15 Greatest Apps for Freelance Writers in 2023 (Free and Paid)

There’s an ever-growing variety of apps for freelance writers. Numerous article writing apps and different software program for freelance writers all declare to have the ability to enable you to write extra, higher high quality, and in much less time.

Nevertheless, with so many apps and instruments out there, it may be exhausting to know the place to start out. That’s why I’ve put collectively this listing of the very best freelance writing apps that can assist you resolve which of them are literally value utilizing.

Freelance writing is without doubt one of the finest jobs for digital nomads and anybody else who needs to work for themself and earn a living with a web-based job. As a freelance author myself, I’m all the time in search of new methods to make my work simpler and more practical.

Used correctly, the next instruments may also help maintain your work operating easily and effectively and assist cease you from feeling overwhelmed.

Should you’re seeking to change into a contract author, take a look at my evaluate of the Knowadays Freelance Author course. I not too long ago accomplished this course and offered my sincere insights and ideas right here on this evaluate.

Greatest Apps For Freelance Writers

From apps for content material writing to plagiarism checkers, and file administration to communication instruments, this put up is all about 15 of the very best apps and packages for freelance writers.

When compiling this listing of instruments for freelance writers, I included most of the packages that I recurrently use myself. For the remaining, I picked among the hottest and highly-reviewed apps out there on-line. To assist these on a funds, I’ve additionally included a number of free freelance writing apps.

1. Grammarly

Grammarly is without doubt one of the best-known, and most helpful, instruments to assist writers polish their work as much as a excessive customary. I exploit Grammarly day by day and assume it’s top-of-the-line freelance writing apps on the market.

As a contract author, it’s important that you would be able to constantly ship writing that’s free from spelling errors and grammatical errors. However it’s additionally essential to make sure that your writing flows effectively, is obvious, and has the suitable tone.

Grammarly delivers this in an easy-to-use, set-and-forget format. It’s easy to put in and arrange and works as a plugin throughout a variety of platforms together with Chrome, Google Docs, Microsoft Workplace, Apple Notes, and extra.

Even higher, the usual model is free to make use of. You possibly can pay for the premium model ($144 per 12 months, $60 per quarter, or $30 monthly) which incorporates various superior options, like superior tone and readability enhancing. However in my view, the fundamental free model is completely satisfactory.

Execs of Grammarly

• Broad vary of checks together with spelling, punctuation, grammar, tone, phrase alternative, and readability.
• Actual-time, correct recommended corrections.
• Customizable settings (e.g. you possibly can set it to British, American, or Australian English).
• Nicely-designed consumer interface.
• Appropriate with a broad vary of platforms and different apps, together with Chrome and commonest Home windows and Mac purposes.
• The essential model is free (and nice).

Cons of Grammarly

• Sometimes it may be a bit buggy with another purposes (e.g. the WordPress editor).
• Frequent prompts to improve your account (which, I suppose, is honest sufficient because it’s a freemium product).
• It could actually’t study your voice, so generally makes ideas that don’t match with your personal private type.
• I’ve discovered that sometimes it makes a suggestion that isn’t correct, though this doesn’t occur too typically.

2. Scrivener

Scrivener is one other great tool designed to assist make freelance writers’ jobs simpler. The app acts as a phrase processor, a portfolio, and a scrapbook to your notes. It means that you can handle and set up your whole supplies, analysis, and writing in a single easy-to-access place.

Scrivener has various superior options which are designed to assist create a seamless analysis, writing, and enhancing course of. These instruments embrace analysis playing cards, customizable templates and presets, the flexibility to import and index information, and metatags.

Scrivener is especially helpful for managing long-form writing initiatives. Whether or not you’re an aspiring novelist, a scriptwriter, a contract copywriter, or some other kind of freelance author, these options may also help enhance your workflow and maintain every part organized and simple to entry.

It really works throughout all main working programs together with macOS, iOS, and Home windows. Value-wise, Scrivener has a one-off price of $59.99 for Mac or Home windows or $23.99 for iOS. There’s no free plan, though there’s a 30-day free trial so you possibly can strive it out before you purchase.

Execs of Scrivener

• 30-day free trial with entry to all options.
• Customizable setup and interfaces for a personalised consumer expertise.
• A wide range of pre-set templates for numerous completely different genres of writing.
• Offline performance.
• Useful tutorials for mastering the platform.
• Comparatively reasonably priced, one-off price.

