If you have been on the hunt for the best Macbook Apps for writers, you have come to the right place.
There are so many out there and it can be hard to decide what you could possibly want out of a program or what you might need.
You also probably worry about picking the right software because you need one that is reliable and will not lose your writing. If you have not had that happen to you, consider yourself lucky because most writers at one point or another have lost some writing and it can be a nightmare.
Let’s take a deep dive into a variety of apps so you can stop wasting time hunting for one and simply start writing.
Best MacBook Apps For Writers
Now, keep in mind that various apps are better than others at certain things. Some of them have better mind map tools, some are better for editing, some are better for formatting, and so on.
Don’t worry, though, we will go through each category but also let you know which ones are the best all-in-one options if you do not want to hop around various software.
Let’s go over the best ones for each stage of the book writing journey, but also cover some of the best ones overall at the end.
Best Tools For Each Stage of Writing
Not all tools are equal, and depending on where you are in your writing journey, you will need to find the right tool for the job.
Yes, some writing tools can help you for all of the steps, but there are some that certainly help a lot better than others.
Apps for Mindmaps and Ideas
#1 – Taskade
Taskade is a great option when it comes to outlining and beginning to map out the overall flow of your book. It not only has a native Mac app, but it also has mobile and web apps so you can quickly capture any of your ideas on the go.
It can also be used for to do and project management so you can include that along with your book outlining, if needed.
Taskade lets you see your ideas in a wide variety of ways so you can put everything in order. From Kanban boards to mind maps to just plain writing, it has a lot of ways you can customize your ideas.
#2 – Notes
All Mac computers and any Apple products come with a simple Notes application that syncs between all of your devices. It is the best option for you to jot down quick ideas and outline any possible things you would want to include in your book.
There is no learning curve required and you can simply open the app and start typing away. Plus, it is backed up on the cloud through your iCloud account so you never lose your good ideas.
#3 – iA Writer
iA writer allows you to connect your ideas using different keyboard commands to let you connect between various ideas. That lets you quickly flip between different notes so you can see how your ideas flow together.
Apps for Outlining
If you just want an app to start helping you organize all of the ideas you have captured and created, you will want a good app that helps you put it together.
#4 – OmniOutliner
OmniOutliner is the best app for making all of your ideas flow together into one cohesive outline. It makes it incredibly easy to move your ideas all around so you can make an outline you want.
It also lets you zoom out so you can get a birds eye view of what your whole book outline looks like. That can help you order your chapters in the right way.
Apps for Writing Your Book
#5 – Obsidian
Obsidian is a great free-flowing app that not only lets you write out your ideas quickly and easily, but it also lets you connect your ideas or turn them into a web of connections so you can see how all of your ideas connect.
It is easy to use as a writing tool and is completely backed up to your computer so you don’t have to worry about your writing hiding behind a paywall.
#6 – Evernote
Evernote is a multi-platform software tool that lets you bring your writing anywhere you want to go. It’s not exclusively a Mac app, but it’s also so well designed for writing that it had to be mentioned. It does, thankfully, have a Mac app, though, so you can use that or the web app for writing your book.
Apps for Editing
#7 – Drafts
Drafts is great for writing, too, but they have customizable editing so you can make your text exactly what you want. On top of that, it has some other cool features you don’t see in other types of writing apps, such as being able to sync your writing with other apps, like email for example, so you can keep all of your book writing tasks in one home.
Apps for Designing and Formatting
#8 – iWriter
iWriter is a clean, minimalist app that looks great on any of your Apple devices. It is a text editor with build-in MultiMarkdown support. They use a simple syntax guide for easy formatting and editing.
Minimalist Writing Apps for Mac
Sometimes what you want most is something that doesn’t clutter up your screen and your thoughts and instead lets you write without distraction.
#9 – Bear App
Bear is compatible on iPhone, Mac, iPad, and any other Apple devices. It cross-syncs so you can always keep your writing on the go and update it whenever inspiration strikes.
It has a minimalist design and all the safety features of Mac, such as using Touch/Face ID to protect your writing. Bear uses a variety of exporting options, such as PDF and Word, so you can move your writing where you need it.
#10 – Focused
Focused is a writing app that has uses a distraction-free markdown editor to help you focus on just your writing without any of the bells and whistles.
Best Overall Book Writing Apps
If you are looking for some all-in-one solutions instead of having to use multiple apps to put everything together, let’s take a look at your best options.
#11 – Ulysses
Ulysses is one of the most well-known writing apps out there and one of the best when it comes to putting together your entire book. It has built-in formatting, editing, character labels, writing goals to keep you on track, and so much more.
#12 – Scrivener
Scrivener is the gold standard when it comes to writing software. Whether you want to write books, screenplays, or anything else, it has the best built-in formatting options to make that happen. It also lets you see your book in a variety of ways: all the way zoomed out for a high-level overview of your chapters, or zoom into the small details.
There are a lot of great features about Scrivener, but one of the other best features is that you can have windows open side by side inside the app. That lets you deep dive into your research without leaving the app. That also helps you reduce distractions in your life.
Need More Help?
Not sure if any of these are a good fit? Looking for other computer software outside of the best MacBook apps for writers? Take our software writing quiz to figure out exactly which tool would help you the most.