The ghostwriter Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about ghostwriter in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
ghostwriter
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from ghostwriter’s own pages.
Made by KDE · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from ghostwriter’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on ghostwriter’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
ghostwriter is a free Markdown editor made by KDE and released under the GNU General Public License v3.0. It pairs a plain, full-screen-capable editor with a live HTML preview, a document outline, and focus and Hemingway modes that cut down on distraction and on editing while drafting. Documents are exported through processors such as Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and commonmark. Windows and Linux are supported, and macOS only by building from source.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about ghostwriter, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no phone or web version, and export to other formats leans on Pandoc or MultiMarkdown.
- 1
Best for free Markdown writing on Linux or Windows
ghostwriter is a free Markdown editor from KDE with a live preview, a focus mode and a Hemingway mode that switches off backspace.
- 2
It is free
ghostwriter has no paid plan at all. The whole application is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The site invites optional donations to KDE.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and Linux.
- 4
Live preview
Shows the Markdown document as HTML beside the editor, tuned to stay responsive on large documents. The HTML can be copied into a blog.
- 5
Focus Mode
Highlights the text around the cursor and fades the rest. It can be set to highlight the current line, sentence, paragraph or three lines.
- 6
Hemingway Mode
Disables the backspace and delete keys so that drafting cannot be interrupted by editing, in the manner of a typewriter.
- 7
A 3.0 GPA, above 57 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
ghostwriter is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
ghostwriter at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows, Linux
- Made by
- KDE, since 2015
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free Markdown writing on Linux or Windows
ghostwriter is a free Markdown editor from KDE with a live preview, a focus mode and a Hemingway mode that switches off backspace. It runs on Windows 10 and Linux only; on a Mac you'd have to compile it yourself. There's no phone or web version, and export to other formats leans on Pandoc or MultiMarkdown.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0, a program you download and run, with nothing to buy at all against a category middle of $8.33 a month. The site asks only for an optional donation to KDE. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The complete editor costs nothing and there is no paid tier holding anything back, so no cap exists for a writer to hit. Windows gets a portable build, Linux a package, and the source is there for anything else. |
| Features | C | Live HTML preview beside the editor, Focus Mode fading everything but the line, sentence or paragraph you're on, Hemingway Mode with backspace switched off, an outline sidebar and session statistics. That job done fully, but a small job, and the listing admits export leans on Pandoc or MultiMarkdown. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up for writing: a portable 64-bit build on Windows, a package on Linux, then type, with a live word count along the bottom and Ctrl+J jumping around the outline. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A program for computers alone: Windows 10 and Linux, with macOS support unofficial and no installer, so you'd compile it yourself. No mobile or web version, and the things it links to, Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and MathJax, are local processors rather than services. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who ghostwriter is for
- Fits if you write Markdown on Linux or Windows and want to pay nothing
- Works for drafting first and formatting later, with backspace switched off in Hemingway Mode
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on a Mac, since macOS support is unofficial, with no installer, and you'd compile it from source
- Not for you if you write on a phone or in a browser, as no mobile or web version is listed
- Too light for people who want export built in, because other formats go through Pandoc or MultiMarkdown
- Watch out: on Windows it comes only as a portable 64-bit build for Windows 10
Good to know
Good for
- Linux and Windows users who want a free Markdown editor
- Writers who draft first and format later
- Bloggers who need clean HTML from Markdown
Worth knowing
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided: there is no installer, so the app has to be compiled from source.
- The Windows download is offered only as a portable 64-bit build for Windows 10.
- No mobile or web version is listed.
- Export to other formats relies on processors such as Pandoc or MultiMarkdown.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
ghostwriter is free to use.
The site asks only for an optional donation to KDE.
Free
$0
The complete editor at no cost: a portable 64-bit build for Windows 10 and packages for Linux distributions, with source code for other platforms.
The free plan
The whole application is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0. The site invites optional donations to KDE.
Read from ghostwriter.kde.org on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Windows and Linux
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown.
That job done fully, but a small job, and the listing admits export leans on Pandoc or MultiMarkdown.
- Live preview
- Shows the Markdown document as HTML beside the editor, tuned to stay responsive on large documents. The HTML can be copied into a blog.
- Focus Mode
- Highlights the text around the cursor and fades the rest. It can be set to highlight the current line, sentence, paragraph or three lines.
- Hemingway Mode
- Disables the backspace and delete keys so that drafting cannot be interrupted by editing, in the manner of a typewriter.
- Outline navigation
- A sidebar outline jumps to any section of the document, in the editor and in the live preview, by mouse or with Ctrl+J and the arrow keys.
- Document and session statistics
- A live word count sits at the bottom of the window, and sidebar tabs show further statistics for the document and the current session.
- Export through Markdown processors
- Exports to other formats using Pandoc, MultiMarkdown or commonmark, and uses Pandoc to render equations with MathJax.
Where it runs
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Pandoc
- MultiMarkdown
- MathJax
ghostwriter is made by KDE, and has been around since 2015.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
ghostwriter's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 58 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
ghostwriter has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. ghostwriter’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 58 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. ghostwriter is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
ghostwriter is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade.
What you could make
- Markdown: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. ghostwriter’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
MarkText, Typora, Zettlr, FocusWriter and iA Writer
The 5 tools ghostwriter is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
MarkText
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering.
- Only MarkText lists a macOS app.
- 2.6GPA
Typora
Free trial · from $14.99 one-time
Minimal Markdown editor that renders formatting as you type.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Typora lists a macOS app.
- ghostwriter is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Zettlr
Free
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing.
- Only Zettlr lists a macOS app.
- Zettlr also covers linked notes, citations and long-form writing.
- 3.0GPA
FocusWriter
Free
Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux.
- ghostwriter also covers Markdown.
- FocusWriter also covers documents.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ghostwriter lists a Linux app.
- Only iA Writer lists macOS and iOS apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is ghostwriter free?
Yes. ghostwriter is free to use. The whole application is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
How much does ghostwriter cost?
ghostwriter lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does ghostwriter work on?
ghostwriter is available on Windows and Linux.
Does ghostwriter have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ghostwriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Does ghostwriter have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. ghostwriter is listed for Windows and Linux.
Is ghostwriter open source?
Yes. ghostwriter is open source, according to its own site.
What does ghostwriter integrate with?
ghostwriter's listing names Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and MathJax. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes ghostwriter?
ghostwriter is made by KDE. It dates from 2015.
What are the alternatives to ghostwriter?
The closest alternatives to ghostwriter in our directory are MarkText, Typora, Zettlr, FocusWriter and iA Writer.
How does ghostwriter compare with other writing tools?
ghostwriter's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is ghostwriter good value for money?
ToolGPA grades ghostwriter A for value for money. ghostwriter has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of ghostwriter?
ghostwriter is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from ghostwriter’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ghostwriter's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-03.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by KDE. Prices change, so check ghostwriter.kde.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- ghostwriter, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ghostwriter
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "ghostwriter: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ghostwriter
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ghostwriter/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after ghostwriter, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what ghostwriter’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. ghostwriter is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by KDE. Prices and plans change: check ghostwriter.kde.org before you buy.