The Gorby editor,
now on your desktop
Everything you like about Gorby, in a window of its own. Save your texts as files on your computer, open and save Word documents, and keep writing when the internet drops out.
For Windows 10 and 11, and Macs with Apple silicon · or use Gorby in your browser
*Chapter Three - GorbyChapter Three
Mara had kept the lighthouse for basically eleven years, and in all that time the lamp had never once gone dark. Every evening she climbed the hundred and twelve steps, wound the clockwork, and wrote a single line in the logbook.
The storm was first noticed by the ferryman, who rowed out past the breakwater shouting something the wind tore away before it reached her.
She set down her pen. Outside, the sea had turned the color of slate.
An illustration of Gorby's interface. The actual app looks a little different.
Why the desktop app
Everything from the web app, plus your own files
Same editor, same checks, same account. The desktop app adds the things a browser tab can't do well.
Your texts are real files
Everything you save goes into a Gorby folder on your computer, in Documents by default. Back it up, sync it with OneDrive or Dropbox, or pick a different folder in Settings.
Open and save Word documents
Bring a .docx into Gorby, polish it, and save it back for Word. Headings, lists, links, quotes, and text formatting all make the trip.
Keeps working offline
No internet? No problem. Keep writing and checking your texts on a plane, on a train, or somewhere remote. With a plan, Pro features stay unlocked for up to 5 days offline.
Open files from anywhere
Double-click a .gorby file, drop a text onto the window, or use File → Open File. With a plan, Save writes straight back to the original file.
Real menus and shortcuts
File, Edit, View, and Help menus with the shortcuts you already know, like Ctrl+S or ⌘S. Gorby asks before you lose unsaved changes.
No account needed
Open the app and start writing. Sign in whenever you like, and the plan you use on the web unlocks everything on your desktop too.
Saving your work
One folder, three kinds of files
Gorby lists every text in your Gorby folder, whatever its format. The file name is the text's name, so you can rename a text in Gorby or in File Explorer or Finder, and both stay in step.
.gorby
Gorby's own format. It keeps your formatting, the description you give a text, and details like its word count.
- Keeps formatting
- Keeps description and details
- Opens in Gorby with a double-click
.txt
Opens in any text editor on any computer. When you open one in Gorby, each line becomes a paragraph.
- Opens anywhere
- No formatting
- No description or details
.docx
For texts headed to Word, an editor, or a publisher. Gorby uses Word's own styles, so the file looks at home there.
- Opens in Microsoft Word
- Keeps headings, lists, links, and quotes
- Images and tables aren't imported
Free and Pro
Free to download.Pro when you need it.
Free
Download it, open it, and start writing. No account and no card needed.
- The Gorby editor with text statistics and free checks
- Up to 3 saved texts in your Gorby folder
- Open .gorby and .txt files from anywhere
- Export to .gorby or .txt
Pro
Included in every paid planSign in with your Gorby account, and your plan unlocks everything, on the web and on your desktop.
- Unlimited saved texts
- Open and save Word (.docx) files
- Save straight back to files in any folder
- Every Pro check, readability tool, and AI feature
- Pro features work offline for up to 5 days
Your texts stay yours, even if your plan ends
You can always open and export your .gorby and .txt texts, with or without a plan. Word files stay on your computer too, so you can keep opening them in Word.
Installing Gorby
Up and running in a minute
On Windows
- 1
Download the installer
Click Download for Windows and save Gorby's setup file. It's free, and there's nothing to sign up for.
- 2
Run the setup file
Windows may say it protected your PC from an unrecognized app. Click More info, then Run anyway.
- 3
Start writing
Open Gorby, then sign in, create an account, or continue without one. You can always sign in later.
Why does Windows show a warning?
Gorby is a new app and its installer isn't code-signed yet, so Microsoft Defender SmartScreen doesn't recognize it. That's expected. Click More info, check that the app is the Gorby setup file you downloaded here, and click Run anyway.
Windows protected your PC
Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting.
- App:
- Gorby Setup.exe
- Publisher:
- Unknown publisher
On a Mac
- 1
Download the disk image
Click Download for macOS and open the Gorby .dmg file. Gorby needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later).
- 2
Drag Gorby to Applications
In the window that opens, drag Gorby onto the Applications folder, then open Gorby from Applications.
- 3
Allow it once
macOS says it can't verify Gorby. Click Done, then go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.
Why does macOS block Gorby the first time?
Gorby isn't notarized by Apple yet, so macOS can't verify it and stops it from opening. That's expected. Click Done, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down to Security, and click Open Anyway next to the message about Gorby. Confirm with your password or Touch ID, and from then on Gorby opens like any other app.
Security
- Is the desktop app free?
- Yes. Anyone can download it, and without a plan you get the same free features as the web app, with up to 3 saved texts. A paid plan unlocks unlimited saved texts, Word files, and every Pro feature.
- Do I need an account?
- No. Choose Continue without an account the first time you open Gorby. You can sign in or create an account later, whenever you like.
- Can I use the plan I already have?
- Yes. Sign in to the desktop app with the account you use on the web, and your plan unlocks everything. There's nothing extra to buy.
- Where are my texts saved?
- In a Gorby folder inside your Documents folder. You can choose a different folder in Settings, and File → Show Gorby Folder opens it in File Explorer or Finder.
- Will my texts from the web app show up?
- Not automatically. Texts saved in the web app stay in your browser. To move one, open it in the web app, copy it, and paste it into the desktop app.
- Does it work offline?
- Yes. You can keep writing and checking your texts without a connection, whether you're on a plane or somewhere remote. With a plan, Pro features stay unlocked for up to 5 days offline. AI features need an internet connection.
- What happens to my texts if my plan ends?
- They stay on your computer, and you can still open and export your .gorby and .txt texts. Gorby won't open .docx files without a plan, but you can keep opening them in Word.
- Why does Windows warn me when I install it?
- Gorby's installer isn't code-signed yet, so Microsoft Defender SmartScreen treats it as an unrecognized app. Click More info, then Run anyway. Only run a Gorby installer you downloaded from this page.
- Why does my Mac say it can't verify Gorby?
- Gorby isn't notarized by Apple yet, so macOS blocks it the first time you open it. Click Done, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, and click Open Anyway next to the message about Gorby. You only need to do this once. Only open a Gorby app you downloaded from this page.
- Which Macs does it run on?
- Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later). Intel Macs aren't supported, but Gorby works in Safari, Chrome, or any other modern browser on them, with the same account and plan.
Give your drafts a home on your desktop
Download Gorby for free and keep your texts as files you own.
Prefer the browser? Open the web app