iOS devices have completely changed the elbow room we write . Not only has iOS given us the flexibleness to quickly jot down our mentation wherever and whenever they strike , it ’s fundamentally flip our expectations of the base textual matter editor . In an drive to maximize every picture element of screenland real demesne , developer rethought what was necessary for productiveness and efficiency on our mobile gimmick , from the sizing of the canvas to the way we interact with buttons , bars and ribbon .
The final result result us with minimum , distraction - free environments where the only affair that weigh are our words . And as formatting bars and font menus became obsolete on our iPhones and iPads , a singular thing happened : They became less important on our Macs , too . From iAWriter to Pages and even Microsoft Word , the streamlining of the word of honor processor has created a humankind of smart , lightweight interfaces built to adapt to whatever equipment we happen to be using .
As someone perpetually switching between my Mac , iPad , and iPhone , the unlined experience has become an indispensable part of my work flow . My composition seance are no longer tethered to a desk , but it ’s not just the freedom I enjoy — the cross - platform congruity has become just as important to my productiveness , permit me literally pick up where I leave off without losing any momentum my gear of thought may have .
But even more than that , the tailor interface help maintain my direction no matter the size of the blind I ’m shape on . Having a digital notepad within never-ending arm ’s reach is one affair , but staying in a writing rut is quite another — the feature and font familiarity across my Mac and iOS devices keep my middle and concentration from wandering . When I come across a new authorship app in either the iOS or Mac App Store , the first thing I do is check the other to see if a fellow traveller is available .
It ’s hard to say definitively what makes a salutary cross - platform writing app , but I like a shot screw when I ’ve regain one . A good use of fonts is important , but a wide option is n’t necessary — for example , Vesper does n’t allow you stray very far from Ideal Sans , but it absolutely would be on this list if a Mac component were usable . Also , a pure penning blank space is nice , but card and sidebars are n’t an immediate turnoff . merely put , the core of a great text editor in chief is more than the sum of its fonts or keyboard bars .
The bottom furrow is rivet . The best thwartwise - platform apps know what to leave behind when switching from a 21 - inch - screenland to a 9.7 - column inch one , and they do it without trample over any of our private penning styles and preferences . And while mine may certainly dissent from yours , here are my picks for the best ones :
Best: Ulysses III
Long before the minimalist style , Ulysses put a laborious focus on writing rather than formatting , giving authors the tool they take to brainstorm , engineer , and create their projects with ease . Today , Ulysses III(Mac , $ 45;iPad , $ 20;iPhone , $ 1 ) has evolved and matured into the premier writing experience on the Mac . The recent dismission of a major rendering 2.0 raise has raise the bar so gamy it ’s severe to suppose a better experience on any political platform . With full sustenance for Yosemite and an overall refining of the paneled interface , its eloquence is only trump by its flexibility .
Ulysses III on the Mac more than lives up to its namesake ’s lofty pedigree .
Ulysses may be a round-eyed Markdown textual matter editor program at heart , but an raiment of cautiously crafted features constitute it a true multipurpose utility for writers . All of your documents are stash away right within the app ’s attractive sidebar , allow you to research and organize your labor with ease . A slide - out panel stores notes and images related to the document you ’re work on , while typewriter scrolling hold on your eyes from lose their stress .
And unlike many of the other schoolbook editor I ’ve used , The Soulmendidn’t water down its vision for iOS . On the iPad , you ’ll find a full version of Ulysses formatted to match the smaller silver screen and reimagined for multitouch . Everything from its minimal interface to its professional feature has been brought to the iPad , but nothing about it feels hamper or herd .
Everything that ’s great about Ulysses on the Mac is even good on the iPad .
As you shift between Ulysses for Mac and Ulysses for iPad , iCloud keeps your text file dependable and synced , but it ’s the uniform experience that will keep your word course . Fonts and themes catch across both devices , and many of the things that make Ulysses big in OS X , such as attachments , export , and picture - perfect prevue , all make an visual aspect .
And of course there are some lineament that only make sense on the iPad . Slide your finger over the keyboard to master the pointer . Tap the extra run-in above the keyboard to bring up things like word and character reckoning ( admit within selections ) , Markup styles ( and an fantabulous curing of punctuation cutoff if Markdown is n’t your thing ) . Swipe a text file name to move , copy , or export . It ’s all extremely simple and intuitive , and The Soulmen has gone to considerable length to create a smooth transition between the two apps .
On the iPhone , there ’s Daedalus Touch , a unique , extraordinary text editor in chief in its own right , but it does n’t follow the Ulysses artistic , at least not yet . alternatively of panel there ’s a system of stacks and sheets that mirror the ones in your oculus sinister ex sidebar . However , since it synchronize only with the Mac and not the iPad , working across all three gadget is n’t exactly seamless . Thankfully , an iPhone edition of Ulysses is already in the works , so these persistence take should n’t last too long . Besides , the Mac - iPad Ulysses tandem is so tight , it ’s not a deal - breaker in the slightest .
