Rough Draft Alternatives

Rough Draft is described as 'Writing on paper, you let go and just get your idea out. You don't get caught up perfecting the words too early. Rough Draft is like writing with pen and paper, so you can't delete words, only cross them out' and is an app in the news & books category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Rough Draft for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone and Linux apps. The best Rough Draft alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Rough Draft are FocusWriter, Dendron, Bear and Pinery.

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Alternatives list

  1. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     169 likes

    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    121 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     

    • Manuskript is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. FocusWriter icon

    FocusWriter

     208 likes

    Simple but configurable and themeable, distraction-free text editor for writers. Open-source and available across desktop platforms.

    103 FocusWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    FocusWriter screenshot 1
     
  4. Dendron icon

    Dendron

     71 likes

    Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.

    207 Dendron alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1
     
  5. Bear icon

    Bear

     95 likes

    Flexible note-taking and writing tool featuring advanced markdown with in-line images, cross-note links, live preview, hashtags, Focus Mode, plain text storage, iCloud sync, one-tap formatting, smart data recognition, and multiple export formats for portability.

    250 Bear alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Bear screenshot 1
     

    • Bear is the most popular Web-based, iPhone & iPad alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Bear is Freemium and ProprietaryRough Draft is also Freemium and Proprietary
    • Bear is LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  6. Pinery icon

    Pinery

     10 likes

    Combines Markdown writing, live preview, and powerful design controls with instant exports in ePub, PDF, and HTML formats. Open format Markdown file storage, no vendor lock-in, customizable themes, and full privacy with local or iCloud storage on Mac.

    27 Pinery alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Pinery screenshot 1
     
  7. iA Writer icon

    iA Writer

     96 likes

    The key to good writing is not that magical glass of Bordeaux, the right kind of tobacco or that groovy background music. The key is focus. What you need to write well is a spartan setting that allows you to fully concentrate on your text and nothing but your text.

    120 iA Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iA Writer screenshot 1
     

    • iA Writer is the most popular commercial alternative to Rough Draft.

    • iA Writer is Paid and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • iA Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  9. Ulysses icon

    Ulysses

     69 likes

    Ulysses is a text editor for creative writers. Used by bloggers, poets, students and published novelists all over the world, it offers an integrated environment to brainstorm, draft, revise and even submit text on a professional level.

    129 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Ulysses screenshot 1
     
  10. scrutch icon

    scrutch

     8 likes

    End-to-encrypted, laser-focussed yet elegant editor. No registration, no login, no ads, no tracking, no hassle. Just write. In private or together with others.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    scrutch screenshot 1
     

    • scrutch is the most popular SaaS alternative to Rough Draft.

    • scrutch is Free and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • scrutch is Security-focused, Minimalistic, Lightweight and Privacy focusedRough Draft is not according to our users
  11. Skribisto icon

    Skribisto

     6 likes

    Skribisto is born from the ashes of Plume Creator , keeping the goals while adopting more recent ways to think an application.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Skribisto screenshot 1
     
  12. Tintero icon

    Tintero

     3 likes

    Organize your ideas, create memorable characters, build immersive worlds, and write captivating stories. Tintero is your ideal companion to take your creative projects to the next level, from planning to book generation.

    21 Tintero alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Scene management
     

    • Tintero is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Rough Draft.

    • Tintero is Free and ProprietaryRough Draft is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Tintero is LightweightRough Draft is not according to our users
  13. Byword icon

    Byword

     53 likes

    Byword is designed to make writing more enjoyable with Markdown on your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Byword screenshot 1
     
  14. Paper - Writing App icon

    Paper - Writing App

     5 likes

    Super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Paper - Writing App screenshot 1
     
12 of 26 Rough Draft alternatives