Top 13 FocusWriter alternatives
If you're looking for alternatives to FocusWriter, you're in the right place. We've compiled a list of the best FocusWriter alternatives for you. Including: Quip , FreeOffice TextMaker , and WPS Office Writer Free.
1. Quip
- Platforms: WindowsMacLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDF
Quip is a productivity software founded in 2012 by Bret Taylor, who is a co-creator of the well known tool "Google Maps" and an ex worker of Facebook Inc.. It was firstly launched as a website in 2012 but one year later the company launched a mobile phone app.
This software allows people to create and edit documents together, and also has a spreadsheet tool, which makes this software very useful for businesses. Quip allows everyone to edit the same document at the same time, showing the history of versions and who and when made each of the changes in the document. Even thought you don't have internet connection at a particular moment, you can still use every tool, creating and editing the documents during that time and right after you recover internet connection the changes will automatically be shown to the rest of the persons inside the document. It also gives you the chance to mention someone with an @, and that person will get a notification on his phone, perfect for giving a touch of attention to those mates who take advantage of group works.
Quip is a very useful app that can be used for editing documents with your workmates or classmates and works very efficiently, with an instant update of the new information that makes group work very comfortable to do.
2. FreeOffice TextMaker
- Platforms: WindowsMacLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDF
FreeOffice is the free version of SoftMaker Office, which was developed in 1987 by a german company called SoftMaker Software GmbH. This free version was launched in 2006 and is compatible with Windows, Linux and Mac OS.
FreeOffice is an ofimatic suite that includes text processing, spreadsheet and presentation sheet tools as a free alternative to Microsoft Office softwares, but being compatible with them at the same time. It has very similar features to those Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) , allowing you to edit, write and save documents in microsoft formats. The software includes four different components, text maker is the word porcessor, plan maker the spreadsheet, softmaker presentations the presentation tool, and basicmaker a programming tool.
If you are looking for a software similar to those of Microsoft office but you don't want to spend money on it FreeOffice is definitely a good choice. You could do your documents at home with it and then bring them to your workplace or study place and open that documents in microsoft applications.
3. WPS Office Writer Free
- Platforms: WindowsMacLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDF
WPS Office Free Writer is a free alternative software program for Microsoft office, it is available for Windows, Android, IOS, and Linux making it available for cross platforms. Its functions are similar to the Microsoft office making it very easy to use and having a friendly user interface, perhaps its most notable function is being able to open an MS word file without compromising the content of the document making it usable in any type of platform. Most of the users of this software would include people who are using small devices such as a smartphone, and tablet who cannot fully display an entire Microsoft office file due to hardware configurations and since it is free the user will no longer have to worry about the subscription fees, and premium contents since the free version are already packed with great features perfect for everyday use making it one of the greatest software applications.
WPS Office Writer Free alternatives
4. GoodNotes
- Platforms: WebWindowsMaciOSAndroidLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDFPDF annotation
GoodNotes is a beautiful and powerful PDF annotating and organizing App. It allows you to read, mark up, review, and share your documents. Whether you process business contracts or use annotations on notes and textbooks this software is the ultimate companion for your needs.
It includes optical character recognition technology and handwriting, which will enable you to search for digital notes using various keywords.
All your documents and annotations will be securely stored on all Apple devices. You can protect them with a strong password and log in automatically without filling in any complicated forms.
GoodNotes also allows you to mix handwriting, drawings, and digital text freely on one page and add an unlimited number of notes per document. You can export and print your documents and pass them to other people or import and annotate them even on a Windows PC.
A brand new document manager allows you to review all the files stored in one place. The file manager will help you sort out large notes and decide which ones to delete, share, reorganize or move to iCloud.
GoodNotes has digital highlighters, vector drawings tools with layers support, and more powerful annotation options. You can also make your handwriting look prettier by choosing from 6 different pen styles or erasing it if you made a mistake. The new note editor allows you to type custom text right on the page, and you can also change the text size and color.
This new App has all the PDF annotation tools we've dreamed of: fast and precise Highlighter with unlimited colors, Marker Pen, Squiggly Line tool, Text Stamp, Rectangle Boxes, and Arrows. There are also Emoji Stickers which you can use for a quick note or highlight.
GoodNotes has many features to make your work easier: you can use many different options, adjust the vertical and horizontal spacing between notes per page, manage text alignment, background colors, and zoom level. What's most important is that GoodNotes lets you get rid of paper completely and work even when there's no Internet connection.
