Alternatives to iA Writer
Focused writing with syntax highlighting
iA Writer ranks #2 of 10 in Writing apps, with an Alt Score of 86. It is proprietary, sold as a one-time purchase from $29.99 one-time and available on Windows, macOS and iOS. 10 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Writers, students, journalists, and academics who want a distraction-free plain-text editor rather than a full word processor.
A minimalist Markdown editor with a Focus Mode that highlights only the current sentence or paragraph, syntax highlighting that color-codes parts of speech to expose weak or repetitive writing, and a Style Check that flags clichés and filler words. It also tracks which text was typed versus pasted or AI-generated. Documents stay in plain Markdown and can be exported to HTML, PDF, or Word.
You write in plain Markdown text, then switch to Preview to see the formatted, styled output using a template. Files sync across macOS, Windows, iPhone, and iPad, and can be exported or shared once finished.
Where iA Writer stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave iA Writer
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 iA Writer compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Writing apps checklist | iA Writer | Ulysses | Scrivener | Atticus | Dabble | Manuskript |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Goals & word counts | ||||||
| Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) | ||||||
| Sync between devices | ||||||
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| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Offline | ||||||
| Publishing integrations |
Every fact and feature listed for iA Writer is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
The Apps are licensed, not sold, to you.
https://ia.net/legal/eula -
Pricing model One-time verified 2026-07-11
$49.99 Once
https://ia.net/writer/pricing -
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS verified 2026-07-11
macOS 10.15 or later
https://ia.net/writer/pricing -
Starts at $29.99 one-time verified 2026-07-11
$29.99
https://ia.net/writer/pricing -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
7.3 --- AI in Technicolor
https://ia.net/writer/support/help/version-history -
Markdown support Yes verified 2026-07-11
Add formatting to your text using Markdown.
https://ia.net/writer/how-to -
Distraction-free mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
Focus mode for Mac emphasizes the active sentence or paragraph while eliminating distractions, so you can concentrate on the current task.
https://ia.net/writer/support/editor/focus-mode -
Long-form organization (chapters) No verified 2026-07-11
Folders can be created easily from the File List with a Right click → New Folder
https://ia.net/writer/support/library/organize -
Goals & word counts Yes verified 2026-07-11
set a Word Goal
https://ia.net/writer/support/editor/stats/stats-windows -
Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) Yes verified 2026-07-11
MS Word | .docx
https://ia.net/writer/support/preview/export-share-print -
Sync between devices Yes verified 2026-07-11
Having access to your documents on multiple devices makes life easier. Storing and working with documents in the cloud is easy in iA Writer for Mac.
https://ia.net/writer/support/library/cloud-storage -
Version history Partial verified 2026-07-11
To revert to a previously saved version of a file, go to File → Revert To, then select Last Opened/Previous Save or to Browse All Versions
https://ia.net/writer/support/help/versions-and-backups -
One-time purchase option Yes verified 2026-07-11
$49.99 Once
https://ia.net/writer/pricing -
Offline Yes verified 2026-07-11
All your Writer documents in iCloud are saved on your device for offline use.
https://ia.net/writer/support/help/icloud -
Publishing integrations Yes verified 2026-07-11
We currently provide this option for Medium, WordPress, Ghost, Micro.blog, and Micropub.
https://ia.net/writer/support/preview/blog/publish-to-blogging-platforms-mac
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.