The best writing app for Mac is the one you open without negotiation. Native apps like Ulysses, Scrivener, and iA Writer win on feel, offline work, and keyboard flow.
Ulysses fits Apple-first library writing. Scrivener fits complex manuscripts. iA Writer fits pure drafting. Google Docs still wins when live collaboration and comments are non-negotiable.
The short answer
Use Ulysses for a polished Apple writing library, Scrivener for big manuscripts, iA Writer for focus, and Google Docs when collaboration matters most.
Top picks
Best best writing apps for Mac
It is one of the most complete Mac writing environments for people who live in markdown-friendly workflows.
Mac is a natural home for Scrivener when you need manuscript tooling.
If you want the screen to disappear, iA Writer is hard to beat.
Native apps versus browser apps
Native apps tend to feel faster for long sessions and handle offline work cleanly. Browser apps win when sharing and comments are central.
Many serious writers use both by stage: draft in a native app, collaborate in Docs.
Keyboard shortcuts and flow
On Mac, small speed gains compound. Pick an app whose navigation matches how you move inside a draft.
If you fight the app weekly, the feature list does not matter.
Backups and file sanity
No editor replaces backups. Use sync you trust and keep exports you can open in ten years.
Plain text and markdown age well. Proprietary formats need disciplined exports.