Best Mac App For Google Docs
Google Docs is a free word processing app that offers everything you’ll need to create, edit, and share documents. It’s feature-rich and leads the pack in terms of collaboration and sharing. This versatility is further boosted by its tie-in with Google Drive, a boon when it comes to finding and organizing documents after they’ve been created.
Perhaps the best reason to use Kiwi for Gmail is its G Suite integration. Thanks to the app, you now get to experience Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as windowed desktop applications. Kiwi is available for Mac and Windows. Free with a premium ffering available - Download now. Google Docs is a compelling and versatile online cloud-based app, which is used to create and share word documents. Many of us already know about this web application, but might have fear to use it, because of losing core functionality by going into cloud-based. Download Google Docs Offline - Smoothly work on your Google documents, spreadsheets and presentations without having an Internet connection with the help of this super-useful Chrome extension. Download and install the Google Drive app to your Mac if you haven't already. Once you've installed and added it to your applications, a Google Drive folder should appear in your Finder. Google Drive 3.51.3346.3543 for Mac is available as a free download on our application library. The size of the latest downloadable installer is 46.7 MB. This free Mac application is a product of Google. Our antivirus scan shows that this Mac download is malware free. The most popular versions among the program users are 1.19, 1.18 and 1.5.
Create, edit, and share online documents easily
This pillarstone app is a must-have in any software collection
Google Docs is a free online app that allows you to create, edit, and share documents. It’s one of the Google Drive apps, which include Sheets, Slides, Forms, and more, all packaged in the Drive format which allows for unparalleled searching and organization of all of the documents you create or import, including Google Docs.
Bear in mind that when talking about Google Docs and Drive, there’s a little confusion over the name. Google Docs refers to the app we’re talking about today, as well as the larger collection of Sheets, Slides, Forms, etc. Google Drive refers to the storage and collaboration section of the tools. As it stands, there’s no word to describe Google Docs (the word processing app) that excludes Sheets, Slides, Forms,etc - unless you state that. Complicated, but it is something you should be aware of.
Getting back to this review - Google Docs (the word processing app) - you’ll begin on the home screen, where you can either create a freeform doc, open a document you’ve already worked on, or use one of the templates provided to create something new. You can also create your own templates and save them for later use. You’ll be able to open any documents you already have or are sent by 3rd parties - the app works with a lot of common file formats and won’t have problems with .doc or .docx documents created with Microsoft Word.
Once you open a new document, it looks pretty familiar, especially if you’ve ever used Microsoft Word or other Google Drive apps. The most frequently used tools are in the top bar, and other options are in the top menus. You can personalize the most frequently-used icons to be of more use to you specifically. A nice visual and organizational touch is the toggle-able document outline that lies to the left of documents - it lets you navigate through longer, multi-part documents more easily.
Most users will be able to do everything they need with Google Docs. It’s feature-rich and compares well with other word processing apps, namely Microsoft Word, in terms of functionality. Using Google Docs, you’ll be able to track changes, share and compare documents, create tables of contents and mail merges, add your own style presets and more. You also have the additional collaboration and organizational power of Google Drive and the add-ons available, most of which are free and add more interesting options to Docs.
The basic Google Docs features are easy to use, but you may need extra help to do more complex tasks, or to replicate features you’ve seen on alternative word processing apps. Luckily, this won’t be a problem, as there are acres of Google Docs support, forums, videos, and specific training, provided both by Google and users.
Where can you run this program?
This version of Google Docs is available online for iPhone. You need iOS 11.0 or later. There are also pared-down mobile versions available for PC and Mac
Is there a better alternative?
No. There might be an argument for Microsoft Word if you’re working in a business capacity, but for personal users, the functionality provided by Docs and the additional power of Google Drive and add-ons is unbeatable.
Our take
Google Docs is a great app and should be a mainstay in everyone’s software arsenal.
Different users will need a word processing app with varying frequency, but no matter how often you’ll need to turn to it, the broad functionality and excellent sharing and search capacity of the app make it unmissable. You may not need or want to open an online document every day, but it’s great to know that when you do, Google Docs will do the job perfectly.
