Comparison
Lyrcs vs Lyric Notepad
Looking at Lyric Notepad? Here is how Lyrcs compares, feature by feature, in plain English.
Also searched as Lyric Notepad, Lyric Notepad app, LyricNotepad, Lyrics Notepad, Lyric Note Pad, Lyric Notepad songwriting, Lyric Notepad lyrics editor.
Lyric Notepad is a popular songwriting app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android that counts syllables and highlights rhymes. Lyrcs does the same on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but goes further on the writing itself: it lets you choose how rhymes are matched, teach it your own near rhymes, and get real-time rhymes for any word or even part of a word you select.
The table below lists every Lyrcs feature, explains what it actually means, and shows whether each app has it. Where the two differ, the difference is usually a writing aid that Lyrcs adds and Lyric Notepad does not, plus the things that matter long term: no ads, a real Mac app, working offline, and plain text files that are always yours.
| Feature | Lyrcs | Lyric Notepad |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | ||
| MacAvailable on Mac. | ||
| iPhone & iPadAvailable on iPhone and iPad. | ||
| AndroidAvailable on Android phones and tablets. | ||
| Optimized for each platformLyrcs is built for each platform it runs on, so the Mac app feels like a real Mac app and the iPhone and iPad apps feel right at home too, with all the niceties of each platform out of the box. Lyric Notepad is not built natively for any of its platforms, so even its iPhone and iPad apps do not feel like real iPhone and iPad apps, and the Mac app is just the iPhone app on a bigger screen. | ||
| Works offlineWrite anywhere with no internet connection; everything you need is on your device. | ||
| No account requiredOpen the app and start writing right away. There is no sign-up, no login, and no account to create. | ||
| Syllable counting | ||
| Counts syllables for youSyllables are counted automatically and update as you type, so you never count on your fingers. | ||
| All counts, always shownEvery line shows its syllable count at all times, so you can see the shape of the whole song at a glance, rather than only the line your cursor is on. | ||
| Custom overridesTeach the counter how you pronounce a word when you disagree with it, and it remembers your choice everywhere. | ||
| Rhyme highlighting | ||
| Perfect rhymesWords that rhyme are given the same color the moment you type them, so rhyme schemes are visible at a glance. | ||
| End of line or any wordChoose whether highlighting only looks at the last word of each line, or considers every word on any line so internal rhymes light up too. | ||
| Group by section or fileDecide whether rhymes are matched within each section or across the whole file, so a chorus and a verse can be colored independently. | ||
| Highlight identical wordsOptionally mark repeated identical words so you can spot when you have leaned on the same word twice. | ||
| 20 distinct colorsTwenty separate rhyme colors mean even dense, multi-rhyme passages stay readable. | ||
| Color-blind friendlyThe rhyme colors are chosen to stay distinguishable for people with color blindness, so the rhyme scheme is still readable no matter how you see color. | ||
| Custom near rhymesTell Lyrcs that any two words rhyme, no matter how different they sound, like "home" and "alone", and it highlights them together from then on. | ||
| Rhyming dictionary | ||
| Search built inLook up rhymes for any word without leaving the editor, so you never open a browser mid-line. Lyrcs has the dictionary on every device, and it works offline. | ||
| Dictionary works offlineThe rhyming dictionary ships inside the app, so lookups work with no internet connection. | ||
| Common-words filterHide obscure entries and show only words people actually use. | ||
| Annotations | ||
| Mark sectionsLabel parts of the song, like [Verse] or [Chorus], and they are ignored by the syllable count and rhyme highlighting. | ||
| Specify chordsWrite chords inline above your words; they sit with the lyric without affecting the counts or colors. | ||
| Leave commentsDrop notes to yourself anywhere in the text that the editor treats as annotations, not lyrics. | ||
| Notes | ||
| Notes with each fileKeep a scratch pad attached to each song for alternate lines, ideas, or anything else, stored right alongside the lyric. | ||
| Real-time rhymes | ||
| Rhymes at your cursorAs you type, suggested rhymes for the whole word at the cursor appear in real time, right where you are writing. | ||
| Rhymes for any selectionHighlight any stretch of text and get live rhymes for exactly that, even part of a single word. Select just one syllable inside a longer word and you get rhymes for that syllable alone, not the whole word. | ||
| Plain text | ||
| Plain .txt filesYour songs are ordinary .txt files you can store locally or in iCloud and open in any other app. Your words stay yours, never trapped in an app's own format that locks you in if it ever stops working. | ||
| Distraction-free | ||
| No ads, everLyrcs has no ads. There is nothing competing with your words for your attention, and there never will be. | ||
Apps
- Mac
Available on Mac.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- iPhone & iPad
Available on iPhone and iPad.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Android
Available on Android phones and tablets.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Optimized for each platform
Lyrcs is built for each platform it runs on, so the Mac app feels like a real Mac app and the iPhone and iPad apps feel right at home too, with all the niceties of each platform out of the box. Lyric Notepad is not built natively for any of its platforms, so even its iPhone and iPad apps do not feel like real iPhone and iPad apps, and the Mac app is just the iPhone app on a bigger screen.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Works offline
Write anywhere with no internet connection; everything you need is on your device.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- No account required
