methods of analysis with ProWritingAid, including auto-generated stats regarding your vocabulary, sentence structure, and more. ProWritingAid will let you know which words you’re overusing, which areas are inconsistent, and how you might connect your ideas more smoothly. Overall, it’s a great tool that will undoubtedly help you polish your writing (though keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to access the full range of features).

11. Hemingway

Price: Free online, $19.99 license fee Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Authors who value crisp, clean prose above all

Both a useful tool and clever homage to one of the twentieth century’s greatest authors, Hemingway is a must-have app for writers who like to keep things short and sweet. The purely prose-based editor gives feedback on sentence length, word usage, passive voice, and adverbs — simple elements that can nonetheless make or break a piece.

The app employs different-colored highlights to help you trim the fat in each area, and also identifies the text's reading level to ensure you’re targeting the right audience. But that’s pretty much it! Just as simplicity was a trademark of Hemingway’s prose, so it is of this app’s design.

12. Readable

Price: Free online, $4/month for Readable Pro account Runs on: Web (no browser extension yet) Best for: Short-form writers who need their work to be easily digestible

Readable ’s core mission is similar to Hemingway’s: to make your prose more, well, readable. But Readable has a few more bells and whistles to it, which may be helpful for writers who want really thorough textual analysis. Besides pointing out run-on sentences and other indicators of purple prose, this app collects tons of relevant statistics, from text composition to reading time. You’ll also receive scores on multiple readability scales — Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, etc.

As with ProWritingAid , you’ll have to upgrade for full access to features like keyword density and quality control. This may be worth looking into if you create content for a living, but for writers whose work doesn’t depend on SEO, the free version of Readable should serve you well.

13. NaturalReader

Price: Free Runs on: Web, Mac, and Windows Best for: Writers who need fresh eyes — or rather, ears — for editing

Reading one’s work aloud is a great way to catch awkward phrasing and typos. But what if you’re already so accustomed to your own prose that, when reading to yourself, you skim right over these issues?

That’s when you can turn to NaturalReader, the best text-to-speech reader we’ve found this side of an actual person. To use it, simply copy/paste your writing into the text box, choose a voice and reading speed, and follow along with the magnified text at the bottom. You can pause, rewind, fast-forward, and change the other settings at any time; it’s all incredibly easy and conducive to comprehension. (Just make sure you’re actually listening, not zoning out.)

We’d recommend NaturalReader for anyone with a short piece to proofread, as it may not be practical to feed your entire book through the app. Then again, if you’ve got the time, have at it!

Now let's talk writing apps for focus and organization. Buckling down and getting started is often the hardest part of the writing process. Fortunately, these apps will help you cut out distractions, organize your thoughts, and regain inspiration when writer’s block rears its ugly head!

14. FocusWriter

Price: Free Runs on: Mac and Windows Best for: Overstimulated writers who want to get back to basics

Thought Ulysses and Hemingway were minimalist? You ain’t seen nothing yet. FocusWriter is exactly what it says on the tin: it compels you to focus on writing and nothing else. The interface takes on the appearance of a sheet of paper, and lacking any elaborate formatting options or research notes to mess around with, you have no choice but to write.

You can still adjust the font, track your progress, and even set a timer for writing sprints using the toolbar at the top — but it safely tucks these features away from view. If in-app distractions are your kryptonite, FocusWriter might be the solution you need.

15. Freedom

Price: Free trial for 7 sessions, $6.99/month or $30/year Runs on: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android Best for: Internet-addicted writers who can admit they have a problem

Of course, even a super-basic interface can’t protect you from distractions that lurk outside that interface. That’s why you need Freedom: app- and website-blocking software to curb your Internet and social media procrastination (which, let’s be honest, is an issue for all of us).

Freedom allows you to set timed blocks, schedule blocks in advance, and even “pause” before visiting distracting sites. It certainly covers all the bases in terms of potential diversions; users can customize a list of distracting websites and desktop apps, plus connect Freedom to their phones to block distractions on there as well.

But perhaps the nicest thing about Freedom is that it feels truly freeing — between the gentle branding and the ultimately self-imposed limits, you’ll come away feeling not restricted, but relieved that you can get some writing done at last.

16. Evernote

Price: Free basic plan, $4.99/month for premium Runs on: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android Best for: Multitalented writers who want a single space to collect all their thoughts

Another one of the best free writing apps out there, Evernote takes written organization to a whole new level. With dozens of templates for everything from classroom note-taking to personal planning to structuring a novel, Evernote makes admin not only easy, but fun!

Besides abundant organizational templates — again, all for free with the basic plan — Evernote also lets you tag everything in specific categories, share your notes with collaborators, and even chat with them in-app. One of its coolest features is the Web Clipper, which you can use to save any excerpt of web content that appeals to you. More than anything, Evernote is a work-saving app designed to be adaptable and accessible for all kinds of writers and their projects.

17. Reedsy Prompts

Price: Free Runs on: Web Best for: Writers who just need a spark of an idea to get started

Okay, this one’s not exactly an app, at least not yet. But after comparing Reedsy Prompts to similar writing inspiration apps like Writing Challenge and The Brainstormer, we can honestly say it has much more to offer. For one thing, you’ll get five new prompts every single week — and not just on the Reedsy Prompts page, but sent straight to your email inbox. And if you write a short story based on one of those prompts, you could win $50 in our weekly contest!

That said, if you’re not inspired by the prompts of a particular week, you can explore the infinite possibilities of the 700+ prompts that already live on the Reedsy Prompts page. Though you’ll only be able to enter the competition with one of the five featured prompts for that week, we’re always excited to see what our users create… so if you write a story based on any of the available prompts, make sure to let us know.

At the end of the day, that’s what writing is all about: creating something wonderful and unique to share with others, whether it’s an informative article, a personal essay, or a 300-page book. Whatever your writing project, we hope these apps can be of use to you — and indeed, of service to everyone who gets to enjoy your work.

18. Hubspot's AI blog writer

Price: Free, with premium upgrade options available

Runs on: Mac, iOS, and Windows

Best for: Writers who run blogs, especially those short on time

HubSpot's Free AI Blog Writer is designed to help writers easily create blog posts that appeal to their audience. With HubSpot's content assistant, writers can create content quickly and gather information efficiently, with the purpose of helping users increase their output without sapping extra resources.

To use the tool, users provide prompts or topics, and the AI content assistant conducts initial research and generates blog posts. Then, users can edit, review, customize, and align the content with their voice and audience preferences. This tool can help generate outlines or rough drafts for future post, which users can draw from their own expertise to revise.

Compare the best writing apps of 2023

Didn’t find what you were looking for here? Check out our list of novel writing software for some more intensive writing programs, or this list of writing tools to help hone your creative process.

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Free writing software: 24 tools to help you create better content, faster

Find the best brainstorming, researching, writing, and editing tools.

As a freelance writer, I try to keep my app costs lean, so I'm a sucker for free writing tools. But with so many writing apps on the market, it's hard to tell which free options are actually valuable.

I've done some of the legwork for you by bringing together some of the best free writing apps on the internet. All of the options listed here are tools the Zapier team or I have used and enjoyed.

For this roundup, I prioritized completely free tools and freemium apps with a forever free plan that was sufficient for actual regular use. Many of the options have paid plans, but those plans are generally geared toward power users.

Researching and note-taking software

Writing software

Editing software

Proofreading software

The best free writing software at a glance

Free writing tools for brainstorming and organizing your thoughts, best free writing software for expanding your ideas.

MindMeister (Web, iOS, Android)

MindMeister, our pick for the best free writing software for brainstorming with a mind map

If you like to perform mind mapping to get your thoughts on paper and connect them, MindMeister gives you a virtual space to do it. It includes templates for the traditional mind map as well as more specific layouts for frameworks like SMART goals, case studies, and content plans.

Want to learn more about mind mapping? Check out Zapier's list of the best mind mapping apps , or discover nine ways to use mind maps to jumpstart your projects.

MindMeister pricing: Free for up to 3 mind maps; from $5.99/month for premium plans , including features like unlimited mind maps, advanced exporting, and group sharing

Best free writing software for creating content outlines

Workflowy (Web, macOS, Windows, Chrome, iOS, Android)

Outlines are a writer's best friend , and Workflowy lets you go as deep or shallow as you want. This tool organizes your outline into bullet points that you can click to nest and expand however you want.

Workflowy pricing: Free for up to 250 bullets a month ; from $4.99/month for the Workflowy Pro plan with expanded features like unlimited bullets and uploads

Best free writing software for brainstorming together

When you need to write something in collaboration with others, the brainstorming process is one of the trickiest to facilitate with technology. Miro lets you plot out ideas with mind maps, Kanban boards, virtual sticky notes, and whatever strategy you use to get your thoughts down. The free plan allows for unlimited team members to brainstorm with at the same time.

If whiteboards aren't your preferred brainstorming method, explore Zapier's picks for the top brainstorming tools for more collaborative and solo apps.

You can even use Miro with Zapier (also free), so you can automate your brainstorming workflows. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.

Create Miro widgets with new Trello cards

Add Miro cards from new rows on Google Sheets

Miro pricing: Free for 3 whiteboards with unlimited team members; from $8/user/month for plans with unlimited whiteboards and advanced collaboration features

Best free writing software for brainstorming topics

Ryan Robinson's Keyword Research Tool (Web)

Go to the Ideas tab of Ryan Robinson's Keyword Research Tool , and it'll provide ideas related to your query. Since it's a keyword tool first and foremost, these ideas are designed to be less competitive on search results, too.

If you're looking for keyword research tools specifically for their main purpose, check out Zapier's roundup of the best free keyword research tools .

Keyword Research Tool pricing: Free

Best free writing software for brainstorming ideas with AI

ChatGPT (Web)

With the rise of AI , some writers use GPT-based apps to brainstorm ideas and build the base for an outline. ChatGPT is the best free option—and the one you know and love—or you can check out even more GPT-powered writing apps in Zapier's list of the best AI writing generators .

You can also combine GPT with Zapier to send ideas to your favorite project management tool.

ChatGPT pricing: Free; ChatGPT Plus is $20/month

Best free writing software for brainstorming out loud

Your computer's dictation software (MacOS, Windows)

If you process your thoughts best through speaking, there's a brainstorming app already on your computer. Boot up Windows 10 Speech Recognition on Windows or Apple Dictation on Mac to record your thoughts as you brainstorm out loud.

For mobile and premium dictation app options, check out Zapier's list of the best text dictation software .

Windows 10 Speech Recognition and Apple Dictation pricing: Free

Free writing tools for research and note-taking

Best free writing software for keeping everything in one place.

Notion (Web, MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android)

Notion's balance of organization and spontaneity make it a great place to hold your notes, links, social media posts, transcriptions, and any other resources you need to write that draft. Plus, depending on your writing preferences, you can then write the draft itself in Notion—all for free.

Add Zapier integrations to the mix to bring even more of your writing life together. Here are some pre-made workflows to get you started.

Save new tasks in Google Tasks in Notion databases

Add new Microsoft Outlook calendar events to Notion databases

If Notion doesn't meet your needs, try one of these Notion alternatives . Zapier also has a list of the best note-taking apps for you to browse.

Notion pricing: Free plan available; from $8/user/month for team plans

Best free writing software for finding free copies of paywalled research

Unpaywall (Web)

Have you ever come across a search result for the perfect research article, only to discover it's behind a paywall? Unpaywall gets you across those paywalls ethically by looking for legitimate free versions of paywalled academic research. It looks at sources like journals' open-access repositories and university and government databases, so you're never infringing copyright.

Unpaywall pricing: Free

Best free writing software for transcribing interview and video content

oTranscribe (Web)

oTranscribe simplifies the manual transcription process by placing your audio controls and a word processor on the same screen. This tool has keyboard controls and speed adjustment, so you can seamlessly transition between your audio and transcript.

If you're willing to pay a bit, here's Zapier's list of the best transcription apps and services .

oTranscribe pricing: Free

Best free writing software for collecting research from other people

Google Forms (Web, iOS, Android)

When you need original quotes or data from other people, a free survey tool or form builder will help you organize it all. Google Forms is an accessible choice for most people because it's completely free and works with the rest of Google Workspace.

Turn your form responses into Trello cards, Notion database entries, or any other nugget of info that serves you well with Google Forms' Zapier integrations .

Create Trello cards from new Google Forms responses

Share Google Forms responses in a Slack channel

Google Forms pricing: Free

Free writing tools for solo and collaborative writing

Best free writing software for collaborative writing.

Google Docs (Web, Chrome, iOS, Android)

Google Docs' straightforward interface and ease of use make it a great tool for writing solo, but this app really shines through its collaborative features . Its suggestion, sharing, and version history features put it on par with its paid alternatives at no cost to you.

You can connect Google Docs to all the other tools you use with its Zapier integration . Here are some ideas for free automations you might set up.

Create new Google Docs from text with new rows in Google Sheets

Create new Google Docs when Trint transcripts are ready

Not a fan of Google Docs or don't want to create a Google account? Find another great option in Zapier's guide to the best collaborative writing apps .

Google Docs pricing: Free

Best free writing software for messages and blurbs

WordCounter (Web)

Sometimes you need to write a small amount of text, such as a message or a blurb, without the pressure of accidentally hitting the Enter button too early. WordCounter acts as a combination clipboard and editor with a word count that saves your work in your browser cache for the next time you visit.

WordCounter pricing: Free

Free writing tools for editing

Best free writing software for finding the perfect word.

OneLook Reverse Dictionary and Thesaurus (Web)

OneLook Reverse Dictionary and Thesaurus offers all the synonyms you could dream of like a regular thesaurus, but it stands out in its reverse dictionary capabilities. Enter a phrase—or even a full sentence—to get words that match that meaning. This feature comes in handy when you want to write more concisely or find that word that's on the tip of your tongue.

OneLook Reverse Dictionary and Thesaurus pricing: Free

Best free writing software for finding the right word—anywhere

Power Thesaurus (Web, Chrome, iOS, Android)

As a freelance writer, I find myself needing to switch up words when I write on various platforms across the internet. Power Thesaurus gives me synonyms, antonyms, definitions, and other forms of word assistance wherever I like to write. It can do the same for you—put it to use on its website, in your browser, on your phone, in Google Docs, in Word, and in Gmail.

Power Thesaurus pricing: Free for fundamental features; starting from $2.49/month for Power Thesaurus PRO , featuring filters and a wider selection of synonyms

Best free writing software for rewording what you write

Wordtune (Web, Chrome, iOS)

When you just can't get phrasing right in your writing, you might turn to a friend or editor to help you sort it out. Wordtune acts as that person by offering suggestions to reword, expand, and shorten your content using AI. It doesn't have as robust of a free plan as some of the other options on this list, but it provides enough if you need assistance here and there.

If you want more features and are willing to pay a monthly fee, you can put AI to work in your editing process with Zapier's list of the best AI rewording and grammar-checking tools .

Wordtune pricing: Free for up to 10 rewrites, three AI prompts, and three summaries a day; from $9.99/month for advanced plans featuring more rewrites, AI prompts, and summaries

Best free writing software for clear and concise writing

Hemingway Editor (Web, macOS, Windows)

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's concise writing style, the Hemingway Editor points out opportunities to sharpen your writing. This tool highlights passive voice, complex sentences, and adverbs that make your work harder to understand. It also supplies a readability score to estimate how accessible your writing is to a broad audience.

Hemingway Editor pricing: Free for editing in the Hemingway web app; $19.99 for the Mac or Windows desktop app

Best free writing software for creating compelling headlines

CoSchedule Headline Studio (Web, Chrome)

CoSchedule Headline Studio helps you write compelling headlines by analyzing the sentiment and word balance in your titles. Type in a headline to get a score and test different variations based on the suggestions you get. The Google Chrome extension and WordPress plugin let you analyze headlines wherever you go.

CoSchedule Headline Studio pricing: Free for basic features; from $8/month to buy "Premium Headline" credits that give you access to an SEO score, AI writing features, headline suggestions, and word banks for a certain number of headlines

Best free writing software for finding and removing cliches

Cliche Finder (Web)

Cut cliches out of your writing using Cliche Finder . After you paste your text into the textbox and click the Find Cliches button, the tool will highlight any cliches in bold, red text. It's up to you from there, but the tool is 100% free.

Cliche Finder pricing: Free

Best free writing software for finding jargon in your text

De-Jargonizer (Web)

Another writing mechanism that gets in the way of clarity is jargon—terms that only people in a specific role will understand. The De-Jargonizer highlights potential jargon in your writing in orange in red for you to consider rephrasing.