Should you download it?
Yes, absolutely. It’s a great app to have in reserve and for many will become an everyday essential.
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For a free word processor, it’s hard to get much better than Google Docs. You can write an article (like this one), create your résumé, work on a paper, etc. right in your Google document.
But if you’re an advanced user, the built-in features in Google Docs may not be enough for you. Having said that, you can add features to fill in the gaps and continue using it without any issues—with the help of Google Docs Add Ons.
Table of Contents
- Google Docs Add-Ons for writers
- Google Docs Add-Ons for students and teachers
- Google Docs Add-Ons for business and productivity
- Google Docs Add-Ons for developers
- More Add-Ons
What is a Google Docs add-on?
It is a feature that adds new functionality to Google Docs that it previously lacked. The purpose of an add-on is similar to that of a browser extension—to gain additional features.
Before we jump on to the list of best add ons, let’s have a look at how to install or remove an add on.
You can find all the Google Docs add-ons in the G Suite Marketplace.
How to install an add-on in Google Docs?
To install an add-on:
- In the Google Docs’ menu bar, click ‘Add-ons’ and then select ‘Get add-ons’. This opens the ‘G Suite Marketplace’.
- When you find an add-on you need, click the blue ‘Install’ button. The add-on will be installed in your Google document.
Best Google Docs Add Ons & Extensions
Like most Google applications, Google Docs also offers a huge number of add-ons, extensions, and plugins. These can be used by anybody who just wants to pen down their thoughts, write sales documents, business policies, or create notes for students. We have tested over 30 add-ons, checked each one against the other similar add-ons and picked the ones that work consistently and offer the most features.
Here are the 25 add-ons we came up with based on who it is most suitable for:
Google Docs Add-Ons for writers
1. Writing Habit
Writing Habit – Become a better writer
The only way to become a better writer is by developing a habit of writing more. You also have to be consistent and track your progress against your writing goals. That’s why there is ‘Writing Habit’.
It tracks the number of words you’ve written over time and when you wrote them. You can set a daily and overall goal so that you have something to reach for in your journey to getting better. And, as you write, the addon shows you how you’re progressing with charts and numbers.
Who is it suitable for?
- Aspiring writers
- Non-native English speakers
Pro tip: Set your goals low initially until you consistently hit them. And then move up from there.
Best features:
- Daily and overall word tracking with progress bars, based on goals that you set
- Charts that show you how you’ve been doing over the last 7 and 30 days
- 180 days of writing history to help you look back and see what you wrote and when you wrote it.
Pricing:Free
2. Grammarly
Grammarly – The AI-powered writing assistant you need
While we are on the topic of writing, it’s very important to maintain good spelling and grammar. The words that you use affect the meaning and clarity of your message. Grammarly is the browser extension you need, to make sure you improve your writing overall.
Not just grammar and spelling, Grammarly even helps you with the style and tone of your writing. This way you can eliminate writing errors and find the right words to express yourself. And wherever you find yourself writing in your browser, you will be given suggestions that you can rely on.
Note: Currently, this extension is only available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge browsers.
Who is it suitable for?
- People with basic writing skills
- Anyone who needs kickass, error-free writing
- Non-native English speakers
Best features:
- Finds many errors that Google’s spell checker cannot detect
- Helps in providing enhanced vocabulary based on the tone of the article
- Checks for plagiarism
- Offers team account features
Pricing: Free for basic checking. The paid plans start from $11.66 per month.
3. ezNotifications for Docs
ezNotifications for Docs – Get alerts on new changes via email
One of the best things about working on Google Docs is collaboration. If given access, multiple people can make changes to the document and work together. But, sometimes, if it is an important document, you want to get notified of any changes made to it.
ezNotifications for Docs is the perfect add-on for that. It alerts you of any changes (via email) made in your Google document automatically, even a change in the file name. You can even set how often you want to get notified, hourly or daily.
Who is it suitable for?
- Copywriters
- Content writers
- Editors
Best feature:
- Option to select the frequency between an hourly and daily rate (for daily rate select the hour of the day to be notified)
Pricing: Free. The paid plan is $7 per year.
