I know writing can be hard. Or easy and fun. Or fun and hard.
Putting words on paper might seem straightforward, but putting them all together in the best sequence? That’s another story – probably one I don’t feel like writing.
Jokes aside, writing fulfills me, so I keep doing it. From writing articles every day to jotting down a to-do list, writing is a part of being human.
Over the years, I've seen writing change its forms many times. One of the biggest shifts was going digital. Novels, short stories, scripts, textbooks, research papers, and magazine articles: we can find everything online.
While nothing can replace the satisfaction of scribbling in my favorite notebook, I've found writing software solutions to be helpful in ways traditional methods can’t compete. The best part? It’s free!
Whether you’re looking for creative artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools or a simple note-taking platform, I'm sure this list of free writing software has something useful for your needs.
* These free writing tools are listed alphabetically and come with free trials or freemium options. I’ve also included their monthly pricing for easy comparison.
For me, writing software enhances the writing process with insights and suggestions. I find some platforms to be really good for research, grammar, and tone checking, making them perfect for all kinds of drafts, including online articles, scripts, and books.
I'll be honest with you—it took me days to sign up and test each of these writing software, except for the ones I already use regularly. My goal was simple: figure out if each tool does what it claims, what types of writing it's best for, and whether they offer a free version you can try out. I checked out user reviews on G2 to see how these tools work for others and what challenges they face. Lastly, I also factored in G2's grid reports.
A writing tool helps you write, right? I used to think so, too. But from my experience, the best writing software does more than just help you put words on a page. The free writing tools I use regularly help me fix grammar issues, improve readability, have the right tonality, offer writing insights, and, best of all, are free.
If you're comparing free writing tools, here's what I'd suggest to keep you in mind:
Out of the 32 free writing tools I tried, these 12 stood out for their features, ease of use, specific use cases, and free trials. I used each tool while writing my regular articles throughout the month. I wrote a different article with each one, kept notes on how they performed, and compared them in terms of their capabilities.
The list below contains real user reviews. For context, the vendors that offer a free trial are also considered free. To be included on this list, a solution must:
* This data was pulled from G2 in February 2024. The product list is ranked alphabetically. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
When using aiseo.ai, I noticed how it combines the power of AI and search engine optimization (SEO) data to generate copy. I find this writing tool to be ideal for bloggers, copywriters, and content marketers aspiring to rank high on Google and other search engines.
I was impressed by the variety of free tools for title generation, article writing, paraphrasing, rewriting, and rewording. The software offers a free 7-day trial with 60 credits and access to all features.
“I recently started using aiseo.ai, among several similar products, and I love them all! I think this is the only one with a readability improvement feature, and I really like it. It makes reading and understanding the text much easier and has helped me improve my writing. The other features are great too, but this is the feature that makes it stand out to me.”
- aiseo.ai Review, Kristen D.
“One potential downside of using an AI Content Detector is that it may not always be completely accurate. While the tool is designed to identify characteristics commonly found in machine-generated content, it’s possible that it may flag content as being potentially machine-generated even if it’s actually written by a human. This could lead to unnecessary revisions or changes to the content, which could be time-consuming and frustrating for the user.”
- aiseo.ai Review, Dadash V.
Trying AI writing tools? Check out these 10 AI writing generators that are highly recommended by my peers.
I turn to Anyword to write copy that converts. With text personalization and robust predictive analytics, I can validate the potential of every message I create for my customers. In fact, Anyword has increased conversion rates by 30% for several clients. I also used Anyword's templates to generate content briefs, find data and statistics, and generate articles.
There’s a 7-day free trial available for new users, after which their access automatically converts to a free plan.
“It does not distort the tone or messaging of what is already written. It just takes a draft and makes it more engaging and easy to read. It also helps that it offers multiple versions so users can pick which one best suits what they're looking for and then they can edit it even more. It can simultaneously process large volumes of texts such as long-read blog articles.”
- Anyword Review, Seun O
“It lacks several templates, such as meta descriptions, headlines, social media posts, conclusions, and templates for rewriting/rephrasing. These are the features that I would like to see added in the near future.”
- Anyword Review, Habib K.
I often turn to Copy.ai to generate content that’s more engaging and targeted and watch as it brings in faster and better results. I find this writing tool to be perfect for sales and marketing teams trying to drive copy that closes more deals. From digital ads to social media posts, I can write any form of content with this writing tool.
The free version allows unlimited writing projects with 90+ copywriting tools. You can also register for a free demo to understand how to make the most of your plan.
“The most important thing I like about Copy.ai is free credits. It helps me know about Copy.ai and AI generation. Also, the results are very satisfying, with many types of AI-generation word content for Facebook descriptions and YouTube title generation. The part I like the most is the landing page hero text; it greatly helps me.”