Open the app and start writing right away. There is no sign-up, no login, and no account to create.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Syllable counting
- Counts syllables for you
Syllables are counted automatically and update as you type, so you never count on your fingers.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- All counts, always shown
Every line shows its syllable count at all times, so you can see the shape of the whole song at a glance, rather than only the line your cursor is on.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Custom overrides
Teach the counter how you pronounce a word when you disagree with it, and it remembers your choice everywhere.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Rhyme highlighting
- Perfect rhymes
Words that rhyme are given the same color the moment you type them, so rhyme schemes are visible at a glance.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- End of line or any word
Choose whether highlighting only looks at the last word of each line, or considers every word on any line so internal rhymes light up too.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Group by section or file
Decide whether rhymes are matched within each section or across the whole file, so a chorus and a verse can be colored independently.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Highlight identical words
Optionally mark repeated identical words so you can spot when you have leaned on the same word twice.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- 20 distinct colors
Twenty separate rhyme colors mean even dense, multi-rhyme passages stay readable.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Color-blind friendly
The rhyme colors are chosen to stay distinguishable for people with color blindness, so the rhyme scheme is still readable no matter how you see color.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Custom near rhymes
Tell Lyrcs that any two words rhyme, no matter how different they sound, like "home" and "alone", and it highlights them together from then on.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Rhyming dictionary
- Search built in
Look up rhymes for any word without leaving the editor, so you never open a browser mid-line. Lyrcs has the dictionary on every device, and it works offline.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Dictionary works offline
The rhyming dictionary ships inside the app, so lookups work with no internet connection.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Common-words filter
Hide obscure entries and show only words people actually use.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Annotations
- Mark sections
Label parts of the song, like [Verse] or [Chorus], and they are ignored by the syllable count and rhyme highlighting.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Specify chords
Write chords inline above your words; they sit with the lyric without affecting the counts or colors.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Leave comments
Drop notes to yourself anywhere in the text that the editor treats as annotations, not lyrics.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Notes
- Notes with each file
Keep a scratch pad attached to each song for alternate lines, ideas, or anything else, stored right alongside the lyric.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Real-time rhymes
- Rhymes at your cursor
As you type, suggested rhymes for the whole word at the cursor appear in real time, right where you are writing.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
- Rhymes for any selection
Highlight any stretch of text and get live rhymes for exactly that, even part of a single word. Select just one syllable inside a longer word and you get rhymes for that syllable alone, not the whole word.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Plain text
- Plain .txt files
Your songs are ordinary .txt files you can store locally or in iCloud and open in any other app. Your words stay yours, never trapped in an app's own format that locks you in if it ever stops working.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Distraction-free
- No ads, ever
Lyrcs has no ads. There is nothing competing with your words for your attention, and there never will be.
- Lyrcs
- Lyric Notepad
Looking for a Lyric Notepad alternative?
If you are searching for a Lyric Notepad alternative, Lyrcs is the closest fit and then some. It does what you came to Lyric Notepad for, counting syllables and highlighting rhymes as you type, and adds the parts Lyric Notepad leaves out: a choice of how rhymes are matched, custom near rhymes, twenty distinct rhyme colors chosen to stay readable for color-blind writers, real-time rhymes for any selection, annotations for sections and chords, and notes attached to each song.
It is also better built for the long run. Lyrcs has no ads and never will, while Lyric Notepad shows them. The Lyrcs Mac app is a real Mac app rather than the phone app stretched onto a bigger screen, and Lyrcs keeps working with no internet connection. Best of all, every Lyrcs song is a plain .txt file you can open anywhere, so you are never locked in. Lyric Notepad keeps your lyrics in its own format, so if it ever disappears your songs are stuck.
The easiest way to compare Lyrcs and Lyric Notepad is to open Lyrcs on iPhone, iPad, or Mac and watch the rhymes light up as you type.
What Lyrcs adds
The features below are in Lyrcs but not in Lyric Notepad. Here is what each one does.
Optimized for each platform
Lyrcs is built for each platform it runs on, so the Mac app feels like a real Mac app and the iPhone and iPad apps feel right at home too, with all the niceties of each platform out of the box. Lyric Notepad is not built natively for any of its platforms, so even its iPhone and iPad apps do not feel like real iPhone and iPad apps, and the Mac app is just the iPhone app on a bigger screen.
