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It’s incredible how much the perfect tool can change your content. The best blog writing apps set you up for success, making it easy to create and optimize stellar content. And a tool with the right interface can make creating your blog a fun, easy process.
This roundup of free and paid tools focuses on word processing and content creation. While it doesn’t cover specific content marketing tools or grammar checkers, some may include those functions as part of all-in-one blog writing software.
Whether you’re a solo artist or part of a larger content team, these tools will help you reach your full potential.
Best Free Blog Writing Apps
Don’t want to shell out for a monthly subscription? These free blog writing tools often provide all the functionality you need.
Most of these apps are "freemium" models rather than wholly free. This means the free plan won’t deliver all the bells and whistles that come with paid levels. But the free versions are still powerful, and you can always upgrade if you find something you love.
1. WordPress
Developers built WordPress with blogging in mind, creating a tool for writers of all levels — from beginners learning how to write a blog to long-time professionals. It supports a wide range of content and makes adding SEO-important features such as meta descriptions, alt text, and rich content a breeze. It also tracks your writing, warning you if your writing becomes too difficult to read.
Be careful not to confuse WordPress.com with WordPress.org. The first is a blog-hosting platform, while the second is a full content management system for website creation. Make sure to use the right one for you and your writing needs.
Best for: Bloggers looking for a full-service content platform they can get going quickly but continue to develop.
2. Wix
Wix is a website builder that has grown popular with bloggers. It's particularly popular with businesses that want to feature a blog but require other features on their websites. You can add a blog with a couple of quick clicks and then start posting content.
Wix is particularly known for its easy-to-use interface. Drag-and-drop elements make it accessible to those with no experience (or interest) in coding.
Best for: Bloggers in e-commerce or who provide online scheduling for their services.
3. Blogger
A blog writing app with a number of attractive templates, Blogger is a bit clunkier than WordPress but easier to use. Google devotees will like the easy integration with Google analytics and ad tools.
Best for: Bloggers who place the most value on speed and ease.
4. Google Docs
Google Docs is a simple word processor that lets you share and collaborate on content. You can type your content in the platform and upload your work to most major publication platforms.
Its streamlined software helps writers move away from other complex processors with clunky interfaces, options, and information. You can do a final pass in a more sophisticated platform but compose distraction-free in Google Docs.
Best for: Bloggers that want a clutter-free processor but intend to publish through another platform such as Medium, LinkedIn, or Tumblr.
5. Zoho Writer
An alternative to Google Docs, Zoho Writer's claim to fame is an optimal writing experience across devices. You can start a document on your computer and finish it on your phone. Collaboration is also easy, and Zoho Writer integrates with both Blogger and WordPress.
Best for: Bloggers who don't want to be chained to a computer.
Best Paid Blog Writing Apps
While free writing apps can be great, useful tools for writers, some bloggers may be looking to invest in a platform with more bells and whistles to meet their individuals. These apps require at least a small investment, but Ghost, Dragon Anywhere, and StyleWriter all offer free trials.
6. Ghost
Ghost is a full-service content-creation platform that you can use to build a website, share articles and other media, send newsletters, and manage subscription levels. This blog writing software is ideal for new-media professionals.
Best for: Bloggers who want to monetize their content.
Price tag: Plans start at $9 a month.
7. JotterPad
JotterPad is a Markdown/Fountain text editor for those who like to compose in plain text and markup language. Like Zoho Writer, you can work on your phone with JotterPad. The platform makes it easy to directly publish to blogging platforms like WordPress, Ghost, or Tumblr.
JotterPad shines with its catalog of plugins and templates. Jot down music, diagrams, formulae, mindmaps, or simple text in everything from a lab report to a newspaper.
Best for: Bloggers who work with highly technical material and creatives who work in multiple, rigorously formatted genres.
Price tag: JotterPad has a free version, but it’s very limited and doesn’t allow you to publish to a blog (and this is an article on blog writing apps). Paid plans start at $3.33 a month.
8. Dragon
All of the above apps require you to put pen to paper — metaphorically speaking. Dragon software is a little different.
Dragon's advanced speech recognition software lets you dictate your articles to create and format documents. The platform has a 99% out-of-the-box accuracy and deep learning capabilities to continually improve.
Dragon Anywhere is a mobile dictation app (iOS and Android). More sophisticated document creation requires Dragon Home, Dragon Professional, or Dragon Legal (all Windows only).
Best for: Bloggers who want to give their poor hands a break.
Price tag: Dragon Anywhere is $150 a year. The Home version requires a one-time payment of $200. Professional and Legal tiers are $500. All three desktop versions of the app come with a year of Dragon Anywhere.
9. StyleWriter
StyleWriter adds an impressive range of editing tools to an otherwise simple word processor. In addition to a grammar checker, you’ll get tools to help you simplify prose, eliminate jargon, write for specific assignments or audiences, and customize for house style rules.
Best for: Bloggers who want to master a clean, journalistic style.
Price tag: One-time license fees start at $90.
Apps for Blog Writers
These blog writing apps should help you craft better content faster, but what if you simply don’t have the time or desire to create?
It may be time to consider upgrading to quality blog writing services. Let someone else do the work for you. Instead of a DIY tool, you’ll get the final product, with quality content for your business written by professionals at the top of their game.