4. Search & Navigate
Search & Navigate – Find your way around a long document
When you have a really long document, finding your way around it can be challenging. Search & Navigate (previously called Doc Explorer) is an add-on to make that easier for you. Using this, you can quickly find and navigate to any part of your document—text, headings, bookmarks, images, or tables.
When you open the sidebar, you can switch between the list of headings, bookmarks, images, tables, and search results.
Who is it suitable for?
- Students and teachers who work on reports or research papers
Best features:
- Feature to create a guide through the text with the help of bookmarks and manage them in the sidebar for future reference
- Option to have the add-on open by default for specific documents
Pricing: Free
5. Doc Builder
Doc Builder – Save hours of typing with reusable text snippets
Speaking of long documents, if you regularly use the same text snippets in your documents, Doc Builder is for you. Its basic function is to insert text snippets that you often use and save custom styles.
Say, you are writing a bunch of emails. And there are a few chunks of text that repeat in every email, like the headline or a disclaimer. Just create individual documents (as files) for these chunks of text and then when you are preparing your emails, select the file you want and insert it in your email.
Who is it suitable for?
- People who work on financial reports, technical or legal documents.
Best features:
- Option to auto-format your snippets based on themes defined in a Google Sheet.
- Can organize your frequently used text snippets in folders on Google Drive for instant access.
Pricing: Free
6. SEMrush SEO Writing Assistant
SEMrush SEO Writing Assistant – Rank #1 on search engines
When you’re writing content for the web, it’s your responsibility to ensure that it is searchable, in other words, SEO-friendly. So, what if there is a tool that can help you with that on the go?
Turns out, there is one—SEMrush SEO Writing Assistant. It provides instant recommendations to help you optimize your content based on the best-performing articles from Google top 10 search results.
Who is it suitable for?
- Content writers
- Marketers
- SEOs
Best features:
- Checks the article’s quality calculated according to metrics such as readability, text length, and target keywords
- Evaluates your text’s difficulty based on the recommended Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease score
- Check your links for possible errors and problems
Pricing: The free plan lets you create just one recommendation set for a single document. Paid plans start from $99 per month.
7. Google Docs Offline
Google Docs Offline – Access Google Docs without the Internet/mac-os-x-uninstaller-app.html.
There are going to be times when you don’t have access to the Internet but still need to work on a Google document. Fortunately, you can get around that using Google Docs’ offline mode.
The catch is that you can use this only on the Chrome browser.
Best features:
- Pin important documents
- Seamlessly copy and paste into your document
Pricing: Free
Google Docs Add-Ons for students and teachers
8. OrangeSlice: Teacher Rubric
OrangeSlice: Teacher Rubric – Grading your students is now faster and easier
If you’re a teacher, you know that grading your students’ assignments, papers, etc. takes so much time that it can bring your efficiency to a screeching halt. That is because there are just a lot of things to consider during a grading process.
“How can I create a rubric which gives a complete picture of my student’s performance?“
“Rubrics are nice and all, but calculating the final grade? That is so tedious.”
OrangeSlice: Teacher Rubric has answers to all of these questions. You can easily add a rubric to your Doc, assess it, and generate a percentage or points grade.
Best features:
- Facility to add points or percentage grade in the rubric
- Fully customized rubric
- Addresses all grading needs with extra credit and late penalty
Pricing: Free
9. Form & Quiz Maker
Form & Quiz Maker – Convert your document into a self-marking quiz in under 5 minutes
If you are a teacher who likes to conduct quizzes out of the blue, you will always need a set of questions ready. Form & Quiz Maker is just what you need for those surprise quizzes.
Pricing: $30 per user per year
10. EasyBib Bibliography Creator
EasyBib Bibliography Creator – Easily cite sources in your research paper
If your work requires writing or working with research papers, you are probably familiar with the website, EasyBib.com. EasyBib Bibliography Creator, the add-on works just like the website and is an excellent tool to help you cite your sources if you are writing a research paper.
Who is it suitable for?
- Students who work on research papers
Best features:
- Format citations in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, and over 7000 other styles.
