OmmWriter vs ZenPen (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, ZenPen grades higher than OmmWriter: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
OmmWriter grades higher on features. ZenPen grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use 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
From $9.99 one-time
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 ZenPen if
- Fits if you want a blank page for a quick draft
- Works for a short piece you'll paste somewhere else
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want your work saved safely, since clearing browser data can remove it
- Not for you if you need folders or sync, as it has no accounts
- Too light for long projects, because there's no outline or file handling
- Watch out: saving means copying text to the clipboard, with no download button described
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAOmmWriterFair | 2.8GPAZenPenGood | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | A$0, with only a tip-jar link. Nothing to buy. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan or trial is listed, and the Mac App Store sells it for a one-time $9.99. | AThe whole app is free, no account and no paid plans. |
| Features | CFull-screen writing, backgrounds, audio, five typefaces and exports. It has no outline, project or collaboration tools, but covers the basics. | DA text area, a word target, bold, italic and quote styling and Markdown, HTML or plain-text copy. It has no saving, folders or sync, and needs another product for anything longer. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating on record, but you install it and start typing with nothing to set up. | BNo rating on record, but open the page and type. Nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows only. The FAQ rules out iPhone, iPad, Linux, Kindle and Chromebook. | CWeb only, with no accounts, sync between devices or integrations. |
| Best for | a quiet full-screen writing space | a plain page to type on |
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 ZenPen. How we grade
Where they differ
- OmmWriter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ZenPen is open source, according to its own site.
- OmmWriter also covers focus music.
- ZenPen also covers Markdown.
In commonDocuments
At a glance
| OmmWriter | ZenPen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free |
| Starts at | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store) | Free |
| Free plan | None | The whole app is free to use in the browser; the page only offers a tip-jar link to support the maker. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Byteberry Studio, S.L. | Tim Holman |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | zenpen.io |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
ZenPen
- It is a single-page web app with no accounts, folders or sync between devices.
- Text lives in this browser's local storage, so clearing browser data can remove it.
- Saving means copying the text to the clipboard; there is no file download or export button described.
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.
ZenPen
- Minimal writing page
- A plain page with a text area and a handful of buttons, described as a minimal editor made to stay out of the way.
- Target word count
- Set a word-count goal in the top bar to track progress as you write.
- Text styling
- Buttons apply bold, italic and quote formatting to the text you select.
- Save as Markdown, HTML or plain text
- Pick a format and copy the text with ctrl+c or cmd+c to paste it elsewhere.
- Local storage
- The project's README says everything is kept on your device through HTML5 local storage, not on a server.
- Open-source code
- The code is public on GitHub under the MIT license.
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.
ZenPen
ZenPen$0
Free browser app with no account and no paid plans listed.
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.
ZenPen
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, OmmWriter or ZenPen?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OmmWriter starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store), and ZenPen is free.
Which has a free plan, OmmWriter or ZenPen?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only ZenPen has a free plan. OmmWriter does not.
Which platforms do OmmWriter and ZenPen run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only OmmWriter lists macOS and Windows apps and only ZenPen lists a web app. 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.