Software Alternatives & Startups

Scratch VS WriteMonkey

Compare Scratch VS WriteMonkey and see what are their differences

Scratch

Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

Scratch Landing page
Rating
5.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
WriteMonkey

Software for full screen distraction free creative writing. No whistles and bells, just empty screen, you and your words. WriteMonkey is light, fast, and perfectly handy for those who enjoy the simplicity of a typewriter but live in modern times.

WriteMonkey Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Scratch seems to be a lot more popular than WriteMonkey. While we know about 578 links to Scratch, we've tracked only 5 mentions of WriteMonkey.

social mentions
578 vs 5
Kids Education popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 199

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Scratch
WriteMonkey
Website scratch.mit.edu writemonkey.com
Pricing
Open source
Company 2007
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Scratch 6 features
WriteMonkey 4 features
  • Engaging Interface
    Scratch offers a visually appealing and user-friendly interface that makes it accessible for kids and beginners to learn programming concepts.
  • Community Support
    The platform has a large and active community where users can share projects, get feedback, and collaborate with others, fostering a sense of community and support.
  • Educational Value
    Scratch is designed with a strong pedagogical foundation, helping users to develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and creativity.
  • Drag-and-Drop Programming
    The block-based coding in Scratch eliminates syntax errors and simplifies the process of learning programming logic, making it ideal for beginners.
  • Free to Use
    Scratch is completely free to use, which makes it accessible to a wide audience without any financial barriers.
  • Portable
    Being web-based, Scratch can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, providing ease of access and flexibility.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Capabilities
    Scratch is mainly designed for beginners and might not offer the depth or complexities needed for more advanced programming projects.
  • Performance Issues
    Larger projects can sometimes become slow or unresponsive, particularly on less powerful devices.
  • Simplified Programming
    The drag-and-drop nature of Scratch, while educational, might limit exposure to the syntax and intricacies of written programming languages.
  • Internet Dependency
    Scratch primarily requires an internet connection, which could be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Age Focus
    The platform is highly targeted towards younger audiences, which might not be appealing or suitable for older learners or adults seeking beginner resources.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any online community, there are potential privacy and security risks, especially for younger users, which require careful monitoring and guidance.
  • Distraction-Free Environment
    WriteMonkey offers a minimalist, full-screen interface, allowing users to focus solely on writing without being distracted by other elements or notifications on their computer.
  • Portability
    The software can be run from a USB stick without needing to be installed on the host computer, which is convenient for users who work on multiple machines.
  • Customization
    WriteMonkey is highly customizable, allowing users to tweak the appearance and functionality to match their writing preferences.
  • Lightweight
    The application is lightweight and doesn't consume many system resources, making it suitable for older or less powerful machines.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Integrations
    WriteMonkey lacks integration with many popular productivity tools and cloud services, which can be a drawback for users who rely on these integrations.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive customization options and unique interface may present a learning curve for new users who are accustomed to more conventional word processors.
  • Windows Only
    WriteMonkey is primarily designed for Windows operating systems, which limits its accessibility for users on macOS or Linux.
  • Limited Formatting Options
    The software focuses heavily on plain text, providing limited advanced formatting options compared to full-fledged word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Scratch
WriteMonkey

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Scratch is generally considered good for its intended purpose. It serves as an excellent introduction to programming for young learners and is praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and educational value.

Why this product is good

  • Scratch is a visual programming language designed primarily for children and beginners to learn the basics of coding and computational thinking. It promotes creativity, logic, and problem-solving skills in a user-friendly environment. Scratch provides a platform for users to create interactive stories, games, and animations, which can be shared within an active online community, fostering collaboration and feedback.

Recommended for

  • Children aged 8-16 who are interested in learning programming
  • Educators and parents seeking to introduce coding concepts
  • Beginners in programming who prefer a visual approach
  • Anyone looking to explore digital creativity through interactive media

Overall verdict

  • Overall, WriteMonkey is highly regarded for what it aims to achieve. It delivers a clean and efficient writing experience that appeals especially to those who find other word processors to be overwhelming or unnecessarily complex for straightforward writing tasks.

Why this product is good

  • WriteMonkey is a popular tool among writers who value minimalism and distraction-free environments. It is designed for those who want to focus solely on the writing process without the clutter of additional features or complex interfaces. Users appreciate its simplicity, customization options, and the way it allows them to concentrate entirely on their text.

Recommended for

    WriteMonkey is especially suited for authors, bloggers, journalists, and anyone who prioritizes a clean, feature-light environment for writing. It's ideal for those who need limited distractions and prefer a minimalist tool that gets out of the way to let them focus on the task of writing.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Scratch 3 videos + Add
WriteMonkey 2 videos + Add

Scratch 3.0 Review: My Thoughts About Scratch 3.0

More videos

  • Review - Numark PT01 Scratch Review
  • Review - Meguiar's scratch X 2.0 review

Focuswriter vs WriteMonkey | Week 5 | Vlog #5 | 52 Weeks Later

More videos

  • Review - Turn Writer into WriteMonkey - Learn Writer

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Scratch
WriteMonkey
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Scratch and WriteMonkey. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Scratch 5.0 · 1 review
WriteMonkey no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of WriteMonkey yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Scratch 578 mentions
WriteMonkey 5 mentions
  • How would you know whether an ancient culture had zero?
    What I wonder is: why has nobody noticed that code editors lack a concept of 0? When you're writing code, you can express any concept except that of an unfilled hole. We've rearranged every part of the coding process in a twisted-up way,... - Source: Hacker News / 15 days ago
  • Mini Micro Fantasy Computer
    Sounds like Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Usborne 1980s Computer Books
    The average house in the UK now has 1.3 laptops. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/09/online-all-the-time-average-british-household-owns-74-internet-devices A windows laptop from today is vastly easier to code on that a C64... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago

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  • I wish I could have a dark screen on Microsoft Word when I write
    Try WriteMonkey or something similar if you want nice distraction-free writing. You can have full-screen dark-mode with just a few things like word-count and stuff, you can make it work (and even sound) like a typewriter, etc. There... Source: over 3 years ago
  • I want to just get lots of text onto my computer.
    WriteMonkey was the reason why I use Linux / Vim daily now. It was my first foray into a minimal writing environment, and I still love it very much. You'll really like it. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Can someone recommend a free offline word processor please?
    It's weird that it runs as a rom and uses non standard shortcuts Try write Monkey for minimalist word processing https://writemonkey.com/. Source: almost 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Scratch and WriteMonkey

When comparing Scratch and WriteMonkey, you can also consider the following products.