What is FocusWriter?
FocusWriter is a free, open-source word processor that fills the screen with the page being written. Its menus and toolbars stay hidden until the mouse moves to an edge of the screen. Themes set the font, colors and background image, and the program tracks live statistics and daily goals, checks spelling, and reopens the last documents at the point where the writer stopped.
FocusWriter is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Writers who want a full-screen page with nothing else on it
- People who set themselves a daily writing target
- Windows and Linux users who want a free, open-source editor
Worth knowing
- The download page for the current version lists Linux, Windows 10 x64 and source code only; it offers no macOS build.
- The version archive shows macOS builds only up to a release from April 2020.
- No mobile or web version is listed.
Key features
- Hide-away interface
- Menus, toolbars and other controls stay out of sight until the mouse moves to the edges of the screen, leaving only the text visible while writing.
- Themes
- A theme controls the font, the colors and a background image, and writers can create their own to set the mood of the writing space.
- Statistics and daily goals
- Statistics update as you type, and a daily goal tracks progress toward a target for each day's writing.
- Sessions that resume
- Several documents can be open at once, and on launch the program reloads the work in progress and returns to the last position in it.
- Spell-checking
- Spelling is checked with the bundled hunspell library, and the project page links to LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice dictionaries.
- Portable mode
- A portable Windows build is offered, and creating a Data folder beside the program keeps settings and themes with it on a USB drive.
FocusWriter pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole program is free and released under the GPL version 3. The developer accepts optional tips of $5, $10, $20 or another amount.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The full word processor for Windows 10 x64 and Linux, including a portable Windows build, with optional tips to the developer. |
Read from gottcode.org on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with FocusWriter before you buy.
FocusWriter alternatives
- FocusWriter vs Calmly Writer
Free plan · from $16.99 one-time
- FocusWriter vs iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Common questions
Is FocusWriter free?
Yes. FocusWriter is free to use. The whole program is free and released under the GPL version 3. The developer accepts optional tips of $5, $10, $20 or another amount.
How much does FocusWriter cost?
FocusWriter lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from gottcode.org on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does FocusWriter work on?
FocusWriter is available on Windows and Linux.
Does FocusWriter have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. FocusWriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Does FocusWriter have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. FocusWriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Is FocusWriter open source?
Yes. FocusWriter is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes FocusWriter?
FocusWriter is made by Gott Code (Graeme Gott).
What are the alternatives to FocusWriter?
The closest alternatives to FocusWriter in our directory are Calmly Writer, ghostwriter, iA Writer and LibreOffice Writer. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with FocusWriter.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.