Comparison
Lyrcs vs MasterWriter
Looking at MasterWriter? Here is how Lyrcs compares, feature by feature, in plain English.
Also searched as MasterWriter, Master Writer, MasterWriter software, MasterWriter songwriting, masterwriter.com.
MasterWriter is a deep reference library for songwriters: one of the most thorough rhyming dictionaries anywhere, plus phrases, word families, pop culture references, and a thesaurus, wrapped around a cloud lyric page where you collect words next to your draft. Lyrcs takes the opposite approach: it puts a rhyming dictionary inside a real editor that actively helps you write, on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
So the question is whether you want a vast lookup library you search, or an editor that does the work as you type. The table below lists every Lyrcs feature, explains what it means, and shows whether MasterWriter has it. MasterWriter has the dictionary, but it does not count syllables on your lines, highlight rhymes as you type, or run as an offline app, and it stores your lyrics in its cloud rather than as files you keep.
| Feature | Lyrcs | MasterWriter |
|---|---|---|
| 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. MasterWriter is a cloud service you use in a browser, so there is no native app to feel at home on Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Lyrcs is a real app on each. | ||
| 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. MasterWriter's rhyming dictionary is one of its strengths, but it is a separate library you search, and it lives in the cloud. In Lyrcs the dictionary is built into the editor and 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
- MasterWriter
- iPhone & iPad
Available on iPhone and iPad.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Android
Available on Android phones and tablets.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- 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. MasterWriter is a cloud service you use in a browser, so there is no native app to feel at home on Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Lyrcs is a real app on each.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Works offline
Write anywhere with no internet connection; everything you need is on your device.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- No account required
Open the app and start writing right away. There is no sign-up, no login, and no account to create.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
Syllable counting
- Counts syllables for you
Syllables are counted automatically and update as you type, so you never count on your fingers.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
- Custom overrides
Teach the counter how you pronounce a word when you disagree with it, and it remembers your choice everywhere.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
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
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
- Highlight identical words
Optionally mark repeated identical words so you can spot when you have leaned on the same word twice.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- 20 distinct colors
Twenty separate rhyme colors mean even dense, multi-rhyme passages stay readable.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
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. MasterWriter's rhyming dictionary is one of its strengths, but it is a separate library you search, and it lives in the cloud. In Lyrcs the dictionary is built into the editor and works offline.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Dictionary works offline
The rhyming dictionary ships inside the app, so lookups work with no internet connection.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Common-words filter
Hide obscure entries and show only words people actually use.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
Annotations
- Mark sections
Label parts of the song, like [Verse] or [Chorus], and they are ignored by the syllable count and rhyme highlighting.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Specify chords
Write chords inline above your words; they sit with the lyric without affecting the counts or colors.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
- Leave comments
Drop notes to yourself anywhere in the text that the editor treats as annotations, not lyrics.
- Lyrcs
- MasterWriter
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
- MasterWriter
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
- MasterWriter
- 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
- MasterWriter
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
- MasterWriter
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
- MasterWriter
Looking for a MasterWriter alternative?
If you are looking for a MasterWriter alternative, Lyrcs is the modern, app-first answer. MasterWriter is built around searching dictionaries and collecting words beside your lyric. Lyrcs builds the help into the page itself: it counts the syllables on every line at all times, highlights every rhyme the moment you type it, suggests rhymes for the word or part of a word at your cursor, and still gives you a built-in rhyming dictionary when you want to search, all of it working offline.
Lyrcs also lets you teach it your own near rhymes, mark sections and chords as annotations, and keep notes with each song. It is a real Mac, iPhone, and iPad app rather than a cloud service you log in to, so it opens instantly and works with no internet connection. And every song is a plain .txt file you own and can open anywhere. MasterWriter keeps your work in its cloud behind an account, so your lyrics live inside the service.
The easiest way to compare Lyrcs and MasterWriter is to open Lyrcs on iPhone, iPad, or Mac and watch the syllables count and the rhymes light up as you type.
What Lyrcs adds
The features below are in Lyrcs but not in MasterWriter. Here is what each one does.
Mac
Available on Mac.
iPhone & iPad
Available on iPhone and iPad.
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. MasterWriter is a cloud service you use in a browser, so there is no native app to feel at home on Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Lyrcs is a real app on each.
Works offline
Write anywhere with no internet connection; everything you need is on your device.
No account required
Open the app and start writing right away. There is no sign-up, no login, and no account to create.
Counts syllables for you
Syllables are counted automatically and update as you type, so you never count on your fingers.
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.
Custom overrides
Teach the counter how you pronounce a word when you disagree with it, and it remembers your choice everywhere.
Perfect rhymes
Words 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 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.
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.
MasterWriter stores your lyrics in its own format, so they can only be opened in MasterWriter. 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 MasterWriter: frequently asked questions
What is the best MasterWriter alternative?
Lyrcs is the best MasterWriter alternative for songwriters who want help while they write rather than a separate reference library to search. Lyrcs has a built-in rhyming dictionary like MasterWriter, and it also counts syllables on every line, highlights rhymes as you type, suggests rhymes at your cursor, and lets you define your own near rhymes. It is a real Mac, iPhone, and iPad app, works offline, and stores your lyrics as plain text files you own.
Does MasterWriter count syllables or highlight rhymes as you type?
No. MasterWriter is a lookup library: you search its rhyming dictionary and collect words next to your lyric. It does not count the syllables on your lines or highlight rhymes in your text as you type. Lyrcs does both automatically, the moment you type.
Is MasterWriter an app or a website?
MasterWriter is a cloud service you use in a browser and log in to; by its own description it is not an app you install. Lyrcs is a real Mac, iPhone, and iPad app that opens instantly, needs no account, and works offline.
Does MasterWriter work offline?
No. MasterWriter is cloud-based and needs an internet connection. Lyrcs works fully offline, including its rhyming dictionary.
Do I own my lyrics in MasterWriter?
MasterWriter saves your work in its cloud, tied to your account. 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.
Try Lyrcs
Counts every syllable and lights up every rhyme, so you can create your best lines. On iPhone, iPad, and Mac.