One of the biggest uses we give to our computers is office automation. And within this, the processing and editing of texts for papers, reports, dossiers… And since it is what we use the most, we need simple tools that do not give us headaches and that, preferably, are free. Not all of us need tools as complete (and for a fee) as Microsoft Word, and we are content with a text editor that is simple, light, and free to download.
At Tuexpert, we have done the dirty work and will show you five free text processors and editors for your PC. The requirements that we have imposed are that they are easy to use and that they are free. Let’s start!
APACHE OPENOFFICE
One of the most popular text editors you can download to your laptop. It is a free, open-source processor that includes text editing, spreadsheets, the possibility of making presentations, vector drawing tools, and databases that will help you both in the home economy and the professional one. It is available on various platforms like Windows, GNU/LINUX, and Mac OS X, and the complete suite contains these applications:
- Writer, similar to Microsoft Word, with which you can edit text and export to PDF and HTML
- Calc, similar to Microsoft Excel
- Impress, a presentation tool similar to PowerPoint, can export presentations to SWF format.
- Base, similar to Microsoft Access, creation of databases, creation of forms and reports…
- Draw, vector drawing, and diagramming tool.
- Math, creation, and edition of mathematical formulas, especially indicated for the teaching professional.
The full installation of the Apache OpenOffice suite weighs 124 MB.
GOOGLE DRIVE
The best thing about using Google Drive as a text editor is its integration across different platforms. Because we can not only have Google Drive on the computer, as you all know, but on any Android mobile or tablet. In other words, when we have to edit a text, we can use our mobile, especially if they are minimal touch-ups or in a quick edition to get out of trouble. And also, one of the advantages offered by creating and editing a text in Google Drive (and not directly in the Google Documents applications for PC, for example) is that we will always have it saved and synchronized in the cloud, keeping a vital backup copy especially if it is important work or educational documents.
When we have Google Drive installed on our computer, we only have to create a new Google document and start writing and editing our new text. It is a very practical and simple tool, and, as we mentioned, you will always have your document safe in any Google Drive application you access with your Google account.
WPS WRITER
This free text editor is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. There is no need to pay for the text editor, and some other tools are available, so you can easily download WPS Writer. It is a tool very similar to Microsoft Word and OpenOffice, having everything available to edit a text and import it into different formats in a very simple and practical way. In addition, its interface is clear and very recognizable, being able to open new documents and organize them through tabs like in an Internet browser.
If you want an experience similar to Word on your computer but with the advantage of being a free tool, try WPS Writer. Its installation file weighs almost 80 MB, and you can download it at this link. It is compatible with the vast majority of existing text editing formats. And you can even insert graphs like Excel without downloading more separate applications.
ZENPEN
Let’s go now for extreme minimalism. With Zenpen, we will not have to download any program on our computer, but we will do all the text editions online. As soon as we enter the Zenpen page, we will see a written text that we must delete to start working. We have a screen expander so that nothing distracts us from the text, a dark mode to write at night without your partner being disturbed by the light from the laptop (or mobile).
As for editing, well, something very basic. With Zenpen, you can only put bold, italics, paragraph changes, and external links. To do this, you will have to select the desired text. At the moment, a pop-up button will appear with each one of the tools. We press and done. In this practical text editing website, we also have a character counter. A counter that will be very useful for those who dedicate themselves professionally to text editing. Of course, we can save our text once we have finished editing. Don’t stop trying it. It’s completely free!
HEMINGWAY
And we end the tour of the five best free text editors for PC with another tool similar to Zenpen that will also be useful for all who write. This website will notify you when you make ‘mistakes’ in your text. Errors that are not such but will tell you when the sentences are very convoluted or difficult to read. On one side, you can see the keys to understand what the page is telling you and, at the moment, be able to edit it to remove the colored keys and thus leave the perfect text.
Hemingway can also serve as a complement to other text editors that we have indicated in this article. You only have to copy and paste the text to correct the longer sentences, eliminate adverbs or passive voices, etc. It will be like having a teacher on the PC to help you write more clearly. We will also have bold, italics, different headers, the possibility of embedding links, etc.
Which of these five text editors for PC do you prefer? Try them all!
I am a writer with eight years of experience writing in business and technology. I always carry a passion for learning and discovering new knowledge.