Open Live Writer review
A free offline blog editor for Windows users publishing to established platforms.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Open Live Writer is open-source desktop software for creating, editing, previewing, and publishing blog posts. It suits Windows bloggers who already publish through supported services and want to compose without staying connected. Posts can include photos, videos, links, formatted text, headings, and fonts, while spell checking helps with routine editing. Offline composition and later publishing make it a practical fit for writers who prefer a desktop workflow over a browser-based editor.
Its main strength is platform compatibility. Open Live Writer supports WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Movable Type, and DasBlog, giving it a useful role as a publishing client across several established blogging services. CSS3 template support helps posts align more closely with a blog’s presentation, while Blogger categories and labels support organization within that service. Scheduled posts are also supported. This makes the software more suitable for managing content across existing platforms than for creating a new publishing destination.
The scope is intentionally narrow: Open Live Writer focuses on desktop composition and publishing rather than hosting a blog itself. The established downloadable application is Windows-based, while the separate macOS build is identified as alpha, so platform choice matters. There are no AI features, and the workflow depends on one of the supported blogging services. Choose it if offline writing, previews, media insertion, and multi-platform publishing are priorities. A hosted blogging platform is a better fit for someone who needs the publishing site and editor in one service.
Open Live Writer pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Works offline and supports later publishing
- Publishes to WordPress, Blogger, and other services
- Handles media, formatting, previews, and scheduled posts
- Where it doesn't
- Primarily a desktop publishing client, not a hosted platform
- Windows is the established platform
- The macOS build is still alpha
Open Live Writer fact sheet, pricing and score →
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