- Copy.ai Review, Kumaran R.
“What I find is missing from this product is the ability to pull data from an existing website. I'm not interested in plagiarizing! I just mean facts or data listed on an informational website. I would like to pull specific information and then write commentary around it. Also, the grammar is bad (run-on sentences, switching from first to third person, etc.) I always need to run it through a grammar check software after. I would also love to see a feature like a script writer for creating video scripts.”
- Copy.ai Review, Kate A.
Unsure about AI writing tools? I love this article on how marketers can use AI writing tools despite search algorithm changes, the demand for more human-written content, and ongoing ethical concerns.
I like Evernote's ability to meet all my writing needs on a single platform. Whether I am scanning documents, taking extensive notes, or jotting down a list, Evernote manages it all.
You can get this free writing app for iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS, and Linux; it even has an offline mode. If you wish to upgrade to the paid professional plan, it comes with a free 30-day trial.
“I have been using Evernote for a very long time, and I think the thing I like the most about it is that it just does such a good job of being both functional and fun. The user experience is clear and clean, I can search based on all kinds of tags, and there are many robust options for those times when I need more formatting than just basic headers and text.”
- Evernote Review, Sara C.
“One thing I don't like is the way notes are managed. When you’re a beginner with few notes, it works very well, but for more advanced users with a lot of information, this management is very short.”
- Evernote Review, Jesus M.
When testing Frase.io, I liked its ability to optimize content for search engines in minutes, not hours. This all-inclusive free writing software provides everything from content briefs to analytics post publishing so I can create popular content.
You can begin with a five-day (pretty much) free trial at only $1 and cancel your plan anytime you want.
“Frase.io is easy to use and gives you everything you need to create excellent content. I love how easy it’s to research competitors, find reference sources to use for blog posts, and create outlines and briefs. Most of all, their team is always looking to improve the product and takes customer feedback seriously.”
- Frase.io Review, Chris F.
“Too many updates and changes to the user interface. There should be a ‘use the old layout’ option. I'm used to getting what I need from the layout. It would be cool if you could connect SEMrush or Ahrefs to get the traffic data.”
- Frase.io Review, Marc P.
I often use Grammarly Business for its advanced AI-powered features and distraction-free writing experience. It improves word choices, refines sentence tone, enhances content clarity, and fixes grammatical errors.
The free forever plan is available for all platforms and is accessible through your browser or the desktop app. You can also download it for Mac, iPhone, and other mobile devices.
“Grammarly Business is the best to write content error-free. It has a grammar checker and a spell check feature that easily identifies errors. We can install Grammarly Extension in our Chromium or Chrome Browser, which can help all websites where we want to write the correct content. Even G2 uses this service to allow customers to write error-free reviews.”
- Grammarly Business Review, Devang S.
“Sometimes, Grammarly may suggest corrections that are not necessary or even incorrect. This can frustrate users who rely on the software to catch errors.”
- Grammarly Business Review, Husnain M.
Can writers like you and me co-exist with AI? Read what my colleague Marina has to say about the future of writing.
Google Workspace is powered by Google AI to create, connect, and collaborate. And when it comes to free word processors, Google Docs is the go-to answer for millions of users, including me. With a premade template gallery, I can create all kinds of content, including project proposals, meeting notes, and newsletters.
Perfect for individuals or teams, users can sign up for Google Docs for free and get unlimited access to all features, including real-time collaboration and auto-save.
“One of the things I appreciate is how easy it is to collaborate with other people in real time. Google Docs, for example, allows several people to edit the same document simultaneously, which is very useful for teamwork. In addition, having all the tools integrated into a single platform, such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, makes work much more efficient and organized.”
- Google Workspace Review, Luã Fhelyp G.
“One area that could be improved is integrating Google Workspace and other third-party applications. While many integrations are available, they’re not always seamless and can require manual work. Enhancing the integration capabilities would make connecting with other tools easier for my work.”
- Google Workspace Review, Alejandro D.
What stood out to me about Peppertype.ai is its ability to learn from my writing style and make it more competitive so that it works best for my audience. It provides an intelligent text editor, an SEO assistant, and integrations that ensure your writing is free from grammatical errors.
New users can try this tool for seven days for free and enjoy unlimited access to all its features. Please note you can't access the free trial without a company email address.
“I've used this tool to create countless pieces of content. It's really easy to use and is a great way to create high-quality content quickly. I've used it to create blog posts, ad copy, and Facebook posts. I love how it's written with a conversational tone that feels natural. And it's never written a line that my audience would find boring. I can literally create any type of content in seconds with Peppertype.ai. I've gotten content out the door in less than five minutes, which is great!”
- Peppertype.ai Review, Pallav B.