Once you identify jargon in your text with the De-Jargonizer, you can get suggestions for rewriting it from Zapier's Corporate Jargon Translator , built using Zapier's free AI chatbot builder .

De-Jargonizer pricing: Free

Best free writing software for varying your wording and sentence length

Expresso (Web)

Two of the best ways to amp up your writing are to switch up your words and sentence length. Expresso helps you achieve both of these goals by breaking your writing down into metrics based on word usage and sentence length, such as frequently repeated words and average sentence word count.

Expresso pricing: Free

Best free writing software for comparing your writing to AI content

GPTZero (Web, Chrome)

Due to the complexity of the AI situation, it can be tricky to truly detect AI writing with an AI content detector . But, as one writer discovered in our guide to standing out from AI , these tools work well for picking out human content that sounds like AI due to repetitive phrases and generic writing. GPTZero is a free option that judges text based on perplexity (complexity) and burstiness (sentence variation).

GPTZero pricing: Free for documents up to 5,000 words and batch uploads of up to 3 files; from $9.99/month for plans with higher word and batch limits

Free writing tools for proofreading

Best free writing software for catching spelling and grammar mistakes.

Grammarly (Web, macOS, Windows, Android iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

Check for spelling and grammar mistakes everywhere you write with Grammarly . It looks for even the nit-pickiest details, like missing dashes and incorrect prepositions. Stick to its web editor, add it to your favorite writing tool, or add the browser extension to check your writing wherever you go.

Grammarly pricing: Free for the basic spell- and grammar-checker; from $12/month for plans with advanced features like tone, vocabulary, and rewrite suggestions

Best free writing tool for proofreading short-form content

ProWritingAid (Web, macOS, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

ProWritingAid's free plan can analyze less text at a time than Grammarly , but it includes a word explorer, thesaurus, and rephrasing tool on top of its grammar-checking features. These capabilities make it a better fit for writers who like to get really granular with their improvement. ProWritingAid's free plan could be a better option for you than Grammarly if your total word count usually clocks at 500 words or fewer.

ProWritingAid pricing: Free for a 500 word count limit and 10 rephrases per day; from $10/month for a Premium plan with no word count limit, unlimited rephrases, and advanced grammar improvement features like in-depth analytics of your writing

Best free writing tool for making MLA citations

EasyBib (Web)

This one's for the academics out there. Enter your paper's sources into EasyBib , and it'll organize them into an MLA bibliography for you. I had to give everything a once-over and make minor changes, but EasyBib helped me win my college library's bibliography contest back in the day by getting it all together.

EasyBib pricing: Free

Free writing software FAQ

Here are some questions lots of people have about writing apps and how to choose the right one.

What's a good free writing tool?

Tools like Google Docs and WordCounter are free forever and very functional. Other apps, like Grammarly or ProWritingAid, have free plans that offer basic features, with more advanced features available via a paid plan.

But there are a lot of free writing tools available that perform a wide variety of functions—everything from brainstorming to research and note-taking to writing to editing to proofreading.

What writing tool do most writers use?

There's a wide variety of writing tools out there, and which one a writer uses really comes down to preference. A lot of writers use Google Docs to write because they already use Google for so many other things—but some may prefer a tool like Notion, where they can combine writing with project management.

What makes a good writing tool?

In short, whatever helps you write! If a blank page and no distraction is what helps you actually get words down, then open a new Google Doc and go at it. If you need to organize your thoughts before you even think about writing, consider adding a brainstorming tool to the mix. Each writer's process is different, and it's all about finding tools that enable your writing, not add another roadblock to your process.

Sharpen your craft with your new toolkit

As is the case with many skills, it can be easy to focus too much on improving your writing through tools alone. You'll maximize the results you'll get from your apps with a solid foundation in writing techniques. Grab the tools that appeal to you on this page, then brush up on your core writing skills to become a killer prose machine.

Improve your productivity automatically. Use Zapier to get your apps working together.

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Career Planning
Finding a Job
Cover Letters

How To Write a Job Application Letter (With Examples)

What is a Job Application Letter?

Tips for writing a job application letter, how to get started.

Writing Guidelines
What to Include in Each Section

Simple Formatting Using a Template

Tips for writing an effective letter, sample job application letter, sending an email application, review more letter examples.

Do you need to write a letter to apply for a job? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Even when employers don’t require a job application letter , writing one will help you highlight your skills and achievements and get the hiring manager’s attention. The only time not to send one is when the job listing says not to do so. It can help, and it definitely won't hurt to include an application letter with your resume.

A job application letter, also known as a cover letter , should be sent or uploaded with your resume when applying for jobs. While your resume offers a history of your work experience and an outline of your skills and accomplishments, the job application letter you send to an employer explains why you are qualified for the position and should be selected for an interview.

Writing this letter can seem like a challenging task. However, if you take it one step at a time, you'll soon be an expert at writing application letters to send with your resume.

Melissa Ling / The Balance

Before you begin writing your job application letter, do some groundwork. Consider what information you want to include (keeping in mind that space is limited).

Remember, this letter is making a case for your candidacy for the position. But you can do better than just regurgitating your resume—instead, highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and abilities.

Analyze the Job Posting

To include the most convincing, relevant details in your letter, you'll need to know what the employer wants.

The biggest clues are within the job advertisement, so spend some time decoding the job ad . Next, match your qualifications with the employer's wants and needs .

Include Your Most Relevant Qualifications

Make a list of your relevant experience and skills. For instance, if the job ad calls for a strong leader, think of examples of when you've successfully led a team. Once you've jotted down some notes, and have a sense of what you want to highlight in your letter, you're ready to get started writing.

Writing Guidelines for Job Application Letters

Writing a job application letter is very different from a quick email to a friend or a thank-you note to a relative. Hiring managers and potential interviewers have certain expectations when it comes to the letter's presentation and appearance, from length (no more than a page) to font size and style to letter spacing :

Length: A letter of application should be no more than one page long. Three to four paragraphs is typical.

Format and Page Margins: A letter of application should be single-spaced with a space between each paragraph. Use about 1" margins and align your text to the left, which is the standard alignment for most documents.

Font: Use a traditional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. The font size should be between 10 and 12 points.

What To Include in Each Section of the Letter

There are also set rules for the sections included in the letter, from salutation to sign-off, and how the letter is organized. Here's a quick lowdown on the main sections included in a job application letter:

Heading: A letter of application should begin with both your and the employer's contact information (name, address, phone number, email) followed by the date. If this is an email rather than an actual letter, include your contact information at the end of the letter, after your signature.

Header Examples

Salutation: This is your polite greeting. The most common salutation is "Dear Mr./Ms." followed by the person's last name. Find out more about appropriate cover letter salutations , including what to do if you don't know the person's name, or are unsure of a contact's gender.

Body of the letter: Think of this section as being three distinct parts.

In the first paragraph , you'll want to mention the job you are applying for and where you saw the job listing.

The next paragraph(s) are the most important part of your letter. Remember how you gathered all that information about what employers were seeking, and how you could meet their needs? This is where you'll share those relevant details on your experience and accomplishments.

The third and last part of the body of the letter will be your thank you to the employer; you can also offer follow-up information.

Complimentary Close: Sign off your email with a polite close, such as "Best" or "Sincerely," followed by your name.

Closing Examples

Signature: When you're sending or uploading a printed letter, end with your signature, handwritten, followed by your typed name. If this is an email, simply include your typed name, followed by your contact information.

Signature Examples

Overwhelmed by all these formatting and organization requirements? One way to make the process of writing a job application easier is to use a job application letter template to create your own personalized job application letters for applying for a job. Having a template can help save you time if you are sending a lot of application letters.

Be sure that each letter you send is personalized to the company and position; do not send the same letter to different companies.

Always write one. Unless a job posting specifically says not to send a letter of application or cover letter, you should always send one. Even if the company does not request a letter of application, it never hurts to include one. If they do ask you to send a letter, make sure to follow the directions exactly (for example, they might ask you to send the letter as an email attachment, or type it directly into their online application system).
Use business letter format. Use a formal business letter format when writing your letter. Include your contact information at the top, the date, and the employer’s contact information. Be sure to provide a salutation at the beginning, and your signature at the end.
Sell yourself. Throughout the letter, focus on how you would benefit the company. Provide specific examples of times when you demonstrated skills or abilities that would be useful for the job, especially those listed in the job posting or description. If possible, include examples of times when you added value to a company.

Numerical values offer concrete evidence of your skills and accomplishments.

Use keywords. Reread the job listing, circling any keywords (such as skills or abilities that are emphasized in the listing). Try to include some of those words in your cover letter. This will help the employer see that you are a strong fit for the job.
Keep it brief. Keep your letter under a page long, with no more than about four paragraphs. An employer is more likely to read a concise letter.
Proofread and edit. Employers are likely to overlook an application with a lot of errors. Read through your cover letter, and if possible, ask a friend or career counselor to review the letter. Proofread for any grammar or spelling errors.

This is a job application letter sample. Download the letter template (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online) or read the example below.

Sample Job Application Letter (Text Version)

Elizabeth Johnson 12 Jones Street Portland, Maine 04101 555-555-5555 elizabethjohnson@emailaddress.com

August 11, 2020

Mark Smith Human Resources Manager Veggies to Go 238 Main Street Portland, Maine 04101

Dear Mr. Smith,

I was so excited when my former coworker, Jay Lopez, told me about your opening for an administrative assistant in your Portland offices. A long-time Veggies to Go customer and an experienced admin, I would love to help the company achieve its mission of making healthy produce as available as takeout.

I’ve worked for small companies for my entire career, and I relish the opportunity to wear many hats and work with the team to succeed. In my latest role as an administrative assistant at Beauty Corp, I saved my employer thousands of dollars in temp workers by implementing a self-scheduling system for the customer service reps that cut down on canceled shifts. I also learned web design, time sheet coding, and perfected my Excel skills.

I’ve attached my resume for your consideration and hope to speak with you soon about your needs for the role.

Best Regards,

Elizabeth Johnson (signature hard copy letter)

Elizabeth Johnson

When you are sending your letter via email include the reason you are writing in the subject line of your message:

Subject Line Example

Subject: Elizabeth Johnson – Administrative Assistant Position

List your contact information in your signature, rather than in the body of the letter:

Email Signature Example

Elizabeth Johnson 555-555-5555 email@emailaddress.com

Review more examples of professionally written cover letters for a variety of circumstances, occupations, and types of jobs.

CareerOneStop. " How Do I Write a Cover Letter ?" Accessed July 14, 2021.

University of Maryland Global Campus. " Frequently Asked Questions ." Accessed July 14, 2021.

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Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint

Create a presentation from a file with copilot.

With Copilot in PowerPoint, you can create a presentation from an existing Word document. Provide Copilot in PowerPoint with the link to your Word document, and it will generate slides, apply layouts, and choose a theme for you.

Create a new presentation in PowerPoint.

The Copilot icon on the PowerPoint ribbon.

Select Send . Copilot will draft a presentation for you!

Edit the presentation to suit your needs, ask Copilot to add a slide , organize your presentation, or add images.

Best practices when creating a presentation from a Word document

Leverage word styles to help copilot understand the structure of your document .

By using Styles in Word to organize your document, Copilot will better understand your document structure and how to break it up into slides of a presentation. Structure your content under Titles and Headers when appropriate and Copilot will do its best to generate a presentation for you.

Include images that are relevant to your presentation

When creating a presentation, Copilot will try to incorporate the images in your Word document. If you have images that you would like to be brought over to your presentation, be sure to include them in your Word document.

Start with your organization’s template

If your organization uses a standard template, start with this file before creating a presentation with Copilot. Starting with a template will let Copilot know that you would like to retain the presentation’s theme and design. Copilot will use existing layouts to build a presentation for you. Learn more about Making your presentations look great with Copilot in PowerPoint .

Create a new presentation with Copilot

Screenshot of the Copilot in PowerPoint menu with the Create a presentation prompt highlighted

Edit the presentation to suit your needs, ask Copilot to add a slide , or start over with a new presentation and refine your prompt to include more specifics. For example, "Create a presentation about hybrid meeting best practices that includes examples for team building.”

Create a presentation with a template

Copilot can use your existing themes and templates to create a presentation. Learn more about making your presentations look great with Copilot in PowerPoint .

Selecting a theme for a new presentation on Office.com.

Enter your prompt or select Create presentation from file to create a first draft of your presentation using your theme or template.

Screenshot of the create new draft confirmation from PPT Copilot

Welcome to Copilot in PowerPoint

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Where can I get Microsoft Copilot?

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Frequently asked questions: AI, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Microsoft Designer

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50 Free Writing Software Tools And The Best Free Writing Apps

The best 50 free writing software and writing apps

Writers are spoiled for choice when it comes to free writing software, tools, and free writing apps.

Are you a blogger, author, content writer, or student?

You want the best creative writing tools and software that will do the job for you.

But you don’t want to pay a lot of money to be able to write more effectively. Read on to discover all the choices you have for software, programs, and apps to help you write better and more productively.

Your free writing software choices

every free writing software or app you will ever need

There is no need for you to spend a penny to get some of the best free writing programs to help you write more productively and accurately.

You can choose and try so many terrific writing programs and tools today. You will find that most of them are unrestricted and will cost you nothing to use.

If you are looking for new apps and tools to improve your writing, you have come to the right place.

This page is regularly updated to bring you the biggest choice of free software and apps for writers.

It includes free writing apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux users.

You can find creative writing apps, grammar checking apps, word processors, mind maps, index cards, book writing programs, and productivity tools.

All of them will help you get on with what you do best, which is writing, of course.

There are also many lite versions of popular premium apps available that can offer you tons of fantastic features.

I have tried almost all the writing tools and apps in this article and use a lot of them every day.

Find the best free writing software and apps for you

free writing software and apps for new writers

You can find lots of free writing software online, but you want writing apps that work best for you and your writing process and style.

With online writing software, I always start with a free version to make sure a new app does what I want it to do.

Very often, a free app will do everything I need.

But yes, sometimes I opt for a premium version to get all the features if it is really a fantastic tool.

It doesn’t matter if you are an author, a blogger, or an article writer.

Choosing the best tools for your writing needs will save you time, effort, and lots of money.

Free apps and writing software for students are a huge bonus.

They will help you at school, college, or university.

For every type of writer, here are some of the very best free-to-use and freemium apps for you to make your choice.

Scan through my list of the best free writing software and apps below.

See if you can find a few new favorites to download for your laptop or to use online.

Please note that this page contains some affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you purchase a product from this page.

6 Free writing apps for accuracy

The most essential writing app you always need must be a reliable grammar corrector and a spellchecker.

There are a lot of online apps to check, correct, and improve your writing.

For every writer, the options will be different depending on your writing style and needs. There is no one best or better choice.

Some writers might only need a simple online checker for blog posts, articles, or essays.

But for a content writer or author, it is different. You are probably looking for more developed programs and options.

In my case, I always use two programs to check my writing.

I use one for grammar and spelling and another for writing style and readability. It always pays to check and double-check your writing and sentence structure before you publish it online.

Here are six of the most popular free grammar apps to get you on your way. Each one will help you improve the quality and accuracy of your writing.

Try them all to see which one or two work best for you and your style or type of writing.

1. Prowritingaid – Free and Premium

Prowritingaid is one of my favorite writing checkers. I use it every single day of the week.

You can use the free version of ProWritingAid.

It offers you a lot of functionality to help you write more accurately online using a simple Chrome extension to check your grammar and spelling.

Are you an author? Then you should consider all the editing and checking tools that are available with this app.

It is a superb writing aid for authors and writers of long-form content articles.

There are over twenty different writing analysis tools and reports in the premium version. These will give you a huge range of suggestions to improve your writing.

There are also easy to use extensions available for Chrome, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Scrivener too.

It is my number one go-to editing tool when I need to work intensively on very long documents such as long-form articles or book manuscripts.

You can also read my full Prowritingaid review.

2. Grammarly – Free and Premium

Without a doubt, Grammarly is the number one online grammar checker.

For a lot of writers, it’s one of the best writing apps around.

I have used Grammarly for years now.

It is one online writing tool that I always have switched on in Chrome to use with my WordPress editor.

It works with so many sites, platforms, software, and applications. So it is always on and always helping me correct my writing in real-time.

Grammarly has a desktop app. It also has a plugin for Word in Microsoft Office for PC users.

