Writing is a part of daily work for both designers and writers. Whether you’re drafting content, preparing scripts, or taking notes for your next design idea, using the right writing tool makes a big difference. In 2025, many free apps offer features that help you write faster, avoid mistakes, and stay organized.
This blog lists the top 8 free writing apps that help designers and writers work better and save time.
Why Writers and Designers Need Writing Apps
Writing apps help improve your content and make your workflow smoother. Here’s why they are useful:
- Catch grammar and spelling mistakes before sharing or publishing.
- Organize ideas clearly using notes, outlines, or folders.
- Stay focused with tools that reduce distractions.
- Collaborate easily with teammates or clients in real time.
These apps support creative work, making it easier to focus on your ideas and deliver clean, clear writing.
Criteria for Choosing a Good Writing App
When choosing a writing app, check for these features:
- Easy-to-use interface so you can start writing without confusion.
- Works on multiple devices like phones, tablets, and desktops.
- Lets you write offline and online, depending on your needs.
- Checks grammar and style to make writing more clear and correct.
- Offers sharing and export options, especially for team projects.
Top 8 Free Writing Apps for 2025
Here are the best free writing tools for designers and writers in 2025:
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is a free, cloud-based writing tool that works in your browser. It allows you to write, edit, and share documents online. You can work alone or with others in real time. Changes save automatically to your Google Drive. It is simple to use and works on all devices. It’s great for both writing and team collaboration.
Key Features:
- Real-time collaboration
- Autosave with cloud backup
- Commenting and suggesting
- Version history
- Works on all devices
2. Grammarly
Grammarly helps you fix grammar, spelling, and writing tone. It works as a browser extension and in its own editor. It checks your writing and gives real-time suggestions. It is easy to use and improves writing speed and accuracy. It also gives tone and clarity tips. Grammarly is good for emails, articles, and social posts.
Key Features:
- Real-time grammar and spelling checks
- Tone and clarity suggestions
- Works across browsers and editors
- Weekly writing reports
- Easy-to-understand corrections
3. Notion
Notion is a flexible writing and planning app. You can create pages for notes, content, and task lists. It is helpful for organizing ideas and managing projects. You can use templates to save time. It allows collaboration with shared pages. Notion is good for writers and designers who want to keep everything in one place.
Key Features:
- Notes, docs, and task tracking
- Custom templates
- Real-time collaboration
- Drag-and-drop blocks
- Cross-device syncing
4. Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor makes your writing simple and clear. It shows long or hard-to-read sentences. It highlights passive voice and complex words. The app gives a readability score to guide your edits. You can use it online or offline. It helps you write in a clear and direct way.
Key Features:
- Highlights complex sentences
- Readability score
- Detects passive voice
- Clean writing mode
- Online and desktop versions
5. LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is a free desktop word processor. It works offline and supports many file types. It offers strong formatting and editing tools. You can export your files as PDFs or Word documents. It is open-source and receives regular updates. It’s a good alternative to Microsoft Word.
Key Features:
- Works offline
- Advanced formatting tools
- Supports DOCX, PDF, and more
- No signup required
- Free and open-source
6. Evernote
Evernote is a note-taking app that helps you save and organize ideas. You can write notes, add tags, and attach files or images. It syncs across devices so your notes are always updated. You can also save web pages and voice notes. Evernote is useful for collecting research and planning content.
Key Features:
- Create and tag notes
- Web clipping tool
- Sync across all devices
- Add images and audio
- Organize with notebooks
7. FocusWriter
FocusWriter is a distraction-free writing app. It opens in full screen to help you focus only on your text. You can set daily goals, like word count or time. It saves your progress automatically. It has a clean interface with optional background themes. It is good for writing without interruptions.
Key Features:
- Full-screen distraction-free mode
- Set writing goals and timers
- Auto-save feature
- Lightweight and fast
- Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
8. Joplin
Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking and writing app. It lets you organize content into notebooks. You can write using Markdown for easy formatting. It works offline and syncs securely with cloud services. It also supports attachments and tagging. Joplin is great for writers who need structure and privacy.
Key Features:
- Markdown support
- Notebook and tag organization
- Works offline
- Secure cloud sync
- Open-source and free
Best App for Each Use Case
Different apps work better for different needs. Here’s a quick guide:
- Best for collaboration: Google Docs
- Best for grammar checking: Grammarly
- Best for editing style: Hemingway Editor
- Best for focused writing: FocusWriter
- Best for idea organization: Notion and Evernote
- Best for offline writing: LibreOffice Writer and Joplin
Tips for Making the Most of Writing Apps
Get more out of your writing tools by following these tips:
- Set clear goals like word count or time limits.
- Use folders or tags to keep your files easy to find.
- Check grammar after writing to keep the flow natural.
- Save backups regularly to avoid data loss.
Conclusion
Free writing apps help both designers and writers improve their work. You can write faster, stay organized, and avoid mistakes with the right tool. Try out the apps listed in this blog to see which one fits your style. A simple tool can save time and make writing a lot easier.
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