Unlocking Your Workflow: The Best Editorial Alternatives for Enhanced Writing
Editorial is a powerful text editor for iOS, renowned for its robust Markdown support, seamless Dropbox integration, and an unparalleled workflow system that allows for deep automation of text editing and inter-app communication. While Editorial truly shines for users who leverage its advanced features for research and automated writing, its iOS-centric nature means many users might be seeking an Editorial alternative that offers similar capabilities on different platforms or a more streamlined experience. Whether you need cross-platform compatibility, a simpler interface, or specific features not found in Editorial, the market offers a diverse range of excellent tools.
Top Editorial Alternatives
If you're looking to expand your writing toolkit beyond Editorial or explore options that better suit your specific needs, here are some of the best alternatives that offer powerful features for distraction-free writing, Markdown support, and robust organizational capabilities.
iA Writer
iA Writer is a popular commercial choice for serious writers seeking a focused and distraction-free environment. Available on Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, and iPad, it emphasizes a minimalistic UI and offers features like nested folders, notetaking, HTML/CSS/JS rendering, and a night mode/dark theme. Its commitment to focus makes it an excellent Editorial alternative for those prioritizing a clean writing experience across multiple devices.
ThinkComposer
ThinkComposer is a free and open-source Windows application that provides a unique alternative for visual thinkers. While not a direct text editor like Editorial, it allows users to create deep visual documents, diagrams, flowcharts, concept maps, and mind maps, with extensibility through plugins. It serves as a strong Editorial alternative for those who need to organize complex ideas visually before or during the writing process.
Byword
Byword is a commercial option for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users, specifically designed to enhance writing with Markdown. It offers a distraction-free writing environment, robust Dropbox integration, and even basic grammar checking. For those who appreciate Editorial's Markdown focus but prefer a simpler interface on Apple devices, Byword is a compelling Editorial alternative.
Texts
Texts is a free rich editor for plain text, available on Mac and Windows. It focuses on structured document writing, separating content from formatting, and storing in Markdown. With features like a bibliography generator and the ability to publish to many formats, Texts serves as a versatile Editorial alternative for users who need a powerful Markdown editor on their desktop.
WriteRoom
WriteRoom is a commercial Mac application that offers a full-screen writing environment to eliminate distractions. It's built for users who crave a pure focus on their text, providing a distraction-free UI. As an Editorial alternative, WriteRoom is ideal for Mac users who value extreme minimalism and an immersive writing experience above all else.
Drafts
Drafts is a freemium app available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, designed for quickly capturing text and turning it into action. It functions as a quick notebook, handy editor, and writing tool, supporting Markdown, custom fonts, and tags for organization. For those who appreciate Editorial's automation capabilities but need a more immediate capture tool with extensive integration options, Drafts is a compelling Editorial alternative.
Paper
Paper (for Mac) is a freemium application available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, offering a gorgeous and minimalistic writing experience. It boasts features like distraction-free writing, Markdown support, syntax highlighting, and a night mode/dark theme. Its focus on a clean interface and pleasant writing makes it an excellent Editorial alternative for users who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity.
Desk
Desk is an award-winning commercial desktop publishing client exclusively for OS X. It functions as a blog editor, notetaking tool, and offers WordPress integration. While Editorial focuses on text automation, Desk provides a more dedicated platform for crafting narratives and publishing, making it a strong Editorial alternative for bloggers and content creators on Mac.
Monospace
Monospace is a freemium minimal notes and writing app for Android. It features Dropbox integration, Markdown support, material design, and syncs across devices, all with a designed-for-touch UI. For Android users seeking a clean, minimalistic writing tool with Markdown capabilities, Monospace stands out as a strong Editorial alternative.
Writing Kit
Writing Kit is a commercial app for iPhone and iPad, specifically tailored for writers who work with Markdown or Fountain. It simplifies the writing process, even for those unfamiliar with Markdown syntax. As an Editorial alternative, Writing Kit is perfect for mobile writers who need dedicated tools for documents and screenplays on their iOS devices.
The landscape of writing tools is vast and varied, offering numerous excellent alternatives to Editorial. Whether your priority is cross-platform compatibility, an intensely focused writing environment, robust Markdown features, or powerful automation, there’s a tool out there designed to meet your specific needs. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your workflow and enhance your writing experience.