Software Alternatives & Startups

Summernote VS FocusWriter

Compare Summernote VS FocusWriter and see what are their differences

Summernote

Summernote is a JavaScript library that helps users create WYSIWYG editors online.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a fullscreen, distraction-free word processor designed to immerse you as much as...

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, FocusWriter should be more popular than Summernote. It has been mentioned 27 times since March 2021.

social mentions
5 vs 27
Text Editors popularity
33% vs 67%
alternatives listed
68 vs 240+

Base details

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

Summernote
FocusWriter
Website summernote.org gottcode.org
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Summernote 6 features
FocusWriter 7 features
  • User-friendly Interface
    Summernote has a simple and intuitive user interface that makes it easy for users to start creating rich text content without a steep learning curve.
  • Extensible with Plugins
    Summernote supports a variety of plugins which expand its functionality, allowing customization to meet specific needs.
  • Bootstrap Integration
    Out of the box, Summernote is designed to work seamlessly with Bootstrap, making it a good choice for developers already using this front-end framework.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Summernote is free to use, and developers can contribute to its improvement and adapt it to their specific needs.
  • Lightweight
    Summernote is a lightweight editor, meaning it has a small file size which can result in faster loading times for web pages.
  • Image Upload and Drag & Drop
    Summernote supports easy and intuitive image uploads and drag & drop functionality, enhancing the user experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to more comprehensive editors like CKEditor or TinyMCE, Summernote may lack some advanced features that power users might need.
  • Dependency on jQuery
    Summernote depends on jQuery, which could be a drawback for projects that aim to minimize dependencies or use a different framework.
  • Browser Compatibility Issues
    Some users have reported occasional issues with browser compatibility, which might affect the consistency of user experience across different environments.
  • Performance with Large Documents
    Summernote can experience performance issues when handling large documents or complex content, which can be a limitation for more extensive use cases.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, professional support options are limited compared to commercial editors which offer formal customer support.
  • Distraction-Free Interface
    FocusWriter offers a clean, full-screen interface that helps minimize distractions, allowing writers to concentrate solely on their writing.
  • Customizable Themes
    The software provides multiple themes and customization options, enabling users to tailor their writing environment to their preferences.
  • Goal Setting
    FocusWriter includes goal tracking features such as daily word counts and session targets, which can help writers stay motivated and measure their productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    FocusWriter is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Minimal Resource Usage
    The application is lightweight and consumes minimal system resources, ensuring smooth performance even on older machines.
  • Auto-Save and Recovery
    FocusWriter offers auto-save and session recovery features, which protect users from losing work due to accidental closures or system crashes.
  • Free and Open-Source
    The software is free to use and open-source, fostering community contributions and allowing users to modify the software if they have the technical skills.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    FocusWriter lacks some advanced features found in other writing software, such as advanced grammar checking and extensive formatting options.
  • Basic Export Options
    The application offers limited export options primarily to plain text and Rich Text Format (RTF), which may not be suitable for all users.
  • Limited Integration
    FocusWriter does not offer extensive integration with other productivity tools and services, which could be a drawback for users who require seamless workflow management.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might face a learning curve due to the minimalistic interface and lack of in-app tutorials or guides.

Analysis

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

Summernote
FocusWriter

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Summernote is considered a good and reliable option for implementing WYSIWYG text editing. It is user-friendly, easily customizable, and supported by a strong community of developers.

Why this product is good

  • Summernote is a popular WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor that is highly regarded for its simplicity, ease of integration, and flexibility. It is open-source and offers features like drag-and-drop image uploads, keyboard shortcuts, and support for various formats. Its lightweight nature and compatibility with major frameworks such as Bootstrap make it a versatile choice for developers looking to implement rich text editing capabilities into their web applications.

Recommended for

    Summernote is recommended for developers and teams building web applications that need an intuitive and reliable rich text editor. It's particularly suitable for projects where ease of use, rapid integration, and support for responsive design are key considerations, such as blogging platforms, content management systems, and any web application that requires user-generated content input.

Overall verdict

  • FocusWriter is generally considered a good choice for writers who prioritize a clean and focused writing workspace. Its simplicity and customization options make it suitable for those who want a straightforward tool without the distractions of more complex writing software.

Why this product is good

  • FocusWriter is a popular choice for writers who seek a distraction-free writing environment. It offers a minimalist interface that helps users concentrate on writing by hiding toolbars and menus until they are needed. It is also highly customizable, allowing users to change themes, fonts, and background images to suit their preferences. Moreover, FocusWriter includes features such as daily goals, timers, and basic statistics, which can help motivate and track writing progress.

Recommended for

    FocusWriter is particularly recommended for writers, authors, bloggers, and anyone who needs a distraction-free environment to focus on their writing tasks. It is ideal for users who prefer a lightweight, simple application and do not require advanced formatting or publishing features.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Summernote 2 videos + Add
FocusWriter 3 videos + Add

Demo Summernote WYSIWYG CodeIgniter

More videos

  • - สอน Laravel Framework - Summernote WYSIWYG editor

Focuswriter Review

More videos

  • - FocusWriter - App Reviews
  • - Writing Software - FocusWriter

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
Summernote
FocusWriter
33% 33%
67% 67%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Summernote and FocusWriter. 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.

Summernote no reviews yet
FocusWriter no reviews yet
  • 11 Best Scrivener Alternatives
    rigorousthemes.com · Jul 2021

    Scrivener may be more complicated than FocusWriter, but if you want simplicity or minimalism, FocusWriter is worth considering. There are no elaborate formatting options or research notes to tinker around with so all...

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Summernote 5 mentions
FocusWriter 27 mentions
  • Ask HN: What is your favorite FOSS WYSIWYG editor?
    Installing Summernote (https://summernote.org) was easy. ProseMirror and Lexical seem much more complicated. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • WYSIWYG Editor Recommendation for Commercial/Enterprise Website Frontends?
    We use Summernote which is fine, there can be bugs with our integration but that is more down to our hacking around with it than the actual software. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Thoughts on Action Text
    These past days I tried Action Text for the first time and got a bit disappointed with it, in the end I ended up using Summernote (https://summernote.org/) instead, here are my thoughts on what could be improved:. Source: almost 5 years ago

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  • WriterdeckOS
    Https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/#download is Qt based so that'd get you most of it, last time I compiled it the deps where Qt/SDL. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • WriterdeckOS
    I like https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ and have used it for years and years, you can configure the look and feel pretty extensively. Lots of ways to skin that cat (especially if like me you are a linux user) but focuswriter does... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Ensō: write now, edit later
    Reminds me of the (dead) RoughDraft mac app by 43 Folders(?). There is also FocusWriter - opensource and multi-platform. https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Summernote and FocusWriter

When comparing Summernote and FocusWriter, you can also consider the following products.