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Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter · founded 2015
What it is
Ghostwriter is a free Markdown editor for distraction-free writing, with local file support, live preview and several tools for focusing and reviewing text. The preview renders Markdown as HTML, which users can copy or export; the editor supports GitHub-flavored Markdown. Focus Mode highlights text near the cursor and can focus on a line, sentence, paragraph or three lines. Full-screen mode is available, as is Hemingway Mode, which disables backspace and delete while writing. Light and dark themes are included, and users can create their own. Ghostwriter provides live word counts, document and session statistics, a document outline, autosave and file backups. Export options include HTML, Pandoc, MultiMarkdown and commonmark. Linux installation information covers Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux. The Windows download page lists a portable 64-bit version for Windows 10. macOS support is unofficial and community-provided; using it requires compiling the source because there is no installer. The project is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
For and against
For
- Live preview renders Markdown as HTML.
- Focus Mode offers four focus-area choices.
- Includes live word counts and document statistics.
- Autosave and file backup options are available.
Against
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided.
- macOS users must compile the source; no installer is available.
- Windows download is listed for Windows 10.
The verdict
Ghostwriter pairs Markdown writing and export with focus tools, preview and statistics. Linux and Windows have listed installation options, while macOS requires compiling the source.
Who it suits
Ghostwriter suits people who write in Markdown and want a local-file editor with preview, focus modes and document statistics. Linux and Windows users have listed installation or download options; macOS users need to compile the source.
Plans and prices
ghostwriter
Free and open source · GPL v3.0
Read 5 Oct 2026 · ghostwriter.kde.org
On the record
- Autosave
- It offers autosave and file backup options.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Export
- The project site lists Pandoc, MultiMarkdown, and commonmark for export to multiple formats.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- HTML,Pandoc,MultiMarkdown,commonmarkghostwriter.kde.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Focus mode
- Focus Mode highlights text around the cursor and can be configured for a line, sentence, paragraph, or three lines.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Help and bug reports
- The KDE Applications page links to a KDE forum for help and a bug list for reporting issues.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The project site says ghostwriter is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Linux support
- The download page lists Linux repositories and installation instructions for Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch Linux.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Live preview
- It previews Markdown documents as HTML and lets users copy the HTML or export to another format.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Local file support
- Yesghostwriter.kde.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- macOS support
- macOS support is unofficial and community-provided; users must compile the source because no installer is available.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Markdown flavor
- github_flavoredghostwriter.kde.org · read 20 Sep 2026
- Markdown processors
- It includes cmark-gfm and can integrate with Pandoc, MultiMarkdown, Discount, and cmark when installed.apps.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- ghostwriter is a distraction-free text editor for Markdown.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Statistics and navigation
- It provides live word count, document and session statistics, and a document outline for navigation.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Themes
- It includes light and dark themes and lets users create their own themes.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- The download page lists Windows 10 with a portable 64-bit version.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Writing modes
- It includes full-screen mode and Hemingway Mode, which disables backspace and delete while writing.ghostwriter.kde.org · read 5 Oct 2026