- Option to search for a book by its title or ISBN
Pricing: Free
11. MathType
MathType – Work on Math equations right in Google Docs
When you’re working with mathematical equations on Google Docs, you might not be able to find all of the symbols and notations that you need. Luckily, there is MathType. It is a popular equation editor that helps you type or handwrite mathematical equations in a Google document.
Best features:
- Support for chemical notations included
- MathML and LaTeX are also available
Pricing: It starts from $39.95 per year.
12. Yob – Graph Editor
Yob – Graph Editor – A powerful graph editor for Google Docs
Speaking of math, if you want to plot some data and stick a graph in your document, check out Yob – Graph Editor. It is a powerful graph editor and analysis tool designed to complement Google Docs. It also provides plotting and regression functionality right alongside the document you are working on, making life easier for both students and teachers.
Note: Yob – Graph Editor currently only supports Google Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Who is it suitable for?
- Students and teachers in the area of statistics
Best features:
- Calculated columns and non-linear curve fitting
- Can add colors and insert data sets
Pricing: Free
13. Translate+
Translate+ – Translate text into other languages right in your document
If you want to translate text in your Google Docs, there is a built-in feature available. But its limitation is that it translates your whole document. If you want to translate only a selected text area, use ‘Translate+’.
Who is it suitable for?
- Language teachers
- Students who are learning a new language
Best features:
- Supports many popular languages
- Bridge-language function to find out your best translation solution
Pricing: Free
14. SpeakD
SpeakD – Give voice to your writing
Some learners can struggle with print-based information. They might be learners with learning difficulties like dyslexia or those for whom English is not a native language.
Fortunately, there is SpeakD. It is an add-on that gives voice to your writing. With its help, you can improve reading accuracy, note-taking, and understanding. You can even correct any mistakes you have made before you hit publish.
Who is it suitable for?
- Students with learning disabilities
- People who want to improve their speech
Best features:
- Can even select specific text in your document to only hear just that part
Pricing: Free
Google Docs Add-Ons for business and productivity
15. Mail Merge
Mail Merge – Easily personalize your emails
Writing personalized emails to customers is a great way to build relationships with them. But you need not type in an email to each customer separately to do that. Mail Merge, a popular feature built within a lot of word processors can help you do that. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come built-in with Google Docs. That’s why there is Mail Merge, an add-on, specifically to solve that problem.
It takes data from a Google spreadsheet and then uses it to replace the fields throughout your email message with the relevant information of each individual that is being messaged.
Who is it suitable for?
- Email marketers
- Business professionals who send bulk emails
Best features:
- Offers a ton of templates
- Has great formatting options for merge fields and regular text
- Can even add images as labels
- No limit to how many merge fields you can enter
Pricing: Free to use for the first five merges. $30 for a year or $80 for a lifetime license. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
16. DocuSign eSignature
DocuSign eSignature – Prepare, sign and act on contracts right in Google Docs
If you are running a business, you will be constantly working on agreements—from contracts and offer letters to account openings and invoices. And, processing and approving them can take a lot of time, ultimately diminishing your productivity.
DocuSign eSignature is created to solve that problem. It allows you to prepare, sign, act on and manage agreements right from your Google document, helping you complete your business faster.
Who is it suitable for?
- Real estate agents
- Lawyers
- Contractors
Best features:
- Can sign as many documents as you need
- Mobile app access
- Secured cloud storage for your documents
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start from $10 per month.
17. DocSecrets
DocSecrets – Encrypt and hide sensitive information
Being in the business world, you regularly deal with trade secrets and sensitive material. That’s why, when you are working with sensitive documents, privacy and encryption are of the utmost importance.
If you are a business user who is looking to share documents that contain sensitive information, you might want to try ‘DocSecrets’. Using that, you can hide areas in your document, displayed as highlighted text. And, when given the correct passphrase it reveals all the hidden areas in your document.
Best features:
- All encryption is performed in your browser
- Supports document sharing
Pricing: Free
18. Fillable Document
Fillable Document – Make your document a live fillable form
‘Fillable Document’ turns your Google document into a live fillable form. These form entries will be stored in your Google spreadsheet. This add-on makes template processing and mail merging easy and visual with Google Docs which comes in handy when you work with templated documents on a day-to-day basis.