“Sometimes the input contents are not recognized correctly, and Peppertype returns the same input as output but takes the credits. They should not take the credit if they’re not rewriting anything.”
- Peppertype.ai Review, Md Farhanul I.
Rytr is another software I often use for writing. I like how it uses AI technology to create the best versions of written content. From social media captions and video ideas to business pitches and product descriptions, Rytr helps me make the most compelling copy for my projects.
The free forever plan supports more than 30 languages and has an inbuilt plagiarism checker for a seamless experience.
“I've been using Rytr for a few months now, and I absolutely love it. It's incredibly intuitive and easy to use, and the quality of the content it generates is top-notch. I've tried other AI writing and editing tools before, but none compares to the speed, accuracy, and convenience that Rytr offers. It's definitely the best AI writing tool out there!”
- Rytr Review, Abdi A.
“While AI writing can undoubtedly create exceptional quality content, its programming restricts it from offering truly creative or original ideas. Additionally, Rytr needs an internet connection to work optimally. If I’m in a region with slow or unreliable internet, it might be difficult for me to benefit from it.”
- Rytr Review, Chibuike U.
I often rely on Scalenut when working on AI-generated content, content planning, and keyword research. I also love how this free writing program offers on-page and NLP recommendations to help you rank articles better.
Try out Scalenut for free with a 7-day trial that comes with AI templates, an SEO editor, and search engine research page analysis functionalities.
“One of the standout features of Scalenut is its user-friendly interface. The platform is easy to navigate, and the reports generated by its tools are well-organized and straightforward. This makes it a great option for businesses that may not have much SEO experience. The platform offers tools for keyword research, content optimization, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, and more. After trying it for the first time, I realized it works great!”
- Scalenut Review, Teofil K.
“Customization. While Scalenut is designed to be easy to use, it may not offer the same level of customization or flexibility as other AI platforms. This may limit the ability of businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs or integrate it with existing systems and workflows.”
- Scalenut Review, Yashel M.
While I don't often use Scrivener, I know many people who use this free script writing software, including self-published authors, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, and academics. They keep telling me how this platform makes creative writing effortless with integrated research, outline, and writing support.
Also known for being one of the best book writing software tools, Scrivener supports footnotes, various text styles, and easy organization with its drag-and-drop function. Download the mobile app for iOS or the desktop version for Windows and macOS and get a free trial for 30 days (subject to use).
“When I'm writing, I need to keep things as organized as possible, and Scrivener makes that not only possible but easy and efficient with its organizational tools. It allows me to create multiple folders, manage my writing and outlines, and research characters how I want. It's ideal for working on a long project like a novel.”
- Scrivener Review, Alex T.
“I wish using cloud services to sync your writing was a little more intuitive. If you have two devices open working on the same document, it's possible to save over changes without being able to get them back.”
- Scrivener Review, Sydney R.
If you're in content writing and marketing like me, you definitely know about Writesonic. It helps me with AI writing, copywriting, and paraphrasing. I have also used it for long-form content like blog posts and website content and short copy like ads and emails. Writesonic’s platform supports over 25 languages and is the perfect addition for writers, entrepreneurs, e-commerce companies, and marketing teams.
New users can sign up for a free trial with their Google or Apple IDs or create a new account using their business email.
“The options it offers with different tools. You can do literally whatever you need for your blog or social media ads. I like that it’s consistent with bullet points, subheadings, and everything else that really needs to be done.”
- Writesonic Review, Simon P.
“The tool sometimes generates content that is not entirely accurate or relevant to the intended use case and may require manual editing or rewriting. Additionally, sometimes I faced technical issues with the platform's interface and functionality. While generating articles using the AI tools, I noticed that the same sentences are used repeatedly.”
- Writesonic Review, Santosh E.
Choosing the right free writing software depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here are a few things I'd suggest keeping in mind when picking a free writing tool:
Choosing free writing software comes with some challenges when compared to paid options:
Some of these capabilities may be available in free versions, but they will most certainly be restricted compared to their expensive equivalents.
Many free writing software options are compatible with desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. While most options are cross-platform and can be used on multiple operating systems, they may have restrictions or limitations on certain platforms. Make sure to check compatibility before choosing a particular software.
If you're anything like me and you lose sleep over finding the perfect words and metaphors, turning to free writing software is definitely a smart move.
Say goodbye to struggling with active-passive voice or the incorrect use of adverbs. AI writing assistants not only conduct spell checks and proofreading for your drafts but also generate content ideas from plain text. Whether you’re working on a script, sales copy, or a newsletter, writing software has features that get your words on the page.
Of course, many writing software solutions specialize in different kinds of writing as well. Check out the best free script writing software in 2024 to choose the perfect tool for drafting a screenplay.
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