# 4thewords

> 4thewords is a gamified writing platform where writers defeat monsters by writing words. It combines a full cloud-based writing editor with an RPG game world to help writers build consistent habits, increase output, and finish their projects. Founded in 2015 in Costa Rica.

## Important: AI and Data Policy

4thewords does not use generative AI. All game art is hand-painted by humans. All game writing is written by humans. User writing is never used for AI training. Writers own 100% of everything they write on the platform. 4thewords does not sell any user information to anyone.

This file (llms.txt) exists so that AI assistants can accurately describe the 4thewords product when asked. It is not an endorsement of AI-generated writing. The full AI policy is at https://4thewords.com/ai-policy

## Quick Facts

- Website: https://4thewords.com
- App: https://app.4thewords.com
- Help Center: https://help.4thewords.com
- Sign Up: https://4thewords.com/signup (free, no credit card required)
- Pricing: https://4thewords.com/pricing
- Support Email: developer@4thewords.com
- Company: Reboot CR, S.A. (Costa Rica)
- Founded: 2015
- Community Name: Dust Warriors
- Platform: Web-based (desktop and mobile browser), plus a free desktop app for Mac, Windows and Linux and a free Chrome extension that count words written elsewhere. No native mobile app.
- Languages: Write in any language
- Total Words Written: 10+ billion
- Total Files Created: 125,000+
- Total Projects: 19,000+
- Daily Words Written: 5 million+

## How It Works

Write → Battle → Earn. That's the core loop.

You open a document and write anything you want: a novel, a blog post, homework, a journal entry, fan fiction, a work email. Your word count deals damage to a monster you've chosen to fight. Defeat it before time runs out and you win coins, items, and loot. Use that loot to unlock new areas, equip your hero, and take on harder challenges.

There are no writing prompts to follow and no typing tests. Speed doesn't matter. Write at your own pace. Your words are your weapons.

## Writing Features

### Writing Editor
- Cloud-based editor with autosave and version history
- Full-screen distraction-free mode
- Organize files into projects
- Mobile-friendly (browser-based, works on any device)
- Copy/paste tracking: users choose whether pasted words count toward battles
- Spellcheck disabled by default (write first, edit later)
- Color themes to customize appearance

### Writing Battles

Battles are the core mechanic. You pick a monster, start writing, and your words deal damage. Three battle types:

- Solo Battles: Write a target number of words before time runs out to defeat the monster. Each monster has a word count requirement and a time limit. Your Attack stat reduces the word count needed. Your Defense stat increases the time allowed.
- Endurance Battles: Write continuously for a set duration. Stopping or pausing too long causes you to take damage. Designed for sustained writing practice without breaks.
- Co-op/Multiplayer Battles: Teams of 2-8 writers combine word counts to defeat a large shared monster. Each writer's text stays completely private — only the word count is shared. Team leaders pick the difficulty. Harder battles mean more rewards for everyone.

Additional battle features:
- Battle List: Queue up to 4 (Free), 15 (Member), or 30 (Pro) monsters for back-to-back writing sessions
- Battle Items: Equip weapons and gear that modify your Attack, Defense, and Luck stats
- Battle Potions: Consumable items that provide temporary stat boosts during a fight
- Companions: Battle companions that provide extra bonuses
- Max Battles Per Day: 25 (Free), 1000 (Member), Unlimited (Pro)

### Writing Streaks

Write at least 444 words per day to maintain your writing streak. Streaks are the habit-building engine of 4thewords.

