Best writing apps

Best Writing Apps for Blogging and Articles

Writing and editing apps for blog posts, newsletters and articles, compared on platforms, price and publishing options.

All apps Novel writing Essays and long-form non-fiction Markdown and minimal Editing and proofreading Blogging and articles Mac list
Disclosure.

I built Writing Desk because I was frustrated with apps that were too complicated, too busy, or without the features I needed entirely. I built it for novels, but now use it for everything.

That said, some writing apps are better at certain jobs than others, and whilst I obviously think Writing Desk is the best of the best, I have tried to be impartial in my assessments.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Prices and verdicts reviewed quarterly.

My pick

Ulysses (Apple devices); Writing Desk for Markdown plus longer projects

This category is thin, and I would rather say so than pad it. On Apple devices my pick for a blogger is Ulysses.

  • A Markdown library that syncs across Mac, iPad and iPhone
  • Publishing built in

Pick something else if you want…

  • Markdown plus longer projects, and editorial feedback on a draft before it goes live: Writing Desk on Mac, iPhone and iPad, which I built, so weigh that
  • Something lighter and quicker: iA Writer or Bear
  • To write with a team: Notion or Google Docs

Each app is checked against its own pages for platforms, price and AI stance, and prices carry the date I checked them. I have used Google Docs, Word, Scrivener, Ulysses and Obsidian for my own writing; the rest are assessed from vendor pages and published reviews.

The apps

Bloggers and article writers who publish regularly from the app they write in.

Writing DeskMade by us

Novel writing · Documents · Markdown · Editing and analysis · Formatting and publishing

A native Mac app, with a mobile app for iPhone and iPad, for writing a novel from first idea to finished book, with planning, editing and book formatting in one project. Markdown and Word files open and save as they are.

Best for: Novelists on Mac, iPhone and iPad who want planning, editing and formatting in one app

MaciOSAI: assistive
Pricing Free plan; Premium from £8/mo billed annually (£10 monthly) or $10/mo USD billed annually ($12 monthly) Checked 6 Oct 2026 · Free plan, plus a 30-day Premium trial
Model Freemium + subscription (credit-metered AI)
  • Plotting and outlining
  • Worldbuilding
  • Markdown
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX
  • Grammar and style checks
  • Collaboration (partial)
  • Works offline

Choose it if

you write on a Mac, want your book on your iPhone and iPad as well, and want the plan, the draft and the editing tools in one project with AI that gives feedback and leaves the prose to you

Skip it if

you need Windows, Linux or a browser version, want real-time co-authoring, or want AI to draft prose for you

Download Writing Desk free Write anything in Writing Desk →

Free plan, with 30 days of Premium included. Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Ulysses

General writing

A Markdown writing app for Apple devices with a library, iCloud sync and writing goals.

Best for: Bloggers and article writers on Apple devices

MaciOSAI: assistive
Pricing From $5.99/mo (USD) or $39.99/yr Checked 6 Oct 2026 · Trial (14 days)
Model Subscription
  • Markdown
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX
  • Grammar and style checks
  • Works offline (partial)

Choose it if

you write on iPad and iPhone as well as Mac, keep a large library of articles, or want the simplest writing surface

Skip it if

you want a one-off purchase or story structure tools, because it is subscription-only

Read the full comparison with Writing Desk →

iA Writer

General writing

A minimal Markdown writing app for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Windows with a focus mode and strong typography.

Best for: Plain-text and Markdown writers who want few features

MacWindowsiOSAI: assistive
Pricing From £34.99 one-time Checked 6 Oct 2026 · Trial (7 days)
Model One-time per platform
  • Markdown
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX

Choose it if

you write on Windows as well as Mac, want the leanest possible app, or keep plain-text files across tools

Skip it if

you want planning tools, built-in editorial feedback or book formatting

Read the full comparison with Writing Desk →

Bear

General writing

A fast Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Best for: Notes and short pieces on Apple devices

MaciOSNo AI
Pricing From $2.99/mo (USD) Checked 10 Oct 2026 · Yes (free core app; Pro 7-day trial)
Model Freemium + subscription
  • Markdown
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX

Choose it if

you want quick Markdown notes that sync through iCloud on your Apple devices

Skip it if

you need Windows or Android, or structure tools for a long manuscript

Typora

General writing

A Markdown editor that renders as you type, with themes and export to PDF and other formats.

Best for: Markdown writers who want a clean, live-rendered editor

MacWindowsLinuxNo AI
Pricing From $14.99 one-time (USD) Checked 10 Oct 2026 · Trial (15 days, up to 3 devices)
Model One-time licence
  • Markdown
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX

Choose it if

you want a one-off purchase for a minimal Markdown editor on Mac, Windows or Linux

Skip it if

you want planning or editorial tools, or phone apps

Microsoft Word

General writing

The industry-standard word processor, with Track Changes, comments and a free web version.

Best for: Submissions and working with editors

MacBrowserWindowsiOSAndroidAI: general assistant
Pricing From £8.49/mo; up to £18.99/mo Checked 10 Oct 2026 · Yes (Word for the web is free)
Rating Capterra 4.7 / 5 Rating from Capterra, checked 2026-10-02. Not combined with other scores.
  • Export to EPUB, PDF or DOCX
  • Collaboration
  • Works offline

Choose it if

your agent, editor or publisher expects Word files

Skip it if

you want to organise a novel, because Word has no novel planning tools