5 Best Apps for Freelance Writers

Are you looking to hustle your way to freelancing success? Here’s a list of all the best apps for writers.

Denise Summers Mckenzie
4 min readSep 22, 2022
An open computer with an open notebook in front of it, a cup of coffee to the right side.
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

You may be a seasoned blogger writing articles for high-caliber clients for the big bucks. Or, perhaps you’re a mid-level copywriter or even a creative novice looking to build a solid portfolio and land your first paid writing gig.

Either way, you probably want to up the ante, gain more clients, and make more money.

One way to optimize and monetize your writing is to explore the wide world of writing apps you have at your fingertips. There are a ton of resources and tools available that will help you streamline your process and workflow.

Sure, some are better than others. And depending on which operating systems you use, certain apps may not be available. But don’t worry. There are a TON of options. In this article, we’ll just barely tip the iceberg.

Here are the best apps, tools, and software to help you hone the necessary skills to slay the freelance writing game.

Use these five productivity and organization apps to scale your writing career.

Google Docs

This may seem like a no-brainer, but let me tell you. With so many software options for creating written content, a straightforward word processor provided by a trusted brand that has been around forever is priceless (and FREE!).

Google Docs is one of the easiest, most accessible word processors. It has many extension options and collaboration features and is very well known as being the most user-friendly. Plus, it converts documents to Microsoft formats like .doc and .pdf, which are compatible with Apple software.

I sometimes have a hard time keeping my folders organized in Google Drive, and I wish it had more desktop-friendly features for Windows. But again, most people probably wouldn’t be bothered by how it’s set up.

Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the most excellent options if you’re looking for a default word processor that checks your spelling and grammar, clarity, and readability for essential metrics like SEO.

If you’re brand new to the freelance writing scene or looking to get the most out of your time, I recommend using Grammarly as your go-to writing assistant. It was a lifesaver when I started freelancing over five years ago, and I still use it often.

There is a free version available. But, if you’re looking to use all the best features, you’ll have to get the upgraded Premium Plan, which only costs me $12/month on average as an annual payment. And if you’re working with a team of three or more, you can snag the Business Plan starting at $45/month.

Evernote

Evernote is pretty awesome and probably one of the best integration apps. It’s seamless, user-friendly, and has a comfortable, well-designed UI. You can organize notes, manage tasks, and sync calendars across platforms. This is an excellent resource if you want to stay distraction-free and hit all your writing deadlines.

Evernote can also be used as a mood board-esque way to archive and create notes with different embedded images, audio clips, web links, and more. It’s an excellent resource for fiction writers looking to organize a storyline, characters, and inspiration.

Another cool thing about Evernote is that you can access most features using the Free version, which can be rare. If you’re a heavier user, I’d go for the Personal subscription for $7.99/month, which isn’t a bad price for ten gigs of storage across unlimited devices. If you’re working with a team, the Professional subscription is helpful with note-sharing and task management.

Indy

Indy is a one-stop shop for managing clients, leads, tasks, invoices, contracts, proposals, and more. It’s one of the first apps I started using to create invoices, and I fell in love with it. It’s super customizable, lets you use your branding, and is made specifically for freelancers.

It’s also free to use, which is fantastic! You get a ton of features, some of which are limited, but you can definitely get away with using Indy free of charge. However, the BEST thing about Indy is that you can pay only $6.75/month to get unlimited premium access.

Indy is the perfect app for freelancers starting out, especially if they need premium services but don’t want to pay for an arm and a leg.

Notebook held upon with hand with a pen next to it
Photo by David Iskander on Unsplash

Now, start downloading these writer’s apps and get to work!

I know we’ve barely touched the surface here. There are endless applications and software out there promising to help with productivity, inspiration, organization, and everything else you need to be successful as a writer. Some are fantastic. Some work better for others. Some are just a waste of time (and money).

Thanks for reading, and I hope this list helps you find the best writer’s apps! I’d love to hear from you and find out what some of your favorite writing and freelancer apps are.

Drop a line in the comments, and let’s expand this list!

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Denise Summers Mckenzie

I’m a freelance writer, poet-artist, and cannabis enthusiast who loves to create, discover, learn, grow and teach.