ZenPen alternatives

Ranked alternatives

1. 1
   
   Calmly WriterFree

   Calmly Writer is an editor designed to focus on what you want to tell with a simple, easy-to-use, and obtrusive interface. Calmly Writer is intended to help you concentrate on writing. As you start typing, all the distracting options vanish from the user interface. Additionally, the “focus mode” option highlights only the paragraph you are editing at the time. The formatting can also be changed, but to avoid that hassle, it has set the formatting to be the most suitable by default; hence there is no need to change it most of the time.

   Another highlighting feature is the autosave. As long as you do not close a document tab, that document will be opened every time you start the application. If the document was not saved, its backup would be loaded. Additionally, it displays word count, color themes including dark or light mode, smart punctuation, typing sounds, text color, and much more. You can export the text as a Word file too. All in all, the Calmly Writer is a great tool for writers and poets who want quick and distraction-free writing.

   Calmly Writer alternatives
2. 2
   
   WriteNextFree

   WriteNext is an online writing application that helps you write in a peaceful environment whatever is in your mind with some intuitive features. WriteNext helps you increase focus on your writing instead of setting its format and other fancy options. Reduce distractions by separating your creative writing from other activities. You can set your daily writing goals and schedule time for writing. It has a bunch of presets to choose from, which include a number of daily words, time, and score.

   The performance tracking feature lets you analyze yourself and grow. It tells you about the number of streaks for daily writing, words per day, time spent per day, total words, and total minutes spent. You can stay motivated after achieving your goals and milestone. Your writings are not only secured but also encrypted. WriteNext takes privacy to the next level so you can be sure that your ideas can’t be stolen and deciphered by anyone else.

   WriteNext alternatives
3. 3
   
   StashanyFree

   Stashany is an online text editor and notepad for quick notes, a to-do list, and saving code snippets. The tool is specifically made for developers with a programming and coding application-like interface. Besides plain text, you can also use markdown for a to-do list, a checklist with markers, and taking notes. With a text and code formatter in a programming theme, you can use the format section as a temporary space for saving your logs and for changing the text format.

   If you don’t like the programming theme with line numbers, you can with the environment to plain text mode with other modes also there, including side by side comparison, mark don, XML, JSON, Java, C++, Go, Python, PHP, and much more. It includes a code editor interface that recognizes common data and coding syntax. You can view your debug log and code snippet more easily with syntax highlight and code folding or even do a RegEx search. All in all, Stashany is great for taking notes and use as a to-do list quickly at anywhere any time.

   Stashany alternatives
4. 4
   
   WriteboxFree

   Writebox is one of the best, modest, and distraction-free online text editor and notepad that allows you to focus on writing and seamlessly synchronize your text across all connected devices. There are no rulers, no buttons, and you only need to know information like the number of lines, the number of words, and the number of characters. The window border is the only thing that still tells the user that it’s an actual app. It works on any browser on any device. Writebox displays a minimalistic user interface that is well-suited for distraction-free writing.

   It is an alternative to Byword, Plaintext, and many more online text editors. It has a cross-platform extension which means the file is compatible with most of the document viewers. Writebox does not use or store any of your passwords and writings, so you don’t need to worry about security. All in all, Writebox is a simple text editor but a must to have tool for power users.

   Writebox alternatives
5. 5
   
   Cold Turkey WriterPaid

   Cold Turkey Writer is one of the most useful text editor software that blocks everything on your computer until you reach your writing goal. The goal can be either number of words, a certain time period, or anything related to writing. The full-screen mode eliminated all the distractions and tools giving you a plain whiteboard with a cursor. It helps you focus on your writing instead of having to look at fancy options and formatting.

   The program is designed in a way that boosts your productivity. To check how much time or words you have left, just check the progress bar at the top. After you’ve reached your goal, you will see the option to snooze or save and quit. The tool runs offline as a standalone program on your PC. Other options include light/dark them, font family, font size, disabling selection, arrow key, backspace, delete key, and copy/paste option. All in all, Cold Turkey Writer is a great distraction-free tool for all your writing needs.

   Cold Turkey Writer alternatives
6. 6
   
   CrossnoteFree

   Crossnote is an offline application that you can use as a notepad and text editor for all your writing needs. It supports the synchronization of your notebooks with arbitrary GitHub repositories right into the browser. It also has a browser extension available to take down notes whenever you see or remember something while browsing. The application is built on the top of material UI, which is minimalistic and is less distracting to your writing session. Crossnote is made to boost your productivity and collaboration works. It consists of a document editor which is focused on collaborative activities and a document management infrastructure that manages general files such as Word, Excel, and PDF.

   Crossnote is made available on cloud computing services, and that enables borderless collaborations across the boundaries over corporate structures or countries. It also features segmented editing for large documents which means more than one document can be put together as one document. You can change the editing administrator on each document. Numbering and reference links can be automatically updated too.

   Crossnote alternatives
7. 7
   
   TextRoomFree

   TextRoom is a text editor and notepad made for writers with a distraction-free and minimal interface. The tools are hidden but can be accessed when needed with function keys. If you need to write something without any distractions, fancy features, a peaceful environment, and a calm mind, TextRoom is a great tool you can consider. You can customize the keyboard shortcuts to assign different actions to each key. The tool works on Ubuntu, Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Fedora operating systems.

