Download
Free download, whole app. Drafts work for life. Install once. After that, via updates in app. Not sure if via is for you? 10 Reasons to NOT use via (No AI, No Subscriptions — and other non-goals)
Free download, whole app. Drafts work for life. Download the installer and open it once. After that, via updates in app. Not sure if via is for you? 10 Reasons to NOT use via (No AI, No Subscriptions — and other non-goals)
For support and info during early access.
“Windows protected your PC”?
Windows says that of a program it has not seen before. Choose More info, then Run anyway. The file is the one on this page; its sha256 is under the questions below.
For support and info during early access.
App library and terminal
Have more complex work?
Unlock Projects
more info...
First of all: you can write your entire book in via, for free. Heck, you could write ALL your books in via for free. Everything lives in the Drafts folder. Especially handy if you're just starting out and need to see if via writer is a good fit.
For serious writers, who know writing a book is a project that involves several documents, there's Projects.
One-time purchase, lifetime access.
Via is fully functional with unlimited documents in the drafts folder. Unlock Projects for more complex work. One key unlocks all your machines. Your files remain plain .md either way.
Your key shows on the next page, and we email it to you. It works on every computer you own. Lost it? Email hello@viawriter.net with your receipt and we'll send your key.
10 Reasons to NOT use via
OR NO AI, NO SUBSCRIPTIONS, and other non-goals
The most haunting story I ever read...
One of the most haunting stories I ever read was the About page of Scrivener's creator.
You might know this story: he dreamed of becoming a writer, but was unsatisfied with his tools, so he created Scrivener.
Which was great! He solved writing for god knows how many people. But his conclusion to that article is the part that haunts me. It went something like this: "Turns out I'm a better programmer than a writer."
When I read that, I thought, oh god, I hope that isn't my fate. Which, thankfully, I escaped, writing my first book before via was ever created.
To make sure it stays that way, I keep things as simple as possible. Pricing. Features. Updates.
1. NO AI
Nothing against AI. Via was built using AI (albeit over three years, with continually aggressive constraints). But there are already plenty of AI "writing" tools out there to f*ck up your writing. Via is for serious writers.
2. NO programming
There are plenty of editors out there for programmers. Via is for serious writers.
3. NO gamification
Word count goals. Pomodoro timers. Activity trackers. Via is for serious writers.
4. NO zen mode
Via is for serious writers.
5. NO emoji
Via is for serious writers ;)
6. NO PKM
There are already plenty of personal knowledge management apps to distract you into wiki-think oblivion. Via is for serious writers.
7. NO Plugins
Via is intended to reach feature completion, with the tools needed to go from concept to composition. Via is for serious writers.
8. NO Custom Themes
Just dark and light.
9. NO MacOS
Via is for serious writers.
10. NO Subscriptions
Hey, there are people who like subscriptions, and there are serious writers. Via is for serious writers.
FAQ
What do I need?
A 64-bit Intel or AMD PC. On Linux: X11 or Wayland, with glibc 2.35 or newer; Ubuntu 22.04, Debian 12, Fedora and Arch all qualify. Sync needs git and ssh. Updates need curl. On Windows: Windows 10 or 11. via brings the git it needs, and Windows already has the rest.
Where does my writing go?
Into a vault: a folder of plain .md files on your machine. The first time via opens, choose NEW VAULT to start one or EXISTING VAULT to open yours.
What is free?
The whole app. Reading, searching, syncing and writing drafts never ask for anything. Drafts are free for life: no trial, no nag.
What does a key do?
A key lets via make projects and write in them, on every machine you own, for good. Nothing phones home, counts machines or expires. Your files stay plain .md either way.
Lost the key, or a new computer?
The same key works on every computer you own, any OS: paste it once per machine. It's in the email we sent. Lost that? Email hello@viawriter.net with your receipt and we'll send your key.
Do I need git?
No. Choose LOCAL ONLY in setup and everything stays on your machine. You can add a git host later for backup and sync between devices.
Which git hosts work?
Gitea and Sourcehut, with setup walking you through each, or any host that takes a push over SSH. Setup makes the key and checks the connection for you.
How do I update?
via checks when it opens, and every few hours while it stays open. Go to settings, then UPDATE: it shows what changed, installs the new version, and restarts via into it. Every release's notes are on the changes page.
How do I check the download?
Every release has a sha256 sum. On Linux, with the file and its sum in the same folder, this prints OK; on Windows, this prints the sum to compare:
How do I uninstall?
Remove the file, its app library entry and its icon. Your vault is not touched.
On Windows: Settings, Apps, via writer, Uninstall. It removes via and the git it brought. Your vault and your settings are not touched.
Mac, Android?
Linux and Windows, for now.