WriteMonkey vs ZenPen (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, WriteMonkey and ZenPen share a 2.8 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on whether you care more about features, where WriteMonkey grades higher, or ease of use, where ZenPen does.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
WriteMonkey
Minimal plain-text Markdown editor for writers, free to use
Which one is for you
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
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
| 2.8GPAWriteMonkeyGood | 2.8GPAZenPenGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree to download and use on as many machines as you like. A program anyone can download and run. | A$0, with only a tip-jar link. Nothing to buy. |
| Free plan and trial | ANo caps on the free version; donations are optional and only unlock extras. | AThe whole app is free, no account and no paid plans. |
| Features | CMarkdown, plugins and an AI helper plugin, but plain text only with no page layout or rich formatting. | 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 | CNo store rating on record. It's keyboard-driven, so you'll learn the shortcuts. | BNo rating on record, but open the page and type. Nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux only, with no phone or web version. | CWeb only, with no accounts, sync between devices or integrations. |
| Best for | distraction-free plain-text writing on a keyboard | 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: WriteMonkey and ZenPen. How we grade
Price against what you get
WriteMonkey has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. ZenPen has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other writing tools on the chart, none scores higher than WriteMonkey for less, and none scores higher than ZenPen for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- ZenPen is open source, according to its own site.
- ZenPen also covers documents.
At a glance
| WriteMonkey | ZenPen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free to download and use on as many machines as you like; donors get a key for extras. | 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 | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | pomarancha | Tim Holman |
| Price read from | writemonkey.com | zenpen.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
WriteMonkey
Free$0
Full download with no limits stated; a donation of any amount is optional.
ZenPen
ZenPen$0
Free browser app with no account and no paid plans listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, WriteMonkey or ZenPen?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both WriteMonkey and ZenPen are free to use.
Which has a free plan, WriteMonkey or ZenPen?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both WriteMonkey and ZenPen have a free plan.
Which platforms do WriteMonkey and ZenPen run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only WriteMonkey lists macOS, Windows and Linux 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.