You can use it in any web browser, with WordPress, and even on your social media sites. It also works on mobile devices as well as with an iOS Grammarly Keyboard app.

There is also support for Google Docs, but this feature is still in beta.

No matter what, when, or where you are writing, Grammarly is always helping you write better and more accurately.

The browser version of Grammarly works very well for most users. But for more advanced features to help you in your writing process, there is a premium version available.

You can read more in my Grammarly review .

3. ChatGPT – Free and Premium

ChatGPT has to be on my list of free writing tools, but why is it under apps for accuracy?

Yes, it is a valuable and free tool for writers in several ways. You can use it as a writing prompt generator for inspiration and ideas for new stories or articles.

All you need to do is include keywords or phrases related to the topic you want to write about. ChatGTP will respond with various ideas and writing points to help you.

But you might not know that it can also help you correct your grammar and spelling.

All you need to do is start your prompt with, check the grammar and spelling: then paste your text.

It will rewrite your text with the corrections.

You can also ask it to do other things. Ask it to change passive to active voice , and it will rewrite your text in all active voice.

Another use is to ask it to rewrite your text in a different point of view. Just ask it to rewrite in the second person .

However, don’t rely on it 100%.

It does an excellent job most of the time, but it doesn’t always get everything right, so make sure you proofread carefully.

AI writing tools are everywhere now, so writers can’t ignore them.

The free version of ChatGPT offers plenty of options with very few limitations.

So it’s probably one of the best tools to start learning how to use AI technology to help you with your ideas and writing accuracy.

Read more about how to use ChatGPT to correct your writing .

4. Hemingway Editor – Free

I have a love-hate relationship with the Hemmingway Editor app.

The love is due to how quick and easy it is to check my readability score and grade.

The negative is that it always tells me to simplify my writing. It hates the passive voice, but that’s a good thing.

It is also a great tool for finding overused adverbs and difficult to read sentences.

It’s a simple app. But if you are looking for a free writing assistant, it is one of the handiest tools a writer can have at their fingertips.

You can choose which Hemingway mode to use – either write or edit.

The online version is very convenient for checking up to a page or so of text. It gives helpful hints to improve your writing.

It’s one of the must-have free apps for any writer.

There is a paid version, but I am not sure it offers much value.

Read more about this app in my Hemingway Editor review.

5. QuillBot – Free

QuillBot Grammar Checker is a quick and easy free tool you can use to check your manuscript.

One of the best features is that you can use one-click corrections to fix your grammar, punctuation, and spelling very quickly.

Another advantage is that it has a generous word count limit. I tested it with a text of over 2,000 words, and it quickly analyzed all of my text.

You can probably check one chapter at a time with the tool.

You can check each underlined suggestion and make a quick correction. But it also has a “Fix All Errors” button.

I’m not sure I would trust it for a long text. But it could be useful for a shorter text.

To use the checker, simply paste in your text, or you can use it as an editor and type your text.

When you finish correcting your writing, copy and paste it into your word processor.

Quillbot has other features, but these are only available with the premium version.

However, the grammar checker is totally free to use, and it is an excellent tool to check and correct your writing.

There is also a free Chrome extension you can try.

6. Grammar Lookup – Free

Grammar Lookup is another good choice for an online grammar checking app.

I used 3,000 words from one of my book manuscripts to test the app.

It started checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors almost immediately. It is a good app for checking short-form writing, such as blog posts and short stories.

If you’re looking for a robust grammar app with a generous word limit, this one is well worth trying.

Again, like a lot of online writing tools, it is ad-supported.

12 Free word processors

The first name writers associate with word processing is almost always Microsoft Word.

It is the default writing tool for many writers, bloggers, and authors. But it is definitely not cheap.

Depending on your country, the annual license for Office 356 can range from $60 – $100.

If you want to buy the one-time purchase version, which is called Office Home & Student, it can cost you as much as $150.

Microsoft Office is, as its name implies, software for office use. It includes Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, and other programs. You will never use these software programs for creative writing.

Do you need to pay for all these extra programs to have a word processor to write a blog post, article, or short story?

What is the best word processor for writers? Are there free writing software tools equal to Word?

Yes. If you want to write, you can always find great word processors that cost you nothing to use. Often they come with many other options and tools that are better suited for writers.

Most of them will be suitable for your writing goals and any form of short creative writing project.

But you should note that a word processor is not the best app for writing a book. You can find better programs for authors in the next section of this article.

1. Google Docs – Free

Like Microsoft Office, Google Docs is a suite of office tools. The big difference, of course, is that Google Docs is available for free online.

If you are familiar with Word, you will have no problem at all adapting to Docs, which is the word processor component.

All the formatting options are very similar, as is the user interface.

Unlike some word processors, Docs has a word count so you can keep track of your word count goal.

I know that many writers, particularly content writers, use Google Docs because of the simplicity of sharing documents online.

Writing projects can be quickly and easily shared using Google Drive, which comes with 5 gigabytes of storage. It is usually plenty of storage space for writers. You can also use Docs offline .

If you are writing every day and working with other writers, content editors, proofreaders, or editors, Google Docs allows you to collaborate with ease.

There is no need to know what file format or program others are using.

As long as each person has a Google account, and who doesn’t, working together is very easy.

2. Apple Pages for Mac Users – Free

If you are a Mac user and all you need is a word processor, Apple Pages can handle everything you could possibly need to do.

It really is the best free writing software for Mac.

Like Word, you can start with a blank document or use the template chooser.

Word processing in the page layout document view is easy to work with. All the text formatting, fonts, and writing tools are easy to find and use.

There is a spell checker, word and page count , and track change with an add comments option.

It also auto-saves directly to your hard drive or your iCloud drive when you are online. There is also the file duplicate function. It gives you very easy version control of your revisions and edits.

It is difficult to think of a standard feature or function in Word that is not available in Pages documents.

There is one other area where Pages shines. It has a lot more control over images compared to Word.

One other big plus with Pages for authors is that you can export directly to epub. You don’t need to convert your file formats into another program.

Pages is one of the best free writing software programs for Mac users.

There is also a mobile app for iPad and iPhone. You can download it from the Mac App Store.

Related reading: Can Apple Pages Replace Microsoft Word For Mac?

3. MS Notepad and Mac TextEdit – Free

These two writing programs are already under your noses. They are installed by default on Windows and Apple computers.

They are both ideal little apps for writing blogs or short articles.

However, they are both worthy of mention because of their usefulness in converting to plain text.

Most word processors can add a lot of background code over the time you take to write a long document.

Cut and pasting, saving, deletions, forgotten tabs and spaces, and formatting changes all add up to a lot that can go wrong.

Because of all this code, there is a chance that the text might have issues when you use it online. It can be especially true if you use WordPress and also in publishing ebooks.

The quickest and easiest way to clean a document, big or small, is to copy all the text into a plain text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit. You can then convert everything to plain text.

Then you can copy back the clean text into your blog editor or word processor for ebook formatting.

4. Libre Office – Free

I used Open Office for many years. It is an open-source project and is still available.

However, many writers now favor Libre Office.

These two office suites branched from the same development stable, so they have a lot of similarities.

Learning to work with Writer, which is the word processor, is easy.

However, it uses traditional and straightforward menus, toolbars, and icons but does not have the ribbon function found in Word.

In some ways, this is a good thing because it lets you get on with the writing process instead of hunting in ribbons for buttons.

If you want a word processor, and that’s all, Writer in Libre Office won’t disappoint you.

5. Word Online – Free

Microsoft Word Online is a free web browser version of Word.

You can create, edit, and share Word documents, but it comes with relatively basic features compared to the paid desktop version.

But for students and part-time writers, it’s a handy free alternative.

One benefit is that you can use it on any device with a web browser, including computers, tablets, and smartphones.

You will need to create a Microsoft account, which is free. You also get 5GB of free storage.

Overall, it’s a worthwhile option for users who want a free and easy-to-use word processing software similar to Google Docs.

6. WPS Office – Free Edition

If you have used Microsoft Word or Google Docs, then you can work with WPS Office immediately.

Like other alternative word processors, it has all the standard features you would expect, and it works with most file types.

One of its key features is that it allows drag-and-drop paragraphs, which can, at times, be practical.

Another time-saving yet straightforward feature of WPS is tabbed documents.

While Excel has had this for years, Word never has, so working on two documents at the same time is much more efficient in WPS.

WPS also has a cloud storage service with 1G for PC and iOS.

7. SoftMaker Free Office – Free

Free Office gets a mention because it can export .epub. It is a convenient tool for self-publishers.

TextMaker is the word processor in this office suite.

But it doesn’t come with the ability to save in docx format unless you opt for the premium version.

But you can open and edit docx files.

Apart from that inconvenience, it has all the advanced features you would expect in a modern word processor.

It comes with advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for bibliographies and footnotes, as well as track change.

8. Dropbox Paper – Free

All you need is your free Dropbox account to use Dropbox Paper .

It is a word processor, but there is so much more you can do with this app.

The design is clean and simple, but there are so many features at your fingertips.

As well as being a text editor, you can add audio, images, YouTube videos, Slideshare documents, and Trello cards.

It really is a great free writing app for you to create documents and then share them with your team or online.

9. Focus Writer – Free

FocusWriter is a simple, distraction-free writing environment.

It uses a full-screen hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen.

It allows the program to have a familiar look and feel to it. But by getting everything out of the way, you can immerse yourself in your work.

It’s available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.

10. Calmly Writer – Free

Calmly Writer has been designed to help you focus on writing.

As you start typing, all the distracting options disappear from the interface.

Calmly also includes a “focus mode” option, which highlights only the paragraph you are editing at the time.

If you are a writing minimalist, it could be a good choice for you.

It is a browser-based app, and there is a Chrome extension available.

11. Zoho Writer – Free

Zoho Writer is an online alternative to Microsoft Word.

You can sync between your PC or Mac, iPhone, Android, or iPad.

Almost everything you do in Word, you can do with this word processor. There are even collaboration tools.

You can import your existing Word documents and get to work.

There is also a plugin to link your Zoho documents to Word.

That’s not a bad deal for at all a gratis online writing tool.

12. Scribus – Free

Scribus is an open-source program for desktop publishing.

It gets a mention here because it is free writing software, but also because it is such a feature-rich cross-platform program.

Scribus is a page layout and desktop publishing program for Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku, and Windows.

Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK colors, spot colors, ICC color management, and versatile PDF creation.

Perhaps it is not a choice for most authors and bloggers. But you might have a desktop publishing need one day.

4 Free book writing apps

Are you ready to start writing a book? You need to hunt a little to find good writing programs for writing books and novels.

A writing app or author software for a book is entirely different from a word processor.

The best book writing programs consist of many elements.

You need plot timelines, character builders, and event tracking. It should also include note-taking and research pinning tools.

Here are four of the best free book apps to help with writing, formatting, and publishing your books or ebooks.

There is a link to seven more free book writing programs at the end of this list.

1. Shaxpir – Free and Premium

For a dedicated book writing tool, Shaxpir gives you a lot of features in its free version.

The Manuscript Builder uses drag-and-drop tools to rearrange your manuscript. You can change the order and hierarchy of chapters and scenes. So you can find a structure that works for you.

You can set your goals and track your progress. You can also keep detailed notes about your characters, places, and events.

It also allows you to add margin comments as well as collect concept art.

There is also an in-built spellchecker.

As far as a book writing program or author app goes, Shaxpir offers you a huge range of features.

It is available for Mac and PC with offline and cloud access.

2. Scrivener – Free Trial

It is not free writing software, but I have to include Scrivener in this list of apps because there is a generous trial available.

Scrivener is one of the best book writing software tools for authors and screenwriters.

It has an outliner for chapters and scenes, a corkboard, and index cards.

There is also side-by-side viewing, word count targets, and a full-screen editor, along with print, export, and publishing tools. It has everything any writer could ever need.

There is a 30-day trial period offered by Scrivener.

But it is counted by the days that you use the software. So if you use it every second day, your trial period will last you for 60 days.

If you only write at the weekend, it will last you for a good few months.

Scrivener is available for download for both Windows and Mac. There are also iOS apps for iPhones and iPad.

To access your trial, click the Download Trial link.

3. Calibre Ebook Tool

Calibre is often called the Swiss Army Knife of ebook formatting tools.

There is so much you can do with Calibre.

But for most new authors, you will use it to convert your Word manuscript to mobi, epub, and pdf.

If you have some technical ability, you can also edit the epub or HTML files of your ebook.

It really is one of the most powerful ebook tools for authors.

It is available for download for PC, Mac, and Linux.

4. Kindle Create – Free

If you are a self-publishing author on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Kindle Create is a must-have free writing software app for you to use.

The program has improved a lot over the last couple of years. Initially, it was a little unstable, and its primary function was to help you format a Kindle book.

But stability is much better now, and Amazon has been slowly adding new features since it merged Createspace into KDP.

Kindle Create can now format not only ebooks but paperback books as well. But this latest option is still in beta.

It is so easy to format beautiful ebooks using Kindle Create.

Do you want more free book writing software?

Are you trying to find the best apps for writing your book?

Do you want the best novel writing tool that can help you work on individual chapters and scenes?

Here are seven choices for apps and free writing programs for you that are specifically designed for writing your book.

Read our review of nine free book writing programs for authors.

7 Free apps for bloggers

Are you a content writer or blogger? You need to work with ideas, keywords, data, headlines, and images all day long.

It pays to stay one step ahead of your competition. You are continually working on improving your content, search engine optimization (SEO), and SERP rankings.

There is no way you can do all this work without having the best tools for the job at hand.

Make your life a little easier with some of these blogging apps to help you write and rank better.

Here is a choice of seven of the best blogging tools for busy content writers and bloggers. All of them will save you hours of work every day.

1. Fyrebox – Free and Premium

You’re writing lots of content for your blog.

But wouldn’t it be great if you could engage your readers a little more in your post topics?

Well, you can with Fyrebox by creating a free interactive quiz.

All you need to do is create your free account, and then you can start designing your quiz in a few minutes.

There are templates to help you get started with pre-made quizzes for you to personalize.

A quiz is a great way to keep your readers on your blog for much longer by letting them participate in your blog post subject.

2. Hubspot Blog Ideas – Free

Hubspot’s blog topic generator is an old favorite for many writers.

All you need to do is enter a few nouns, and it will produce a list of blog title ideas for you.

It is such a handy tool to have when you are looking for new writing ideas.

3. Portent’s Idea Generator – Free

Do you need a cure for writer’s block?

I adore this blog topic generator app.

Portent is an easy and clever way to find new writing ideas.

It is an app primarily designed for bloggers to find headlines and titles and not a genuine headline analyzer. But writers can use it to discover new ideas for any piece of writing.

All you have to do is input your base word or words, and then you can select a working title for a new writing prompt.

4. ShareThough Headline Analyser – Free

How engaging is your article headline?

Sharethrough must be my absolute favorite little app. Once you have a blog or article title idea, run it through this app to see how effective it will be in attracting readers’ attention.

You can edit as you go, and the app keeps a record of your variations so you can choose the best one.

The app’s blurb says: “Like the lead paragraph in a news story or thesis in an essay, your headline is your one true sentence: the single most important asset for capturing attention in the feed.”

5. Website Grader – Free

Website Grader is a quick and easy app to help you improve your blog.

Checking and optimizing your blog’s performance is essential if you want to increase your site traffic.

You should make sure that your website is easy for users to discover and easy for search engines to understand.

It is a quick app to check your page titles, headings, and meta descriptions.

It only takes a few seconds to run this performance check of your blog to see if you need to make any improvements.

6. Privacy Policy Generator – Free

You don’t even need to register or give your email address.

It is a time and money saver for all bloggers.

Just add your basic information, and the app will create the full text for your privacy terms.

All blogs should have a policy page about privacy to make sure that your site is GDPR compliant.

7. Canva – Free and Premium

Now, this is not an app for writing articles. So it might not truly belong in a list of blog writing tools and programs.

But Canva is a fantastic tool for promoting your writing.

Canva is a free online tool for creating images.

Because using Internet images you find on Google images are very often copyright protected, it is a much better idea to create your own unique images.

You can find and use stock images to upload to Canva that you can then design and transform into a unique image.

You can use Canva to make images for social media promotion, images for your blog posts, Facebook headers, and even for quick and dirty ebook covers.

While there is a paid option, the free version offers more than enough images, graphics, icons, shapes, and backgrounds for almost any image creation project.

