OmmWriter vs WriteMonkey (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, WriteMonkey grades higher than OmmWriter: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
OmmWriter grades higher on ease of use. WriteMonkey grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
OmmWriter
Full-screen writing app with backgrounds, music and typing sounds
WriteMonkey
Minimal plain-text Markdown editor for writers, free to use
Which one is for you
Pick OmmWriter if
- Fits if you want a quiet full-screen page and nothing else
- Works for people who write on one Mac or PC and like background sounds
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want outlines, projects or collaboration, as none are listed
- Not for you if you use a phone, tablet or Linux, because there is no version for them
- Tight if you want to try first: no free plan or trial is listed
- Watch out: the site footer reads 2017 and the Windows version dates to 2019, so it may not be kept up
Pick WriteMonkey if
- Fits if you want a bare screen to type on and a keyboard to drive it
- Works for Markdown writers who don't need page layout
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want formatting or page layout, as it's plain text only
- Not for you if you want an installer and automatic updates, because it's a zip and upgrades are by hand
- Watch out: the latest version 3 release is dated January 2023, so check it's still kept up
- Watch out: old version 2 donor keys don't work in version 3
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAOmmWriterFair | 2.8GPAWriteMonkeyGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$9.99 one-time, under a year of the category's $9.75 middle subscription plus a little. There's no subscription. | AFree to download and use on as many machines as you like. A program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan or trial is listed, and the Mac App Store sells it for a one-time $9.99. | ANo caps on the free version; donations are optional and only unlock extras. |
| Features | CFull-screen writing, backgrounds, audio, five typefaces and exports. It has no outline, project or collaboration tools, but covers the basics. | CMarkdown, plugins and an AI helper plugin, but plain text only with no page layout or rich formatting. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, but you install it and start typing with nothing to set up. | CNo store rating on record. It's keyboard-driven, so you'll learn the shortcuts. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows only. The FAQ rules out iPhone, iPad, Linux, Kindle and Chromebook. | CWindows, Mac and Linux only, with no phone or web version. |
| Best for | a quiet full-screen writing space | distraction-free plain-text writing on a keyboard |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: OmmWriter and WriteMonkey. How we grade
Where they differ
- OmmWriter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- OmmWriter also covers focus music and documents.
- WriteMonkey also covers Markdown.
At a glance
| OmmWriter | WriteMonkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Starts at | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store) | Free |
| Free plan | None | Free to download and use on as many machines as you like; donors get a key for extras. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | Byteberry Studio, S.L. | pomarancha |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | writemonkey.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
OmmWriter
- Mac and Windows only: the FAQ says there is no iPhone, iPad, Linux, Kindle or Chromebook version.
- The site's footer reads 2017 and the Gaia version dates to 2017 for Mac and 2019 for Windows.
- It has only basic writing functions, with no outline, project or collaboration tools listed.
- The price on the maker's website could not be read; the $9.99 figure is the Mac App Store listing.
WriteMonkey
- Version 3 is a zip download that you unzip and run, with no installer, and upgrades are done by hand.
- The site's latest version 3 release is dated January 2023, so check how recently it has been updated.
- Plain text only, with no rich formatting or page layout.
- Old version 2 donor keys are not valid for version 3.
Key features
OmmWriter
- Full-screen writing space
- The app opens full screen with only the basic functions, so little else appears while you write.
- Nature-inspired backgrounds
- Includes backgrounds that follow the course of a day and two designed with a colour-therapy expert.
- Audio tracks and typing sounds
- Nine ambient and instrumental tracks play through headphones, and each key press makes a soft sound.
- Five typefaces
- Choose among Open Sans, DejaVu Sans, Noto Serif, PT Serif and Cygnet Round.
- Save and export formats
- Saves as .omm, .txt, .doc and .docx, with direct export to PDF or email.
- One-time license
- The maker says the Gaia license is a single payment with no time limit and no subscription.
WriteMonkey
- Minimal interface
- A stripped-down window meant to leave you with the text and a word count, without toolbars.
- Markdown support
- Plain-text writing with Markdown, which the vendor says it supported early among writer-focused editors.
- Keyboard-driven use
- Version 3 is described as keyboard friendly, with commands and shortcuts instead of menus.
- Plugins
- Plugins such as corkboards, a Pomodoro timer and a thesaurus lookup are listed; in version 3 they are bundled with the download.
- AI-helper plugin
- A ChatGPT-based plugin for version 3 is offered as a separate download, per the vendor's July 2023 note.
- Three operating systems
- Version 3 ships as zip downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux that run without an installer.
Plans
OmmWriter
OmmWriter (Mac App Store)$9.99
one-time purchase
Single payment with no subscription; the maker's own site sells it at a minimum price you may exceed.
WriteMonkey
Free$0
Full download with no limits stated; a donation of any amount is optional.
Ways to pay less
OmmWriter
- Other savings
30% off packs of five licenses
The FAQ says buying a pack of at least five licenses gets a 30% discount on each one.
WriteMonkey
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, OmmWriter or WriteMonkey?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OmmWriter starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store), and WriteMonkey is free.
Which has a free plan, OmmWriter or WriteMonkey?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WriteMonkey has a free plan. OmmWriter does not.
Which platforms do OmmWriter and WriteMonkey run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WriteMonkey lists a Linux app. Both list macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.