Cons of Scrivener

• Requires separate licenses for every platform (so, if you wish to apply it to each Mac and Home windows, it is advisable to buy two licenses).
• No free model.
• Big selection of options is perhaps difficult for some folks to change into conversant in.

3. Evernote

Evernote is basically a strong note-taking software that provides a easy but efficient means for jotting down concepts, conducting analysis, drafting articles, organizing your notes, and even creating to-do lists.

Many individuals (myself included) can discover the method of writing considerably chaotic and overwhelming at instances. That is the place Evernote comes into its personal, making the inventive course of extra structured and manageable. This system has a variety of templates that can assist you kickstart your note-taking course of.

It’s a really versatile platform and means that you can incorporate hyperlinks, tables, attachments, photos, audio recordings, and even sketches into your notes. You possibly can even use it as a fundamental challenge administration system and it’s suitable with each Home windows and Mac.

Evernote has a free model with restricted options (together with a most notice dimension of 25 MB and a restrict of 60 MB uploads monthly). There’s additionally a Private plan (presently $10.83/month or $129.99/12 months) or a Skilled plan $14.17/month or $169.99/12 months) with a larger vary of performance.

Execs of Evernote

• Easy, intuitive interface.
• Wonderful software for note-taking and conserving your notes organized.
• There’s a free plan.
• Doc scanner function for digitizing handwritten notes or paperwork​.
• Highly effective search perform makes it fast and simple to navigate by means of intensive notes.

Cons of Evernote

• The free model has restricted performance.
• Paid plans are comparatively costly for what you get.
• Sometimes it may be a bit buggy when syncing throughout a number of units.

4. Google Docs

Everyone’s heard of Google Docs, proper? This implausible free software is tremendous helpful for freelance writers, particularly those that recurrently work in collaboration with shoppers and others.

Google Docs is mainly like a free model of Microsoft Phrase, besides every part is saved within the cloud and you may collaborate with a number of different customers concurrently. That is one other app that I exploit on a near-daily foundation and would advocate it to any freelance author.

With the ability to share a doc together with your consumer and see edits and feedback in real-time is extremely useful. It makes the method of communication and revision a lot faster and simpler in contrast with “conventional” back-and-forth through e-mail.

As a result of every part is cloud-based, your whole work is saved robotically and may be accessed from any machine (Home windows or Apple) at any time. The model historical past function additionally means that you can monitor adjustments over time, which may turn out to be useful when engaged on a number of revisions.

Execs of Google Docs

• It’s free.
• Actual-time collaboration so a number of folks can edit paperwork concurrently.
• Cloud-based, so every part is saved robotically and may be accessed at any time (and from any machine).
• It’s tremendous intuitive and user-friendly.
• A great deal of useful options and settings from easy to superior.
• Appropriate cross-platform, so you possibly can edit the identical doc on an iPhone, an Android telephone, a PC, and a Mac all on the similar time!

Cons of Google Docs

• Lacks some superior formatting and enhancing options in contrast with Microsoft Phrase.
• You possibly can work offline, though real-time adjustments are solely synced when you will have an web connection.

5. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a strong software for freelance writers, serving as each a writing editor and a private writing coach. There’s a (restricted) free model, or you possibly can pay $30 monthly, $120 per 12 months, or $399 for lifetime entry to the premium model.

Much like Grammarly, ProWritingAid helps to boost the standard of your writing by figuring out and fixing any spelling errors and grammatical errors. It additionally checks for plagiarism in addition to any contextual errors in your writing.

The most effective options of ProWritingAid is its capacity to revise imprecise or unclear writing, providing useful ideas to enhance the standard of the textual content.

It’s a flexible platform and is suitable with Home windows and Mac by means of browser extensions (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and so on.) in addition to plugins for different apps corresponding to Microsoft Phrase, Scrivener, and Google Docs.

Execs of ProWritingAid

• In-depth grammar, spelling, and magnificence checks to enhance writing high quality.
• Plagiarism checker to make sure content material originality.
• Straightforward to make use of.
• Appropriate with many different writing instruments.
• Browser extensions for simple entry and usefulness.
• Reasonably priced pricing (in the event you pay yearly) plus a free model out there.
• There’s a lifetime plan, which is cost-effective in the long term.

Cons of ProWritingAid

• The free model has restricted performance.
• The premium model is comparatively costly in the event you pay month-to-month.
• Sometimes suggests incorrect amendments.
• No cell app.