It’s so useful; I sometimes feel a bit guilty because I use this app almost every day.

10 Free productivity apps

There are so many facets to writing. It would be great if all you had to do were to write.

But we all know that a writer’s life consists of lots of tasks and distractions.

You have to be organized to be able to write. Just collecting and collating your ideas takes a lot of time in your day. Then there is your to-do list and probably a long list of pending items.

It would be great if there was an all-in-one help for a writer’s app. But until it ever eventuates, here is a selection of some of the best productivity apps for writers.

Hopefully, some of them will help you stay organized and perhaps save a little time that you can invest in writing.

1. Trello – Free and Premium

Trello must be one of the most popular apps for writers.

There is so much you can do to organize your writing projects, notes, and to-do lists. You can collaborate and assign tasks, start discussions, and so much more.

Trello is a beautiful as well as highly functional app. It is available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, iOS, and Android.

2. Evernote – Free and Premium

Evernote is a popular application for lots of writers. It is one of the most popular note-taking apps, but it is much more.

Never let an idea escape when you are not at your keyboard. You can organize your thoughts, and create checklists and to-do lists.

There is also a handy web clipper that lets you save parts of web pages to help you with your writing research.

The free version comes with more than enough storage memory to suit most writers.

3. OneLook – Free

OneLook lets you describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept.

Your description can be anything at all: a single word, a few words, or even a whole sentence.

Type in your description and hit Enter to see all the related words.

This little writing app is a thesaurus on steroids.

4. Free Pomodoro Timer – Free

If you are a fan of the Pomodoro technique, to improve your productivity, you will need a Pomodoro timer .

There are many apps to choose from online.

But I like this one because it’s easy to set and to read. Nothing fancy, but effective.

5. Read-O-Meter – Free

How long will it take to read your article?

Find out with Read-O-Meter , and then you can add reading time to your blog post or article.

6. Wordcounter – Free

Wordcounter ranks the most frequently used words in your text.

You can use this browser app to see what words you are repeating too often and then make changes.

All you need to do is paste your text into the box. Then this little app will go to work and list all your repetitions.

7. Quetext – Free

Quetext is an online plagiarism checker.

Many paid apps feature checking plagiarism as a premium option.

But with this browser app, you can check your documents anytime you like.

8. Otter V0ice Notes – Free and Premium

Otter is a dictation-to-text app for iOS and Android.

All you need to do is hit the record button, start speaking, and watch your words appear in the app. It even adds in punctuation.

There are many paid and premium dictation apps, but Otter offers a generous free option of 600 minutes a month.

9. Freemind – Free

If you are into mind maps to develop story ideas, here is a software download for you.

Many authors use mind map apps to help write a book by keeping their ideas connected and logical.

Freemind is open-source mind-mapping software built in Java.

It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

It has a wide variety of features, including location-based mind mapping, collaboration tools, restore sessions, and more.

10. DiffChecker – Free

Do you sometimes get into a tangle when editing different versions of a text?

What and when did you make a change? Is it nearly impossible to remember every edit you make?

Well, with DiffChecker , it is easy to compare two versions of a text and find the differences between them.

It is a browser app, but if you want to save your revisions (Diffs), you will need to create an account to log in.

8 Quick mentions

The following free writing software and writing apps are recent additions to our list.

They are not categorized. But all of them could be worth a look to see if they are a match for what you need in an app or program.

As they are quick mentions, you will need to investigate for yourself to see if they might be worthwhile.

1. Kindle Previewer – Free

The Kindle Previewer application is a free desktop program that lets authors preview how their ebooks will appear on all Kindle devices.

It makes it easy to check your ebooks for different screen sizes, display orientations, and text font sizes.

2. Zotero – Free

Zotero is a free and easy-to-use program to help you with sources and citations.

You can collect, organize, cite, and share your research.

You can create references and bibliographies for any text editor directly with Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.

3. Reedsy Book Editor – Free

It is also a writing program and editor.

4. NaturalReader – Free

It’s often a good idea to read aloud when you proofread a draft text.

But with NaturalReader , you can create mp3 files from your text and then play them back to you. It makes it much easier to check your text for accuracy as you listen.

There is a generous free daily limit of 20 minutes for access to premium voices.

But if you select free voices, there is no restriction.

5. Bubbl.Us – Free

When you want to mind map your ideas, it is easier with an app.

Bubbl.Us is a good choice if you want free mind mapping. You can share your maps with others and even on social media.

6. Pixabay – Free

You’re right; this is not free writing software. But I have to include Pixabay because I use it every day to find great free images for my blog.

There are a lot of free stock image sites, but this one is my favorite because the choice of images is enormous.

7. Pixlr – Free

Again, this is not a writing app. But when you need to edit an image for your blog or ebooks, then Pixlr might do the job for you.

There is a premium version, but you will find that the free version can do most of the basic photo editing tasks you would need to do.

8. DramaQueen – Free

If you are writing scripts, this program could be what you are looking for.

With DramaQueen , you can format your script yourself or according to the official rules of the Writers’ Guild.

3 Fun free writing apps

Writers can sometimes be a serious bunch of people. But everyone needs to have a bit of fun from time to time.

To end my long list of apps for writers, here are three little apps to put a smile on your face.

Have fun, and enjoy being a writer.

1. Hipster Sound – Free

Do you have time to go to a café to relax and write?

If you don’t, you can bring the sounds of a Texas or Paris café to you with this cute little app.

Go to Hipster Sound , click play, pop in your air pods, and you will have all the ambient sounds you need to get your creative juices flowing. As an extra bonus, your coffee is on the house!

2. FlipText – Free

Okay, you are not going to use Fliptext often. But it is a fun and funny little writing tool.

¡uoıʇuǝʇʇɐ ʇɔɐɹʇʇɐ oʇ ǝɹns sı ʇı ˙uʍop ǝpısdn buıʇıɹʍ ʎɹʇ ʇou ʎɥʍ ‘uoıʇuǝʇʇɐ ʇɔɐɹʇʇɐ ןןıʍ ʇɐɥʇ buıɥʇǝɯos op oʇ ʇuɐʍ noʎ uǝɥʍ

Yes, you can write upside down. Did you have to turn your screen upside down, or did you twist your neck in pain trying to read it?

3. The Most Dangerous Writing App – Free

The Most Dangerous Writing App is a fun little writing tool with a mean side to it.

You start by setting yourself a writing time of, say, five minutes. Then you start writing. But if you stop writing for more than five seconds, you lose everything you wrote.

However, if you get through your allotted time without stopping, your reward is that you can save your work.

Yes, that’s a seriously nasty little writing app. It is a brutal yet brilliant idea.

But if you treat it like a game, it is a fun challenge and maybe a clever way to help you overcome writer’s block.

Summary of free writing software

For all writers, there are plenty of free writing software, programs, apps, and tools.

You can also find free book writing programs that work very well for any book project.

You don’t need to spend any money at all to get some of the best free writing software and apps.

There are so many open-source and free software alternatives for word processors, book writing, short story writing, and spelling and grammar correction tools.

Are you ready to write your book or get started as a content writer or blogger?

Then the writing tools in the list above will be more than enough to get you off on the right foot.

All of them are user-friendly and quick, and easy to learn how to use.

Make your choices based on what you need and want to achieve as a writer and what you think you will need to succeed.

Then head off to the coffee shop with your laptop, or pump up Hipster Sound at home and start writing.

Related reading: Choose Your Writing Apps For iPad To Write Anywhere

About The Author

Derek Haines

How To Write Your First Book And Enjoy Your Time Writing It

Why Are Ing Words Weak When You Write Fiction Or Nonfiction?

Rewrite A Sentence Without Changing The Meaning

28 thoughts on “50 free writing software tools and the best free writing apps”.

No Ywriter? Easy to set up and use. Takes around two minutes to learn from installation. More important it’s free.

I have noted yWriter in our article about free book writing software.

Thank you for this article. It’s very useful.

As an editor and writer for thirty years, I’m not at all fond of grammar and style programs. None of them work well at all for the people who need them most. Every one I’ve tied, including Grammarly, makes terrible mistakes, and if you follow the style these programs want you to follow, you’ll never be a good writer. I can tell in a page or two whether a writer has used and RELIED such a program, and it’s almost always an instant rejection.

These programs should only be used by writers who don’t really need them, except for those brain fart moments, or when a truly esoteric question of grammar pops up. As a writer, you MUST know grammar inside out, and you must know style inside out, or you won’t have a clue whether Grammarly, or any such program, be it for grammar or style, is lying to you.

At BEST, these programs produce cookie cutter style that may be technically correct, but that simply is not professional level writing. Such writing may make you a couple of dollars on a site such as Medium, and you may even sell a few copies of something on Amazon, but this is all you’ll do.

If you really want to be a professional writer, you MUST learn grammar inside and out. These programs can’t give you the grammar you need, and contrary to popular belief, it is NOT an editor’s job to correct a manuscript full of bad grammar. Ain’t gonna happen. Grammar is your job, not the job of a software program, and not the job of an editor. Period.

Nor can you leave style up to software, or to an editor. Software can’t give you professional level style, and an editor simply doesn’t have the time. An editor will correct minor mistakes here and there, overlooked brain farts, but that’s it.

If you really want to be a writer, forget such silly software. Plant your butt and learn grammar. For style, story, characterization, plot, and other such necessities, read five hundred novels and a thousand short stories, then write several novel or fifty short stories. If you have any talent at all, this will bring it out. If you lack talent, well, you need a new profession.

This era of digitization has changed the publishing industry completely and is still revamping it . The book writing software and industries are a true companion for writers and editors. They are just making our work more easy and accurate. Totally agree with your article.

I have a fixed income due to my disabilities. I plan to purchase a new computer but is Microsoft Home and Personal a very reputable writing program? Is a Dell computer highly recommended?

I write • plays • poetry • historical fiction • children’s picture books • essays • short fiction for children and adults

Thank you! :-)

Sorry, Tom. But I can’t help you with advice about buying a computer. You’d be better trying computer review sites.

Hi Derek, I hope someone is interested in my Scribis Project, a series o free online editors dedicated to those who want to work quickly moving between dictionaries, thesauri and databases of sentences selected from the great classics. Based on what you type in the editor, you will get synonyms, collocations, intermediate concepts, semantic fields, and dozens of sentences that contain analogies, similarities, emotions and images. With another tool, Scribis Matrix, you can generate word matrices from the same dictionaries and thesauri.

Why no YWriter? It does everything important that scrivener can do, but it is free.

We do feature yWriter in our listing of free book writing software. So, we haven’t missed it. https://justpublishingadvice.com/choose-your-free-book-writing-software-for-your-new-book/

PowerWritingAid and Grammarly are not free programs. You have to pay expensive monthly subscriptions.

StyleWriter will make you a better writer and does not get a mention in your reviews!

Prowritingaid and Grammarly both offer free versions. But I will investigate Stylewriter.

I use Grammarly on a daily basis and only the free version and I don’t feel I am missing out on anything. I also use the free version of pro writing aid, not as often but I’ve never encountered an instance where I have wished I had the paid version. A lot of paid apps have a really good free version of those apps too. This is a pretty perfectly crafted reply because of my free Grammarly lol

Very great article with many great Apps. Recently I discovered Neperos, it is very intuitive and gives you the possibility to style your article with multiple pictures.

I bought Prowritingaid for the Word add-in, but found one of the most important features, the ability to customise reports, doesn’t work. Contacting the Support team led to promises of an investigation followed by nothing. A reminder led to a promise the issue would be passed to a developer who,would be in touch, then nothing. If you want it work with Word, look elsewhere or you’ll pay for a non-functional product with no support!

Hi Peter, Lisa here from ProWritingAid. I’ve just been through our support inbox and can’t find any emails under the name Peter Caffrey.

So far, I am enjoying 3 out of your 10 recommendations. Your reviews seem honest and unscripted-thank you for that.

The only serious free option for desktop publishing right now is Scribus. It’s software, not web-based. I’ve used it a few times and it’s pretty decent. Of course, I also have QuarkXPress, which I prefer. Hope that helps!

It was informational and I liked it very much.

I found this article to be informative. In search of one thing, I happily stumbled upon much more. Thanks!

Generally in life you get what you pay for so you should expect limitations from anything free. If you’re serious about writing then Scrivener is what you need. Yes, you have to pay for it but it costs about the same as a couple of takeaways and once you learn how to use it you’ll wonder how you lived without it. I agree about Canva, but I wouldn’t bother with anything else on the list!

There is free Windows alternative for Scrivener named Quoll Writer. Of course, it has some limitations but is a lot easier to use and gives you all essential features writer or journalist needs. Chapters, characters, items, linking, tagging, annotating and more. It has Idea Board and stats and readability indexes. Text formatting is basic but hey, it’s software for writers not for editors. You can export your texts as .docx or .epub and format them with Sigil or Calibre. I’m using it for couple of years.

Good article, but you don’t mention StyleWriter – a powerful program to change the way y0u write. It shows you how to write and edit like a professional.

So thankful I found this site. All the info I need in one place and much simpler than what I was trying to work with. Especially great for a tech dummy like me.

Great post, informative and gives me some options to consider that I didn’t know about before. Thanks.

Great article, I love Canva, Couldn’t run my website without it! Thanks for this. I learned some things.

Thanks for this informative post. :) — Suzanne

This post is one of the best and most informative I have read in years on publishing for home-based writers. Through your post, I have discovered new resources that will make my writing life easier. Thanks!!!

Privacy Overview

How-To Geek

How to use handwriting input on windows 10.

Windows 10's handwriting keyboard allows you to enter text into any application with a pen or other stylus.

Quick Links

Finding the handwriting keyboard, writing with the handwriting keyboard, handwriting options, direct pen input.

Windows 10's handwriting keyboard allows you to enter text into any application with a pen or other stylus. It even works on old desktop applications.

Related: How to Use (or Disable) the Windows Ink Workspace on Windows 10

This feature is separate from the Windows Ink Workspace , which directs you to applications with special support for pen input. The handwriting keyboard allows you to use a stylus in any application.

This feature is built into Windows 10's touch keyboard. To open it, tap the touch keyboard icon next to the clock on your taskbar.

If you don't see the keyboard icon on your taskbar, right-click or long-press on your taskbar and enable the "Show touch keyboard button" option in the context menu.

Tap the keyboard button at the bottom right corner of the touch keyboard.

Tap the handwriting keyboard icon, which looks like a pen over an empty panel.

The handwriting input keyboard appears. By default, it spans the entire width of your display. To shrink it, tap the "Undock" button to the left of the "x" on the top right corner of the panel.

Touch the title bar of the panel with your stylus or finger to drag it around your screen and position it wherever you want it.

Once you switch to the handwriting input panel, it will automatically appear whenever you tap or click the keyboard icon on your taskbar. You'll need to tap the keyboard button at the bottom of the touch input keyboard to select the default touch keyboard if you want to use it.

You can input text in any application with a text input field. For example, we'll be using Notepad here, but you can do this in any traditional desktop program or new Windows 10 app.

With the text field focused, write a word on the handwriting panel with your pen. Windows will automatically detect the word you're writing.

Tap the space button on the right side of the panel with your stylus and Windows will enter the word into the text field you have focused. Just write a word, tap the "Space" or "Enter" button on the panel, write the next word, and continue. Windows should automatically detect the correct word if your handwriting is clear.

If Windows doesn't automatically detect the word you're writing, tap it on the suggestion bar. If you need to erase the previous word or a few letters, tap the backspace button at the right side of the panel. You can tap in the text field with your stylus to re-position the cursor or select text.

Related: How to Configure Your Pen and Its Buttons on Windows 10

You'll find a few options for configuring how your pen works at Settings > Devices > Pen & Windows Ink.

For example, the "Show the handwriting panel when note in tablet mode and there's no keyboard attached" option makes it easier to access the handwriting input panel on tablets with a stylus. When you're using a tablet device with no physical keyboard attached and you're in desktop mode (not "tablet mode"), Windows will automatically open the handwriting panel.

Related: How to Use Sticky Notes on Windows 10

Some applications support direct pen input. For example, you can open the OneNote or Sticky Notes applications included with Windows 10 and write directly in a note to take handwritten notes. Use the Windows Ink Workspace to find more applications that support pen input.

The handwriting input panel can be useful even in applications that allow you to write directly with a stylus. For example, Microsoft Edge allows you to take notes on web pages and save your notes. Just tap the pen-shaped "Make a Web Note" icon on Edge's toolbar.

