Best Lyric Writing Apps (Free and Paid)
Published · by Loopin
Choose a lyric app by where your lyric starts: over a beat, from a rhyme, above guitar chords, or as a quick note on the bus. Here are the best free and paid options for each, with prices at the time of writing (October 2026).
Match the app to where your lyric starts
Most lyric apps are notepads with extras, and the extra you need depends on your first move. If you write over a beat, you need the beat playing while you type and a way to record the take. If you write from sound, you need rhymes as you type. If you write on guitar or piano, you need chords sitting above the words. If you just need capture, you need whatever opens fastest.
Quick picks: beat-first, Loopin. Rhyme-first, Rhymer's Block. Chords-first, Songcraft. Deep word research, MasterWriter. Capture, the notes app already on your phone. Don't install all five; pick the one that matches the way you actually start, and use it for a month.
Write over the beat: Loopin (free, iPhone)
Loopin is our app, so weigh this accordingly. It is free on iPhone and built for one workflow: import a beat, write lyrics while it plays, record takes, and keep every version of the song in one place. That last part is the one notes apps miss: when verse two gets rewritten, the older take is still there to compare.
What it doesn't have: a rhyme dictionary, chord charts or Android. If your lyrics start from a beat, and you've been juggling Notes plus Voice Memos plus a YouTube tab, this is the gap it closes. Need the beat's key or tempo for a melody? Run it through the free key and BPM finder first.
Get rhymes as you type: Rhymer's Block
Rhymer's Block (iPhone and Android) suggests rhymes, including near rhymes, while you write, and colour-codes the rhyme families on the page so you can see your scheme. At the time of writing the mobile app is free with optional Pro upgrades and in-app purchases, and there is a separate paid Mac app. Check the store listing for the current Pro price, as several tiers are listed.
What it does well: seeing a scheme at a glance, which is gold for rap and dense pop verses. The trap: taking the first suggestion. Scroll past the top three results, which are the ones every other writer picks, and choose the rhyme that says what you meant.
Put chords above the words: Songcraft
Songcraft is a web-based workspace that puts lyrics, chords above the lines and audio recordings on one page, with a built-in rhyming dictionary and thesaurus, plus co-writing. At the time of writing it has a free plan limited to a handful of songs and a paid Pro plan; listed prices vary between sources, so check its pricing page before subscribing.
Best for guitar and piano writers who co-write, because everyone sees the same chart. Less suited to writing over a produced beat on your phone. If you're unsure which chords belong together, see how to find chords that sound good together.
Pay for depth only if you'll use it: MasterWriter and Lyric Notepad
MasterWriter is the heavyweight: rhymes, phrases, synonyms and word families in one reference, used mainly on desktop. At the time of writing it is listed from $9.95 a month or $99.95 a year, with a free trial. It rewards writers who research words deliberately; if you write fast over beats, most of it will sit unused.
Lyric Notepad is a lighter phone option with rhyme and syllable tools. It has a free download and in-app upgrades; the price depends on your storefront, so check before paying. Syllable counts help when a line has to match the first verse exactly.
Use the free notes app, but save versions by hand
Apple Notes or Google Keep open instantly and cost nothing, which is why most songs start there. Two things go wrong. The lyric lives apart from the audio, so you forget how the melody went. And edits overwrite the old draft, so the better first chorus disappears.
Fix both: duplicate the note before every rewrite and add v1, v2 to the title, and record a 20-second voice memo of the melody with the same name. Once a song gets serious, move it somewhere lyrics and takes sit together.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free lyric writing app?
For writing over a beat on iPhone, Loopin is free. For rhyme help, Rhymer's Block is free with optional upgrades. For quick capture, your phone's notes app costs nothing.
Is there a lyric writing app that suggests rhymes?
Yes. Rhymer's Block suggests rhymes as you type, and Songcraft and MasterWriter include rhyming dictionaries. Loopin doesn't suggest rhymes; it keeps lyrics, beat and takes together.
How much does MasterWriter cost?
At the time of writing (October 2026) it is listed from $9.95 a month or $99.95 a year, with a free trial. Check its site for current pricing.
Can I write lyrics while a beat plays on my phone?
Yes. In Loopin you import the beat, write while it plays and record takes over it, free on iPhone.
Should I write lyrics in Apple Notes?
It's fine for capture. Duplicate the note before each rewrite so old versions survive, and record a short voice memo of the melody with the same name.