The program is compatible with all Apple products: iPhone, iPad, and macOS computers. Just download it once and always access your PDF documents on any device you own.
GoodNotes has a user-friendly interface. Its pricing ranges from $7.99 monthly to $39.99 annually, and you can try it for free as well: download the App and go enjoy 3 days of these features completely free of charge.
Some so many people can benefit from this software, and they include:
- Lawyers or people who deal with many legal documents daily. GoodNotes will help them review, mark up and organize papers without buying additional equipment.
- Students can use GoodNotes' built-in optical character recognition to search for handwritten annotations using keywords. This will save their time spent on research and studying.
- Salespeople can use GoodNotes' notetaking capabilities to decrease notetaking time and process their sales faster.
- Business owners can decrease the number of meetings by delegating tasks online with Goodnotes' digital signature feature.
- Anyone who wants to go paperless or has a hard time keeping track of important documents.
GoodNotes is the best companion for any Apple device to take notes, annotate documents and create amazing papers. This note taking app will enable you to save your time spent on research and studying GoodNotes alternatives
5. LibreOffice Writer
- Platforms: WebWindowsMaciOSAndroidLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDF
LibreOffice is an open code productivity software that was launched in 2010. It was developed by some members of the OpenOffice.org comunity, who thought that users should be have the freedom to execute, copy, study and change the software they distributed for free. It was developed in C++, Python, and Java code languages.
This software is a powerful text proccessing tool, compatible with other softwares such as Microsoft Word and with different operative systems such as Windows, Linux or Mac OS. It can be used as a tool to edit texts from your computer, and If you have never used it you may think it is a copy Microsoft Word, but it has some particular features that Word doesn't have. The main difference between Word and LibreOffice is that Microsoft Word is a software that belongs to Microsoft's office suite, which means you have to pay for using it, while LibreOffice is a free to use software. Furthermore, LibreOffice allows you to encode a document through GPG protocol, which reduces the risk of unauthorized people getting your information, which is a feature that Word doesn't have.
Therefore, If you don't want to spend money on a safe and powerful text editor, you should definitely check LibreOffice's website, I'm sure you won't be dissapointed.
6. Microsoft Word
- Platforms: WebWindowsMaciOSAndroidLinux
- Features: Text EditorWord ProcessorExport to PDF
Microsoft's native word processing suite.
Microsoft Word alternatives
7. Microsoft Publisher
- Platforms: WebWindowsMacLinux
- Features: Word ProcessorExport to PDFDesktop Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is a software made for desktop publishing developed by Microsoft although it is similar to the famous Microsoft Word it differs in certain page layouts and design. It is best used for writing and publishing academic, and business papers due to its design and interface that is easy to use for writing compositions, it is also best for publishing materials because it can be outlined with the appropriate citations and format. Most of the users of this software application are academic writers who published books and research papers such as thesis and dissertations who are in need of constant revisions on their contents and even in the format. It is an all-around publishing application that has been very helpful in creating wonderful and informative content that is being read by different people around the world. Overall this is a very useful application that still needs to be in MS office packages.
Microsoft Publisher alternatives
8. WriteMonkey
- Platforms: Windows
- Features: Text EditorWord Processor
Writemonkey is a free text editor for windows with a very simple and easy to use interface. This software has been specifically designed to write, in comparison with other text editors this has been created as a better choice for this task, you will definitely notice it when you open the program, since it will only show an area to start writing, leaving out many common tools for text editing.
If you run the program in window mode it will show the toolbar on the top of it, but If you run it on full screen the toolbar will disappear, removing every distraction, but you will still be able to access the tools by right clicking your mouse. This software has also some common features among the text editors such as spell check, and it also has some curiosities such as the possibility to put different sounds while writing, for example an old keyboard typing sound, which could be more inmersive for some people and make them more focused on their writing.
Writemonkey is a comfortable, quick, and easy to use program. Since it leaves out many features of a typical text editor, it is way lighter than those, which makes it work faster and more efficiently If you don't need to make use of that tools.
9. LibreOffice
- Platforms: WindowsMacLinux
- Features: Word ProcessorOfficeSpreadsheet
LibreOffice is a free and open-source application that you can use to perform tasks like word processing, spreadsheet calculations, and presentation. The original author was Star Division and it was developed by The Document Foundation in January 2011. Its stable release was 11 years later in 2022. It can be used in most operating systems and is written in C++, XML, and Java. It is available in 119 languages.