However, Edge's pen support doesn't actually allow you to enter text into web pages. To do this, you'll need to focus a text field in Microsoft Edge and open the handwriting keyboard.

By default, Microsoft automatically collects information about your handwriting input to better understand your writing and improve its recognition of your text.

You can change this setting if you like. Head to Settings > Privacy > Speech, inking, & typing. Click "Stop getting to know me" to stop Microsoft from collecting this data.

Book Writing Software (2023): Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers

by Joe Bunting | 20 comments

Writing a book is hard. I've written fifteen books and at some point during each one I had the thought, “There has to be a tool, a piece of book writing software, that would make it easier to reach my writing goals.”

Book Writing Software - Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers

The good news is there is book writing software that can make the writing process and meeting your daily goals easier!

(The better news is that once you've found the right software, we have the best resources to help you finish your book, like this book idea worksheet , which will get you started on your book in just a few minutes. Get your free copy here. )

In this article, we will cover the ten best pieces of software for writing a book and look at the pros and cons of each. Click the links below to get our review on the best writing software.

Best Writing Software: Contents

Google Docs
Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel
ProWritingAid
Publisher Rocket
Microsoft Word
Bonus: Note Taking Apps
Bonus: Google Drive OR Dropbox

Worst Pieces of Software for Writing a Book

Before we discuss writing software that will help you write a beautiful book, it's important to understand (and eliminate) what will hurt your writing progress. At least while you're writing a book:

Video Games. Especially World of Warcraft (always, always, always!) but also Solitaire, Sudoku, Angry Birds, Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, and Wild Rift/League of Legends.

Facebook, TikTok, and Other Social Media Software. Do I really need to say more? Fortunately there's a piece of book writing software for avoiding this very distracting software (see Freedom below). You can't write a book if you spend you writing time publishing social media posts.
Other Productive Software Not Directly Associated With Your Writing. Yes, it's good to reconcile your bank account on Quickbooks or make sure you're up to date on your calendar app, but responsible, well-meaning work can easily be an excuse for a quick distraction that turns into a major distraction from writing your book.

Set aside time for your writing every day and then stay focused. If you need a game, make writing your daily word count your game. If you want more “likes” on social media, imagine how great getting five-star reviews on your book will be.

If you need to check your bank balance several times a day, think about what your bank balance will be when you stop checking it constantly, finish your book, and become a successful author. Now let's talk about some book software for authors that can help you with your book writing process.

The 10 Best Pieces of Book Writing Software

First, there is no such thing as the perfect book writing software. No amount of key features or book writing templates or editing features will write a book for you. Still, these ten book writing software options can help. Take a look at the pros and cons of each:

1. Scrivener (Word Processor)

Scrivener is the premier book writing app made by writers for writers. Scrivener's “binder” view allows you to break up your book into chapters and sections and easily reorganize it with drag and drop interface.

You can also get a high-level view of your book using the corkboard and outliner modes, allowing you to view book chapters, sections, or individual scenes as index cards. Project targets let you create word count goals and then track your progress daily. Its composition mode can help you stay focused by removing all the clutter.

Scrivener has formatting features for publishing (e.g. on Amazon or Barnes & Noble), as well as basic features for distraction-free writing, and has templates for novels, nonfiction books, screenplays, and more.

You can read our full Scrivener review here .

To be fair, Scrivener also has its weaknesses. Formatting is more complicated than it needs to be and collaborating isn't easy, meaning it loses its effectiveness as soon as you bring on an editor (we recommend Google Docs for collaborating).

You can sync with your iPhone/iPad, but only through Dropbox, making it not as easy as it should be. It also has something of a learning curve, especially for its advanced features. But it more than makes up for that by being so helpful in the early stages of the writing process. Again, here are the pros and cons for Scrivener.

Pros of Scrivener:

Easily manage a large book writing project (or screenplay) in the binder view
Get a high-level view of your book's structure using corkboard and outliner views
Manage your writing productivity with project targets and deadlines
iPhone and iPad app

Cons of Scrivener:

Formatting can be overly complicated
Learning curve
Syncing with Dropbox isn't always easy
No Android app

We believe in Scrivener so much, we published a book about how creative writers can write more faster using it. It’s called Scrivener Superpowers . If you’re using Scrivener or want a tutorial to save yourself time as you learn how to use it for your creative writing, you can get Scrivener Superpowers here . You can also learn more about how to use the software with one of these resources:

Scrivener Superpowers by M.G. Herron
3 Reasons I Love Scrivener
Microsoft Word vs. Scrivener

Cost: $59.99 for Windows, Mac

Scrivener is the premier book writing app made by writers for writers. It's powerful set of tools allow you to write, organize, edit, and publish books.

Easily manage writing projects
Made by writers for writers
Corkboard and outliner views
Project targets and deadlines
iPhone and iPad app
Complicated formatting
Steep learning curve
Syncing isn't always easy

2. Dabble (Word Processor)

Similar to Scrivener, Dabble is a word processor that gives you the power to organize and rearrange scenes and chapters using drag and drop, manage your word count goals to keep to a deadline, and plot like a pro. (Screenshots seen here are in the optional dark mode.)

Dabble Review: Best book writing software

Dabble has a plot grid that allows you to easily see a macro view of your story. You can rearrange as needed, find plot holes easily, and make notes on each plot point as detailed as you like.

Collaboration is easy. You simply add a co-author and they will be sent an invitation. They must also have a subscription or they will only be able to read the document.

You can insert images in any scene or note, or add title images to chapters or full page images within or between chapters. You can even set cover art for the manuscript.

Focus mode in Dabble is automatic. Simply start typing and everything else fades away. No need to worry about saving every few minutes either.

Dabble is cloud-based and automatically saves as you go. You can access your manuscripts everywhere: in your browser, on your phone, or in the desktop app. As you're writing, you can make notes and comments.

Don’t want to type? You can dictate. And when you’re done writing, there’s a Read to Me feature that reads your manuscript to you!

Cost : Subscription plans range from $10/month to $20/month; Lifetime access cost is $499; 14-day free trial

Dabble is a word processor designed specifically for books. It gives you the power to organize and rearrange scenes and chapters using drag and drop, manage your word count goals to keep to a deadline, and plot like a pro.

Easy Learning Curve
Streamlined collaboration
Cloud-based syncing
Built-in Dictation
Easy Exporting
Word count targets and deadlines
Plotting tool
Subscription service
Lifetime access cost is high
Only simple formatting options

3. Google Docs (Word Processing)

While Scrivener and Dabble are a great book writing software, once you get to editing and getting feedback, it begins to fall short. That's why Google Docs has become my go-to piece of book writing software for collaborating with editors, beta readers, and other writers.

It's free, easy to use, and requires no backups since everything is in the cloud.

Best of all are its collaboration abilities, which allow you to invite your editor to the document and then watch as they make changes, which are tracked in suggestion mode, and leave comments on your story (see screenshot below).

Google Sheets Editing: Best Book Writing Software

I also like the outline feature in the left sidebar. You can display it by clicking View > Show Outline. Then format the chapters and main sections of your manuscript as headings to make them appear in the document. You can then easily visualize and even click through your book to navigate it. This feature isn't as useful as Scrivener and Dabble's binder, but it makes navigating your book much easier.

While not the best for brainstorming, writing, or organizing your book, Google Docs, the free word processor available in Google Drive, is the single best word processor for collaborating with co-writers, beta readers, or editors.

Real-time collaboration with editors, beta readers, or other writers
Suggestion mode
Outline View
Few large-document organization features
No productivity features
Usually requires an internet connection

4. Google Sheets OR Microsoft Excel (Spreadsheet)

If you’d told me when I was first trying to become a writer that one of my most-used tools in my book writing software toolkit would be a spreadsheet, I would have told you I didn't major in English to have to use a spreadsheet.

But now, as I'm finishing my fifteenth book, I realize that I use spreadsheets almost daily. Spreadsheets allow you to get a sense of the elements of your book at a glance, and when you're working on a 300-page document, distilling it down to useable information becomes very necessary.

You might use spreadsheets for:

Character tracking
Breakdown of scenes
A Foolscap/Beat sheet

Google Sheets is perfect for this because it's free and you can quickly share your documents with your writing partners, editors, or beta readers to get feedback.

Microsoft Excel is another great option, but Excel lacks the real-time editing with other users and is overall lacking in the collaboration functions. Still, if you already have Excel, it's a great way to quickly get started plotting your book or managing your project.

Real-time Collaboration : Work with editors, beta readers, or co-authors in real-time.
Speed : It's fast and responsive, which is useful for quickly developing an outline or managing a project.
Cost-effective : It's so cost-effective it's free!
Handling External Spreadsheets : Managing spreadsheets from other sources like Excel can be annoying.
Internet Dependency : Although there's an offline mode, the overall experience is better with an internet connection.

Familiar : If you already own or have used Microsoft Office, it should be familiar to you.
Advanced Feature : Excel is slightly more powerful than Google Sheets (although for most writing related tasks, you will likely not need advanced features).
Offline Access : Unlike Google Sheets, Excel doesn't require an internet connection, which is handy for working on-the-go.
Cost : Unlike Google Sheets which is free, Excel comes with a cost as part of the Microsoft 365 Office Suite.
Collaboration : Although Excel has collaborative features, they're more streamlined in Google Sheets.

5. Vellum (Book Formatting/Word Processing)

If you want to turn your book into an eBook, it's not that hard. Scrivener, Word, Pages, they all can format eBooks and print books. But that doesn't mean they'll look good. In fact, it takes a lot of skill and effort to format a printed book that looks good on any of those word processors.

That's why I love Vellum so much.

Vellum makes beautiful books.

Vellum picks up where Scrivener, Word, and Pages leave off, giving you a tool to make great looking eBooks and print books, usually in under an hour. The most important part of this is the previewer (see the image below), which lets you see how each formatting change or book edit you make will appear on Kindle, Fire, iPhone, Nook, and other eReaders.

Vellum Previewer: Best Book Writing Software

It also has stripped-down, option-based formatting, which is perfect for designing both eBooks and print books. I really love this writing app!

Vellum is a book formatting tool to quickly and easily create beautiful eBooks and print books, often within an hour. It features a book previewer which allows you to see how your book will look on various eReaders and in print, and offers a simplified, option-based formatting to format beautiful books faster.

Ease of Use: Easy to navigate and use, even for inexperienced writers.
Quick Formatting: The simplified, option-based formatting lets you create books in as little as an hour.
High-Quality Aesthetics: Delivers visually beautiful books.
Book Previewer Tool: View how your book will appear on various eReaders as you work.
Platform Limitation: Restricted to Mac users.
Style Restrictions: Limited design and styling options can be a drawback for some.
Cost: Higher price point compared to some other formatting software.

6. ProWritingAid (Grammar/Spell Check)

Can a grammar checker replace an editor?

Definitely not. But if you ask Alice Sudlow, our in-house editor, she'll tell you, “If you don’t have access to an editor (or if you do, but you don’t want to hire them to edit your emails or Facebook posts), software that performs grammar checks like ProWritingAid is an accessible, affordable alternative.”

If you struggle with grammar mistakes, sentence structure, spelling, or even writing style, ProWritingAid can help. It goes far beyond your built-in spellcheck. You should still learn grammar skills, but ProWritingAid can help you start to see the patterns and grow as a writer.

There's a free version that's very good. It can even be installed into your browser or Word processor, so you can check your grammar wherever you write.

The paid version, just $96 a year with our discount link (33 percent less than Grammarly ‘s price), gives you additional support on sentence structure, style, and vocabulary. Learn more about how writers can get the most out of ProWritingAid here .

Grammar and Style Correction: Gives "as-you-type" grammar corrections as well as comprehensive style analysis to help you write clearer, more engaging prose.
Writing Insights: You can learn a lot about your writing style with their detailed reports on readability, sentence structure, and more.
Integration: You can integrate it with nearly any other writing tool or word processor..
Subscription Cost: While more affordable than other options, there is a subscription cost for for full access.
Overwhelming Feedback: Not all the feedback is useful, and without knowledge of the book writing process, you may get distracted by the amount of feedback.
Internet Requirement: You must have an internet connection for most types of feedback.

Easy to Use: User-friendly design (slightly more easy to use than ProWritingAid in my opinion).
Spell-Check and Grammar Check: Detailed spelling and grammar check functionality.
Goal-Setting Feature: It can help you tailor suggestions based on writing goals.
Broad Integration: Works with many platforms (the Google Docs integration isn't very good though).
Cost: While the free plan is robust, the premium plan is more expensive compared to ProWritingAid.
Google Docs Integration: Lacks a fully functional integration.
Big Picture Feedback: Does not provide as much overarching edits and style-based feedback as ProWritingAid.

7. Publisher Rocket (Book Marketing App)

How do you know if your book will sell? Wouldn't it be nice to know if there is a market for your book before you start writing? How do you find the most readers on Amazon for your published book? For all of these questions, Publisher Rocket has an answer.

Read our full Publisher Rocket review here .

Publisher Rocket a book marketing research tool that helps you understand what readers actually want and how to connect with them with your books. Here are some things you can discover in Publisher Rocket:

What phrases Amazon buyers are actually searching for.
The psychology of how readers choose to buy books.
How much money readers are spending on certain niches and topics.
How much money specific books are making per month (for example, books that might be competing with yours).

I've personally used Publisher Rocket to take mid-list books to #1 bestseller status on Amazon. It's an amazing tool, perfect for anyone working on a book.

We also like KD Spy, another Amazon research tool (check out our review here ). You can compare and contrast the two tools below:

Target Popular Keywords: Helps writers find specific phrases readers are using on Amazon to discover books.
Market Understanding: Offers a clear view of what books are competing with yours (and how many sales they make, historically).
Category Identification: Find the most relevant Amazon categories for your book.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on both PCs and Macs.
Learning Curve: May require some time and education to fully utilize all features.
Cost: One-time purchase required.
Amazon-Centric: Tailored for Amazon, may not be as effective for other platforms.

Amazon Category Research : Analyze Amazon book categories to understand competition and profitability.
Keyword Tools : Provides niche and seed keywords to help in market understanding.
Competition Snapshot : Ability to get an overview of your competitors.
Traffic Light System : Visual cues to understand keyword difficulty and category competitiveness.
Limited Keyword Data : Doesn't provide Amazon search numbers.
Browser Extension : Limited to browser usage, not a standalone software.
Basic Keyword Tools: Keyword functionalities are quite basic compared to Publisher Rocket.
Dependent on Amazon : Insights are tailored for Amazon, may not apply to other platforms.

8. Atticus (Book Formatting/Word Processing)

Once you've written your book, how do you turn it into something people can actually read ? If you're self-publishing, you need a tool like Atticus.

Atticus is a book formatting and word processing tool that allows you to take your manuscript and quickly and easily format it for publishing, including print and eBook formats.

But Atticus is more that just a formatter. It's an all-in-one solution for writers, giving you the organization features of Scrivener, the cloud collaboration features of Google Docs, and the book formatting abilities of Vellum. Yes, that's just as cool as it sounds!

It also works on all platforms, whether you're working on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, or even Linux. While I still love and use Vellum (see below), the benefit of Atticus is that it works for everyone, not just Mac users. Learn more about Atticus in my full review.

All-in-One Solution : Combines writing and formatting capabilities seamlessly.
Multi-Platform Availability : Available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
Cost-Effective : Priced lower than some competitors like Vellum while offering similar capabilities

Cons:

Learning Curve : While intuitive, mastering advanced features may require some time.
New Software : Being relatively new, it might have fewer features compared to established software, with some desired features planned for future updates.
Crude Formatting : Out of the box formatting options aren't as refined as Vellum and will require more tweaking.

Atticus is a complete book writing and formatting tool that merges the capabilities of an online word processor with plug-and-play book formatting features. It can function as a one-stop solution for authors, with collaboration tools between authors, editors, and book designers, to take your book from idea to finished, publishable product.

Free Publishing Course With Every Purchase of Atticus

9. Freedom (Productivity App)

One question writers always ask me is, “How can I stay focused enough to finish what I write?” I have too many thoughts on that for this article, but as far as using writing software to encourage focus goes, I recommend Freedom. It's my favorite writing tool for a distraction-free writing experience.

Freedom allows you to enter focus mode, blocking your biggest distractions, including both websites and mobile apps, for a set period of time. So when you mindlessly escape your book to scroll through Facebook, you'll find the site won't load.