Runner-up: Byword
A canvass detached of icons , menus , and other distractions has become a staple of the innovative schoolbook editor , butByword(Mac , $ 12;iOS , $ 6 ) train it to a whole young level . Starting a new document is a lot like opening Apple ’s classic TextEdit app : The only identify mark you ’ll find is a word counter at the bottom of the window . ( And even that can be call on off . ) Whether all that extra space makes you a better writer is disputable , but Byword ’s missionary work is to keep you focused , and in that it deliver the goods praiseworthily .
Byword ’s just - there Mac interface puts the miniskirt in minimal .
Just because there are n’t any font menus or icons in your origin of slew does n’t mean there are n’t any options . Whether you ’re using the full - screen modality or a float windowpane , an excellent carrying out of customizable text edition widths ( which can be set to narrow , intermediate , or wide ) will facilitate you set up your perfect workspace . Byword also includes several typing modes design to help you spell and edit with ease ; a pair of “ focus ” mode blur any superfluous words around the paragraph or furrow you ’re work on , and little touches like paragraph indents and insert - able leaning make outlines and prompt notes simple and graceful .
Byword ’s minimum approach to penning feels right at habitation on the iPhone ’s small screen .
Byword excels as a Markdown editor program , but if you ’re not proficient in the language , you could also write using robust text , just like you would in Microsoft Word . bear another selection is a decent touch ; unfortunately it ’s not one that extends beyond the Mac . Only plain school text text file will synchronise with iOS , so if you want to use bolding and italicize across your twist , you ’ll need to get comfortable with asterisks and underscores .
But it ’ll be worth it . Byword ’s iOS oblation are gorgeous exercises in style and restraint , delivering an experience that is n’t just minimal for minimal ’s sake . While the iPhone and iPad versions provide identical interface and features , each of the two apps take advantage of the screen they ’re acquaint with ; for example , the iPad app present your document in a sidebar that is n’t feasible on the iPhone , but both apply the same simple gestures to navigate between files . And you ’re not baffle with iCloud — Byword also allow you hive away file in your Dropbox folder for easy share-out between other apps .
Byword on iOS includes many of the same fantabulous exporting options that the Mac version does , including PDF , HTML , and full-bodied - text electronic mail . Also like the background version , a disjoined $ 5 in - app leverage lets you print to WordPress , Tumblr , and Blogger , or upload to Scriptogr.am and Evernote , but it ’s even more useful on iOS , where cutting and pasting text between apps is much more tedious . But even if you just use it as a plain text edition editor , Byword will give your give-and-take a terrific base , whether they ’re travel on your Mac , iPad , or iPhone .
Best for Word stalwarts who don’t have an Office 365 subscription: TinyWord/Microsoft Word
Back in the day , Microsoft Word was the go - to app for writers . brawny and feature of speech - fertile , it offered something for everyone , whether you were writing the great American novel or adding footnotes to a extended inquiry paper . But over the years , Microsoft deliver its foothold , and now that it ’s tied to a monthly subscription , many people are understandably reluctant to make the commitment .
But you could still get a crabby - platform Word experience without the rolling fees . On the Mac side , there are numerous apps that lay claim Word kinship , but they do n’t all deliver what they promise . TinyWord(Mac , $ 2 ) does . As its name suggests , it ’s not exactly overload with feature , but Word user will certainly notice a distinct law of similarity in the interface . It can handle all of your .doc and .docx files with simpleness , and there are more than enough textual matter and exporting choice to keep your files await their unspoilt .
Tiny Word is just like Word , but … tinier .
And when you need to transfer a text file to iOS , just hold open it to your OneDrive and open it up in the freeMicrosoft Word app . TinyWord will maintain any formatted tables and fonts to keep things from getting messy , and you ’ll be capable to cut and save in the fluid Word app without needing a subscription . Microsoft has done an admirable job with the Word interface on iOS , cleave to the fresh iOS esthetical while still offering the features Word users lust . Office 365 exploiter will get a few extra formatting and layout option , but even without a subscription , Word on iOS still feels very much like a premium general app .
Microsoft Word on iOS might actually be better than the Windows Phone app .
Best for writers who spent all of their money on new Apple stuff: Pages
If you ’re look for a completely free direction to write and edit on whatever Apple machine happens to be at your disposal ( and it ’s been purchase within the past year and a half ) , you wo n’t find an app anywhere that beatsPages(MacandiOS , barren ) . Apple took its iWork suite in a new direction with its iOS 7 redesign , removing many of its professional feature along with the damage of admission . But even without things like mail merging , linked text boxes , and mailing label , Pages is a fine tool for writers take care to quickly get to work .
If you bought a Mac last yr and did n’t download your costless copy of Pages , go get it now .
No matter which platform you ’re using , there ’s a open focal point on simplicity , with a sparse interface and a well - stocked library of template . There ’s no Markdown support , but headers , footnote , and margins are all adjustable , and rich - schoolbook support maintain background - class uniformity across all of your gadget .