6. Dropbox

I’ve been utilizing Dropbox for so long as I can bear in mind, since effectively earlier than I began working as a contract author. Nevertheless, it’s a very great tool for freelance writers who have to retailer, backup, share, and entry their work from anyplace, together with on the go.

Dropbox is seamless and tremendous straightforward to make use of. It’s primarily a drag-and-drop system the place you choose the information and folders you need it to entry and the platform does the remaining for you.

There’s a free plan that gives as much as 2GB of storage. Should you want extra, you possibly can pay $22/month (or $18/month in the event you pay yearly) for as much as 3TB of knowledge.

I exploit Dropbox to again up my most essential images, paperwork, and information. It’s additionally a good way to share bigger information (like high-res images) with others, particularly if these information are bigger than the restrict that you simply’re in a position to ship by e-mail.

Execs of Dropbox

• Actual-time syncing of information throughout numerous units.
• Straightforward option to collaborate and share information/folders with others.
• Safe technique of backing up essential work.
• There’s a free model with as much as 2GB of storage.
• Appropriate on all main working programs, together with iOS.

Cons of Dropbox

• The free plan gives solely 2GB of storage which is perhaps inadequate for some.

7. Freedom

Freedom is a good app for freelance writers who wish to be free from distractions throughout their working hours. And in flip, being extra productive.

The app blocks out distracting web sites and apps in your units (Instagram, information web sites, and so on.) permitting you to work in a quiet, conducive digital setting.

You possibly can customise the web sites/apps that it blocks, and schedule “blocked” periods throughout which all distractions are saved at bay. It even has a “locked” mode for individuals who is perhaps tempted to try to disable the blocker.

The app is suitable with most main working programs (each cell and desktop) and prices $8.99/month in the event you pay month-to-month, or $3.33/month in the event you pay yearly.

Execs of Freedom

• Effectively blocks distracting web sites and apps.
• Nice for individuals who wrestle with productiveness due to distractions.
• You possibly can pre-schedule “blocked” periods.
• “Locked” mode for stricter enforcement of the blocking guidelines.

Cons of Freedom

• It’s comparatively costly for what it’s (particularly in the event you pay month-to-month).
• It is perhaps too restrictive for some, particularly in the event you prefer to take common breaks and browse different issues on-line when working.
• Not mandatory for everyone.

8. Hemingway Editor

Hemingway Editor is one other fashionable software for freelance writers seeking to improve the standard of their written output. In addition to containing a normal spelling and grammar checker, it additionally gives enhanced insights on readability, sentence complexity, and energetic vs. passive voice.

Hemingway Editor helps be sure that your writing is obvious, partaking, and simply digestible. It makes ideas the place mandatory to assist enhance the readability and tone of your writing.

This can be a significantly great tool for individuals who discover themselves writing overly advanced sentences, or utilizing an excessive amount of passive voice, which may generally have a unfavorable influence on the readability of the message being conveyed.

The on-line model of Hemingway Editor is free, making this an awesome possibility for freelance writers on a decent funds. The offline desktop model is accessible for a one-off price of $19.99, making it top-of-the-line low cost freelance writing apps out there in the present day.

Execs of Hemingway Editor

• Effortly improves your writing type, making textual content clearer and extra partaking.
• Assesses readability and sentence complexity.
• Nice for individuals who wrestle with readability and overuse of passive voice.
• The web model is free.
• The offline desktop model is reasonably priced ($19.99 for lifetime entry).
• Appropriate with each Home windows and Mac.

Cons of Hemingway Editor

• It could generally oversimplify advanced concepts or matters.
• Will not be appropriate for sure technical or advanced genres of writing (e.g. science, regulation, engineering, and so on.).
• Some folks would possibly discover the ideas unhelpful, particularly when you have a definite writing type.

9. Canva

Canva is a good software for freelance writers who additionally have to create visually interesting content material, corresponding to social media posts, displays, posters, ads, official firm publications, and the like.

With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and an enormous variety of customizable templates and design varieties, it makes the in any other case lengthy and (dare I say it) tedious technique of graphic design tremendous straightforward, fast, and satisfying.

I exploit Canva pretty typically and significantly like its wealthy library of images and graphics. I additionally love how straightforward it’s to format and customise your personal templates, permitting you to supply constant designs at scale.

You possibly can entry the fundamental model of Canva at no cost. Canva Professional gives a variety of extra superior options, templates, and pictures and prices $119.99 for an annual subscription, or $14.99 if paid month-to-month.