   TextRoom alternatives
8. 8
   
   JDarkRoomFree

   JDarkRoom is one of the most popular full-screen text editors with none of the usual bells and whistles that might distract you from the writing. You can write a speech, novel, thesis, essay, or any writing in JDarkRoom with full concentration. The JDarkRoom is available for Windows and is based on the Mac version of the text editor WriteRoom. The interface is clean and minimal, without any option visible on the screen. Those options can be accessed with hotkeys combination like function keys. The text size, font color, and preferences can be changed by pressing F6 as a hotkey.

   It has an autosave feature, so if you forgot to save and closed the work, it will load up the session the next time you log in. One good thing is that it also warns you before closing the work without saving. Additional options include no delete mode, typewriter scrolling mode, file encoding options, text antialiasing, inherit identification, insert timestamp feature, convert tabs to spaces, export to HTML, text search, adjustable margin, and mouse wheel scrolling.

   JDarkRoom alternatives
9. 9
   
   SSuite NoteBook EditorFree

   SSuite NoteBook Editor is a full-featured, fast ad portable text editor that you can use on the go. The program supports all versions. The SSuite NoteBook Editor has all the necessary functionalities to assist you in writing in a comfortable environment. On the upper part of the interface window, there are buttons for opening new or existing documents, saving, cutting, copying, pasting, and viewing documents in different styles. For example, you can tile windows vertically, horizontally, or cascade them.

   You can save your documents in a variety of formats like pdf, RTF, doc, txt, and our own presentation format ssp. It lets you insert special characters, emotional icons, pictures, and images into your writing for a more colorful display of your thoughts and ideas. There aren’t any unnecessary functions and features hogging all your precious computer resources or overwhelming the screen like other bloated word processors. It has no need for Java or DotNet to work successfully.

   SSuite NoteBook Editor alternatives
10. 10
    
    SimpletextPaid

    Simpletext is a minimalist-designed app for all your writing and to-do-list needs. Simpletext provides a quiet space to write with absolutely nothing to distract you from writing. There’s no visual clutter in the editor. The aim is to create a space that helps you connect with your voice and get into the flow. It comes with three professional fonts for you to choose from that are handpicked to ensure the finest writing experience.

    The app saves in plain text format, which is lightweight and platform-independent. This ensures your words are always accessible on every device, now and in the future. Other features include iCloud Drive storage sharing, Share Sheet, Dark Mode, Multiple Windows, Auto Save, and much more. It also runs natively on the latest Apple silicon chip, M1.

    Simpletext alternatives
11. 11
    
    SpringNotesPaid

    SpringNotes is an application made for iOS that you can use for any king of writing, make to-do-list, and write notes in a minimal and distraction-free environment. SpringNotes helps you increase focus on your writing instead of setting its format and other fancy options. It reduces distractions by separating your creative writing from other activities. You can set your daily writing goals and schedule time for writing. It has a bunch of presets to choose from, which include a number of daily words, time, and score.

    The performance tracking feature lets you analyze yourself and grow. It tells you about the number of streaks for daily writing, words per day, time spent per day, total words, and total minutes spent. You can stay motivated after achieving your goals and milestone. Your writings are not only secured but also encrypted. SpringNotes takes privacy to the next level so you can be sure that your ideas can’t be stolen and deciphered by anyone else.

    SpringNotes alternatives
12. 12
    
    DeepdwnPaid

    Deepdwn is a markdown editor and organizer available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The program interface is mage like a programming environment with line numbers and fonts like you are writing a program. The tool is aimed towards developers and programmers to write important notes, to-do-list or write anything. With a text and code formatter in a programming theme, you can use the format section as a temporary space for saving your logs and for changing the text format.

    It helps you enhance your writing with tables, numbered and bulleted lists, checklists, links and images, graphs and diagrams, code blocks, and lots more. If you don’t like the programming theme with line numbers, you can with the environment to plain text mode. Other modes are also there, including side by side comparison, mark don, XML, JSON, Java, C++, Go, Python, PHP, and much more.

    Deepdwn alternatives
13. 13
    
    First Draft AppPaid

    First Draft App is full-screen, distraction-free writing software that helps you write your book, essay, blogs, or other content in less time with stress. First Draft App uses a science-based approach to reduce the burden and stresses of writing. A sliding window only shows you the most recent lines of text, providing only the necessary information to write the next sentence. Once that sentence is complete, it becomes uneditable. This unique approach stops you from being overly critical of your writing during the first draft, maximizes productivity by avoiding pre-emptive editing, and always keeps your focus on getting the words onto the page.

    It also has a wide range of customizable options to change the look of your writing as suits your visuals. You can select a color palette to make your eyes comfortable. First Draft App allows you to set a goal for each file you create and automatically monitors your progress against that goal. You can target a total word count, writing time, or even set daily goals.

    First Draft App alternatives
14. 14
    
    Xaviesteve OmPadFree

    Xaviesteve OmPad is an online minimal writing tool that helps you focus and concentrate on writing great content. It allows you to focus on writing and seamlessly synchronize your text across all connected devices. There are no rulers, no buttons, and you only need to know information like the number of lines, the number of words, and the number of characters. The window border is the only thing that still tells the user that it’s an actual app. It works on any browser on any device. Xaviesteve OmPad displays a minimalistic user interface that is well-suited for distraction-free writing.

    The program is designed in a way that boosts your productivity. To check how much time or words you have left, just check the progress bar at the top. After you’ve reached your goal, you will see the option to snooze or save and quit. All in all, Xaviesteve OmPad is a great writing tool for all your creative content writing needs.

    Xaviesteve OmPad alternatives