Last Updated on May 25, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
Whether you’re a novelist, journalist, student, or just enjoy keeping a journal, writing is an essential part of many people’s daily lives and careers. With the various macOS writing apps available, you can maximize your creativity and productivity from your Mac. This article will explore 10 of the best macOS apps for all types of writers. We’ll look at popular word processors, markdown editors, distraction-free apps, and more. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of the top macOS options to enhance your writing workflow.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word remains the most widely used and fully-featured word processor across all platforms. For macOS, Word offers the same rich editing environment you expect, along with smooth compatibility across Windows and other devices. Its large gallery of formatting and layout tools give you countless ways to style documents for school papers, professional reports, novels, and more. You can effortlessly switch between default fonts and styles or create your own customizations.
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Word also makes collaboration easy. Built-in commenting and tracking features allow real-time cooperative writing. Simply turn on Track Changes to view revisions from others inline. You can also protect or lock portions of a document for revision control. In the cloud-first era, OneDrive integration is a huge plus, automatically saving your documents online for access from any device. The Read Mode view strips away distractions to focus on reading and reviewing texts.
While a subscription to Microsoft 365 is required to use the latest Word version, its powerful and flexible tools have made it an indispensable option for all types of writers for decades. Its broad range of templates also take the guesswork out of formatting various document styles correctly. For polished, professional writing on macOS, Word sets the gold standard.
Apple Pages
As the Apple-made alternative to Word, Pages aims to provide a streamlined word processing experience optimized for Mac. Its clean and approachable interface feels right at home on a Mac. Pages offers many basic and advanced formatting options but hides more niche tools behind an intuitively layered ribbon.
Much like its sister apps Keynote and Numbers, Pages emphasizes collaboration features. You can effortlessly invite others to view or edit your documents in real-time. Everything seamlessly syncs to your devices through iCloud for writing on the go. An expanding library of professional templates make it simple to start various project types from scratch.
While lacking some more enterprise-grade tools of Microsoft Word, Pages handles most personal and casual writing needs very capably. Its Apple-refined touch makes it an excellent choice for Mac-first users who value seamless integration across their devices. And as a one-time purchase, it provides a cheaper long-term alternative if you don’t need the full power of Word regularly. For Mac users on a budget, Pages delivers quality word processing.
Ulysses
As a dedicated writing app, Ulysses strips away any distractions to keep focused on your writing. Its minimalistic interface presents only the essential toolbars, avoiding temptation toward formatting frills. You can optimize your workflow with customizable key commands, flexible screen layouts, and powerful search/organization abilities across projects.
Ulysses also understands different writing styles. Its flexible sheet view accommodates note-taking as easily as long-form manuscripts. Markdown support lets you write naturally with minimal markup worry. Unique previews of formatted text as you type prevent unpleasant final reveals. And version history keeps every edit and iteration handy for reference.
Perhaps most compelling for writers, Ulysses treats your work as a true project from idea to completion. Its folder-based structure helps develop thorough outlines, while built-in distraction timers, word count goals, and writing stats empower productivity. Automatic cloud syncing across devices ensures your work always follows you safely. For serious writers who value process over flashiness, Ulysses sets the gold standard.
Scrivener
As a dedicated novel and screenwriting app, Scrivener takes the multi-step creative process even further. Its unique Corkboard and Inspector panes revolutionize how you conceptualize, organize, write, and revise lengthy manuscript projects. Color-coded note cards comprising characters, scenes, research, and more let you visually map your story from a high level down to the document level.
Flexible outlining tools make plotting and replotting a breeze. Write scenes out of order across multiple documents, reordering and replugging pieces as needed. Comments and tracked changes integrate feedback throughout development. Easy document compilation formats final drafts for submission. Templates from various genres help get started correctly from the ground up.
While verbose for casual writers, Scrivener empowers serious novelists, scriptwriters, and nonfiction book authors like no other. Give your imagination free roaming space combined with editorial precision for large-scale creative works. For lengthy manuscript projects where research, drafting, and revising sprawl, Scrivener brings unbeatable control and clarity.
Bear
As a beautiful note-taking app designed for writers, Bear presents a refreshingly simple writing space. Its clean stylesheet and distraction-free modes focus solely on your words. Write seamlessly in Markdown for formatting flexibility. Or ignore styles altogether and just type. Handwriting recognition captures thoughts on the fly.
