Best distraction-free writing apps: iA Writer, Ulysses, FocusWriter, Google Docs, Obsidian

iA Writer has a dark mode and built-in keyboard shortcuts for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Plus, it’s beautiful. But given the high price, you have to be really committed to the idea of ​​a distraction-free work environment to use iA Writer.

Ulysses

Basic layout and feature set of Ulysses It’s not much different from iA Writer. There’s a sidebar for navigating and organizing your files, and a large main pane for composing. But it certainly has more features, including tools for tracking goals and rereading. Thanks to its simple but thoughtful organization system, you can even use Ulysses as a note-taking app if needed.

Like iA Writer, it has a typewriter mode with line highlighting and text scrolling. But you have to enable each of its individual sections first. One of its bigger draws is its styles, which let you export documents using custom templates for scripts, novels, blog posts, etc.

The downside to Ulysses is that it’s only available as a $40 annual subscription. And it’s exclusive to macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. If you’re a Windows user, you’re out of luck.

Featured Writer

This is probably the most basic of these, but you shouldn’t skip it. Featured Writer has all the basic features you’d expect from a text editor, including spell checking and the ability to open multiple documents at once. It also has tools for serious writers, like stats tracking and goal setting.

Unlike most of the other apps here, FocusWriter uses rich text (RTF) formatting instead of Markdown. However, it probably has the most customizable interface of the bunch. You can meticulously choose the interface colors, fonts, and background.

One of its biggest draws is that it’s free and open source, although it’s currently only available for Windows and Linux. While you can run it on macOS if you know your way around the command line, it takes some work, and there are no mobile apps or file syncing.

Writer Omm

The idea of ​​distraction-free writing is essentially a hoax. But Writer Omm Probably the most deceptive of the bunch. It doesn’t just strip away the unnecessary nonsense; it also aims to put you in an environment conducive to flow. It includes soothing soundscapes to help you focus and even various keystroke sound effects to enhance the mood.

If you want more audible feedback when typing, but don’t want to invest in a good mechanical keyboard, this might be a good option. However, the slight delay between your fingers hitting the keys and the sound coming out of the speakers bothers me.

Otherwise, the user interface is pretty simple, with a resizable text box in the middle and a few buttons to the right to change settings. It’s the cheapest commercial option here at $9.93 for macOS or Windows. But you can also try it out in your browser by playing the lite version for free.

The Scribe

The Scribe has a loyal following among long-form writers, and for good reason. While the app has a great distraction-free mode, complete with typewriter-style scrolling, it also has advanced organization tools that you’ll definitely appreciate if you’re working on a book or a screenplay. It’s built specifically for longer writing projects.

Project outlines make it easy to gather research or reorganize your ideas until you find what works. When it’s time to actually write, full-screen editing mode strips away everything but text boxes. It’s the ultimate minimalist editor.