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Write.as alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Write.as: free plan currently closed to new users, and no paid subscriptions or memberships. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Write.as, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. WriteFreely currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1WriteFreely logoWriteFreelyOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted4 of 466.5
2Bear Blog logoBear BlogFree plan + paidNoWeb4 of 462.6
3MaMataroaFree plan + paidYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 459.6
4Micro.blog logoMicro.blogPaidNoWeb, iOS, macOS4 of 457.2
5Substack logoSubstackFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 455.3
6Mastodon logoMastodonOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 538.6
  1. WriteFreely logo

    1. WriteFreelyTop pick

    Best for: Self-hosters who want a lightweight blog or writing community that federates with Mastodon

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    The same software, self-hosted for free on your own server.

    Pros

    • Single Go binary that runs on very modest hardware
    • Federates with Mastodon and the fediverse
    • Supports multi-user writing communities

    Cons

    • No memberships, payments or built-in newsletters
    • Limited theming compared with Ghost or WordPress
    • You maintain the server yourself
    Visit WriteFreely Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is WriteFreely a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writefreely.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Language
    Go, single binary
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writefreely.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Federation
    ActivityPub
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writefreely.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Managed hosting
    Write.as from $6/month (yearly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026writefreely.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Bear Blog logo

    2. Bear Blog

    Best for: Writers who want a fast, minimal personal blog without trackers or bloat

    Free plan + paidWeb

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    Similarly minimal and privacy-friendly, with a free tier open to new users.

    Pros

    • Extremely light pages with no trackers or ads
    • Custom CSS and free themes for personal styling
    • Discovery feed helps new posts find readers

    Cons

    • Run by one developer, which is a continuity risk
    • No paid subscriptions or memberships
    • Detailed analytics require the paid upgrade
    Visit Bear Blog Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bear Blog a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Tracking
    No trackers, ads or scripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom domain
    Supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Feeds
    RSS and Atom
    Checked Oct 25, 2026bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Newsletters
    Email subscribers supported
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.bearblog.dev(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ma

    3. Mataroa

    Best for: Minimalist writers who want text-only blogging with email subscribers and easy export

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    Minimalist blog with email newsletters for a few dollars a year.

    Pros

    • No tracking, ads or cookies for analytics
    • Very cheap premium tier billed yearly
    • Strong export options and open-source code

    Cons

    • No themes, custom CSS or design choices at all
    • No tags, categories or paid subscriptions
    • Small project with limited support
    Visit Mataroa Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mataroa a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Premium price
    $9/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mataroa.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, most features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mataroa.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    AGPL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mataroa.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    Email subscriptions
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mataroa.blog(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Micro.blog logo

    4. Micro.blog

    Best for: People who want their own blog to double as their social media presence

    PaidWeb, iOS, macOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    Adds short posts, photos, podcasts and cross-posting while staying indie.

    Pros

    • Automatic cross-posting to Mastodon, Bluesky and Threads
    • Short posts, essays, photos and podcasts on one site
    • Low flat price with your own domain included

    Cons

    • Email newsletters require the Premium plan
    • No paid subscriptions for readers
    • Small community compared with mainstream platforms
    Visit Micro.blog Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Micro.blog a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Starting price
    $5/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026micro.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plan
    $10/month, adds email newsletters
    Checked Oct 25, 2026micro.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2017, by Manton Reece
    Checked Oct 25, 2026micro.blog(opens source in a new tab)
    Cross-posting
    Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026micro.blog(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Substack logo

    5. Substack

    Best for: Writers who want built-in discovery and paid subscriptions without running any tech themselves

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    Free newsletter with paid subscriptions and discovery, if you want an audience push.

    Pros

    • Built-in reader network and recommendations help new writers grow
    • Free to start, with paid subscriptions switched on in minutes
    • Podcasts, video and chat live alongside the newsletter
    • Easy imports from Mailchimp, Ghost, WordPress and others

    Cons

    • 10% cut of paid revenue gets costly for big publications
    • Limited control over design and site structure
    • Your publication sits inside Substack's brand and app
    Visit Substack Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Substack a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, free to start
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Revenue share
    Writers keep 90% of paid revenue, minus card fees
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid subscriptions
    5 million+ across the platform
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Imports
    Mailchimp, beehiiv, Ghost, WordPress, Medium and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Mastodon logo

    6. Mastodon

    Best for: People who want ad-free, chronological social media without a single corporate owner

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Write.as

    Short posts on the fediverse, where Write.as blogs can already be followed.

    Pros

    • No ads or engagement algorithm
    • Move servers without losing followers
    • Open source and self-hostable

    Cons

    • Choosing a server confuses newcomers
    • Discovery and search are weaker than on big platforms
    • Moderation quality varies by server
    Visit Mastodon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Mastodon a good Write.as alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Non-profit, started 2016
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Ads and algorithms
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Account migration
    Keep your followers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Official apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026joinmastodon.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Write.as alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

WriteFreely logo

Best Write.as alternative for most people

WriteFreely

The same software, self-hosted for free on your own server.

Mastodon logo

Best Write.as alternative for a free option

Mastodon

Short posts on the fediverse, where Write.as blogs can already be followed.

Bear Blog logo

Best Write.as alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bear Blog

Similarly minimal and privacy-friendly, with a free tier open to new users.

Ma

Best Write.as alternative for open source

Mataroa

Minimalist blog with email newsletters for a few dollars a year.

WriteFreely logo

Best Write.as alternative for self-hosting

WriteFreely

The same software, self-hosted for free on your own server.

Micro.blog logo

Best Write.as alternative for Mac

Micro.blog

Adds short posts, photos, podcasts and cross-posting while staying indie.

Substack logo

Best Write.as alternative for iPhone and Android

Substack

Free newsletter with paid subscriptions and discovery, if you want an audience push.

Bear Blog logo

Best Write.as alternative for working in the browser

Bear Blog

Similarly minimal and privacy-friendly, with a free tier open to new users.

Write.as alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Write.as?

WriteFreely ranks first right now. The same software, self-hosted for free on your own server. Bear Blog and Mataroa follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Write.as?

Yes. WriteFreely (open source), Bear Blog (free plan + paid), Mataroa (free plan + paid) and Substack (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Write.as?

Yes: WriteFreely, Mataroa and Mastodon. WriteFreely, Mataroa and Mastodon can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Write.as?

The complaints we hear most: free plan currently closed to new users; no paid subscriptions or memberships; newsletter features are basic.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Write.as, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.