Alternatives to FocusWriter
Full-screen typewriter-style writing
FocusWriter ranks #10 of 10 in Writing apps, with an Alt Score of 42. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, donationware and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Writers who want a distraction-free environment for drafting long-form text, such as novelists, journalists, or anyone who gets pulled off task by a cluttered word processor UI.
A free, open-source, full-screen word processor for Windows, macOS, and Linux with a hidden interface that only appears when you move the mouse to the screen edges. It offers customizable themes (fonts, colors, background images), spell-checking, live word/character counts, daily writing goals, timers with alarms, and support for multiple documents via tabbed sessions. It automatically saves and restores your previous document and cursor position on launch.
Open FocusWriter and start typing in the full-screen, chrome-free editor; menus, toolbars, and tabs stay hidden until you move the cursor to an edge of the screen. Track progress with the built-in daily goal and word-count display, organize work into sessions/tabs, and pick up exactly where you left off the next time you launch the app.
Why people leave FocusWriter
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How FocusWriter compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Writing apps checklist | FocusWriter | Ulysses | iA Writer | Scrivener | Atticus | Dabble |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Markdown support | ||||||
| Distraction-free mode | ||||||
| Long-form organization (chapters) | ||||||
| Goals & word counts | ||||||
| Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) | ||||||
| Sync between devices | ||||||
| Version history | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Offline | ||||||
| Publishing integrations |
Every fact and feature listed for FocusWriter is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
-
License GPL-3.0 verified 2026-07-11
Released on February 10, 2026, under the GPL version 3.
https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ -
Pricing model Donationware verified 2026-07-11
Please send me a tip if you like FocusWriter! The more tips I get, the more time I can work on it.
https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-11
Linux: ~/.local/share/GottCode/FocusWriter macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/GottCode/FocusWriter Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\GottCode\FocusWriter
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Version 1.9.0 Released on February 10, 2026, under the GPL version 3.
https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ -
Markdown support No verified 2026-07-11
odt", "fodt", "docx", "rtf", "txt" };"
static const QStringList types{
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/src/fileformats/format_manager.cpp -
Distraction-free mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
FocusWriter is a simple, distraction-free word processor. It utilizes a hide-away interface that you access by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Long-form organization (chapters) No verified 2026-07-11
FocusWriter is a simple, distraction-free word processor.
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Goals & word counts Yes verified 2026-07-11
It also features on-the-fly updating statistics, daily goals, multiple open documents, spell-checking, and much more.
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) Partial verified 2026-07-11
odt", "fodt", "docx", "rtf", "txt" };"
static const QStringList types{
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/src/fileformats/format_manager.cpp -
Sync between devices No verified 2026-07-11
It also features on-the-fly updating statistics, daily goals, multiple open documents, spell-checking, and much more.
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Version history No verified 2026-07-11
It also features on-the-fly updating statistics, daily goals, multiple open documents, spell-checking, and much more.
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-11
Please send me a tip if you like FocusWriter! The more tips I get, the more time I can work on it.
https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ -
Offline Yes verified 2026-07-11
Data" in the same folder as the executable (the application bundle if using macOS) to run this program from a"
Create a folder named
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README -
Publishing integrations No verified 2026-07-11
It also features on-the-fly updating statistics, daily goals, multiple open documents, spell-checking, and much more.
https://github.com/gottcode/focuswriter/blob/main/README
FAQ
Yes. Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter — every license claim links its source.