Nice viewer with quick-look preview, but ..
.. this tool seems to have a "beep" mode, like "vi" has. I don’t know how it can be disabled, so it’s only a nice previewer in combination with quick-look.
What I do to enable beep mode: I double-click an existing .md file in my repo and the program will load it in beep mode. The menu bar doesn’t reveal how to disable it. Well, that’s not what I have expected.
I’ll keep the program for a while and look what news some updates might introduce. Until then TextEdit will do better, since files are EDITABLE.
If the beep mode can be disabled one day, it’ll get’s my 5 stars.
What I do to enable beep mode: I double-click an existing .md file in my repo and the program will load it in beep mode. The menu bar doesn’t reveal how to disable it. Well, that’s not what I have expected.
I’ll keep the program for a while and look what news some updates might introduce. Until then TextEdit will do better, since files are EDITABLE.
If the beep mode can be disabled one day, it’ll get’s my 5 stars.
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Response from developer
Thank you for your comment. I don’t know what you mean with “repo”, but uFocus is a text editor and of course supports editing. Perhaps it’s easier to find out what the issue is by contacting me on the website and sending more detailed reproduction steps and perhaps even a video. Thank you for your time.
Nice but
Can’t get the toolbar to show up in the editor, tried the gestures you mentioned in the app they’re still hidden. No way to contact you through the app and the app support link on your webpage is down so writing it here.
Best Free Writing App I Have Found!
Now, I am not usually the type who writes reviews—in fact this is my first review I have ever written for an app. This app has honestly changed my writing for the better, and I felt it deserved a review. Before I downloaded uFocus, I would write in Apple Pages and constantly try to ignore my highly distracting Grammarly edit bubble. I would draft once, and then edit in the same document. However, I was wanting a tool to help me write faster and without distractions. I considered Freewrite but didn’t have the budget to buy one. Then I found uFocus. The app is extremely plain and small. Utilizing .txt files, my longest documents are still no more than 50 KB, compared to the 300+ KB that the same document is in Pages. The interface is easy to navigate, and if you want to work with bold and italics, there are keys to use them. I use uFocus for all of my first drafts (the typewriter sounds keep me going), then edit them in Pages later. For a free writing app, I cannot recommend more highly uFocus.
Update: Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I discovered the Markdown (.md) files, which have improved dramatically my ability to create ordered notes.
Update: Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I discovered the Markdown (.md) files, which have improved dramatically my ability to create ordered notes.
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Parfaite
C’est l’application que je cherchais depuis des mois. Elle est minimaliste, élégante, avec le juste ce qu’il faut de fonctionnalités nécessaires, libéré du superflu. Qui plus est sont développeur est réactif et à l’écoute. Bravo!
Не работает вообще
Загружается стартовая страница. Возможности редактировать ознакомительный файл нет. При попытке добавить любой файл формата .md или .txt - добавляет документ библиотеку. Но не открывает его. Попробовал 10 разных файлов - приложение не открывает ничего. Возможности создать документ также нет. Зачем это приложение было сделано, если у него ни одна функция не работает?
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doesn't work
app looks great and seems to have potential; however, I wasn't able to open any files: the app just says „couldn‘t open file“. File is plain text in .md format.
Response from developer
Thank you for your comment. How are you opening the file? I would suggest to link a folder in the app sidebar and then browse and create files. Thank you for your time.
uFocus
uFocus is hands-down the best free distraction free text editor I've used on Mac. It keeps everything super simple with plain .txt files no bloat, no subscriptions, no proprietary formats and lets you organize notes in libraries or folders effortlessly. The minimalist interface vanishes when you write, with solid Markdown support, optional typewriter sounds that actually motivate you, nice themes, focus mode, and typewriter scrolling that feels perfect for long sessions. It's lightweight, fast even on older Macs, fully offline, and still gets updates in 2026. Minor gripes like basic library search or no direct .docx export don't bother me since I use it purely for first drafts before polishing elsewhere. If you want pure, uninterrupted writing without paying a dime, uFocus is unbeatable 5 stars all the way.
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Nice!
I earlier wrote a less than positive review for this app. Since then the developer contacted me and the app has been updated. (I’m sure the update was in the works already.) Anyway, the sync and stability issues I encountered before are no longer happening. Considering its tiny footprint and free price tag, this is a winner.
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(UPDATED) How to get around autosave failure
I wrote a review on this app about a year ago saying that it fails to autosave, and I think that if you don't intentionally check whether the file has saved yet, there is still quite a risk that you will lose the past maybe paragraph or so. I did actually continue using the app, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it for writing all kinds of free-form text; and specifically, I've come to write my whole diary in it!