Pages makes the most of every pixel .
Pages has take its swelling over the years — and it ’s believably not worth the $ 30 terms Apple charges for older devices — but you ’ll be intemperately - pressed to find a innocent composition app with more feature of speech in either the Mac or iOS App Stores , let alone both .
Best for keeping a writing journal: Day One
Any of the apps here can double as a writing daybook , but none of them let you personalize and simplify it likeDay One(Mac , $ 10;iOS , $ 5 ) does . With an telling system of tags , reminders , and hashtags , Day One is versatile enough to be more than a digital diary — with a little creative thinking , it can become one of your essential writing tools , specially if you ’re already accustomed to using Evernote or OneNote to record your thought process throughout the twenty-four hours .
Day One does n’t just have to be for selfies and food shots — it can also be a tool for organizing your idea .
Not only does it have a gorgeous interface that lets you effortlessly get up your unveiling by date , time , and placement , its support for Markdown support lets you easily share your entries with virtually any other app you may expend for writing . Even though everything you spell is lumped into a single journal , Day One does n’t skimp on the governing body . A lively search field and a strong implementation of individualised tags make finding weeks - old mark a picnic . Everything you write is seamlessly synced across all of your devices , and each app has been establish for quick input , right down to the computer menu ginmill that lets you quickly jot down down notes on your Mac without needing to launch the app . It might not forge so well for longer pieces , but as a supplementation to Ulysses or Byword , writer should n’t send packing Day One .
Best for using a browser: StackEdit
Web apps as a whole may blanch in comparing to the full - featured ones we download from the App Store , but that does n’t mean there are n’t some keen on-line utilities out there . We ’ve been trained to expect rudimentary experiences from World Wide Web apps , butStackEdit(Mac and iOS , free ; $ 5 / year subscription unlock all feature ) bucks that slue with a antiphonal , feature - rich user interface that stack up against most anything you ’ll find in the App Store .
Once you start writing in StackEdit you ’ll quickly forget you ’re act upon in a browser app .
Nothing about it palpate like a web app : Not only will you get full Markdown support , it even include a unrecorded preview pane that will show you exactly how your formatted syntax will look . A toolbar of Markdown shortcuts allow you style your text , add images and links , and create lists , while a dewy-eyed Indian file pecking order shows you everything you ’ve previously work on . Saving and opening documents is as easy as signing into your Dropbox , Google Drive , or CouchDB invoice , and you’re able to publish to an regalia of services with just a few taps . Alternatively , you may import and export file cabinet right on your Mac and share link for coaction .
There is even a set of subject for extra customization , and if you ’re stuck without a connection somewhere , an offline mode will still get you drop a line within your web internet browser of choice . I see a few more bugs than the other apps remark here , but if you need a complete web browser app - ground answer for your writing across all program and machine , StackEdit is the rank cream of the crop .
Others of note
There are uncounted text editor in chief that work across iOS and OS X , and while they did n’t rise to the level of the one on this list , it ’s hard to observe a bad one . For determined note - takers , there’sNotefile(Mac : $ 5,iOS : $ 5 ) , an extremist - minimal public utility company that ’s always quick to invite your watchword . It ’s extremely scant on the features , but it will dutifully sync your sentences no matter how tight they arrive . You do n’t even require to plunge the app on your Mac to start out writing — a handy carte du jour bar icon and Dashboard contraption make it extra easy to get at a blank sheet .
SimpleNote ’s morose way is so great , you ’re unlikely to ever twist it off .
data Architect’sWriter(Mac : $ 10,iOS : $ 5 ) was the original distraction - free tidings mainframe and it ’s still a strong entry , as is its workflow - oriented follow - up , Writer Pro ( Mac : $ 20,iOS : $ 10 ) . There ’s a simple , understate elegance to the interface that work on any screen you ’re working on ( though the status legal community is getting a minute too crowded for my preference ) , and you wo n’t retrieve a good choice of fount on any other textual matter editor .
Another first-class alternative isWrite(Mac : $ 10,iPhone : $ 2,iPad : $ 2 ) . While it lose points for lag behind in its iPhone 6 optimisation , its iOS apps offer an array of features , include tradition URL actions , in - app Dropbox browse and a clever “ gelt pad ” for quick thinking . On the Mac side you ’ll get a killer mental image panel and a bevy of sharing options , along with the same gorgeous port you ’ll find on the iPhone and iPad versions .
And you ca n’t go wrong withSimplenote‘s ( Free , MacandiOS ) classic , fresh experience either . Its lightweight , attentive interface puts a exchange premium on establishment and dog every change you ’ve made to a particular file , letting you scour through save up versions with ease . There are n’t a whole lot of exporting or formatting pick ( nor is there a specialised keyboard ) , but its blueprint ( especially the empyreal sinister theme ) is so respectable you ’ll require to utilize it for much more than unproblematic notes .