You can also schedule recurring sessions, so that at a scheduled time (e.g. Mondays from 6 am to 10 am), you won’t be able to access the sites on your blocklist, even if you try.

There are other apps like this that we've written about before, notably Self-Control for Mac and StayFocused for Windows. But Freedom goes further, allowing you to block sites on both your computer and your phone, and enabling recurring sessions.

You can learn more about how writers can get the most out of Freedom on our review here .

Freedom is a productivity app that can help writers in stay focused by blocking distracting websites and mobile apps for a designated period or during specific schedules, like during your morning writing time.

Distraction Blocking : Helps you concentrate on writing by blocking distractions.
Scheduled Focus Sessions : Schedule your focus mode in advance for recurring undistracted writing sessions.
Mobile Device Syncing : Getting it working with mobile devices can be a bit challenging.
Bypass Possibility : It's possible to find ways around its blockers if one tries hard enough.

Cost: $29 / year for Pro version, which I use and recommend (there's also a free trial available)

10. Microsoft Word (Word Processor)

Again: no piece of book writing software is going to write your book for you. If you're looking for the next “shiny new toy” to help you write your book, it might be an excuse to avoid doing the hard work of writing.

Most of us learned how to use computers by using Microsoft Word, or a program like it. Word gets the job done. Sure, Scrivener is a little better for books, but I wrote my first book on Word and it's fine.

I wrote a long review of the pros and cons of using Word to write books —the main problem is that as your document grows, it becomes more and more difficult to work with, whereas with Scrivener, it becomes easier—but the point is, if Word is what you have, don't let that stop you from finishing your book.

You don't need a fancy tool to plan a book in the early stages, like if you draft a character description for your protagonist, or in the editing stages, like if you want to make comments on scene details.

As Jeff Elkins said in his review of Word , “If you aren’t already putting in the hard work to be the kind of writer you want to be, it doesn’t matter what new writing software you invest in. It is not going to help.”

Microsoft Word is the industry standard word processing software. While limited in its features for writing books, it provides a familiar platform for writers to create, share, and review their work.

Familiar Interface : Known and used by many, making collaboration easier.
Extensive Features : Provides a wide range of writing and formatting tools.
Cost : Requires a subscription to Microsoft 365.
Lack of Book Writing Features : Despite its extensive feature set, it lacks specialized tools for book writing included with applications like Scrivener or Dabble.
Lack of Real-Time Collaboration : While it offers some collaboration features, it falls short in real-time collaborative editing compared to some cloud-native applications like Google Docs.

Cost: $69 / year with Microsoft 365 (includes Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft software)

Note: Another word processor we can't recommend is yWriter, which while it has a cult following and was designed by a fellow novelist, seems to be out of development and has no support for Mac/OSX.

BONUS #1: Google Drive OR Dropbox (Cloud Backup)

There's nothing worse that finishing a great writing session and going to save your work, then your computer crashes and you discover you've lost your best writing. It's enough to send any writer into the throes of grief and depression. There's a simple solution, though: save a copy of ALL your writing to the cloud using Google Drive, Dropbox, or BOTH.

Here's my process: I have all my Scrivener book files saved on a folder on Google Drive on my computer. Then, Scrivener automatically backs up every few minutes to a Dropbox folder. That way, I know I will always have the document I need, no matter what happens. Best of all, both of these apps have free plans, making it extremely foolish NOT to use them.

Pros of Drive:

Universal cloud backup
Automatically syncs
Free or inexpensive

Cons of Drive:

Setup is a bit tricky the first time
Maybe you WANT to lose your writing when your computer crashes

Cost: Free with Paid options

BONUS #2: iOS Notes OR Evernote OR Ulysses OR Bear (Note Taking)

When I'm writing for a long time, I like to get up and go for a walk. Sometimes, I wish I could continue writing while I walk. Other times, I find myself brainstorming ideas while I'm not at my computer, typing it up on my phone, and then wanting to easily move what I wrote to my laptop without having to go through the hassle of emailing it back and forth to myself.

That's where note taking apps like Ulysses and Evernote come in.

iOS Notes, Ulysses , Evernote , and Bear are note taking apps that allow you to sync between all your devices, so you have what you need wherever you are, ideal for jotting down ideas or thinking through your book while you're out and about.

While Scrivener recently released an iOS app which allows you to sync between devices, their process is clunky and requires you to purchase both the mobile and desktop apps. These note taking apps make the process much more seamless.

Like Scrivener, they all have a binder-like sidebar that allows you to move documents around. None of them are designed specifically for books, so they may take a little configuring to make it work for you, but once you have one set up the way you want, it's very intuitive.

And while I hate Markdown, a markup language that allows you to format your text, I actually like the paired-down formatting options Ulysses and Bear give, especially for brainstorming. Overall, I wouldn't convert from Scrivener to any of these apps, but as supplements, they work great.

Pros of Evernote:

Sync notes between devices
Write as you go
Capture ideas

Cons of Evernote:

Free plan is limited
Becomes clunky as you get more notes
Better for note taking than managing a large writing project

iOS Notes Cost: Free with any iOS device

Get the app here »

Evernote Cost: Free with Paid options

Ulysses Cost: $45 Note: Ulysses is only available for Mac, either in the App Store or from their website.

Bear Cost: $1.49 monthly / $14.99 yearly Note: Bear is also only available for Mac, either in the App Store or from their website.

Bonus #3: Hemingway App (Style Checker)

Most writers think their sentences are easier to read than they are. You think you're coming across clearly, that your writing makes sense, but then someone reads it and comes away with something totally different. Hemingway App helps with that.

Hemingway App is a free website that checks readability. You can copy and paste your writing into the website's input box. Then it will grade your writing based on your used of adverbs , passive voice , and sentences as units . Hemingway App is useful, but even the best book writing software can’t replace a good editor.

Pros of Hemingway:

Fast, easy style advice

Cons of Hemingway:

Somewhat arbitrary advice
Hemingway himself would fail

Cost: Free!

Try out Hemingway App here »

The 30+ Tools Every Writer Needs

30 Tools to Write, Publish, and Market Your Book

Writing is no different, and while the right software is important, it's just one of the many tools you need as a writer.

That's why we published a list of all of our favorite tools for everything related to being a writer.

You can download our tools for writers guide for free here .

The Most Essential Book Writing Software

Imagine it's three thousand years ago.

You're sitting around a campfire with some of your family and friends, tired from the day's work. You begin to tell a story. It's one you've told before, told a hundred times. You can see faces around the fire, the children with their eyes wide, the men and women who have heard the story before but still enjoy it because it brings meaning to their lives.

Storytellers—writers—have existed since the beginning of humanity. They didn’t always have book writing software. They didn't have the printing press or the internet. They didn't always even have the alphabet to write their stories down. Instead, storytellers had their imaginations, their voices, and a rapt audience. Y

ou don’t need book writing software to write a great story. Book writing software can make the process a little faster or easier, but the truth is great stories will always exist, no matter what kind of software we have.

The only three things essential to writing a great book:

Your imagination
A desire to tell your story

That’s all you need. Do you want to write your book? If you do, then do it. Write it. Nothing is stopping you except you. So go get writing.

What pieces of book writing software do you use? Let us know in the comments .

The world is full of powerful software to help you write your book. In the end, though, all these tools are just that—tools. The stories you imagine and your discipline to put the words on the page are far more important.

So for this practice, set aside all the fancy software. Eliminate all the bells and whistles and open up your computer's native text editor (TextEdit for Mac or Notepad for Windows).

Take fifteen minutes to write without any distractions.

Continue your work in progress, or start a new story based on this prompt: A student discovers one of their teachers is not what they appear to be.

When you're done, share your writing practice in practice box below. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers in the comments !

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts :

Popular Resources

Book Writing Tips & Guides Creativity & Inspiration Tips Writing Prompts Grammar & Vocab Resources Best Book Writing Software ProWritingAid Review Writing Teacher Resources Publisher Rocket Review Scrivener Review Gifts for Writers

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10+ Application Writing Examples & Samples in PDF | DOC

application writing examples amp samples

Generic Application Template

Work Application Template

Grant Application Template

Employee Application Template

Job Application Template

Job Application Writing

Application Example

Sample Grant Writing

What Is Application Writing?

Purpose of application writing, formal job application writing.

Internship Application Example

University Application Writing

Difference between Letter Writing and Application Writing

Importance of application writing, more design, 10 club application examples & samples, 8+ grant application examples, samples, 7 patent application examples & samples, 7+ college application examples, samples, 8+ school application examples, samples, 7+ resume writing examples, samples, 37+ sample applications, 8+ examples of scholarship applications.

id; ?>)" rel="noopener" role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="postclick">7+ Leave Application Email Examples, Samples
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How to write an application in 10 easy steps!

The application letter holds significance when submitting your resume for a job. the letter is the first impression, a summary of your qualifications and achievements. read on to learn how to write an application . , table of contents, how to write an application | an introduction, what is an application letter, research the company profile, use a professional format, write an engaging first paragraph, mention where you found the position, explain how you benefit the company as an employee, highlight your strengths, qualifications, and experience, write something out of the box, write the perfect closing sentence, mention the hiring manager, professional closing, key takeaways.

Application is a process that makes you nervous and full of anticipation. A well-written application letter will impress the evaluator and ensure the interview is scheduled with you, motivating you forward in the hiring process. It also reflects your personality and approach towards work and commitment. Here are some easy tips on how to write an effective application letter .

When you apply for a job, you should include an application letter, also known as a cover letter . This letter elaborates on your qualifications for the position. It provides an opportunity to highlight your achievements and skills and justify why you are the best candidate. While not necessary, it is always a bright idea.

Thorough research about the company you are applying for is a must. You get all the details and specifications about the company. Research the company’s recent awards, accomplishments, and culture, to increase your chances of impressing the interviewer . This way, you’ll be better positioned to write your letter, considering all the facts and information about the company or firm.

This letter should maintain a professional format. Include your name, contact details, date, and company information. Begin with a professional greeting, such as “Dear X,” and address the hiring manager by name whenever possible. If you are unaware or unable to find the hiring manager’s name, you may address your recipient as “Dear (department) Hiring Manager.”

Your first paragraph should mention the reason you’re applying for the job. Make a strong statement about what attracts you to the company and your job profile. Be conversational in your writing. Show eagerness to work and try new tasks.

It is good to show the employer that the company is well known. You should mention how you came across this position, whether online, company website, or on a job portal. Also, do mention if you applied through a recommendation.

Go through your list of achievements and experiences for one or two examples that you can discuss. These should emphasize why you will be excellent in the role.

For example, if you notice that the position requires someone to lead a social media team, look at your accomplishments to see if you have enough experience to lead a social media team. Write about your courses and how you are the best candidate for the position.

In your next paragraph, you should connect the job qualifications to three or four skills and experiences, demonstrating why you are ideal for the position. More information about your qualifications and experience can be found in your CV or resume under the skills section. Look for quick anecdotes that show how you can solve problems quickly and effectively and become an asset to the company.

Here’s the catch. You need to write something not mentioned in your CV or resume. A hiring manager can review your CV or resume to see what you’ve done in previous jobs. You want to demonstrate yourself as a skilled person who brings the right value to any assigned task.

Express how the firm you are applying for has impacted you personally in one or two sentences. If you’re applying for your dream career, this company has somehow influenced your life. Keep it short and sincere. However, by telling a story about yourself, you demonstrate that you are more than just facts on a piece of paper.

Ending your application letter on the right note is critical because it can help you get an interview. Remember to place yourself in the hiring manager position when explaining how you can assist the company. It is about how your contributions will benefit the company rather than how the company will help you.

Inform your reader that you would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the position further and provide your contact information. You can finish your letter by thanking the hiring manager and saying something like, “I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.” Do not simply request that the hiring manager contact you if he believes you are a good candidate. Show some self-assurance.

Thank the reader for taking the time to read your letter, include your resume and any other attachments, and offer to provide additional details if necessary. Mention that you are looking forward to the next stages of the hiring process and close with ‘Sincerely.’

An application letter is your best weapon while applying for jobs. It can help you get a hiring manager’s radar and even get you a job.
Your format for the application letter should be precise. Ensure you follow the correct format and maintain a professional tone throughout your letter.
Highlight your qualifications, skills, and experience. Let the employer know you are capable enough for the job. Mention some additional information that is not included in your resume. That’s all, and you are good to go.

We hope this blog was informative. If so, please share your views in the comments below. Click here to contact us for more information on how to write an application. We would be delighted to assist you with your inquiries.

Liked this blog? Then read: Application for Teaching Job | Write the perfect application!

Q1. How do you write a leave application?

Answer – Mention the reason for your absence with an explanation. Provide the exact date and day of absence. Use proper honorifics throughout the letter. Do not forget to add the subject at the beginning of the letter.

Q2. Is the job application a formal letter?

Answer – When you begin writing your job application letter, remember that it is not casual. It must be a conversational yet formal letter.

Q3. What are the three types of letters?

Answer – Formal, informal, and business are the three types of letters.

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Format For Class 10 Application Writing, Examples, Topics, And Exercises

Writing applications is an art that requires careful consideration and attention to detail. It allows individuals to express their purpose, convey their thoughts, and make a compelling case for their needs. Mastering the art of application writing can open doors to numerous opportunities and help students showcase their skills and abilities effectively.

Also Read: Application Writing For Class 7

Class 10 Application Writing Format

To ensure clarity and consistency, it is important to follow a specific format when writing applications. The format generally includes the following components:

1. Sender’s Information: Begin in the top left corner of the application with your name, address, contact information, and email address. 2. Date: Include the date you wrote the application beneath your contact information. 3. Recipient Information: Include the recipient’s name, designation, organization/institution, and address below the date, aligned to the left. 4. Salutation: Use a formal salutation, such as “Dear,” followed by the title and last name of the recipient. 5. Subject: Create a succinct and clear subject line that explains the aim of the application. 6. Introduction: Begin with a kind and entertaining introduction that includes your name, grade, and the objective of your application. 7. Body: This is the main portion in which you present specific facts, justifications, or requests. Divide it into paragraphs, each of which discusses a different subject or element. 8. Conclusion: Summarize your application by reaffirming your request or intentions and thanking the reader for their time. 9. Closing: Finish with a formal phrase like “Sincerely” or “Yours faithfully,” followed by your complete name and signature.

Examples Of Class 10 Application Writing:

To help students grasp the concept of application writing, here are a few examples that illustrate different scenarios:

1. Application for School Admission 2. Application for a Scholarship 3. Application for Leave of Absence 4. Application for Permission to Organize an Event 5. Application for a Job or Internship

Exercises For Class 10 Application Writing:

To enhance their application writing skills, Class 10 students can undertake the following exercises:

1. Write an application seeking permission to organize a school event. 2. Draft an application for a scholarship opportunity. 3. Compose an application for a part-time job. 4. Create an application for a leave of absence. 5. Write an application for a certificate or testimonial.

Conclusion On Class 10 Application Writing:

Application writing is a crucial skill that Class 10 students should strive to develop. By understanding the format, practicing regularly, and seeking continuous improvement, students can enhance their application writing abilities and increase their chances of success in various domains.

Internet , Software & Tools

20 Examples Of Application Software

Tom Clayton
November 3, 2023

Popular Examples of Application Softwares

Application softwares are mostly productivity programs that help you to complete different tasks effectively.

Some are used to create and manipulate documents, and others will help you streamline processes and communicate professionally.

These tools are specific to the tasks they’re designed for. Most are used in combination, while others work independently.

Choosing the best application software can significantly impact your bottom line. These software programs can improve efficiency, function, and productivity for businesses, making your business scalable to a wide extent.

We have rounded up 20 best application software examples for various functions, including project management , customer relationship management , document processing , resource management , visual and video processing , music streaming , and more.

Let’s dive in to understand each program and its function.

20+ Application Software Examples

1. microsoft word.

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular application software for word processing. Developed by Microsoft, this application is part of the Microsoft Office Suite.

This word processing software is a versatile tool explicitly used for composing, editing, formatting, saving, sharing, and accessing documents , including project reports, correspondence, memos, and more.

You can also use this tool to design graphics. Although it isn’t as powerful as a graphic tool, most people with little or no graphic design knowledge find it easy to manipulate.

Microsoft Word features a text editor, font and paragraph formatting, grammar and spell check , HTML, and image support.

It also enriches content with features like a thesaurus, antonyms, synonyms, Word Art, and other effects. The spell and grammar check functions let you check content for errors.

