Best free writing apps for authors in 2026 (No AI and no fluff)
Before you spend money on Scrivener or waste hours in Microsoft Word, watch this. I tested six free writing tools so you don't have to, and I'll tell you the pros and cons of each so you can decide for yourself which is best.
Reviewed in this video:
✅ Google Docs - great for drafts, terrible for long novels
✅ Notion - brilliant for research and planning, not so much for drafting
✅ yWriter - the hidden gem most writers don't know about
✅ LibreOffice Writer - the free Word alternative that works exactly the same
✅ Wavemaker Cards - card-based plotting for visual thinkers
✅ Reedsy - professional-looking formatting for serious writers
💡 Also: why I refuse to recommend AI writing tools and what to use instead.
🎁 Free: Plot your whole story in 3 pages 👉 https://katrisoikkeli.com/free-plot-p...
Want to pair your writing tools with a solid plotting system? My course Your Plot From A To Z gives you the full framework 👉 https://courses.protagonistcrafts.com...
Key moments:
0:00 Introduction
0:58 Tool 1: Google Docs for collaboration
2:27 Tool 2: Notion for research & organization
4:54 Tool 3: yWriter for scene work
7:15 Tool 4: LibreOffice Writer as a Word alternative
8:51 Tool 5: Reedsy Editor for formatting
9:19 Tool 6: Wavemaker Cards for visual planning
10:10 What about AI tools?
10:28 Choosing the right tool
👋 Hi, I'm Katri, your new writing bestie. I help busy writers finish their books even without a writing degree or a perfect schedule. If you're ready to make your writing life look like your life, subscribe and let's do this together.
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