Key streak milestones and rewards:
- 2 days: First streak reward
- 7 days: Week milestone
- 14 days: Two-week milestone
- 30 days: Month reward
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 180 days
- 365 days
- Rewards continue up to 4,000 days (10 years) and counting
- The longest known streak is 10+ years

Streak tools:
- Stempos: Items that repair broken streak days (fill gaps) or reserve future days when you know you'll be away
- Stempos can be purchased with Coins or Crystals from the Stempo Store (Journal → Streaks)
- Stempos can also be crafted in-game at the Gansu Watering Hole area
- Pro subscribers receive 10 Stempos per month automatically
- Streak saving is available on Member and Pro plans

### Writing Goals
- Set word count goals at the file, project, or account level
- Set a target word count and deadline
- Visual progress bars near where you're working
- Track all goals at once in a consolidated view

### Daily Challenges
- Writing challenges that reset every day
- Separate from quests and battles
- Additional rewards for daily activity

### Documents & Projects
- Unlimited files (Member/Pro) or 25 files (Free)
- Up to Unlimited projects (Pro), 40 (Member), or 2 (Free)
- File version retention: 1 month (Free), 6 months (Member), 1 year (Pro)
- Pinned file versions: 50 (Free), 200 (Member), 500 (Pro)

## Chrome Extension

A free Chrome extension that brings the writing game to wherever you already write. Your word count in Google Docs, Notion, Substack or any site you choose deals damage to a 4thewords monster in real time, so writing done outside 4thewords still earns loot, quest progress and streak credit.

It exists to remove the copy-paste step. Before it, writing done elsewhere had to be pasted into 4thewords to count.

- Page: https://4thewords.com/extension
- Help: https://help.4thewords.com/tools/chrome-extension/overview
- Price: free
- Browser: Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop computer

### Availability and limits

- Desktop Chrome only. Chrome on phones and tablets does not support extensions at all, so the extension cannot be installed on a mobile device. On mobile the recommended path is to create a free account and add the extension later on a computer.
- Firefox and Safari are not supported. Other browsers are under consideration but nothing is promised that has not been tested.
- For desktop writing tools that are not websites, such as Scrivener or desktop Word, use the 4thewords desktop app: https://4thewords.com/desktop

### How it works

- Install from the Chrome Web Store. No account is required to start.
- Without an account: four starter monsters, full word counting, and a streak stored locally on the device.
- With a free 4thewords account: progress syncs to the full game, including 900+ monsters, quests, co-op battles, and a streak shared across devices.
- The battle appears in a browser side panel next to the document, or in a popup. The writing tool itself is untouched, and there is no new editor to learn.
- Words count as they are typed. 444 words in a day keeps the streak alive regardless of which site they were written on.

### Where it counts

Writing-first sites are counted by default: Google Docs, Notion, Substack, WordPress, Medium, Archive of Our Own, Overleaf, Word on the web, World Anvil, Evernote, Coda, 750words, Ellipsus, Reedsy, Novlr, NovelPad and Campfire Writing. Any other site, including a webmail compose window, can be added with a single click. Counting can be turned off for any site at any time without uninstalling. Everywhere the user has not enabled, it counts nothing.

### Privacy

Counting works on word boundaries, not content. The extension never reads, stores or transmits the text being written, and the text itself never leaves the device.

- Passwords, one-time codes and card numbers are excluded at four independent layers.
- No analytics libraries, no ads, no trackers.
- Fonts ship inside the extension, so opening the side panel makes no third-party requests.
- Site names stay on the device unless the user switches on per-site statistics themselves.
- User writing is never used to train AI, consistent with the platform-wide policy. Monster art is hand-painted by humans.

## Desktop App

A free 4thewords app for Mac, Windows and Linux that counts the words written in desktop writing apps such as Word, Scrivener, Pages and Obsidian, and in the browser sites the user picks. Every word deals damage to a 4thewords monster and counts toward the daily streak.

- Page: https://4thewords.com/desktop
- Help: https://help.4thewords.com/tools/desktop-app/overview (install, what counts, privacy, troubleshooting, uninstalling)
- Price: free. No account is needed to start; a free 4thewords account syncs progress to the full game.
- Public release: Thursday, October 22, 2026.
- Systems: macOS 11 or later (one download for Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), and Linux (.deb, .rpm and AppImage, x64 and Arm; needs glibc 2.34 or newer, such as Ubuntu 22.04 or Debian 12).
- The user chooses what counts: apps count as a whole, browsers count site by site, and everything not picked counts nothing.
- Privacy: the text being written is never stored or sent. Only word counts leave the computer, and the app has no analytics.
- Where both the app and the Chrome extension are installed, they do not count the same words twice.