Where Bear shines most is as a natural second brain. Tags and folders organize notes into your self-made system. Powerful search across content retrieves exactly what you need, fast. Beautiful templates streamline common note types. And smart auto-synchronization keeps all devices in perfect multi-platform sync.
For casual daily journaling or maintaining extensive research folders, Bear maintains order effortlessly in the background. Built-in web clipper adds found gems directly into notes. Write disjointed thoughts or full articles with equal ease. This Jack of all trades note app serves all writing needs easily and elegantly on a Mac.
Byword
Byword takes the distraction-free writing philosophy even further with its ultra-minimal aesthetics. Free of unnecessary buttons and menus, only the text view commands attention. Customizable keyboard shortcuts prove more efficient for composing than mouse clicks ever could. Dark or light mode options suit any preference.
Byword optimizes for Markdown authoring with live previews of formatted text as you type. Flexible formatting syntax ensures your documents look as intended anywhere they travel. Metadata settings apply front matter for organization. And built-in file synchronization keeps all projects in continuous cross-platform sync.
Lightweight yet powerful, Byword focuses solely on the writing at hand without clutter. Ideal for novels, journaling, blogging, or any creative project in Markdown format. Swift, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing, Byword carves out an exceptional distraction-free space to spread writerly wings freely.
iA Writer
For an even more barebones distraction-free writing experience, iA Writer takes simplicity to its cleanest possible form. A blank page free of menus or toolbars lets you dive straight into your words unencumbered. Gentle features like word count and saved document list appear only when summoned.
Dark or light themes blend discreetly into the writing task at hand. Customizable keyboard shortcuts let you compose with speed and flow state. Deep Markdown support formats accordingly behind the scenes. And iCloud sync keeps projects continuously available on all Apple devices.
As the essential word processor stripped to its essence, iA Writer provides the purest distraction-free platform possible. Ideal for high-focus writing sprints, journaling, blogging, or anytime distractions must flee the page. Deceptively minimal yet deeply customizable, iA Writer empowers writing without compromise.
Marked 2
For writers who appreciate Markdown’s clean syntax blended with real-time previews, Marked 2 brings both in elegant harmony. Edit formatted text smoothly while retaining Markdown underpinnings. Dynamic previews update as you compose for WYSIWYG comfort.
Advanced features like auto-updating ToC’s, cross-referencing, customizable style sheets, and LaTeX math support expand Markdown’s capabilities. Extensive shortcodes build complex elements with ease. Smart assistant and Learn panel help novice users get up to speed quickly.
Projects seamlessly synchronize through iCloud, Dropbox, or other services. Publish outputs as Markdown, HTML, EPUB, LaTeX and more. Sophisticated yet approachable, Marked 2 strikes an ideal balance for technical and narrative writers who want the best of both Markdown and WYSIWYG worlds.
WriteRoom
Sometimes the most effective writing comes from vacating all distractions. WriteRoom aims to provide the purest writing chamber possible through aggressive focus and quiet. Free of unnecessary menus or settings, only blank pages await your words.
Completely distraction-free and silence-prioritizing, WriteRoom promotes uninterrupted flow state. Gentle customization allows background image choice and system sounds muting for complete focus. No syncing or multi-file project complexities keep disruption low.
Ideal for prose composition, journaling on the road, or anytime full focus writing becomes crucial. WriteRoom carves out the simplest yet most effective writing sanctuary for when words alone call the stage. Unmatched at blocking aside all but your imaginative work.
Atmail
While less a dedicated writing app, Atmail transforms your Mac and digital life into an unparalleled personal information hub. Collect research, drafts, notes, schedules and more all in personalized folders. Connect email accounts, calendars, documents and favorite apps into one powerful system.
Write seamlessly across platforms via mobile and web. Format rich Markdown emails and drafts with precision. Advanced templates handle common correspondence styles. Compose newsletters, bios and other batched mailings with ease.
Robust folder structure and tagging organize a lifetime of ideas. OCR scans physical documents into searchable notes. IFTTT and Zapier connect other web tools for endless possibilities. Atmail serves as the perfect digital HQ for multi-disciplinary creators. Keep your digital life brilliantly in order wherever inspiration may lead.
Conclusion
Macs offer exceptional options to maximize any writer’s workflow. From beginner accessible templates to power-user oriented distraction-free environments, these 10 apps showcase the range of tools at a writer’s disposal. Word processors, Markdown editors, note apps and more allow customizing your setup for journaling, fiction, technical manuals or any genre. Experiment to discover how optimized writing software unleashes your creative potential freely on a Mac.