Execs of Canva

• Big library of templates, images, and graphics.
• Fast and easy to create stunning visuals and professional-looking designs.
• Customizable templates for model consistency.
• Person-friendly drag-and-drop editor.
• Straightforward to make use of, even for these (like me) with none background in graphic design.
• Appropriate with Mac and Home windows.
• The free model is nice and has a lot of performance.

Cons of Canva

• It’s good to pay for some superior options.
• The massive variety of options and templates is perhaps overwhelming for some.
• Not more likely to be helpful for text-only freelance writers.

10. Yoast Search engine optimisation

Should you’re a contract author who wants to put in writing Search engine optimisation-friendly content material (eg. web site copy, weblog posts, and so on.), Yoast Search engine optimisation is without doubt one of the finest and most helpful instruments round.

Yoast analyzes your writing and offers actionable insights and proposals on find out how to optimize your content material to make sure that it complies with Search engine optimisation finest practices. It has a beginner-friendly interface, making it an awesome software even for these unfamiliar with Search engine optimisation.

Yoast Search engine optimisation is a plugin for WordPress, which is a typical platform for managing on-line content material on web sites. The essential model is free and there’s additionally a paid Premium model that prices $99 per 12 months.

I exploit the free model on a regular basis and would extremely advocate it to any freelance author producing on-line content material.

Execs of Yoast Search engine optimisation

• Straightforward to make use of and intuitive interface.
• Gives sensible insights and proposals for on-page Search engine optimisation optimizations.
• Focus key phrase function helps you optimize content material round particular key phrases.
• Common updates and good buyer help.
• The free model is nice.

Cons of Yoast Search engine optimisation

• Suggestions could be a bit overly prescriptive and mechanical.
• Solely helpful for freelance writers who want to put in writing Search engine optimisation-optimized content material for on-line publication.

11. Copyscape

Copyscape is without doubt one of the finest packages for plagiarism detection and is a good software for any freelance author to make sure that the content material you produce is authentic and free from any type of plagiarism.

It’s a web-based platform the place you enter the writing you wish to verify and it shortly scans the content material and allows you to understand how a lot (if any) of this materials seems anyplace else on-line.

Copyscape is affordable and easy to make use of. You possibly can both copy and paste content material into the software or just add entire PDFs or Phrase paperwork and the software program scans it for you robotically.

Copyscape is accessible through an internet browser so isn’t depending on any working system. Pricing is predicated on the variety of phrases checked, beginning at 3 cents for the primary 200 phrases and 1 cent for every further 100 phrases.

Execs of Copyscape

• It’s pretty low cost so long as you don’t have to verify very massive volumes of content material.
• Helps checking complete paperwork in PDF and Phrase format.
• There’s a WordPress plugin for these writing on-line content material.

Cons of Copyscape

• The free model of Copyscape solely means that you can verify for plagiarised variations of your content material already on-line.
• To verify whether or not your content material incorporates plagiarism itself, it is advisable to pay.
• The fee can shortly add up for bigger paperwork/initiatives.
• It’s web-based so that you want web entry to make use of it.

12. Otter

Otter is an app that provides professional-quality speech-to-text dictation. It’s an awesome software for freelance writers preferring dictating their concepts relatively than writing them down and works in seconds to transcribe your spoken phrases into textual content.

There are many completely different speech recognition software program on the market all providing related issues. I’ve personally used Otter and it’s some of the correct instruments I’m conscious of, a lot better than the speech-to-text perform constructed into my iPhone or MacBook.

Otter is accessible as an app for smartphones (iOS and Android), so it may be used anyplace, together with on-the-go. My companion is a journalist and he or she additionally makes use of Otter to create transcripts of interviews and different conferences. It’s fairly versatile.

There’s a free model that offers you entry to fundamental options, in addition to a Professional model that prices $10/month (billed yearly). Otter Professional means that you can transcribe longer conversations, add colleagues to your workspace, import and transcribe audio and/or video information, and extra.

Execs of Otter

• Very correct voice recognition.
• You possibly can add customized phrases like technical phrases, firm jargon, slang, and so on.
• Integrates with different apps together with calendars, Slack, Groups, and so on.
• Person-friendly interface that’s straightforward to make use of.

Cons of Otter

• It’s a must to pay to entry premium options (like transcribing audio and video information).
• The fee is perhaps a deterrent for some.
• It does sometimes errors (though, in equity, that’s true of all transcription software program, and Otter is unquestionably top-of-the-line choices).

13. Slack

Slack is a well-liked software amongst freelance writers and different groups to remain in contact with their colleagues and shoppers.

