Greatest Distraction-Free Writing Apps: iA Author, Ulysses, FocusWriter, Google Docs, Obsidian

iA Author has darkish mode and shortcut integration for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Plus IT’s simply plain fairly. Given the excessive worth although, you must be fairly devoted to the thought of a distraction-free working surroundings to spring for iA Author.

Ulysses

The fundamental format and have set of Ulysses isn’t terribly completely different from iA Author. There’s a sidebar for navigating and organizing your information, and a big predominant pane for composing. However IT’s positively extra feature-rich, together with instruments for aim monitoring and proofreading. Due to its easy however considerate group system, you would in all probability even use Ulysses as a note-taking app in a pinch.

Like iA Author IT has a typewriter mode with line highlighting and textual content scrolling. However you must activate the assorted elements of IT individually the primary time. Considered one of its greater attracts is its types that can help you export paperwork utilizing templates custom-made for scripts, novels, weblog posts, and extra.

The knock in opposition to Ulysses is that IT’s accessible solely as a $40 annual subscription. And IT’s strictly for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. In case you’re a Home windows person, you’re out of luck.

FocusWriter

That is maybe essentially the most bare-bones of the bunch, however IT shouldn’t be neglected. FocusWriter has all of the fundamentals you’d anticipate from a textual content editor, together with spell verify and the power to have a number of paperwork open concurrently. IT additionally has instruments for severe writers, like stat monitoring and aim setting.

Not like a lot of the different apps right here, FocusWriter makes use of wealthy textual content (RTF) for formatting as an alternative of Markdown. IT in all probability has essentially the most customizable interface of the bunch, although. You’ll be able to meticulously select the interface colours, fonts, and background.

One of many largest attracts will probably be that IT’s free and open supply, although proper now IT’s accessible for Home windows and Linux solely. Whilst you can in all probability get IT working on macOS if your method round a command line, IT will take some legwork, and there’s no cellular shopper or file syncing.

OmmWriter

The thought of distraction-free writing is, inherently, sort of gimmicky. However OmmWriter might be essentially the most gimmicky of the bunch. IT doesn’t simply strip away the extraneous nonsense; IT goals to immerse you in an surroundings conducive to a move state. That features mild soundscapes that can assist you focus and even varied typing sound results to boost the vibes.

If you’d like extra audible suggestions whereas typing, however don’t need to spend money on a pleasant mechanical keyboard, this may do the job. Although, the very slight lag between your fingers hitting the keys and the sound popping out of the audio system bugged me.

In any other case, the UI is fairly naked, with a resizable textual content field within the middle and some buttons to the precise for altering settings. IT’s the most affordable of the business choices right here at $9.93 for macOS or Home windows. However you can too give IT a whirl in your browser by taking part in with a stripped down model at no cost.

Scrivener

Scrivener has a devoted following amongst long-form writers, and for good purpose. Whereas the app does have a wonderful distraction-free mode, full with typewriter-style scrolling, IT additionally sports activities superior organizing instruments that you just’re positive to understand if you happen to’re engaged on a e-book or a screenplay. IT’s made particularly with longer writing tasks in thoughts.

Its mission outlines make IT easy to gather analysis or rearrange concepts till you discover what clicks. When IT comes time to truly write, the total display composition mode removes all the pieces however the textual content field. IT’s essentially the most minimal of editors.