Ghostwriter vs Novlr

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.

Novlr is a creative writing workspace for planning, drafting, and publishing projects. Its tools include focus and typewriter modes, writing sprints, goals, streaks, analytics, notes, and a planning grid for following story arcs and plot threads alongside a manuscript. Writing and notes can be exported as DOCX, PDF, ODT, EPUB, or RTF. The Free plan costs nothing and includes two projects, online syncing, notes and planning, focus mode, writing sprints, and analytics. Starter costs $8 a month, billed yearly, with up to 10 projects, 30-day version history, goals, streaks, Academy courses, and community access. Studio costs $16 a month, billed yearly, and adds unlimited projects and version history, Novlr Sites, proofing tools, backups to Google Drive or Dropbox, and priority support. Novlr Sites offers themes and custom domains. Novlr works through current major browsers, including Safari on iOS and Chrome or Firefox on Android, but requires an active internet connection even when saved to a phone or tablet home screen. It has no mobile apps. The company says it does not use writing for AI processing or training.