Check out the 10 best writing apps to boost your writing in 2023 and create engaging content that meets all your objectives.

The 10 best writing apps to boost your writing in 2023

Being a writer requires constant work on your writing skills. While you may already know the ins and outs of word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, there are plenty of other software solutions for streamlining and finetuning your work.

Maybe you could use an additional brainstorming tool, support for non-fiction writing, or simply want a free writing app for your writing project. In any case, we’ve got you covered. This article shares ten of the best writing apps for bloggers, social media marketers, self-publishing authors, and anyone who writes daily.

The top writing apps to try in 2023

There are many writing apps, so let’s break down the top apps so you can choose the perfect writing software for you.

Scrivener

Scrivener is a great word processor for long-form self-publishing writers who need an organized and elaborate interface. The software lets you choose project templates (screenplay, novel, essay, etc.) and organize your work in real-time.

You can take virtual notecards, track research, create a specialized font, analyze the text content, etc. This book writing app is suitable for writers who value attention to detail. It comes with a 30-day free trial and is then available with additional features available upon the license purchase.

Evernote

Evernote is an excellent note-taking app that allows writers to tackle projects with their tasks, keep notes, and schedule tasks in a single interface. If your thoughts are all over the place, you can group them in this app and use them for writing later.

The basic plan has plenty of templates where you can tag content according to categories, share notes, and chat with people using the mobile app. In addition, Web Clipper is a cool feature that lets you save excerpts of web content you like.

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is best for long-form writers to wish to tune their writing style. It’s similar to Grammarly but has a slightly more holistic writing approach. The suggestions are mainly provided to facilitate prose flow enhancements. Typical suggestions include filler words, passive voice alerts, sentence structure, vocabulary, and more.

Writers must sign up for the premium version to access all the features.

ProWritingAid is also available as a plugin for MS Word, WordPress, and Google Docs.

iA Writer

iA Writer is a writing editor using Markdown formatting, a simple interface, and a minimalist design. The primary purpose of this app is to make the writing process more manageable and distraction-free.

Ulysses

Ulysses is a great productivity app for writers who need assistance with formatting. It may seem like the app has a steep learning curve, but there are plenty of tutorials for every feature.

The app uses Markdown instead of manual formatting, so there are shortcuts like “#” for creating a header or “>” for adding a blockquote.

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a minimalist novel writing word processor for easily distracted writers. Whether you’re a professional writer or have just started working on a novel, this is the best free writing tool to try if you lack focus.

There are no formatting options available – the app's simple goal is to help you get work done. You can adjust the font, set a timer in the toolbar, and track your progress, but this is as far as it can go feature-wise.

Hemingway Editor

Hemingway is a great editing tool and grammar checker for writers who want to focus on creating works with short, concise, and functional sentences. This prose-based text editor shows alerts regarding word usage, lengthy sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and more.

There are different colors to highlight different areas that need trimming or re-arranging. It's one of the best apps for writers who appreciate simplicity and could use extra help targeting their audience.

Grammarly

Grammarly is a free spell checker and writing tool with proofreading, plagiarism detection, word count, and other features. The software is available as a web app and a browser extension, and it provides real-time writing suggestions.

The free version has plenty of valuable features, but the best functionality comes with the premium plan. Improve readability, get passive voice alerts, and streamline the writing process with this high-quality text editor.

Users can also choose between numerous types of writing in the premium version and get suggestions suitable for specific audience types.

Reedsy Book Editor

Reedsy is a free book editor that runs on web browsers. It’s a writing tool for authors looking for a distraction-free and elegant interface where they can create freely. There are plenty of formatting options and a drag-and-drop tool for chapters and images.

You can even track changes and look at past versions of the work.

The app also has a built-in goal reminder system that encourages users who fall behind their writing schedule to keep working.

Plottr

Plottr is a useful tool for screenwriters wishing to outline their novels or books in a smart and fluid way. The software is available for PC and Mac, making it among the most versatile plotting software on the market.

Users can build their stories' scenes, arcs, and plots using an intuitive interface for re-arranging, organizing, and color-coordinating elements.

Plottr has some additional creative writing features like plot cards, timelines, and starter plotting templates for creating the Hero’s Journey or Dan Harmon's Story circle. There’s hardly a better book-writing app than Plottr.

Read your writing back to yourself using Speechify

The apps above are a great way to finetune your writing and enhance your skills overall. But what about software that can help you read your writing back to you to give you a better feel for the story? This is where Speechify jumps in.

Speechify is a text to speech software that can read any text aloud, including web pages, news articles, Word documents, Drive files, HTML files, you name it.

The app is simple to use, and it’s available for tablets (iPad) and mobile devices (iOS, Android). It also works as a browser extension for computers (macOS, Windows) and you can also use the desktop app.

You get the text back as an audio file in seconds, and there are also advanced note-taking tools.

The software is very intuitive and doesn’t come with a steep learning curve.

Use the app offline on your Apple iPhone when you aren’t connected to the web to get the benefits anytime, anywhere.

Learn more about Speechify or try the app for free by visiting the official website today.

FAQ

Which writing tool is best?

The best writing tool depends on your needs. If you want a word processor with robust text editing features and flow suggestions, go for Grammarly or Hemingway. For distraction-free writing, you can choose FocusWriter.

What app is better than Wattpad?

Notable Wattpad alternatives include Miraquill, Commaful, Sweek, Panana, Movellas, Scary Chat Stories, Books and Writing Amino, and others.

What writing app does Stephen King use?

Stephen King uses MS Word for manuscript drafting. He also uses Final Draft for writing screenplays.

What is one problem with using these writing apps?

Writing is a complex process that requires a set of language skills. Writing apps are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but they still aren’t perfect. You may find that some suggestions align with your goals, but you shouldn’t trust them 100%.