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Work · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Cleartext

A text editor that allows only the 1,000 most common words

Cleartext is a text editor for Mac that restricts writing to the 1,000 most common words in English. Designed for writers who want to improve clarity and simplicity, it prevents users from selecting obscure or complex… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Prices are shown for the 1 we have checked on their own sites, 1 of them free or with a free tier. Cleartext launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

  1. 1

    A text editor that only allows the 1,000 most common words

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

  2. 2

    Editor that only allows the 1000 most common English words

    2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

  3. 3

    A minimalist writing app for Mac

    2015 · its alternatives →

  4. 4

    The sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose

    2021 · sublimetext.com · its alternatives →

  5. 5

    Paste as plain text by default

    2022 · sindresorhus.com · its alternatives →

  6. 6

    An editor that makes your writing bold and clear

    2015 · hemingwayapp.com · its alternatives →

  7. 7

    Fix grammar, rewrite sentences, translate text, and get clear explanations across your Mac apps. Do it all offline with local AI.

    2025 · refine.sh · its alternatives →

  8. 8
    Pretext▲142

    A powerful, clean Markdown & plain text editor for iOS 📝

    2018 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  9. 9
    Left▲383

    A minimalist multi-platform text editor

    2018 · hundredrabbits.itch.io · its alternatives →

  10. 10
    NotePad▲78

    Simple text editor with a resizable menu bar window

    2021 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  11. 11
    Tincta▲87

    Free, fast and simple open source text editor for Mac

    2021 · codingfriends.github.io · its alternatives →

  12. 12
    Hemingway▲320

    Hemingway makes your writing bold and clear.

    2014 · hemingwayapp.com · its alternatives →

  13. 13

    Simple, beautiful yet powerful text/md editor for your Mac

    2016 · its alternatives →

  14. 14

    Make your writing bold and clear, send to Medium/Wordpress

    2017 · hemingwayapp.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15BF

    Byword 1.2 added Markdown editing, previewing and exporting to HTML. While version 1.0 was positioned as a distraction-free/minimalist text editor, we now feel the need to detract a bit from that space. We are currently investing a lot more in the efficiency and needs of web writers, listening carefully and working hard to put out new updates (3 Mac App Store updates in less than 2 months--not recommended). If you feel like trying the app, we are specifically looking for feedback on what Byword can do to help creative/web writers. There's a free trial for download at http://bywordapp.com…

    2011 · bywordapp.com · its alternatives →

  16. 16
    Clarity▲320

    Lightning fast YouTube notes

    2021 · its alternatives →

  17. 17

    Write clearly using only 1,000 commonly used words

    2016 · easywrite.parishod.com · its alternatives →

  18. 18
    Textpad▲200

    Simple online notepad, no fancy stuff. Just write.

    2016 · textpad.surge.sh · its alternatives →

  19. 19
    Text is▲98

    Simple and fast markdown pastebin

    2023 · text.is · its alternatives →

  20. 20
    Typed▲256

    The stunning markdown and writing app for Mac

    2014 · realmacsoftware.com · its alternatives →

  21. 21
    Byword▲103

    Markdown app for writing in plain text efficiently

    2017 · bywordapp.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22

    Reading and note taking better than paper!

    2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23
    TextFlex▲179

    Text editor & HTML viewer for iOS

    2024 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    Hold a shortcut, speak, and BetterWispr types clean text into any Mac app. Local speech models, a style for each app, meeting notes and insights. Free and open source, with no account required.

    11d ago · betterwispr.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →