The best word processors, according to hackers
14 word processors were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 5 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended word processors with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Unmatched power for writing and formatting
Fans praise WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS as a fast, rock-solid word processor with Reveal Codes and strong formatting. The most common caveat is its hard-to-learn function-key and keybinding interface.
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Markdown export keeps headings and bold
Free word processor people use for everyday documents; opens and saves Word files well. Critics say formatting is fiddly and Markdown support limited.
Simple, powerful, does everything needed
Fast, distraction-free DOS word processor that people still write in once its keyboard shortcuts are memorized. Critics say it is irritating on screen and needs rote-learned multi-key commands.
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All 14 word processors, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Docs | 144 | 137 | 51% | 13 | 11 yrs4 owners | — |
| 2 | Microsoft Word | 129 | 234 | 36% | 12 | 20 yrs5 owners | — |
| 3 | Apple Pages | 39 | 27 | 59% | 11 | — | — |
| 4 | WordPerfect | 36 | 7 | 84% | 9 | — | Approved |
| Tied 5 | LibreOffice Writer | 28 | 7 | 80% | 8 | — | Approved |
| Tied 5 | WordStar | 28 | 4 | 88% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 7 | Revise | 16 | 4 | 80% | 5 | 1 yr3 owners | Approved |
| Tied 8 | LyX | 13 | 4 | 76% | 8 | — | Approved |
| Tied 8 | Tiny Little Office | 13 | 8 | 62% | 1 | — | — |
| 10 | La Suite Docs | 10 | 2 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
| 11 | Tempus Word | 9 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| 12 | Scrivener | 7 | 2 | 78% | 6 | — | — |
| 13 | Hyperclast | 6 | 4 | 60% | 6 | — | — |
| 14 | Proton Docs | 5 | 6 | 45% | 3 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same word processor in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to word processors that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.