A lot of people use this application due to its user-friendly functions and features. They have improved compatibility in exporting .docx format documents. Its safety feature is top-notch with the use of OpenPGP keys to sign in. You can create E-book with an Epub export function, use a pivot chart for complex spreadsheets, usage of watermarks to customize your sheet, and an attractive presentation template to make your work even better. Calc has a major spreadsheet performance boost which makes it easier to use. They also included guide books for your convenience in case of any issue and can use safe mode if you suspect have any issue with the setup. The main part of LibreOffice is writer, calc, impress, draw, base, math, charts, and extensions.
You do not have to pay for the license fee and can be used for an individual, a home office, or even a big enterprise with thousands of workers. This will be a great alternative to any other major office application.
10. Sublime Text
- Platforms: Windows
- Features: Text Editor
Sublime Text is a source code editor that natively supports programming and markup languages. Its functionality can also be expanded with the use of plugins and be able to maintain its free software licensed in the long run.
It was developed by Sublime HQ in January 2008, 14 years ago, and can be downloaded for windows and mac users. Both of these platforms are well supported by Sublime text and they have assured their clients that it will be stable and it will not have any crash and lag problems when being used.
Most of the users of the Sublime Text can be developers and coding experts. But perhaps it is very best feature is that it is very affordable and paying for it can be done via Paypal. Overall the Sublime text software is very affordable and easy to use that even a newbie can easily understand because of its friendly user interface.
11. VIM
- Platforms: Windows
- Features: Text Editor
VIM is an open-source configurable text editor for UNIX. VIM is an acronym for Vi IMproved. Its original author is Bram Moolenaar. Its initial release was on 2nd November 1991 and its stable release was on 12th December 2019. It is written in VIM script and C. It uses Unix, Linux, MS-DOS, Windows NT iOS and Android operating systems.
VIM has turned 30 and it has been improving every year. It is easy to use and you only need a few commands to complete a complex task. It is highly configurable and uses a simple text file for storage. You can extend its functionality by using multiple plugins that are available. It has multiple windows, multiple buffers and multiple tabs to support the usage of many files at once. You can repeat the command using the available recording features. It has a very low memory footprint. VIM does not have GUI but it has a separate installer called gVIM that provides it. The idea of this platform is, the mouse is slow to use instead they use one key shortcut to improve on it.
There is one week trial period for this platform. After that, you need to get a subscription to continue using it. Anyone can use this platform but it is not recommended to beginners. Usually, mid-size companies and IT-related companies use this platform.
12. Brackets
- Platforms: WebWindowsMaciOSAndroidLinux
- Features: Text Editor
Brackets is a source code editor that was launched in 2017 by Adobe Systems. It is available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS and was written in JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
This software is one the most common ones among the website developers,since it has multiple useful features for designing a website which makes it different and more efficient than others. Brackets gives you the choice to quickly edit the properties of a CSS file, and it also allows you to see the changes you have made on a project using the preview function, which can be very useful and comfortable as to see the progress you have already made and how it looks like. Some other interesting features of it are that it allows you to manipulate the structure of the folders or open a remotely allocated website from this software.
This software is a very modern open source code editor that will allow you to work on a website in a very comfortable way, it is powerful, light and efficient at the same time.
13. NotePad++
- Platforms: WebWindowsMaciOSAndroidLinux
- Features: Text Editor
NotePad++ is an open source text editing software launched by DonHo in 2003. This software supports different code languages and was designed for Microsoft Windows but can also be used on Linux.
NotePad++ can be used for writing, editing and saving documents, and also for editing files that contain different language codes. It can be compared to the popular microsoft windows notepad, but Notepad++ has some extra features that can be very useful in different situations. First of all, this software identifies different language codes, providing us a clear and organised presentation of the code. If we opened the same code document on Notepad++ and Windows Notepad we would inmediately notice the huge difference between the organisation of the information in these two softwares. Furthermore, Notepad++ shows the line numbers making it much easier to work and allows us to open multiple tabs in the same window. On the other hand, this software is able to open every file no matter its extension, it won't open the file just when it's corrupt.
In conclusion, this text editor is perfect for those people and programmers who like Windows Notepad but would like to upgrade it, having some useful extra features.