Best Writing Software with a Free Trial of 2026

Canva is an all-in-one design solution, empowering anyone—from students and non-profit organizations to businesses of any size—to design anything they can imagine. Think of all the ways you can use Canva and the versatility it will provide you in day-to-day life, education, or the office. Use the whiteboard feature to flesh out new ideas and keep track of your notes—Edit photos or videos for any occasion. Elevate your resume by building it with a template, or take it further and create a website dedicated to your accomplishments! Companies can develop marketing campaigns and social media advertising with ease. Canva Teams offers real-time collaboration on the same project, helping you create content faster, improve collaboration, and help scale your brand. Try premium features with Canva Pro for free for 30 days, and try exclusive features like background remover, instant animations, scheduling campaigns, brand kits, and resizing formatting options. Canva also has a feature called Magic Write. Magic Write in Canva Docs is an AI text generator to help you write stories, copy, blogs, articles, lyrics and more using AI content generation.

Microsoft Word, part of the Microsoft 365 suite, combines decades of trusted word processing innovation with the latest advancements in AI-powered writing assistance. With Copilot, users can instantly generate outlines, summarize long documents, or refine tone and structure through conversational prompts. The intelligent Editor tool enhances writing by checking grammar, clarity, conciseness, and inclusiveness, helping you communicate more effectively. Word’s cloud-first design allows seamless collaboration, enabling multiple people to edit, comment, and share feedback in real time across devices. Integrated OneDrive storage keeps all your files secure and accessible from anywhere, while Microsoft Defender protects your work from cyber threats. Word also supports rich formatting, dictation, voice commands, and thousands of professional templates to help users create standout documents. Available through Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium plans, users can unlock advanced features, including Copilot refinements and AI-generated content. Whether you’re a student, professional, or enterprise team, Word offers the tools to write better, faster, and smarter.

Typewriter. Ring-binder. Scrapbook. With Scrivener, all the essential tools for crafting your first draft are at your fingertips, guiding you from the initial concept to the final punctuation. This powerful application serves as a favorite among writers across various domains, including best-selling authors, screenwriters, and researchers, as well as students, lawyers, journalists, and translators who utilize it daily. Rather than dictating your writing style, Scrivener equips you with everything necessary to begin and sustain your writing journey. Designed specifically for extensive writing endeavors, it alleviates the anxiety of a blank page by allowing you to organize your text in any sequence, whether in extensive sections or bite-sized pieces. Have an inspiring thought but unsure of its placement? You can jot it down whenever creativity strikes and determine its position later. Develop your manuscript organically, building it idea by idea, and whether you prefer a meticulous approach or an exploratory one, Scrivener adapts to your process: you can outline every detail before writing a single word or draft freely and adjust your structure afterward. Alternatively, you can blend these approaches to find what works best for you, ensuring that your writing experience is as fluid and adaptable as your imagination.

Bear is an elegant and versatile writing application designed for composing notes and literary pieces. Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Bear allows you to capture your thoughts wherever creativity sparks. Stay organized with to-do lists that sync seamlessly across all devices. Connect your notes to one another, creating a cohesive body of work, while hashtags help you categorize your ideas effectively. For added security, utilize Face/Touch ID to safeguard your private notes. Whether you need to jot down quick thoughts or draft comprehensive essays, Bear is an ideal tool. Its focus mode enhances concentration, and the sophisticated markup features cater to the needs of online writers. Additionally, full in-line image support enriches your narratives and makes your writing visually engaging. With Bear, crafting your ideas has never been more enjoyable and efficient.

All you need to do is start your book. You can also plot your book and write it. Drag and drop organization of all your chapters, subchapters, and elements. LivingWriter stores your story elements, and suggests them to you as you write. Use the time-tested outline design of best-selling authors to organize your story. Spend less time planning and organizing. Spend more time converting your ideas into books. You can easily reorder and reorder chapters and story elements without having to copy and paste. You can quickly jot down your chapter notes on the sidebar. You can see everything on one screen so you don't have to leave your story. We don't believe it's necessary to reinvent the wheel, but we do like to greasing it a little. LivingWriter allows you to use the same outlines as in famous movies and stories. With detailed guidance, we'll guide you through each step. You won't find a better writing app.

Concentrate on your writing. iA Writer, with its award-winning design, provides a fundamental writing experience that stands out. Embraced by over half a million users globally, this streamlined interface is specifically designed to eliminate distractions. You'll find just yourself, your ideas, and the words filling the page, devoid of rulers or formatting tools. iA Writer creates a clear, organized space essential for effective writing, enhanced by subtle yet powerful features like content blocks and syntax highlighting. The importance of focus in writing is paramount, and it is the foundational philosophy of iA Writer. With intuitive shortcuts and straightforward settings, you can maintain your typing flow while remaining immersed in your text. We believe that every writer deserves to possess their own tools, which is why when you choose to download iA Writer, it is yours to keep. There are no obligatory subscriptions, hidden charges, or issues with compatibility, making it solely about your work, your files, and your chosen application. Ultimately, this approach empowers writers to fully engage with their craft without unnecessary interruptions.

Effie is a lightweight, yet powerful, mind mapping and writing program for Windows, iOS, and Mac. Features: All your work is accessible and in one place. There's no need to manage multiple files. Autosave allows you to sync all of your work in the cloud so that you can access it from anywhere. You will be able to focus on your writing without distractions. One tap and you can convert an unorganized list into a mindmap, or vice versa. Edits to the unordered list can be synced with an app-specific mind map, which will save you from jumping through hoops from one application to the next. Exportable to a PDF or DOCX file, Markdown, EffieSheet, Markdown, EffieSheet and JPEG. Simplified markup language makes it easy to finish your writing without having to move your fingers from the keyboard. The Markup Insight panel is woken by a "/", which makes it easier to use the markup language. You can choose to write in a dark or light theme depending on what inspires you and your productivity. There are many styles available to help you create your mind maps. Built with native code

The Ultimate Writing Application for Mac, iPad, and iPhone offers a seamless and focused writing environment that blends efficient document management with quick syncing and versatile export options, establishing Ulysses as a top pick for various types of writers. Users often commend how Ulysses fosters an immersive experience with their text, noting significant boosts in their productivity as a result. While it serves as a comprehensive writing tool, Ulysses adeptly maintains a low profile, allowing it to compete with any distraction-free writing software. Its integrated library conveniently houses all of your written works and is designed to accommodate projects of any scale or ambition. Whether you’re crafting heartfelt letters, jotting down simple notes, composing blog entries, or even tackling your literary masterpiece, Ulysses ensures your writing remains expertly managed. Consequently, you can dedicate your energy to simply putting words on the page. This tool empowers you to create anywhere—from the comfort of your couch to a bustling café or while waiting for public transport—ensuring that inspiration can be captured at any moment. Embrace the freedom to write on your terms, no matter where life takes you.