# ZenPen review (2026): is it any good? > Minimal browser text editor that stays out of the way Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. ZenPen is a free web app for plain, distraction-free writing. Its page holds a text area with a few formatting buttons, a target word count and a save option that copies text as Markdown, HTML or plain text. The text is kept locally in the browser using HTML5 local storage. The source code is MIT licensed. - **Category:** Writing Tools - **Made by:** Tim Holman - **Website:** https://zenpen.io - **Runs on:** Web - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want your work saved safely, since clearing browser data can remove it. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, ZenPen is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** 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. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | ZenPen | $0 | Free browser app with no account and no paid plans listed. | Read from https://zenpen.io on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ZenPen before buying. ## Key features - **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. ## Good for - Quick drafting sessions in a browser tab - Writers who want a blank page and a word-count target - Anyone who needs Markdown or HTML out of a simple editor ## Worth knowing - 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. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.8 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. ZenPen is a minimal browser page for typing, with a word-count target and styling, at no cost. Text lives only in the browser's local storage, there are no accounts, folders or sync, and saving means copying the text out. - **Value for money: A.** $0, with only a tip-jar link. Nothing to buy. - **Free plan and trial: A.** The whole app is free, no account and no paid plans. - **Features: D.** A 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: B.** No rating on record, but open the page and type. Nothing to set up. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Web only, with no accounts, sync between devices or integrations. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ZenPen's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among writing tools - ZenPen's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 95 of the 136 other writing tools we grade, and level with 23. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 108 of 136) and worst on features (D, above 0). - ZenPen has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/writing ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** ZenPen is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 95 of the 136 other writing tools we grade. - You could make: Markdown and documents: an app builder makes these well. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Open source, Markdown, Documents, Local-first ## Alternatives - [Calmly Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/calmly-writer): Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/calmly-writer-vs-zenpen) - [FocusWriter](https://toolgpa.com/tools/focuswriter): Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/focuswriter-vs-zenpen) - [WriteMonkey](https://toolgpa.com/tools/writemonkey): Minimal plain-text Markdown editor for writers, free to use. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/writemonkey-vs-zenpen) - [OmmWriter](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ommwriter): Full-screen writing app with backgrounds, music and typing sounds. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/ommwriter-vs-zenpen) - [Cold Turkey Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey-writer): Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/cold-turkey-writer-vs-zenpen) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://zenpen.io - https://github.com/tholman/zenpen Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/zenpen Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).