An iOS companion app is a nice bonus-if you tend to write on both platforms, an OS X app with an iOS cousin lets you easily switch between platforms.

Data such as word count and character count are essential to many writers some people may also want more-advanced statistics such as reading level and estimated reading time.

(Since OS X lets youĬreate a PDF from any file, as long as a writing app has a mode or view that shows your text with proper formatting, the app doesn’t need a specific PDF-export feature of its own.) Multiple export formats, such as HTML and RTF, for publishing or sharing your styled text.Markdown writing language, a simple syntax for formatting plain-text documents that can be easily converted to HTML for use on blogs or web pages. A full-screen mode, so you can shut out everything else on your Mac’s screen.A distraction-free environment-or at least a special view or mode-that allows you to focus on your writing without worrying about toolbars, palettes and other formatting tools.Today’s best focused-writing apps are made with writers in mind and offer some or all of the following features:

Best text editor for writers