There is still something, however, of a learn curve, to the saving function. If you write a file, open the menu and click again on that file. If there is a sligh delay before it jumps to the top (or shows the rest loaded in), it likely saved; if not, that it instantly seems to reload the file, you may need to select it all, copy it, reload the app, paste it in, and then click on the file again that there is a delay caused by saving. This is something I learnt over time using the app; it seems to only autosave in regular periods, and if you leave before the next period, anything you wrote after the last autosave will not be saved.
I still would recommend a manual save button to be added alongside autosaving, since it would just allow the user more confidence that the file is saved; but I think in some way the autosaving function might either need to save more frequently, or, as I've seen some writing apps do, also save every time the user lowers the keyboard, such that any break in writing where the user might exit the app or work on another file is already preceded by a save.
Other than this issue, I do really love this app; it has the perfect style and interface for focusing on writing large streams of text without getting distracted or too caught up in it all; and I like that the files are saved simply to the device as the files they are, that, should the app stop working or the user move to any other software, they can be simply read in the folders they were written to in the first place. I just would recommend any new users to, especially if they are writing large works that are a pain to rewrite, select everything, or the last paragraph or two, and save it to the clipboard before attempting to save (by clicking on the file being edited again in the menu) and checking whether it was really saved. That way, you won't lose your work.
There is still something, however, of a learn curve, to the saving function. If you write a file, open the menu and click again on that file. If there is a sligh delay before it jumps to the top (or shows the rest loaded in), it likely saved; if not, that it instantly seems to reload the file, you may need to select it all, copy it, reload the app, paste it in, and then click on the file again that there is a delay caused by saving. This is something I learnt over time using the app; it seems to only autosave in regular periods, and if you leave before the next period, anything you wrote after the last autosave will not be saved.
I still would recommend a manual save button to be added alongside autosaving, since it would just allow the user more confidence that the file is saved; but I think in some way the autosaving function might either need to save more frequently, or, as I've seen some writing apps do, also save every time the user lowers the keyboard, such that any break in writing where the user might exit the app or work on another file is already preceded by a save.
Other than this issue, I do really love this app; it has the perfect style and interface for focusing on writing large streams of text without getting distracted or too caught up in it all; and I like that the files are saved simply to the device as the files they are, that, should the app stop working or the user move to any other software, they can be simply read in the folders they were written to in the first place. I just would recommend any new users to, especially if they are writing large works that are a pain to rewrite, select everything, or the last paragraph or two, and save it to the clipboard before attempting to save (by clicking on the file being edited again in the menu) and checking whether it was really saved. That way, you won't lose your work.
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Well…
This app looks promising, but whenever I attempt to use the Find/Replace function it completely crashes the app, and it often doesn’t save all the text I’ve written. Too bad, because there seems to be a lot to like in it. Hopefully, it will be updated/fixed and I’ll try it again.
Best distraction free text editor
If you like classy minimalist app design, this is for you. Very smooth and accessible, allowing multiple text files open at a time, and just the text visible in a calm, monospace font. The column size for viewing is adjustable, and for real focus everything can be greyed out except the sentence (or para) that you are working on. Also good support for libraries and markdown files.
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Well…
This app looks promising, but whenever I attempt to use the Find/Replace function it completely crashes. Too bad, because there seems to be a lot to like in it. Hopefully, it will be updated/fixed and I’ll try it again.
Settings?
Not fond of how the text will turn very light until I click and type on a section. That’s very irritating. And it’s weirdly hard to select text. Those might seem like minor things, but when you’re writing a list or some longer format thing, these issues become tiresome very quickly. Will delete and use another app instead.
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Wonderful app, few omissions only
The app is very good. Just the right tool for the task — I have been looking for something like that for a long time and everything was too simple (many scratch-note apps) or too complex/expensive (Obsidian, Scrivener, Ulysses).
This is wonderful for braindump/brainwrite, focusing on a linear writing process, not structuring.
There are few suggestions I have which IMO could yet improve the app:
- I can write markdown and there is some preview but I can’t export it. When I use print, the markdown code is not interpreted. At least an option to open the file in an app f my choice, such as Marked would be a solution.
It would be nice to be able to adjust and lower the volume of the typewriter sounds. This feature could be expend to send haptic feedback on iOS.
