Best Writing Apps in 2026
Toolradar data: we track 71 writing apps tools, 49 of them with a free tier (69%), and 66 entered our catalog during 2026. 34 clear our editorial bar.
Toolradar data: we track 71 writing apps tools, 49 of them with a free tier (69%), and 66 entered our catalog during 2026. 34 clear our editorial bar.
This guide covers the 12 that score highest, what separates them, and where each free tier stops. Scores are ours; ratings and review counts come from third-party review platforms.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Rating | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Yes | 4.6 | Helpful AI for analysis, writing, coding, and complex reasonin |
| ChatGPT | Yes | 4.6 | OpenAI's conversational AI that started the generative AI revo |
| Grammarly | Yes | 4.7 | Write with clarity, confidence, and correctness |
| Jasper Chat | No | 4.8 | The AI chat assistant trained for marketing to create on-brand |
| Final Draft | No | 4.5 | The industry-standard screenwriting software for film, TV, and |
| Harvey | No | 4.4 | AI legal assistant for faster drafting and research |
| Vim | Yes | 4.4 | Master text editing with unparalleled keyboard efficiency |
| Spellbook | No | 4 | The complete AI suite for commercial lawyers to draft and revi |
| Logseq | Yes | 5 | Local-first, open-source knowledge base with bi-directional li |
| Scholarcy | Yes | 4.5 | Revolutionize your research workflow by summarizing complex te |
The picks
Claude
Helpful AI for analysis, writing, coding, and complex reasonin. Editorial score 94, free tier available, rated 4.6 across 129 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
ChatGPT
OpenAI's conversational AI that started the generative AI revo. Editorial score 93, free tier available, rated 4.6 across 2204 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Grammarly
Write with clarity, confidence, and correctness. Editorial score 87, free tier available, rated 4.7 across 20150 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Jasper Chat
The AI chat assistant trained for marketing to create on-brand. Editorial score 87, paid only, rated 4.8 across 3109 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Final Draft
The industry-standard screenwriting software for film, TV, and. Editorial score 87, paid only, rated 4.5 across 75 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Harvey
AI legal assistant for faster drafting and research. Editorial score 86, paid only, rated 4.4 across 3 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Vim
Master text editing with unparalleled keyboard efficiency. Editorial score 85, free tier available, rated 4.4 across 69 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Spellbook
The complete AI suite for commercial lawyers to draft and revi. Editorial score 85, paid only, rated 4 across 1 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
How we picked
Every tool here is published on Toolradar with an editorial score of 74 or above, out of 71 tracked in this category. Ordering follows that score, then third-party review volume, so a tool with one glowing review does not outrank one with a thousand. The figures update as the catalog does.
FAQ
How many writing apps tools are there?
We track 71 published writing apps tools, of which 34 clear our editorial bar. 66 were added during 2026, which reflects when we indexed them rather than when each vendor launched.
Are there free writing apps tools?
Yes, and they dominate: 49 of 71 offer a free tier, 69%. Free usually means a usage cap rather than a feature cap, so the ceiling arrives with volume.
How should I shortlist?
Start from the constraint that will not move: budget, an existing stack you must integrate with, or a compliance requirement. Filter on that first, then compare the two or three that survive. Ranking by feature count leads to the most expensive tool every time.
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Written by
Louis Corneloup
Founder & Editor-in-Chief at Toolradar. Founder & CEO of Dupple, the publisher of 5 industry newsletters reaching 720K+ tech professionals. Reviews B2B software using a public methodology, see /how-we-rate and /editorial-policy.