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Ghostwriter
ghostwriter.kde.org
What it is
Ghostwriter is a free Markdown text editor for distraction-free writing, available on Linux and Windows, with unofficial community-provided macOS support. It stores documents as local files and previews Markdown as HTML, which can be copied or exported. GitHub-flavored Markdown is supported, and export options include HTML, Pandoc, MultiMarkdown, and commonmark. Focus Mode highlights a selected area around the cursor, such as a line, sentence, paragraph, or three lines. Full-screen mode and Hemingway Mode provide other writing setups; Hemingway Mode disables backspace and delete. The editor includes light and dark themes, with options to create custom themes. Writers also get live word counts, document and session statistics, a document outline, autosave, and file backups. Linux installation instructions cover Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch Linux. The Windows download page lists a portable 64-bit version for Windows 10. On macOS, users must compile the source because an installer is not available. Ghostwriter is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- ghostwriter is a distraction-free text editor for Markdown.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Supported platforms
- Windows,Linux,macOSRead 20 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Free plan
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- License
- The project site says ghostwriter is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Founded
- 2015Read 28 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Autosave
- It offers autosave and file backup options.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Export
- The project site lists Pandoc, MultiMarkdown, and commonmark for export to multiple formats.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Export formats
- HTML,Pandoc,MultiMarkdown,commonmarkRead 20 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Focus mode
- Focus Mode highlights text around the cursor and can be configured for a line, sentence, paragraph, or three lines.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Help and bug reports
- The KDE Applications page links to a KDE forum for help and a bug list for reporting issues.Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.kde.org
- Linux support
- The download page lists Linux repositories and installation instructions for Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch Linux.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Live preview
- It previews Markdown documents as HTML and lets users copy the HTML or export to another format.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Local file support
- YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- macOS support
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided; users must compile the source because no installer is available.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Markdown flavor
- github_flavoredRead 20 Sep 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Markdown processors
- It includes cmark-gfm and can integrate with Pandoc, MultiMarkdown, Discount, and cmark when installed.Read 5 Oct 2026 · apps.kde.org
- Statistics and navigation
- It provides live word count, document and session statistics, and a document outline for navigation.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Themes
- It includes light and dark themes and lets users create their own themes.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Windows support
- The download page lists Windows 10 with a portable 64-bit version.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
- Writing modes
- It includes full-screen mode and Hemingway Mode, which disables backspace and delete while writing.Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
Plans and prices
ghostwriter Free Free and open source · GPL v3.0 Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Previews Markdown as HTML and supports GitHub-flavored Markdown
- Focus Mode can target several text spans
- Includes word counts, statistics, and document outline
- Free and distributed under GPL v3.0
Limits
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided
- macOS requires compiling source; no installer is available
- Windows download lists Windows 10 only
Who it suits
Ghostwriter suits writers who want a local-file Markdown editor with preview, focus modes, and export options. macOS users need to be comfortable compiling the source themselves.
Verdict
Ghostwriter provides Markdown preview, writing controls, and local-file support without a listed cost. Linux and Windows have listed installation options, while macOS requires compiling the source.
Where Specifiction places it
- Text App#6 of 248.4
- Markdown editors#9 of 318.4