Utilize colors, styles, and font styles to embellish your writing. Open, create, and read your text easily using this application. Besides Windows, this application is also available for iOS, Android, and Mac operating systems.

MS Word comes as part of the Microsoft 365 Suite. It offers a free trial and three pricing plans including a personal plan at $6.99/month, a family plan at $9.99, and an office, home, and student plan with a one-time purchase of $149.99.

2. Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is another application software example from Microsoft Corporation. This spreadsheet software lets you carry out calculations.

MS Excel has separated cells that define fields, including time, date, text, and number. You can provide the functions and formulas and perform your calculations.

The application also allows you to make analyses and graphics. It is the most popular application used globally by bankers, researchers, students, accounts teams, and businesses. It has robust data visualization capabilities.

There’s a lot you can do with this tool, from data interpretation, field arrangement to data organization, filtering and restructuring, and more. It’s available for Android, Mac OS, Windows, and iOS operating systems.

Like Word, MS Excel comes as part of Microsoft 365. After the free trial, you get to pay $6.99/month for personal use, $9.99 for family, and a one-time purchase of $149.99.

Related : 16 Best Excel Alternatives For Mac

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation application software that helps you present your ideas visually to your audience. With this presentation software, you get to display information in slide form.

To make your slides more compelling, you can add images, videos, animations, text, and graphs. It comes with an editor to input and format your text and other multimedia elements. The slide show pane lets you display information for ease of navigation.

MS PowerPoint is a Microsoft Office Suite component you can use personally or for business. It contains built-in templates, clip art, audio, and video support to enhance your presentations. It is an excellent program if you want to make a good first impression.

MS PowerPoint pricing is included in the Microsoft 365 Suite cost.

4. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a graphic design and image editing application software . With this tool, you can sketch, paint, and craft any concept art directly from your computer.

Designed by Adobe, Photoshop packs a lot of digital drawing/imaging features. It lets you create designs and photography, edit videos, create, edit, and organize digital images and graphic work, and more.

If you are a photographer, graphic designer, or video creator, you can use this image editor to create, convert, edit, manipulate, and resize your work.

Photoshop has a free trial and a paid version that costs $20.99/month.

5. CorelDraw

CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor from Corel Corporation. This graphics software has multiple capabilities for creating and editing images and graphics.

The robust graphic suite lets you create, edit and save your graphic images. It works with different layers and pages.

If you are eager to create any design using layouts and vectors, this graphic design software will do you justice. It is designed for graphic designers who work to create quality artwork and graphics.

As a business, you can use CorelDraw to improve your brand image or fastrack your business progress. Utilize its vast features to create company logos, complementary and business cards , flyers, and more.

CorelDraw has a learning curve, but your efforts will pay off in the end.

This computer program works well with Windows Operating System. It has a 15-day free trial and runs $20.75 per month for the Graphics Suite.

AutoCAD is the most used application software for CAD drafting . It works with Mac and Windows operating systems. This tool offers enhanced workflow documentation capabilities, excellent performance, and easy-to-use visual communication flow.

You can use AutoCAD for 2D and 3D design and drafting. It is mainly utilized by architects and drafters to construct and create blueprints and engineering plans.

It is available in 20 languages, and you can localize its command set. The tool supports API extensions to create 2D and 3D architectural products. Its customized extensions can help create third-party and automated applications.

AutoCAD offers flawless drawing and designing processes. You’ll also experience seamless automation of the transition between 2D and 3D modeling.

Its in-built tools can interact with computer-aided manufacturing packages automatically to design machine tool program setups for different activities. The tool has a flexible and user-friendly interface, with realistic renderings, minimum coordination areas, and smart data management and sharing.

AutoCAD reduces deployment, support time, and costs while offering more design alternatives, easy modification, and better scaling options.

AutoCAD’s monthly subscription is $185. It also has an annual subscription of $1470, a two-year subscription of $2940, and a three-year subscription of $4410.

7. Atom editor

Atom is an open source application software for text editing. It’s designed by developers for developers. The tool provides a sleek editor, neat collaboration tools , and organization tools that keep your projects intact.

With Atom, you can share and edit projects in real-time.

Its source code is available on Github.

Atom is a cross-platform tool that works with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.

Atom comes with an auto-completion feature and multiple panes to edit the code between files. It allows you to install themes to make the editor more appealing.

Pricing for this tool is available upon request.

MySQL is a widely used open source application software for database management. Because of its powerful capabilities, this database management system anchors the back-end of a host of applications.

MySQL contains a multithreaded SQL server to support various backends, libraries, administrative tools, client programs, and plenty of APIs.

This tool enables you to power your business-critical systems, software packages, websites, and more. It features cloud server support with advanced clustering features. It also helps you create databases.

The best part about this software is its wide compatibility. It works well with different server management interfaces, including cPanel. It also offers compatibility with shared data from other databases.

MySQL runs on all operating systems and platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, and more. It makes it effortless to migrate your queries from other databases too. The tool has a wide knowledge base that allows you to access tutorials about just everything you need to know.

The pricing of this app is provided on demand.

9. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open source application software that plays multimedia files . If you want a tool that plays videos, music, or movies efficiently, VLC can do all that.

It plays all types of videos in formats like WMV, MP4, AVI, and more on computers or mobile phones . It also supports DVD ISOs, network streams, and network shares.

With VLC, you get full support for audio and video compression processes and file formats. Its interface is neat, fast and easy to use, and supports different multimedia channels.

Besides being free and open source, this program can run on all versions of Windows.

Skype is a video conferencing application software that lets you make video calls to friends, colleagues, family, business partners, customers, and more. If you don’t want to video call, you can chat with people to discuss projects or other matters.

Skype facilitates communication between different users and devices. It offers other features, including file sharing, conferencing, and more. It is available on Mac OS, Linux, Windows, and other operating systems. Skype offers free calls to other Skype users.

It is a free app.

11. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a free, multiplatform application software offering instant messaging services , video and voice calling between parties. It also supports media transmission, images, web browsers , and documents over an internet connection.

WhatsApp lets you share your status too. While it’s designed for mobile use, you can use it on PCs too, though with limited functionalities.

What makes it appealing is that you can pair your phone to your PC and keep conversations going as you work. It also saves you on calling costs, especially when making an international call.

12. Spotify

Spotify is an application software for playing audio in Windows 10. This music streaming software helps you find the music or podcasts you’re looking for. It comes packed with different tracks and episodes to choose from.

You can use Spotify to browse a collection of albums, artists, celebrities , and much more. It has autoplay and shuffle features to mix up songs. And you can view the lyrics of the songs you’re playing and the artist’s profile.

If you have music on your device, you’ll easily play it with Spotify. The software application lets you sort the music filter you want and even share your music and podcast with people. It supports iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Spotify comes with a free plan, a premium individual plan at $9.99/month, a premium duo at $12.99/month, a premium family at $14.99, and a premium student at $4.99.

13. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is an outstanding application software from Adobe Inc. It helps you create, edit, view, manipulate, and print documents in portable document format . You can also share and access electronic documents.

Its pro version lets you scan, edit images and text, send, and convert PDFs into other supported files. Adobe Acrobat is synchronized to the cloud to help you save, access, and work on various files wherever they are.

Adobe Acrobat Reader has a free trial, a standard version that costs $12.99/month, and a pro version at $14.99/month.

14. Windows Photo Viewer

Windows Photo Viewer is another application software to use in viewing pictures . The evolution of webcam, mobile cameras, and other digital cameras make it easy to take lots of photos.

With the photo viewer , you can easily sample and view your pictures. It even lets you edit your photos through cropping, resizing, adding contrast, and other options.

It’s also easy to play slideshows of your pictures, mark your favorites, and more. The program comes built-in with the Windows operating system.

Enterprise Software

15. talentlms.

TalentLMS is a cloud-based business application software that offers training for all business stakeholders, including employees, customers, and partners. It is designed to help organizations deliver digital training on new processes, concepts, and content.

TalentLMS simplifies and enhances the way training is designed. It is a user-friendly SaaS training program with the purpose to provide a hassle-free learning experience to users.

You can customize this tool to suit your business needs, including streamlining your teams’ training efforts. It features course creation tools, blended learning, content assessment, engaging courses, mobile learning, sales training, analytics and reporting tools, video conferencing support, authoring tool, and more.

The platform helps you design eLearning courses within a short time. It has robust course creation tools that adapt to the diverse requirements of your eLearning. With gamification capabilities, you’ll manage to add excitement to the training to make it engaging.

TalentLMS is free. Paid plans include a starter pack at $59, basic at $129, plus pack at $249, and premium pack at $429.

16. Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) system that enterprises use. Your business needs to maintain its direct line of communication between the executives, different departments, employees, and customers.

Salesforce offers an efficient customer relationship management solution that ensures all departments share a single view of all the customers. It integrates various support and customer services alongside CRM applications to help improve customer satisfaction.

This tool uses previous experiences and customer feedback to streamline processes. It also integrates social network data to generate reports that will help identify customer insights.

At the end of the day, your business will understand customer data and identify their interests. Its visual dashboard summarizes customer data and presents it in the form of pictorials, bar graphs, tabular forms, pie charts, and graphical forms.

Using Salesforce can help you regain old or inactive customers by improving your customer service and experience. Then you can increase your sales by tracking their interaction, identifying their interests, and working to provide for their needs.

Besides the free version, Salesforce has four paid plans including the Essentials at $25, Professional at $75, Enterprise at $150, and Unlimited at $300.

17. Monday.com

Monday.com is a popular collaboration and project management software businesses can use to manage workflows.

It helps teams collaborate efficiently on projects to ensure timely delivery.

It has various features, including kanban board integration, time tracking, multiple views, an integrated calendar, and more. Its collaborative environment allows teams to create a knowledge base, communicate, share files, designs and images, track project progress, and more.

The tool integrates with other third-party tools like Google Drive, MailChimp, Dropbox, and Google Calendar.

The application software lets you manage processes, data interactions, and customer data effectively. It will safeguard your information and allow you to capture, insert, and import leads from other sources.

Monday.com is available for Android, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It features an audit log, automation of 100000 actions each month, creation and customization of the dashboard, a clear overview of performance, processes, and sales.

Other features include automation of repetitive tasks, automatic reminders, automatic assigning of new tasks, and due date notifications

With Monday.com , you have advanced search capabilities at your disposal. You can also customize it to suit your sales workflow. It also offers chart view, time tracking, and private board functions.

The app comes with four pricing plans, including a basic plan at $8/month, a standard plan at $10/month, a pro plan at $16/month, and a quote-based enterprise plan. It also has a free trial.

18. Forecast

Forecast is a full suite business application software for businesses that offer professional services. It helps in resource planning and finetuning of finances and operations using project automation.

Forecast focuses on increasing the predictability and profitability of projects. Its functionality helps to boost planning and productivity with artificial intelligence .

It makes it easy for the business to allocate and assign projects and smoothens project and resource management. With Forecast, you can manage your human capital and calendar effectively.

It has intelligent features, including auto-schedule, which you can use to plan your resources and projects through machine learning. This way, you will be able to estimate the duration of tasks, predict delivery dates, and allocate projects to teams based on their availability.

They can collaborate on projects flexibly and provide real-time updates. The built-in features let you manage workflows so that they align with your business processes to help you boost operations and project success rates.

Forecast offers a free trial, a Lite plan at $29, and a Pro plan at $49.

Trello is an application software that lets you customize reports and control your board activity and cards. This collaboration tool will organize your projects into boards, so you know which project is ongoing and who is handling what and where.

In Trello, each board has a task with details of the teams handling it. It has a built-in automation tool that automates tasks to allow team members to focus on the project. You’ll be able to customize meetings, events, and set goals to ensure the workflow is customized.

It will help you plan, organize, and manage all your resource tools and provide estimates for each project. Trello is pretty versatile, and it can help you handle costing better and regulate your expenses.

Its management and documentation capabilities are immaculate as it doubles as an administration system. All project stakeholders will enjoy the same level of communication.

Trello is a user-friendly program offering real-time collaboration with a superb notification system.

It comes with a free plan, a standard plan at $5, a premium plan at $10, and an enterprise plan at $17.50.

20. ClickTime

ClickTime is an application software you can use to plan, manage, and track employee time. It’s an easy-to-use time management tool you can utilize at any time.

ClickTime packs a lot of benefits, including minimizing administrative costs, streamlining operations, and enhancing employee productivity.

It achieves this by letting you manage operations and administrative costs.

The tool has an online expense and time tracking platform. It will help your managers analyze employee time to understand the resources used, the budget, and ensure they meet project deadlines.

ClickTime helps teams to stay organized and competent. It has tools that help automate daily tasks and reporting. With this tool, you can maintain compliance with SOX, DCAA, overtime, and various other regulations.

If you’re using Android, you can enter time, upload receipts, and approve the employee timesheets remotely. This program integrates solutions such as customer relationship management (CRM), payroll, and accounting solutions.

ClickTime has a free trial, a starter pack at $9, a team pack at $12, a premier pack at $24, and a quote-based enterprise pack.

21. Google Chrome

Google Chrome is an application software that lets you browse the internet , social media platforms, and send/receive emails. As with other web browsers, you can search for information on any topic, including technology, travel, politics, medicine, and much more.

Google Chrome lets you retrieve data across the web. It is a fast and easy-to-use web application software from Google. It also is a platform for browser app extensions.

Its popularity keeps growing due to its security and speedy and efficient execution of commands. The app works well on Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac operating systems.

With Chrome, you can browse through websites privately (incognito) without disclosing your details like your IP address and browsing history.

The other benefits the app offers include seamless access to information across devices, fast downloads, saving mobile data by toggling the data saver, performing a Google Voice Search, built-in translator, and more.

Chrome is a free tool.

22. Google Maps

Google Maps has made strides since its inception. It lets you use your smartphone as a GPS and map . The application software has plenty of features that lets you locate places, or businesses, plan a commute, take virtual tours, get voice, turn by turn navigation, and more.

Google Maps comes pre-installed in most Android phones alongside other apps from Google. It is available for iPad and iOS devices too. If you can’t access it from your smartphone, you can use the web version.

When you open Maps, it welcomes you with a colorful map of your location. Its maps are readable, with white color representing general streets, green color for parks, bright yellow for highways, grey for buildings, and blue for waterways.

Turning on location services will give you a blue dot indicating your location and a vision cone denoting the direction you are facing. It is the best navigation tool to help you get around.

The app has a search bar to help you input a town, business, city, or street name. Business locations are laid out in cards with the name and address, distance from wherever you are, and a call and directions icon to help you find the nearest route to the location .

Other features include a layers icon, satellite version, terrain view, 3D overlay, street view mode, augmented reality, Google Assistant, and more. This software is free to use.

WinZip is a file compression and management software. With this tool, you can compress images, folders, PDF, video, MP3 and more. You can also decompress folders by unzipping them. Besides, you can repair Zip files and extract multiple files.

WinZip uses encryption to protect your files similarly to the way financial institutions do. During the compression process, the tool reduces the file size to allow for minimal data usage during file sharing.

The program can be used on Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. It has a free and pro version that goes for $29.95.

How is System Software Different from Application software?

System software and application software serve different roles in the world of computing. System software acts as the backbone, managing the hardware and enabling the system to function smoothly. It runs in the background and is essential for the operation of the computer system itself.

Think of it as the director of the computer, silently but powerfully orchestrating every action.

On the other hand, application software is the performer, carrying out specific tasks for the user. These are the programs we interact with daily, from word processing software to games. They are built with the end-user in mind, designed to fulfill particular objectives.

While system software remains largely invisible to the everyday user, application software takes center stage, providing the tools we use to complete various tasks.

Both are crucial, but they play distinctly different roles in our digital experience.

What Types of Application Software are available?

There are various types of application software available, each tailored to execute distinct tasks.

Productivity software, like word processors and spreadsheets, helps users create and manage information.
Database applications store, organize, and retrieve large volumes of data efficiently.
Multimedia software handles video, audio, and images, enhancing the creation and editing of digital content.
Educational software designed for learning and instruction, while simulation software allows for the modeling of real-world scenarios.
Communication software enables users to connect and collaborate through email, instant messaging, and video conferencing.
Finally, we have web browsers and email clients that connect us to the internet and help manage our online communications.

Each category serves a specific purpose, aiming to make tasks more manageable and more efficient for users.

Examples of Application Software – Conclusion

The software applications we’ve highlighted in this guide can help simplify your tasks. Whether you are an individual or a business, you can use these tools to simplify your processes.

