13 Best Writing Apps & Tools For Freelance Writers

Are you looking to streamline your writing process so you can get more done without jeopardizing the quality of your work? There are plenty of writing apps that can help you do just that.

Choosing an app that will meet your objectives, however, is a tricky task itself. There is so much software available that narrowing down your options can feel impossible. To help you make the right choice, we prepared a list of the best apps for freelance writers.

In this article, you will find effective tools intended for various purposes. Keep reading to learn what tools can make you more productive and help you become a better writer.

Airstory

If you need to write newsletters, analytical research papers, reports, curated content, or any types of content that are based on research, you will certainly appreciate Airstory.

This tool was created specifically for writers who need to work with lots of research data, enabling them to quickly cite statistics, quotes, etc. When you research your topic and suddenly find some useful information, you can just add these materials to your Airstory library and then tag them.

You can drag the note to your document and it will merge with the source URL automatically so making references will be easier than ever. The app is fast and convenient. Moreover, it also has a web clipper for browsers, which can help you cite your sources even faster.

Rescue Time

Every freelance writer has days when they are really busy but not productive enough, for some reason. When you have a lot of work to do, it can be really difficult to stay focused on your tasks, without getting distracted by social media and other things. If you want to know what you spend your time on, Rescue Time will help you. This app enables you to evaluate how much time you spend working on each particular task.

Not only can you see how much time you spend on social media and other sources that have nothing to do with your work, but you can also set goals and track your progress. For example, your goal might be to spend three hours per day on networking. The app will show you how close you are to your goals, and it will also send you notifications so that you can monitor your progress even after closing the app.

Calmly Writer

Calmly Writer can help you avoid some distractions that prevent you from focusing on the writing process. Obviously, you may get distracted by your smartphone and social media. However, even when you’re using text editors, there can be many unnecessary elements that distract you from the content.

The Calmly Writer interface looks like a blank sheet of paper. It still has all the necessary functionality, such as different formatting options, but these features are not visible all the time. There is also a focus mode that enables you to focus on a particular paragraph, which is a great option for writers who tend to jump back and forth in their writing.

Writing Challenge

If you’re dealing with writer’s block or if you want to learn creative writing, you will certainly appreciate this great app. It creates writing challenges that involve three steps that are crucial for creative writing. For example, it can ask you to begin your sentence with a certain expression, add a character that takes a certain action, and add a scene that happens at a certain place.

With Writing Challenge, you’ll have useful prompts so that you’ll need to spend less time trying to figure out what to write next. This app is all about creativity so we suggest that you use it anytime you need some fresh ideas. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Just generate ideas that you can use later in your writing.

Readable

This app will help you increase the readability of your content. Freelance writers need to make sure that their text will resonate with the audience. Your readers won’t stay engaged if they struggle to understand what you mean. They should read your content easily, and Readable will help you create content that is not only interesting but also easy to read and engaging.

The app can analyze your text and provide you with actionable statistics on vocabulary and style. You can check your nouns, adjectives, and adverbs and determine which ones can be replaced with simpler synonyms. You can also ensure the right keyword density because the developers of this app took into account SEO optimization.

Readable analyzes readability according to several different systems, including the Gunning Fog index and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.

Hemingway

If you want to edit and proofread your content, you can just visit writing services review websites like Online Writers Rating and find a website where you can order professional editing. However, every writer should be able to edit their content quickly. This is a great editor that automatically detects, highlights, and corrects any grammar mistakes, structure issues, and other details so that you can polish your content and improve it significantly. This tool will also help you increase the readability of your content so it will be more clear and concise.

If you have wordy sentences or poorly structured paragraphs, you can just open your document in Hemingway, and this app will become your editor. You can also use Hemingway as your main text editor app so that you can improve your content on the go.

Grammarly

It’s impossible not to mention Grammarly when talking about text editors. Grammarly is an amazing tool that will help you fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, improve your writing style, and make your text more engaging. You can also specify objectives, and the app will offer you suggestions on how to make your content more effective.

