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Indie Writing tools

25 writing products built by independent developers and small teams.

Looking to replace something? WordPress · Grammarly · Medium · Microsoft Word

Bear Blog

No-tracking, ad-free minimalist blog

A tiny, fast blogging platform with no tracking and no ads.

Free plan · Web · Website ↗

Craft

Beautiful documents and notes app with easy sharing

A document and note-taking app with block-based editing, nested pages, daily notes and one-click web sharing. Aimed at individuals and small teams who care about design.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, iOS · Website ↗

DeepL

AI translator and writing assistant

An AI translation service for text and documents in many languages, with apps, browser extension, writing assistant and API.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension, API · Website ↗

DeepL Write

AI writing assistant for clearer text

AI tool from DeepL that rephrases and corrects text to improve clarity and tone.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension · Website ↗

Feather

Turn Notion into a blog

Publish an SEO-friendly blog by writing in Notion. Aimed at founders and marketers who already write in Notion.

Paid · Web · Website ↗

Ghost

Open-source publishing platform for blogs and paid newsletters

An open-source platform for publishing a website, sending newsletters and running paid memberships. Run by a non-profit foundation; available hosted or self-hosted.

Free plan · Web, Self-hosted, API · Website ↗

Harper

Private, open-source grammar checker

Fast open-source grammar checker that runs locally in editors, browsers and Obsidian without sending text to a server.

Free · Browser extension, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web · Website ↗

Hemingway Editor

Highlights hard-to-read sentences to make writing clearer

Hemingway Editor flags long sentences, passive voice and complex words so you can make writing bold and clear, in the browser or as a desktop app.

Free plan · Web, Windows, Mac · Website ↗

HyperWrite

AI writing assistant and research tools

AI writing assistant with autocomplete, rewriting and research tools that works across the web.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

iA Writer

Focused Markdown writing app

iA Writer is a distraction-free Markdown editor with focus mode, syntax highlighting for style and publishing to WordPress and other platforms.

Paid · Mac, Windows, iOS, Android · Website ↗

LanguageTool

Grammar, style and spell checker for many languages

A multilingual grammar and style checker available as browser extension, desktop and office add-ins, with an open-source core.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension, API · Website ↗

Lex

AI-assisted word processor for writers

A minimal online word processor with built-in AI for feedback, brainstorming and editing drafts.

Free plan · Web · Website ↗

mataroa

Naked blogging platform for minimalists

A minimal, open-source blogging platform with Markdown support and newsletters. For writers who want a fast, no-frills blog.

Paid · Web · Website ↗

Micro.blog

Independent microblogging and blog hosting

A blog hosting service and community for short posts, photos and long-form writing on your own domain. Works with the open web and the fediverse.

Paid · Web, iOS, Mac, Android · Website ↗

NovelAI

AI storytelling and anime image generation

Subscription service for AI-assisted story writing and anime-style image generation.

Paid · Web · Website ↗

Novelcrafter

Novel-writing workspace with optional AI

Writing app for planning and drafting novels with a codex, outlines and bring-your-own AI model support.

Paid · Web · Website ↗

Pika

Delightful, simple blogging

A blogging platform with a clean editor, custom themes and email subscriptions. For people who want a pleasant personal blog without fuss.

Free plan · Web · Website ↗

ProWritingAid

Grammar checker and style editor for writers

A writing assistant that checks grammar and style and offers in-depth reports on readability, pacing and repetition, aimed at authors and students.

Free plan · Web, Mac, Windows, Browser extension · Website ↗

QuillBot

Paraphrasing and AI writing tools

Online writing tools for paraphrasing, grammar checking, summarizing and citation generation.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

Scrivener

Writing app for long-form projects like novels and theses

Scrivener by Literature & Latte helps writers draft, structure and research long documents, with a corkboard, outliner and flexible compile options.

Paid · Mac, Windows, iOS · Website ↗

Sudowrite

AI writing partner for fiction

AI tool for novelists that helps brainstorm, draft, describe and revise fiction.

Paid · Web · Website ↗

Typora

Seamless WYSIWYG Markdown editor

Typora is a Markdown editor and reader that renders formatting live as you type, with export to PDF, Word and HTML.

Paid · Windows, Mac, Linux · Website ↗

Wordtune

AI rewriting and writing assistant

AI writing assistant that suggests rewrites, tone changes and summaries as you write.

Free plan · Web, Browser extension · Website ↗

Write.as

Simple, distraction-free blogging

A minimalist blogging platform focused on writing and privacy, with no ads or tracking. Built on open-source WriteFreely.

Free plan · Web, iOS, Android · Website ↗

Zettlr

Open-source Markdown editor for academic writing and notes

Zettlr is a free Markdown editor for researchers and writers, with Zettelkasten-style linking, citations via Zotero and export through Pandoc.

Free · Windows, Mac, Linux · Website ↗

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