# Stylus Labs Write

> Open-source handwriting word processor for desktop and mobile

Write, from Stylus Labs, is an open-source app that the vendor describes as a word processor for handwriting. It recognizes lines of handwritten text, so inserting space reflows a paragraph and the eraser and selection tools can work a line at a time, and it adds bookmarks, handwritten links and an undo/redo dial. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad and saves documents as SVG files. The desktop and Android versions are free downloads, and the iOS app has a paid full version.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Stylus Labs
- **Website:** https://www.styluslabs.com
- **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Stylus Labs Write has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 one-time for the full iOS version; free on desktop and Android.

- **Pricing model:** Free plan
- **Free plan:** The Windows, macOS, Linux and Android versions are free downloads. The free iPhone and iPad app shows a watermark on each page until the full version is bought.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Write for desktop and Android | $0 | Windows, macOS, Linux and Android builds downloaded from the vendor's site. The source code is on GitHub under the AGPL-3.0 license. |
| Stylus Labs Write (iOS) | $0 | The free iPhone and iPad app, which the download page calls the trial version. It puts a watermark on each page. |
| Full version (iOS) | $8.99 one-time in-app purchase (US App Store) | Removes the watermark from the free iPhone and iPad app. |
| Stylus Labs Write Pro | $8.99 one-time purchase (US App Store) | The iPhone and iPad app sold as a paid download instead of an in-app upgrade. Family Sharing covers up to six people. |

Read from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stylus-labs-write/id1580794413 on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Stylus Labs Write before buying.

## Key features

- **Tools that follow lines of handwriting:** Insert Space adds blank lines or room between words and reflows the paragraph, including multicolumn layouts. Ruled erase and select work on whole lines of writing in one pass.
- **Bookmarks and handwritten links:** A bookmark dropped beside text appears in a bookmark view for navigation. Handwritten links can point to bookmarks, web sites or other documents.
- **Undo/redo dial:** A dial moves backward and forward through an unlimited undo history with one continuous motion instead of repeated taps.
- **SVG documents:** The native format is SVG, which any modern web browser can display. Documents are plain files that can also be saved as HTML or exported to PDF.
- **Shared whiteboarding:** Several people can work on a document in real time through a whiteboard server. The vendor publishes the server and recommends running it on your own network.
- **Split view, clippings and pens:** Two documents, or two parts of one, can be open side by side. Frequently used content is saved as clippings, and pens, page size, color and ruling can be customized.

## Good for

- People who take handwritten notes on both a tablet and a desktop computer
- Stylus users on Linux or Windows who want an open file format
- Editing handwriting after the fact: inserting space, moving and reflowing lines

## Worth knowing

- Typed text is not supported: the FAQ says Write can display text in an SVG document but cannot edit it.
- There is no built-in sync; the FAQ suggests syncing the document folder with a third-party tool, or saving to cloud folders in the iOS Files app.
- Google Play updates are suspended, and that listing was last updated in December 2021; the current Android build is an APK from the vendor's site.
- The free iOS app watermarks every page until the $8.99 full version is bought.

## What people say

- **App Store rating of the iPhone and iPad app:** 4.8 out of 5 from 301 ratings in the United States, read Oct 9, 2026. This is the store's rating of the app, not a score from ToolGPA. Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1580794413

## Works with

iCloud, Syncthing, Nextcloud, Apple Pencil

**Tags:** Open source, Notes, Whiteboard, Real-time collaboration

## Alternatives

- [Xournal++](https://toolgpa.com/tools/xournalpp): Open-source handwriting notes and PDF annotation for desktop. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/stylus-labs-write-vs-xournalpp)
- [Rnote](https://toolgpa.com/tools/rnote): Open-source app for sketching and handwritten notes with a stylus. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/rnote-vs-stylus-labs-write)
- [Saber](https://toolgpa.com/tools/saber): Open-source handwritten notes app for phones, tablets and PCs. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/saber-vs-stylus-labs-write)
- [Linwood Butterfly](https://toolgpa.com/tools/linwood-butterfly): Open-source handwriting and sketching app with an infinite canvas. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/linwood-butterfly-vs-stylus-labs-write)
- [Squid](https://toolgpa.com/tools/squid): Handwritten notes and PDF markup for Android and Chromebooks. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/squid-vs-stylus-labs-write)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stylus-labs-write/id1580794413
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stylus-labs-write-pro/id1498369428
- https://www.styluslabs.com/
- https://www.styluslabs.com/download/
- https://www.styluslabs.com/faq
- https://github.com/styluslabs/Write
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.styluslabs.writeqt&hl=en_US&gl=US

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/stylus-labs-write
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).