Objective
To equip writers with a toolkit of essential free and paid tools Every Writer Should Use that enhance every stage of content creation—ideation, writing, editing, SEO, design, plagiarism checking, and publishing.
Table of Contents
16.1 Why Use Tools?
Using the right tools saves time, boosts productivity, improves quality, and ensures professional standards. Whether you’re writing a blog, news article, devotional content, or SEO copy, tools simplify your process.
16.2 Writing and Editing Tools
Free Tools:
- Google Docs – Collaborative writing, auto-save, commenting, basic editing
- Hemingway Editor – Improves readability by highlighting complex sentences and passive voice
- Zoho Writer – Clean interface with formatting and grammar suggestions
Paid Tools:
- Grammarly Premium – Advanced grammar, tone, and clarity suggestions, plagiarism check
- ProWritingAid – In-depth writing analysis, grammar, structure, readability reports
16.3 SEO and Keyword Research Tools
Free Tools:
- Google Keyword Planner – Identify keyword search volume and competitiveness
- Ubersuggest (limited free use) – Keyword ideas, traffic estimation, backlink analysis
- AnswerThePublic – Visual keyword/question mapping based on searches
Paid Tools:
- Ahrefs – Comprehensive SEO suite with competitor analysis, keyword gaps, content explorer
- SEMrush – Keyword tracking, audit reports, content analysis, domain comparison
- Surfer SEO – Optimize content against top-ranking pages in real-time
16.4 Plagiarism Checkers
Free Tools:
- SmallSEOTools Plagiarism Checker – Basic free plagiarism scan
- Duplichecker – Simple tool to compare uniqueness of content
Paid Tools:
- Grammarly Premium – Real-time plagiarism check across online sources
- Copyscape Premium – Best for scanning published web content for duplication
- Quetext Pro – Colored highlighting and citation assistant for academic or web writing
16.5 Design and Visual Content Tools
Free Tools:
- Canva Free – Blog banners, social posts, infographics, YouTube thumbnails
- Pixabay / Unsplash / Pexels – Royalty-free images for blog and article use
- Remove.bg – Automatically removes image backgrounds
Paid Tools:
- Canva Pro – Access premium templates, brand kit, content scheduler
- Adobe Photoshop – Advanced image editing
- Crello / VistaCreate Pro – Branded content and video templates
16.6 Productivity and Project Management
Free Tools:
- Trello – Task board for managing content calendars
- Notion – Note-taking, writing repository, and editorial tracking
- Google Keep / Tasks – Quick reminders and checklist management
Paid Tools:
- Notion Plus / Team Plan – Shared workspace with advanced templates
- ClickUp / Asana – Editorial project management for teams
16.7 Content Optimization and Readability
Free Tools:
- Hemingway Editor – Score your writing’s readability
- Readable.com (limited free) – Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog index checker
Paid Tools:
- Surfer SEO – Recommends headings, keywords, and word count benchmarks
- MarketMuse – AI-driven content brief generator with optimization suggestions
16.8 Voice Typing and Transcription
Free Tools:
- Google Docs Voice Typing – Real-time speech-to-text (Google Chrome only)
- Otter.ai Free Plan – Limited automated transcription
Paid Tools:
- Otter.ai Premium – Unlimited recording, speaker identification
- Descript – Edit audio and video by editing text, transcription included
16.9 Chrome Extensions for Writers
- Grammarly Extension – On-the-go editing on email, blogs, etc.
- SEO Minion – On-page SEO analysis and SERP preview
- WordCounter Plus – Instantly count highlighted words online
- Google Dictionary – Define unfamiliar words with one click
16.10 Bonus Tools for Writers
- Title Generator (Portent, SEOPressor) – Blog title inspiration
- Headline Analyzer by CoSchedule – Analyze emotional and SEO impact of titles
- Google Trends – Track search volume and content seasonality
- BuzzSumo – Discover trending and shared content ideas
- ChatGPT – Generate outlines, expand sections, research, or optimize content drafts
16.11 Summary and Key Takeaways
- Use tools to enhance quality, accuracy, and reach
- Select tools based on your writing goals (SEO, creative writing, devotional content)
- Combine free tools to build a powerful writing stack before investing in paid ones
- Keep experimenting and evolving your toolbox based on results
Exercise for Learners
- Use any free keyword research tool to find 5 keywords for “Ram Navami 2025.”
- Paste a paragraph from your blog into Hemingway and list the suggested improvements.
- Create a blog banner in Canva with the title: “Top 5 Ways to Celebrate Mahashivratri.”
- Run a plagiarism check using any free tool and share whether the content passed.
In the next chapter, we’ll cover Chapter 17: Writing Content That Converts (CTAs, Engagement, Lead Capture) to help you turn readers into followers, customers, or subscribers.