Pricing: Free for 10 documents a month. Paid plan is $9 per month or $90 per year.
19. VOGSY
VOGSY – Run business processes in your document
VOGSY is a professional services automation platform that helps you streamline business processes such as Project Management, Finance & Billing, Resource Management, etc.
Who is it suitable for?
- Project managers
- HR managers
- Accountants
Pricing: $19 per user per month
20. Lucidchart Diagrams
Lucidchart Diagrams – The #1 visual productivity platform for teams
A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say. Communicating something visually can turn a complex concept into a simple one. If you need a tool that can help you do that, look no further than ‘Lucidchart Diagrams’.
It is a one-stop solution for all your design and visualization needs. You can use it to create flowcharts, ERDs, BPMN diagrams, wireframes, mockups, network diagrams, organizational charts, and more.
Who is it suitable for?
- Designers
- Marketers
Best features:
- Integrates with G Suite, Google Drive, Slack and more
- Real-time collaboration
- In-editor group chat and commenting with @mentions
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start from $7.95 per month.
Google Docs Add-Ons for developers
21. Code Blocks
Code Blocks – Insert code directly into Google Docs
Download Google Docs App Free
Developers, usually, don’t look at Google Docs as being a potential coding editor. Of course, that’s not what it’s meant for. However, Google Docs can be a great tool for writing your code documentation. But still, it lacks features like syntax highlighting and code formatting.
That’s where Code Blocks comes in. It makes it easy to put your code directly into Google Docs.
Pro tip: Use background color for the code area to help your readers spot your code easily.
Who is it suitable for?
- Developers who write technical documentation
- Product managers
Best features:
- One-click syntax highlighting
- Automatic language detection (or choose it yourself)
- Format code inline or as blocks
- Preview changes before updating your document
Pricing:Free
22. Docs to Markdown
Docs to Markdown – Convert a Google document to simple, readable Markdown or HTML
If you want to publish your blog posts or newsletters on the web, you need them in a Markdown or HTML format. But there is no easy way to do that if you use Google Docs’ built-in tools.
To fill that void, there is ‘Docs to Markdown‘ (previously called gd2md-html). It easily converts your document into a simple and readable Markdown or HTML.
Who is it suitable for?
- People who use Google Docs to write their posts and move it over to WordPress
Best features:
- Handles embedded paragraphs in list items for Markdown.
- Warns about multiple H1 headings in the top comments
Pricing: Free
More Add-Ons
Get Google Docs App For Pc
23. G Barcode QR Code Generator
G Barcode QR Code Generator – Generate high-quality images of Barcodes and QR Codes
If you want to generate barcodes or QR codes in your Google document, use the add-on, ‘G Barcode QR Code Generator’. This opens a sidebar in your document where you can configure all the specifics of your code—including its size and color. From there, it takes just a couple of clicks to paste the code into your document.
Pricing: Free for the first 20 codes. The paid plan costs 99 cents per month or $8 dollars per year or $14 dollars for lifetime access.
24. Icons for Slides & Docs
Icons for Slides & Docs – Get access to a large database of icons for Google Docs
Make your document stand out with beautiful icons with ‘Icons for Slides & Docs’. Every icon is customizable to make sure you get the look you want.
Who is it suitable for?
- Designers
- Teachers
- Students
Pricing: $11 per month
25. Flat for Docs
Flat for Docs – Add music notation to your document
Create music notation or tablature to your document easily with ‘Flat for Docs’. You may not be able to compose a full score with this, but this definitely comes in handy for doing your music exam papers or worksheets.
Best Mac App For Google Docs Windows 10
Who is it suitable for?
- Music teachers and students
- Musicians
Pricing: $6.99 per month or $49 per year or $149 for lifetime use.
Conclusion
So there you go. These add-ons can push the capabilities of Google Docs and turn you into a power user. Go ahead and use the ones that suit your needs.
If you wish to go a step ahead and create automated workflows between Google Docs and other apps, check out Google Docs integrations.
Also published on Medium.