Works offline
Write anywhere with no internet connection; everything you need is on your device.
Custom overrides
Teach the counter how you pronounce a word when you disagree with it, and it remembers your choice everywhere.
End of line or any word
Choose whether highlighting only looks at the last word of each line, or considers every word on any line so internal rhymes light up too.
Group by section or file
Decide whether rhymes are matched within each section or across the whole file, so a chorus and a verse can be colored independently.
Highlight identical words
Optionally mark repeated identical words so you can spot when you have leaned on the same word twice.
20 distinct colors
Twenty separate rhyme colors mean even dense, multi-rhyme passages stay readable.
Color-blind friendly
The rhyme colors are chosen to stay distinguishable for people with color blindness, so the rhyme scheme is still readable no matter how you see color.
Custom near rhymes
Tell Lyrcs that any two words rhyme, no matter how different they sound, like "home" and "alone", and it highlights them together from then on.
Dictionary works offline
The rhyming dictionary ships inside the app, so lookups work with no internet connection.
Common-words filter
Hide obscure entries and show only words people actually use.
Mark sections
Label parts of the song, like [Verse] or [Chorus], and they are ignored by the syllable count and rhyme highlighting.
Specify chords
Write chords inline above your words; they sit with the lyric without affecting the counts or colors.
Leave comments
Drop notes to yourself anywhere in the text that the editor treats as annotations, not lyrics.
Notes with each file
Keep a scratch pad attached to each song for alternate lines, ideas, or anything else, stored right alongside the lyric.
Rhymes at your cursor
As you type, suggested rhymes for the whole word at the cursor appear in real time, right where you are writing.
Rhymes for any selection
Highlight any stretch of text and get live rhymes for exactly that, even part of a single word. Select just one syllable inside a longer word and you get rhymes for that syllable alone, not the whole word.
Plain .txt files
Your songs are ordinary .txt files you can store locally or in iCloud and open in any other app. Your words stay yours, never trapped in an app's own format that locks you in if it ever stops working.
No ads, ever
Lyrcs has no ads. There is nothing competing with your words for your attention, and there never will be.
No ads, ever
Lyric Notepad shows ads. Lyrcs does not, and never will. When you are writing, the last thing you need is a banner or a video pulling your attention away from the line you are working on.
Lyrcs stays a quiet, focused place to write, with nothing between you and the page, every time you open it.
Your files stay yours
Every Lyrcs song is an ordinary .txt file. You can keep it in iCloud or on your device, back it up, email it, and open it in any other text editor on any platform. Nothing about your words is trapped inside the app.
Lyric Notepad stores your lyrics in its own format, so they can only be opened in Lyric Notepad. If it ever shuts down, stops being updated, or you simply want to move on, getting your own words out is a problem. With plain text, that can never happen to you.
Lyrcs vs Lyric Notepad: frequently asked questions
What is the best Lyric Notepad alternative?
Lyrcs is the best Lyric Notepad alternative for most songwriters. It counts syllables on every line and highlights rhymes as you type like Lyric Notepad does, and adds custom near rhymes, a choice of how rhymes are matched, real-time rhyme suggestions for any selection, annotations, and notes. It runs on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, works offline, has no ads, and stores your lyrics as plain text files.
Is Lyrcs better than Lyric Notepad?
Lyrcs does more for writing lyrics than Lyric Notepad. Both count syllables and highlight rhymes, but only Lyrcs lets you choose how rhymes are matched, create your own near rhymes, get real-time rhymes for any word or part of a word you select, and add annotations and notes. Lyrcs also has no ads, a true Mac app, works offline, and uses plain text files you can open in any app.
Does Lyric Notepad have ads?
Lyric Notepad shows ads. Lyrcs has no ads and never will, so nothing competes with your words while you write.
Does Lyric Notepad work offline?
Lyric Notepad needs an internet connection. Lyrcs works fully offline, so you can write anywhere with everything you need on your device.
Can I open my Lyric Notepad files in other apps?
Lyric Notepad stores your lyrics in its own format, so they can only be opened in Lyric Notepad. Lyrcs saves every song as an ordinary .txt file you can open, back up, and edit in any other app on any platform, so you are never locked in.
Does Lyrcs work on Mac, iPhone, and iPad?
Yes. Lyrcs runs on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, with the same features across all of them, and the Mac app is a real Mac app rather than a phone app on a bigger screen.
Try Lyrcs
Counts every syllable and lights up every rhyme, so you can create your best lines. On iPhone, iPad, and Mac.