Lastly, there is auto-complete in the editor for most markdown, such as listing or quotations or code-blocks, but strangely not for word-level formatting such as bold, italic, underlined. So if I type an asterisk, a second one should be inserted and I can start typing inside the asterisk and leave by using the right arrow keys, or that if I select text and type two asterisks, it get’s surrounded by two, where currently the text gets replaced.
Thanks for creating great software!
This is wonderful for braindump/brainwrite, focusing on a linear writing process, not structuring.
There are few suggestions I have which IMO could yet improve the app:
- I can write markdown and there is some preview but I can’t export it. When I use print, the markdown code is not interpreted. At least an option to open the file in an app f my choice, such as Marked would be a solution.
It would be nice to be able to adjust and lower the volume of the typewriter sounds. This feature could be expend to send haptic feedback on iOS.
Lastly, there is auto-complete in the editor for most markdown, such as listing or quotations or code-blocks, but strangely not for word-level formatting such as bold, italic, underlined. So if I type an asterisk, a second one should be inserted and I can start typing inside the asterisk and leave by using the right arrow keys, or that if I select text and type two asterisks, it get’s surrounded by two, where currently the text gets replaced.
Thanks for creating great software!
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Response from developer
Thank you for your comment. There is an option in the print panel named “Apply Markdown”, did you try it? You can toggle bold and italics from the Edit menu or by pressing Command-B or Command-I. Thank you for your time.
Great App
The best thing is that I can add my own folder and use the same files in multiple apps. However, the preview needs improvement, similar to other Markdown iOS apps.
Translucent Window
The app is very clear, simple, and not distracting. Exactly what I was looking for. However, in the preview, you can see that the window is displayed translucently. How can this be set? Only the predefined themes are available. The translucent effect is not available.
Response from developer
Thank you for your comment. You can edit the current theme and set the background color to have 0 opacity. Thank you for your time.
Best Alternative for other paid apps!!!
It’s an exact replica , from the experience of typing to one line highlight , the best free app out there
Lovely app and a really responsive developer
UPDATE - Super-responsive dev.
A lot of apps drop compatibility with earlier OS’s without bothering to update their .plist to reflect that, leading to incompatibility and failure to launch. It’s happened a lot lately so when uFocus started crashing on launch after an update, I assumed the worst and left a grumpy review. What did the dev do…? He asked for a crash report and fixed it within a week, restoring compatibility with an 8 year old OS!
That’s greater commitment to backwards compatiability than most commercial apps.
So, Thank You, Nicolas for being such a great dev and providing this extremely useful app – at no cost!
- - -
UPDATE - dev responded quickly and I've ammended the below review out of fairness.
Dev: I'll be in touch to resolve the issue. Thanks.
- - -
Awarding any number of stars is unfair of me for a free app that may work on other OSs. However, I just updated to v4.0 on my High Sierra Mac and uFocus consistently crashes on launch now.
Please restore compatibility with 10.13 or offer a downgrade and update the current version to correct OS compatibility. Right now, it has no functionality on the machine where I need it.
Thanks.
A lot of apps drop compatibility with earlier OS’s without bothering to update their .plist to reflect that, leading to incompatibility and failure to launch. It’s happened a lot lately so when uFocus started crashing on launch after an update, I assumed the worst and left a grumpy review. What did the dev do…? He asked for a crash report and fixed it within a week, restoring compatibility with an 8 year old OS!
That’s greater commitment to backwards compatiability than most commercial apps.
So, Thank You, Nicolas for being such a great dev and providing this extremely useful app – at no cost!
- - -
UPDATE - dev responded quickly and I've ammended the below review out of fairness.
Dev: I'll be in touch to resolve the issue. Thanks.
- - -
Awarding any number of stars is unfair of me for a free app that may work on other OSs. However, I just updated to v4.0 on my High Sierra Mac and uFocus consistently crashes on launch now.
Please restore compatibility with 10.13 or offer a downgrade and update the current version to correct OS compatibility. Right now, it has no functionality on the machine where I need it.
Thanks.
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This is the app you need
I’m a minimalistic lover, so this app seems like heaven to me. It just has everything I need with no complicated stuffs that blurs my focus and distracts me from the real work. I’ll give it a five stars review as soon as the developer change the logo. It’s ugly and doesn’t match with the philosophy of the app.
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Amazing All Around!
I started using uFocus for my creative writing and it was exactly what I had been looking for. Overtime, because of its focused development and the app’s privacy practices, it’s become my go-to for journaling as well. One of the last great apps.