Grammarly can tell if your style is inconsistent or if you’re overusing certain words. It can also determine whether or not you’re using an appropriate tone. In addition, this app will help you avoid passive voice and suggest synonyms that will make your writing more diverse and engaging.

Most apps for writers don’t address so many details, but Grammarly certainly is a great choice if you need an all-in-one editing and proofreading solution.

Freedom

When you’re running out of time or have too much work, it’s especially important to stay focused and committed. Freedom is an app that can help you stick to your priorities without getting distracted by social media, shopping, or video games. Users of this app say that they’ve managed to get additional 2.5 productive hours, which is a great result for an app of this kind.

The app works based on blocks. You can determine blocks of time when you’re going to work and stay focused on your tasks. You can also start a new block session immediately or schedule it in advance so that you will start writing at the exact right time. Not only will this app help you become more productive, but it will also help you develop good working habits. One of the best things about this solution is that you can install it on any device you have and keep them synchronized.

Scrivener

If you write many long documents, such as manuscripts or books, you may find it difficult to organize the content. For instance, when you suddenly get a new idea and decide to change something in your document, or when you want to reorganize chapters, it may take a lot of effort, and regular text editors don’t let you do it quickly.

Thanks to Scrivener, you won’t need to select, copy, and paste huge chunks of text. This app enables you to simply drag and drop the necessary segment of your text in the right place. Another good thing about this app is that you can install it on both your desktop and smartphone so that you can edit your documents anytime you need it.

Todoist

If you have an overwhelming workload, the chances are that you may forget something or get stressed out. Freelance writers often work with multiple contractors. They have to work on multiple orders with different deadlines. Besides, they should allocate some time for research, proofreading, and communication. Thanks to Todoist, you will never forget about your important tasks and deadlines.

Todoist will also be a great solution if you’re dealing with large-scale projects or if you want to simply organize your everyday routine. Create convenient to-do lists, use filters to prioritize the most important tasks, create various labels, and synchronize your work time across different devices. This multiplatform to-do app will help you complete all your tasks on time and avoid any stress associated with deadlines.

Aoya

This app will boost your creativity and productivity. It will help you quickly organize your ideas when brainstorming or plan the structure of your content in just a few clicks. Aoya is a mind-mapping app that enables writers to quickly outline their documents and to organize their ideas in a visual manner so that they can see how ideas are connected to each other logically.

When you feel inspired, you can quickly write down your ideas and organize them so that you will remember what to write first, and how these ideas should follow each other. A great feature of this app is that it enables you to use not only classic mind maps but also diagrams or even stickers.

Google Docs

If you don’t use Google Docs yet, you’re really missing out. Sometimes, multiple freelancers have to work on the same project. You may also need to communicate with editors, read their comments, and add the necessary changes to your documents. Sending DOCX files via email back and forth takes a lot of time, but Google Docs enables you to forget about it.

All your documents are stored in the cloud, and you can share them with anyone you need. You can see new comments or edits in real-time, and several people can work on the same document simultaneously. There’s no need to worry whether or not you’ve sent the latest version because all the edits are synchronized immediately, and you can even check the history of edits. Google Docs is certainly the best app for collaboration.

iDeas for Writing

This app is somewhat similar to Writing Challenges because it’s also aimed to boost your creativity. iDeas for Writing will provide you with countless writing prompts so that you won’t need to spend hours trying to figure out what you should write next. There’s no need to be dependent on inspiration. This app will quickly suggest good ideas that you can use right now.

At the beginning of the writing process, you can choose one of the five writing prompts. Besides, this app will help you choose a great title, come up with the right character, or begin your paragraphs with amazing first lines. It can also suggest random words.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, there are many great applications for freelance writers that can help you become more productive, polish your grammar, organize your workload, and get inspired. Finding the right writing app can save you time while also helping you make more money. If you want more tips on how to up your writing game, check out our tips for freelancers.