Harness their computing capabilities to accomplish numerous tasks without putting in much effort. These tools will help you enhance productivity and efficiency at all times.

As digital operations continue to rise, more digital workplaces will keep emerging. This will cause the evolution of more programs and tools due to the demand for customized options.

This will benefit businesses and individuals looking to simplify their operations. There are plenty of application tools, and they all have specific functions that add value to your work or business. All you need is to pick one that suits your requirements.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

More From Forbes

Ios 17.1.2—update now warning issued to all iphone users.

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Apple has released iOS 17.1.2, an emergency iPhone update fixing two flaws—both of which are being ... [+] used in real-life attacks.

Apple has released iOS 17.1.2, along with a warning to update now. That’s because iOS 17.1.2 fixes two iPhone security flaws —both of which are already being used in real-life attacks.

Apple doesn’t give much detail about what’s fixed in iOS 17.1.2, to give iPhone users as much time as possible to update before more attackers can get hold of the details. Both issues fixed in iOS 17.1.2 affect WebKit , the engine that underpins the iPhone maker’s Safari browser.

Tracked as CVE-2023-42916, the first flaw fixed in iOS 17.1.2 could see an iPhone user disclose sensitive information to an adversary. The second issue patched in 17.1.2, CVE-2023-42917, could allow an attacker who has tricked an iPhone user into interacting with web content to execute code.

In both cases, Apple is “aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1,” the iPhone maker wrote on its support page .

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of September 2023

Best 5% interest savings accounts of september 2023, why you should update to ios 17.2.1 now.

Make no mistake, iOS 17.1.2 is an update you should apply right now. The reasons for this are multiple: iOS 17.1.2 has been pushed out before iOS 17.2 because it is security-only, containing no bug fixes or features.

At the time of writing, there is no update to iOS 16, beyond already available iOS 16.7.2 . Apple said the issue was exploited on iPhones running iOS 16.7.1, so devices on iOS 16.7.2 may not be impacted. However, if you haven’t updated to iOS 17 yet and have a compatible device, I recommend you upgrade to iOS 17.1.2 now.

Interestingly, iOS 17.1.2 hasn’t been issued as a Rapid Security Response update—a new feature designed to push out important security fixes. However, a few months ago, the iPhone maker was left red-faced after having to pull one of these updates when it broke something else, so I suspect that Apple doesn’t want to risk the same thing happening again.

The iPhone maker also sees the advantage of alerting people to iOS 17.1.2, rather than pushing out updates in the background. If people take notice, they are more likely to apply the fix.

Both of the issues fixed in iOS 17.1.2 were reported Clément Lecigne of Google's Threat Analysis Group, indicating they could have been used in spyware-related attacks.

Attacks utilizing spyware are scary, because they often take place without any interaction from the user, via an iMessage, for example. Thankfully, they are highly targeted at certain businesses, dissents and journalists. If you fall under this category, consider using the iPhone’s Lockdown Mode in addition to upgrading to iOS 17.1.2.

It’s essential that users update to iOS 17.1.2 as soon as possible, warns Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace. “It is possible for an attacker to exploit these vulnerabilities just by persuading a user to visit a website,” he says.

The consequences of an attack taking advantage of the issues fixed in iOS 17.1.2 could be dire, he adds. “If successfully exploited, attackers could gain the ability to execute code and access sensitive information.”

Also important to note is you need to apply iOS 17.1.2 manually, even if you have automatic updates enabled. That’s because Apple rolls out security updates gradually, with some users waiting a week or more for their iPhones and iPads to update overnight.

So what are you waiting for? Go to your Settings > General > Software Update and download and install iOS 17.1.2 now to keep your iPhone safe.

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Windows 10 - Unable to write to root C:\ or launch Metro app (after reset) + other problems

Today I have been hit with a problem (on two P.C's)of not being able write to the root directory - C:\ of my hard disk - The required privilege is not held by the client . I spent all day online trying to get a solution but no luck. I have had nothing but trouble with Windows 10.

I was eventually able to create/save on C:\ but then I couldn't launch Metro apps or the Edge browser - App can't open with built in administrator account . On chasing that problem down a whole load of other problems started - like not being able to search after pressing the Windows key.

Eventually after trying the fixes recommended online one of my laptops was basically non functional. With nothing to lose I have tried a soft Windows Reset - option with saved personal information. It got me back to square one - fixed other problems but I still couldn't write to C:\ . When I tried to make changes on my machine - it immediately caused other problems like not being able to sign in with the finger print reader, you must create pin first. When I went to create a pin I get an Windows wait cursor but no response. Another bug.

I find it impossible to work with this operating system. On my new machine ever since the Anniversary Update my mouse and keyboard have failed to respond in good speed. They lag or simply stop. It was fine 10 years ago with an old computer but when your machine is top laptop, i7 with 16GB of RAM and an SSD its simply unacceptable.

Microsoft Windows is totally unresponsive, bug ridden and poorly designed. I don't know why Microsoft Windows is not open source, its the only way you will ever identify and fix these never ending bugs for good.

I'm trying Full reset now on the older laptop. Hopefully it will allow me to write to the C:\ root and also launch apps without having to look up the internet. I'm really not impressed.

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To help you resolve the issue, we suggest that you create a new user account in Windows 10.

You can follow the steps below to create a new user account:

1. Right click on Start and choose Command Prompt (Admin) .

2. In the command prompt window, type net user test /add (you can replace "add" with your name) , press Enter and close the window.

3. Switch back to your original account. Then, go to Start -> Settings -> Accounts -> Other people -> Choose the new user account you've created -> Change account type, choose Administrator, and hit OK.

4. Sign out of your current user account, then sign into the new user account you created.

Check if you are able to open Windows store apps and if you're still getting the error messages. If not, then the possible reason why you're getting those error messages is because the other system files associated to your original user profile are missing/corrupted. In this case, you can move all your personal files from your old user account to the new account you've created then delete the other profile afterwards.

If the issue still persists in the new account, then we highly recommend that you perform a reset to your PC that will remove everything and reinstall Windows . Therefore, before doing the reset, please do a backup of your personal files. Kindly check this link for the instructions to reset your PC.

We look forward to your response.

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I am just after trying a Windows 10 repair - using the in place upgrade to keep files and programs. Once it finished I got this error :

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10581/windows-10-app-not-work

Most of the functionality is back and the mail app loaded up and I could view emails but then my P.C asked me to restart.

Once I came back from the restart I could not load the mail app (or any app) without getting an error:-

... can't be opened using the built in administrator account sign in with a different account and try again...

I created an account like you said and the mail app loads up (and edge browser works) and even does so after a restart.

How can I save all my programs and user data? I need another administrator account not an ordinary user account. I think if I created another administrator account I would have the same problems as I am having now. Most programs were installed for me.

I'm still having other problems with my P.C. For example I cannot encrypt a file on my computer. I get System.IO.IOException: The request is not supported. Also the box to encrypt in right click properties is greyed out.

You don't need to create another administrator account. Y ou can change the account type of the test account you've created to administrator. The test account should not have the same issue, even after switching it to an administrator type of account. The original administrator account is actually not having any issue at all. The built-in administrator is simply not allowed to open any Windows Store type of application. The user-created administrator on the other hand, is different. It will not be restricted of any access to Windows Store type of application.

Let us change your account type to Administrator by following the steps I previously provided. Let me indicate these steps below:

1. Go to Start -> Settings -> Accounts -> Other people.

2. Choose the new user account you've created -> Change account type, choose Administrator, and hit OK.

The application you have is not required to be transferred from the old user account to the new one. they should all be accessible from the new user account.

To transfer your user data from the old user account, please follow these steps:

1. In the Administrator account that is having an issue, go to the File Explorer -> This PC -> Local Disk (C:) .

2. Select Users -> Double-click the folder that you want to move the data to the new user account -> press Ctrl A t o highlight all the files, right click and select copy , then paste all the files you copied to the new account which you have created.

What are you using to encrypt your files and how are you going about doing so?

The other account is ok as administrator - Its working with Store apps but when I get the same limitations as my (corrupted?) original account I am almost thinking of a Format C:\

I'm going to copy all my files, 45gb soon.

I have looked for a solution online and got the following but it stops store apps :

Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA Update the EnableLUA value to 0 (turn if off)

I am using Encrypt/Decrypt for .NET programming. Just a few simple commands crashes the program. Other Windows 10 Home edition machines I have don't have this problem.

I didn't link my Microsoft account to the new replacement account yet. I'm not sure if that will cause problems.

You don't need to format your C: drive. It would be better to copy your files into an external storage device instead, then transfer it to the new user profile you've created. For you to be able to install and use the apps from the Windows Store, your user profile should be linked to a Microsoft account.

Regarding with file encryption, we suggest that you create a new thread for this so that our community member can assist you further.

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Write about anything without judgment. Don't worry about spelling. It doesn't have to be perfect nor complete. Work on a long document in 10-minute chunks. 10 minutes of writing is about 100 words. If you write every hour for 10 hours, that's 1,000 words (about 4 pages). If you do this everyday for 10 days, that's 10,000 words (about 40 ...
Grammarly: Free AI Writing Assistance
How It Works. Overview Robust, real-time communication assistance; Generative AI Write, rewrite, get ideas, and quickly reply with AI assistance; Writing Enhancements Features to polish, grammar, tone, clarity, team consistency, and more; Trust & Security You own your data; Demo Try Grammarly, and see how it works; Where It Works. Overview Writing assistance on 500,000+ apps and sites across ...
The 17 Best Writing Apps to Boost Your Writing in 2023
1. Reedsy Book Editor. Price: Free. Runs on: Web. Best for: Authors seeking an elegant, distraction-free writing interface that typesets your work into a professional-grade book. With its sleek interface and easily navigable formatting options, the Reedsy Book Editor is a first-rate choice for modern authors.
Free writing software: 24 tools to help you create content
ChatGPT is the best free option—and the one you know and love—or you can check out even more GPT-powered writing apps in Zapier's list of the best AI writing generators . You can also combine GPT with Zapier to send ideas to your favorite project management tool. ChatGPT pricing: Free; ChatGPT Plus is $20/month.
How To Write a Job Application Letter (With Examples)
What to Include in Each Section Photo: Dan Dalton / Getty Images Do you need to write a letter to apply for a job? Most of the time, the answer is yes. Even when employers don't require a job application letter, writing one will help you highlight your skills and achievements and get the hiring manager's attention.
Create a new presentation with Copilot in PowerPoint
Create a new presentation in PowerPoint. Select the Copilot button in the Home tab of the ribbon. Click or type Create presentation from file. Tip: Currently, Copilot is only able to create presentations from Word documents. Navigate to Word and copy the URL of the document you'd like to use by opening the share tray in Word and clicking Copy Link.
50 Free Writing Software Tools And The Best Free Writing Apps
2. Apple Pages for Mac Users - Free. If you are a Mac user and all you need is a word processor, Apple Pages can handle everything you could possibly need to do. It really is the best free writing software for Mac. Like Word, you can start with a blank document or use the template chooser.
How to Use Handwriting Input on Windows 10
Windows 10's handwriting keyboard allows you to enter text into any application with a pen or other stylus. Readers like you help support How-To Geek. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More. Quick Links Finding the Handwriting Keyboard Writing With the Handwriting Keyboard
Book Writing Software (2023): Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers
3. Google Docs (Word Processing) While Scrivener and Dabble are a great book writing software, once you get to editing and getting feedback, it begins to fall short. That's why Google Docs has become my go-to piece of book writing software for collaborating with editors, beta readers, and other writers.
DeepL Translate
With this app, you can: - Instantly translate selected text with a simple shortcut: Ctrl+C+C - Translate your reading in its original context (e.g., article, white paper) - Translate your writing directly in the app of your choice (e.g., document, email, chat) - Translate full documents in one go - Apply your own terminology in your ...
How to Write a Letter of Application (Example & Tips)
Download Free Example Letter of Application Template (Text Version) An effective letter of application: expands on the skills, achievements, and professional experiences you want to highlight explains your personal interest in applying to the position describes what you can offer the company Sound tough?
Application Writing
10+ Application Writing Examples & Samples in PDF | DOC Writing an application letter, even if it's just a simple one, will for sure take a lot of your time. You will have to think of what you will write, use a method in writing, and most of all, plan how to write and finish it. You need to have the right writing skills to do this.
How To Write an Application Letter (With Template and Example)
Updated July 31, 2023 An application letter is important to include when you're submitting your resume for a job. This type of letter allows you to elaborate on your qualifications and explains why you want the position.
How to write an application in 10 easy steps!
Use a professional format. Write an engaging first paragraph. Mention where you found the position. Explain how you benefit the company as an employee. Highlight your strengths, qualifications, and experience. Write something out of the box. Write the perfect closing sentence. Mention the hiring manager. Professional closing.
Application Writing Format and Examples
How to write an application is as follows: Firstly, the date. Include the professor's name, position, department, and university name. You have the option of having an internal or external professor. Mention this together with the name of your university if he is an external faculty member. If not, you should still add it to clarify matters.
Format For Class 10 Application Writing, Examples, Topics, And
Examples Of Class 10 Application Writing: To help students grasp the concept of application writing, here are a few examples that illustrate different scenarios: 1. Application for School Admission 2. Application for a Scholarship 3. Application for Leave of Absence 4. Application for Permission to Organize an Event
20 Examples Of Application Software
It supports iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows. Spotify comes with a free plan, a premium individual plan at $9.99/month, a premium duo at $12.99/month, a premium family at $14.99, and a premium student at $4.99. 13. Adobe Acrobat Reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is an outstanding application software from Adobe Inc.
Write Definition & Meaning
write: [verb] to form (characters, symbols, etc.) on a surface with an instrument (such as a pen). to form (words) by inscribing characters or symbols on a surface. to spell in writing. to cover, fill, or fill in by writing.
how to write a letter on Windows 10
how to write a letter on Windows 10 - Microsoft Community. * Please try a lower page number. Windows update, recovery, & backup. Copilot in Windows. Certified Refurbished. How to buy for your school. Educator training and development. Deals for students and parents.
where do i type a letter for free in windows 10
Windows 10 contains Wordpad and for typing a letter it would be the best choice . . . Click your Start Button, type wordpad In the resulting list, right click Wordpad and choose 'Pin to Start' This will make it easier to find wordpad in future Now on your Start Menu will be a new tile for Wordpad, click that to open Wordpad That's It!
iOS 17.1.2—Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users
At the time of writing, there is no update to iOS 16, beyond already available iOS 16.7.2.Apple said the issue was exploited on iPhones running iOS 16.7.1, so devices on iOS 16.7.2 may not be ...
1.10 Lab: Blind SQL injection with time delays
This will make the application response delayed for 10 seconds. If you don't know what the type of database is, then you can try any of the below commands one by one to verify. Oracle - dbms_pipe.receive_message(('a'),10) Microsoft - WAITFOR DELAY '0:0:10' PostgreSQL - SELECT pg_sleep(10) MySQL - SELECT SLEEP(10)
Windows 10
Go to Start -> Settings -> Accounts -> Other people. 2. Choose the new user account you've created -> Change account type, choose Administrator, and hit OK. The application you have is not required to be transferred from the old user account to the new one. they should all be accessible from the new user account.

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The 10 Best Writing Apps of 2023

Best Word Processor for All Genres: Microsoft Word

Best Organizational Companion: Evernote

Best Writing Software for Bloggers: Google Docs

Best Tool for Long-Form Content: Scrivener

Best Writing App for Novelists: Werdsmith

Best Screenwriting Application: Final Draft

Best App for Journalists: Dictation

Best Application for Editors: TextEdit

Best App for Song Writers: Lyric Notepad

Best Application for Distracted Writers: FocusWriter

Write for Ten

Ideas to start writing

Work smarter with your AI writing partner

An AI Writing Partner to Fuel Your Business

Beyond Grammar and Spelling

Brilliant Writing Awaits

The 17 Best Writing Apps to Boost Your Writing in 2023

Which writing app is right for you?

1. Reedsy Book Editor

2. Scrivener

5. iA Writer

Which famous author do you write like?

7. Storyist

8. Final Draft

9. Grammarly

10. ProWritingAid

11. Hemingway

12. Readable

13. NaturalReader

14. FocusWriter

15. Freedom

16. Evernote

17. Reedsy Prompts

18. Hubspot's AI blog writer

Compare the best writing apps of 2023

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