Freelance writers can use it to speak with their shoppers, share paperwork (briefs, drafts, feedback, and so on.), and talk about and collaborate in actual time. You need to use it to make calls, host video conferences, and for one-on-one or group instantaneous message chats.

Slack is accessible as each an app (smartphone and desktop) in addition to through an internet browser. It integrates with various different apps and instruments (together with Google Suite) which additional enhances its performance.

I exploit the free model of Slack fairly recurrently. There’s additionally a paid model that begins at $7.25 per consumer monthly (billed yearly) and has much more superior options.

Execs of Slack

• Seamless communication with shoppers and colleagues.
• The free plan has numerous helpful options.
• The paid model is pretty reasonably priced.
• Integrates with a lot of different apps and instruments.
• A number of built-in communication choices cater to varied communication wants.
• Straightforward-to-use and extremely customizable interface.

Cons of Slack

• Many individuals may not just like the “all the time out there” nature of instantaneous messaging.
• I personally discover it may be difficult to maintain monitor of ongoing conversations and the message historical past can get buried.
• The online browser model is commonly fairly sluggish to load.

14. Notion

I’ve not too long ago began utilizing Notion and it’s been a recreation changer for me. Notion markets itself as a unified workspace that means that you can maintain your whole notes, initiatives, duties, and to-do lists in a single place.

Moderately than having a number of tabs open on the high of your browser for every of your ongoing duties, you possibly can file these all effectively inside Notion in an easy-to-access format.

It’s a good way to arrange your ideas, handle your schedules and deadlines, and maintain every part operating easily. For me, as a freelancer and small enterprise proprietor, it permits me to juggle a number of initiatives concurrently with out feeling overwhelmed.

The essential model is free and comes with an awesome vary of options. There’s additionally a paid model, though I don’t actually assume it’s mandatory given how good the free model is. Notion additionally has apps for desktop and smartphones, though personally, I favor the web-based model.

Execs of Notion

• A good way to arrange your notes, duties, deadlines, and to-do lists.
• It’s an all-in-one workspace.
• Extremely versatile with a variety of helpful options.
• The free model is nice.
• Out there in web-based format in addition to by means of apps (for smartphone, desktop, Mac, Home windows, and so on.).
• Cross-platform performance.

Cons of Notion

• There’s a little bit of a studying curve once you first begin.
• Not everybody would possibly discover it helpful, it relies on the way you prefer to work (however I’d nonetheless advocate attempting it – I like it!).

15. Pocket

If, like me, you all the time have an in depth “to learn” or “to observe” listing, you’ll love Pocket. This nice little app means that you can save articles, web sites, documentaries, movies, and extra multi function place, permitting you to entry them later.

For freelance writers, it is a nice option to retailer analysis and different supplies collectively, to assist maintain every part organized and simple to handle. You possibly can file issues away into folders, permitting you to refer again to them shortly every time it is advisable to, together with once you’re offline.

It’s additionally nice for private suggestions, no matter you’re concerned about. At any time when anyone says, “You need to learn X” or “Watch Y, it’s nice”, I save the suggestions in Pocket after which learn/watch them later every time I’ve time (e.g. on an extended flight or prepare experience).

The essential model of Pocket (which I exploit) is free. There’s additionally a Premium model that incorporates further options (like a everlasting library, superior looking, note-taking, annotating and highlighting supplies, and so on.) and prices $5 monthly or $45 per 12 months.

Execs of Pocket

• The essential model is free (and nice).
• It’s a very environment friendly option to retailer and set up content material that you simply wish to learn later.
• The app additionally recommends further content material so that you can learn primarily based in your private pursuits.
• Offline entry to saved content material (written solely, not video).
• Premium model gives further options together with superior looking, limitless highlighting, and a everlasting library.

Cons of Pocket

• You possibly can’t save movies for offline playback.
• It’s a must to pay for Premium options (though it’s nonetheless comparatively reasonably priced).

Should-Have Freelance Writing Instruments: FAQs

Conclusion

I extremely advocate making the most of these apps for freelance writers to assist maximize your productiveness, handle deadlines, and optimize the standard of your writing.

I exploit many of those instruments every day. They’re all nice and assist me enormously, I hope you discover them helpful too. Should you’re contemplating changing into a contract author, take a look at the course with Knowadays. I not too long ago accomplished this course and extremely advocate it. Use this hyperlink and promo code GOATS25 for 25% off.