Bean
Bean: A focused offline Mac editor with broad format support, but no collaboration tools. Ranked #40 of 45 in Word Processing Software by our editors (5.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for minimal free Mac rich-text editing.
At a glance
- Editor score5.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMinimal free Mac rich-text editing
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Desktop appsYes
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free macOS word processing with offline editing
- Supports DOC, DOCX, ODT, PDF, HTML, RTF, plain text, and rich text
- Backups, templates, split windows, and flexible page-layout views
Where it doesn't
- Available only on macOS
- No collaboration or track changes
- No integrations or AI features
Our verdict on Bean
Bean is a free macOS word processor for people who want focused desktop writing rather than a cloud collaboration service. It supports rich-text and plain-text editing alongside DOC, DOCX, ODT, PDF, HTML, and RTF files. Writers can see live word and character counts, work in full-screen mode, and use page-layout views with an optional two-page view. Its local, offline approach suits Mac users who prefer an uncluttered writing application and do not need browser-based teamwork.
Its feature set is centered on practical document creation. Template documents can include boilerplate text, while free-form headers and footers support more flexible page structure. Split-window editing helps when working across document sections, and the formatting inspector and highlighting tools provide additional control over rich-text documents. Regular-expression search is useful for more advanced text finding, and date-stamped backups add a document-recovery safeguard. Together, these features make Bean more capable than a bare text editor while keeping its focus narrow.
The main trade-off is platform and workflow scope. Bean is a local macOS application, so it is a fit for individual Mac writers who value offline access and format flexibility. It is not suited to teams that need collaboration, track changes, integrations, or AI-assisted writing. According to the vendor's published information, version 3.x is closed source, and Bean has no monetary cost. Choose Bean for straightforward desktop rich-text editing; choose another word processor when shared editing or a broader connected ecosystem is central to the workflow.
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Bean pricing
Bean fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Desktop apps | Yes |
| Offline editing | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Not verified |
| Track changes | Not verified |
| Desktop platforms | macos |
| Maximum document size | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | bean-osx.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Bean
- Microsoft WordA complete word processor with strong collaboration, review, accessibility, and Microsoft ecosystem support.9.4
- Google DocsA strong browser-first word processor for teams that edit documents together.9.2
- Zoho WriterA broad free word processor for teams needing cross-platform editing and workflow features.9.0
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The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Bean for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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