Writtt is a rich text editor that lives on your computer — full stop. Open source, no subscriptions, no forced sync with cloud, no companies reading your texts. No data leaves your computer unless you want it to.
macOS · Windows · Linux · Made by one person in Brazil
Every file you create inside Writtt is born encrypted. No setup, no toggle — protection is the default. Here's what else comes built in.
Every document is individually encrypted with AES-256-GCM and PBKDF2 key derivation. There's no 'unprotected mode': your files are a vault from the moment they exist.
A dual-layer lock. Set a master password for vault encryption, then add a quick-access numeric PIN (4–8 digits) for day-to-day use. Both work together, never one without the other.
Powered by Ollama running on your machine. Ask it to rewrite, summarize, or expand — using the context of your current document. Your words never leave your device.
Auto-generated chapter tree from your headings (H1, H2) with per-section word count. Click any chapter to jump directly to it. Organize long documents effortlessly.
Add your own terms — technical jargon, case names, brand names — so the spell checker stops underlining them. Your vocabulary, your rules.
Full editor with tables, code blocks with syntax highlighting, task lists, freehand drawing canvas, blockquotes, and highlights. Type / to access any tool instantly.
Screen brightness slider with soft and vivid presets. Save your preferred setting per theme. Write comfortably in any environment, day or night.
Native desktop app built with Go and Wails. Same privacy guarantees on every operating system. No Electron, no Chromium — just your OS and your files.
Writtt was engineered as a digital vault. Every layer of protection ensures your words exist only for you — even if someone gains physical access to your device.
Military-grade. Each vault document is individually encrypted with keys derived from your password.
Your data never leaves the device. No cloud, no server, no interception.
Vault access requires local authentication. Without the PIN, files remain cryptographic noise.
100% offline-first. Your documents live exclusively on your disk — invisible to any network.
Connect Writtt to large language models running entirely on your own computer using Ollama. All processing happens locally on your own hardware. Your notes do not feed third-party servers.
Ollama
gemma3:1b
Run models like Gemma, LLaMA, Mistral, and more directly on your hardware. Choose the model that fits your workflow — no API keys, no subscriptions.
Every AI interaction runs locally. No internet needed, no data leaves your device. Write and get AI assistance on planes, cafés, or anywhere without connectivity.
Unlike cloud AI services, your prompts and responses never touch external servers. Your writing, your ideas, your style — none of it becomes training data.
Writtt
The complete editor, nothing held back. Open source, no credit card, no upgrade popups, no catch at the end.
"There is no honest writing under surveillance."
We live in an era where AI has been embedded into absolutely everything — text editors, notepads, journals. Every word you type can become training data, behavioral analysis material, or simply sit exposed in a breach no one will admit to in time.
Writtt was built in the opposite direction. Local AES-256 encryption, no central server, no user account, no telemetry. Open source so anyone can read what happens under the hood. Not for marketing — but because a writing app without privacy is a betrayal of its users.
For those who love to write, the ideal editor disappears. You forget it exists and only hear your own voice. This digital silence — rare, precious — is what we set out to preserve here.
Local encryption
AES-256 on device. No key on any server.
Open source
Anyone can audit. Trust built on code, not promises.
Zero telemetry
We don't track what you write, when you write, or for how long.
Local & Secure AI
Native integration with Ollama on your device. Interact with AI without betraying your privacy.
Download
Click, install, open. No email asked, no account created. Just the app.
No code-signing certificate — and that's intentional.
Windows and macOS may show a security warning on first launch. The app is safe: it makes zero network calls, all code is open source, and you can build it yourself from the source. The warning exists because signing certificates cost $99–$400/year — a real cost for a free, indie project.
Why this happens — and what it costs indie developersOpen Source & Self-hosted
Writtt is free, open source, and ships with zero network calls. Build it yourself or download the binary — either way, you own it completely.
Build from source and inspect every line before it ever runs on your machine. No trust required.
No analytics, no pings, no usage tracking. The app makes no outbound network calls at runtime — ever.
Local-first by design. Your notes live on your disk and are accessible without an internet connection.
Open source means anyone can contribute fixes, features, and improvements. You're not waiting on a roadmap.
Built with Go and Wails — not Electron. The binary is lean, fast to start, and light on memory.
No subscription, no cloud lock-in. The app keeps working regardless of whether the company behind it exists.
Open source software is free to use — but never free to create. Behind every download button is a developer paying real money just to make the app available on your platform.
“The system asks you to pay to be legitimate, then demands you prove legitimacy before anyone sees your work.”
To sign a macOS app without a warning, Apple charges USD 99/year. To avoid SmartScreen warnings on Windows, code-signing certificates cost USD 200–400/year. These aren't optional features — they're the price of looking trustworthy.
And there's a cost no amount of money can solve: reputation. Windows SmartScreen evaluates new software by how many people already downloaded it. If you're new, you look suspicious. It's a system that punishes newcomers while rewarding incumbents.
The reputation paradox
You need downloads to earn trust. But users don't download apps they don't trust. The only way out is organic growth — people like you trying the app, verifying the source code, and sharing it forward.
Required to sign and notarize macOS apps. Without it, users see 'unidentified developer' warnings.
EV certificates reduce SmartScreen warnings but don't eliminate them for new software.
One-time fee to publish on the official store. Doesn't bypass SmartScreen for direct downloads.
Can't be bought. Only accumulates as users override the warning and verify the app is safe.
Writtt is free, open source, and built by one person. If it helps you, the best thing you can do is share it, star it on GitHub, or contribute. Every action helps overcome the reputation barrier.
Star on GitHubIdeas about privacy, encryption, and why your writing tools matter.
In authoritarian contexts, what you write can put you in prison. Here's how encryption, air-gap architecture, and open source verification provide real protection for those who document truth.
Cloud storage is convenient. But convenience has a cost — and for writers, that cost might be higher than you think. A practical comparison of where your text files should actually live.
The seal of confession has survived centuries. Pastoral confidentiality predates digital technology. Both are threatened by the tools clergy use to store their notes.
Writtt is a free, open source desktop text editor designed for privacy. It runs entirely on your computer with AES-256 encryption, zero cloud dependency, and no telemetry. Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Yes. Writtt is 100% free and open source under the MIT License. There are no subscriptions, no premium tiers, and no feature gates. Every feature ships in the free version — forever.
Writtt uses AES-256-GCM symmetric encryption with PBKDF2 key derivation. Each vault document is individually encrypted with a unique salt derived from your password. Encryption keys never leave your device and no data transits over any network.
Yes. Writtt is local-first by design and makes zero network calls at runtime. Your documents live on your disk and are always accessible without an internet connection.
Writtt integrates with Ollama for local AI assistance. All AI processing happens entirely on your own hardware — no data is sent to third-party servers. Your notes never feed external models.