The Best Text Apps in 2026
We researched text apps using vendors’ official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on each app’s core writing job, value for money, and verified features, so you can compare editors by the capabilities and limits that matter for drafting and managing text.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Microsoft Word#1 of 249.3/10A versatile word processor with free web access and comprehensive Microsoft 365 upgrades.
Free plan
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Runner-up
Google Docs#2 of 249.2/10A capable collaborative word processor with free personal access and paid Workspace plans.
Free plan · 14-day trial
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Top-ranked free plan
Zoho Writer#3 of 249.0/10A free, full-featured word processor with broad workflow tools and platform support.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 24 tools, best first
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Best forUsers wanting a full-featured, familiar word processor
A versatile word processor with free web access and comprehensive Microsoft 365 upgrades.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft Word -
Best forTeams needing collaborative document editing
A capable collaborative word processor with free personal access and paid Workspace plans.
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Google Docs verdict → Visit Google DocsFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.2/10★★★★★Visit Google Docs -
Best forTeams needing free editing and workflow automation
A free, full-featured word processor with broad workflow tools and platform support.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Writer -
Best forScreenwriters needing production-ready tools
A specialist screenwriting suite with formatting, collaboration, and production tools.
- Real-time collaboration
- Version history
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Final Draft -
Best forWriters organizing long-form manuscripts
A manuscript-focused writing app with deep organization tools and separate one-time licenses.
- Version history
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Scrivener -
Best forAuthors drafting and formatting books with collaborators
A free-to-start book workspace with collaborative editing and publishing exports, but no offline mode.
- Real-time collaboration
- Version history
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Reedsy Studio -
Best forMarkdown users wanting publishing and collaboration
A free, open-source Markdown editor with offline writing, cloud sync, and CMS publishing.
- Real-time collaboration
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit StackEdit -
Best forMarkdown writers who want a free browser editor
A free web editor for Markdown, with live preview, offline editing, and cloud-file connections.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Dillinger -
Best forFree desktop Markdown writers who value focus
A free, open-source desktop Markdown editor for focused writing and local files.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forResearchers writing Markdown with citations
A free desktop Markdown workspace for citation-heavy writing, without real-time collaboration.
- Offline access
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Zettlr -
Best forMarkdown writers wanting polished cross-platform editing
A polished Markdown editor for desktop writers, with a one-time license and no mobile apps or collaboration.
- Version history
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Typora -
Best forApple users writing and publishing polished text
A polished Apple writing workspace with strong organization, export, and publishing tools.
- Version history
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Ulysses -
Best forMarkdown writers needing focus and publishing tools
A focused Markdown editor for individual writers who draft, refine, and publish.
- Version history
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit iA Writer -
Best forApple Markdown users who publish to many services
A Mac and iOS Markdown workspace with broad publishing and export options.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit MWeb -
Best forNovelists wanting a free desktop project organizer
A free, open-source desktop workspace for structuring, drafting, and exporting fiction.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit novelWriter -
Best forWriters publishing blogs or newsletters
A focused publishing tool for blogs and newsletters, with RSS, ActivityPub, and team options.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Write.as -
Best forNovelists who want planning tools and AI assistance
A planning-focused writing app with broad exports and optional AI assistance.
- Real-time collaboration
- Version history
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit LivingWriter -
Best forNovelists tracking progress and building an author site
A browser-based novel workspace with planning, progress tracking, and author-site tools.
- Real-time collaboration
- Version history
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Novlr -
Best forDesktop Markdown users wanting WYSIWYG editing
A free desktop Markdown editor with live rendering, rich syntax support, and file search.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit MarkText -
Best forNovelists planning stories with a co-author
A novel-writing workspace with story planning, co-authoring, and offline writing.
- Real-time collaboration
- Version history
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Dabble -
Best forApple users seeking a focused Markdown editor
A focused Apple-device editor with sync, export, and direct publishing.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Byword -
Best forWriters wanting free, distraction-free desktop editing
Free desktop writing with markup, progress tracking, and plain-text storage.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit WriteMonkey -
Best forSolo writers who want a simple desktop app
A focused writing app with goals and recovery, for Windows and Linux desktops.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit FocusWriter -
Best forPeople who want a second number for calls and texts
A second-number messaging app, not a tool for writing or editing text documents.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit TextFree
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Word | Yes | $7/user/mo | 9.3 |
| 2 | Google Docs | Yes | $7/user/mo | 9.2 |
| 3 | Zoho Writer | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Final Draft | No | $99.99/yr | 8.8 |
| 5 | Scrivener | No | $23.99 one-time | 8.7 |
| 6 | Reedsy Studio | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | StackEdit | Yes | Free | 8.4 |
| 8 | Dillinger | Yes | Free | 8.3 |
| 9 | Ghostwriter | Yes | Free | 8.1 |
| 10 | Zettlr | Yes | Free | 8.0 |
| 11 | Typora | No | $14.99 one-time | 7.9 |
| 12 | Ulysses | No | $39.99/user/yr | 7.8 |
| 13 | iA Writer | No | 7.7 | |
| 14 | MWeb | $34.99 one-time | 7.6 | |
| 15 | novelWriter | Yes | Free | 7.5 |
| 16 | Write.as | Yes | $6/mo | 7.4 |
| 17 | LivingWriter | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 18 | Novlr | Yes | $8/mo | 7.2 |
| 19 | MarkText | Yes | Free | 7.1 |
| 20 | Dabble | Yes | $19/mo | 7.0 |
| 21 | Byword | No | 6.9 | |
| 22 | WriteMonkey | Yes | 6.8 | |
| 23 | FocusWriter | Free | 6.7 | |
| 24 | TextFree | Yes | $9.99/mo | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 21 comparisons →
- Microsoft Word vs Final Draft
- Microsoft Word vs Scrivener
- Microsoft Word vs Reedsy Studio
- Microsoft Word vs StackEdit
- Microsoft Word vs Dillinger
- Google Docs vs Final Draft
- Google Docs vs Scrivener
- Google Docs vs Reedsy Studio
- Google Docs vs StackEdit
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How we rank text app
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update