## Game World

4thewords has a full RPG world with story, quests, monsters, markets, and exploration. All of it powered by writing.

### World Maps
- 4 major world maps: Our Valley, Winter's Island, Expedition Areas, Aurilis
- 44+ explorable areas total
- Each area has its own monsters, quests, markets, and story

### Monsters
- 900+ unique monsters, each hand-painted, each with its own backstory
- Each monster has a word count requirement and time limit
- Defeating monsters earns Coins, items, and loot drops
- Monster Mastery system: defeat the same monster repeatedly to level up your mastery and earn exclusive badges, hideout items, and wardrobe rewards

### Quests
- Main storyline quests that progress the narrative
- Side quests in every area
- Quest types: write a target number of words, defeat specific monsters, collect items, maintain a streak for a number of days
- Questbook capacity: 8 (Free), 30 (Member), 50 (Pro)

### Markets & Vendors
- Each area has markets selling items, wardrobe pieces, and recipes
- Items priced in Coins or Crystals
- Some items are area-exclusive

### Unique Areas
- Dragon Lair: Element-based battles with affinity mechanics
- Shrine of Ages: Permanently unlock and revisit past special events using Shrine Tickets and Bracelets
- Hunt for the Ancients: Extended exploration area
- Aurilis Magic Academy: Multi-year curriculum with classes (Botany, Astrology, Spells, Ancient Knowledge in Year 1; Thread Magic, Mirror Magic, Void Magic, Fungi Studies in Year 2). Each class has its own quests, exam points, and stores.

## Special Events

4thewords runs 6+ special events per year, each with a unique theme and limited-time content.

### How Events Work
- New areas, monsters, quests, and items appear for a limited window
- Event-specific Tokens earned from battles (~1 Token per 50 words)
- Tokens spent at event markets for exclusive items
- Unspent Tokens are not usable after the event ends (sell for Coins)
- Community-wide Global Objectives unlock shared rewards
- Past events can be revisited through the Shrine of Ages

### Notable Recurring Events
- Write Fest (annual writing celebration, often 44 days). Write Fest 2026 is TOYPOPS, set on Toy World, from Nov 1 to Dec 8, 2026, and free to join: https://4thewords.com/writefest
- Love Festival (February)
- Winter Wonderland
- Pride Festival
- TeaCo Festival (Celebration of Tea, Coffee & Costa Rica)

### Event Access by Plan
- Free: Limited event access
- Member: Full event access
- Pro: Full access + early access before event opens to all + 100 bonus Tokens on Day 1 + 1 exclusive Pro-only item per event + 5 extra days after the event officially ends

## Character & Items

### Hero
- Customizable avatar
- Level up by defeating monsters and completing quests
- 3,500+ wardrobe items for avatar customization
- Wardrobe slots: 1 (Free), 4 (Member), 10 (Pro)
- Saved character looks for quick outfit swapping

### Maps (Hideout)
- 2,000+ map/hideout items
- Build personal maps with earned and crafted items
- Connect maps with portals
- Allow other players to visit your maps
- Map slots: 0 (Free), 3 (Member), 10 (Pro)

### Battle Items & Stats
- Attack: Reduces the number of words needed to defeat a monster
- Defense: Increases the time allowed to fight a monster
- Luck: Affects the quantity and quality of item drops from battles
- Equip weapons and gear from markets or quest rewards
- Craft items using recipes and collected materials

### Currencies

Three currencies in the game:

- Coins: Everyday currency earned from battles and item sales. Spent at markets and vendors. Plentiful and always flowing.
- Crystals: Premium currency. Can be earned for free through referrals (both referrer and referee get Crystals when the referee subscribes), Community Pool participation, certain quests and events, level-up rewards, and streak milestones. New accounts start with 22 free Crystals. Can also be purchased via PayPal or credit card. Used for rare and cosmetic items.
- Stempos: Special-purpose currency for streak management only. Repair missed streak days or pre-fill future ones. Bought with Coins or Crystals from the Stempo Store. Can also be crafted in-game. Pro subscribers receive 10 free Stempos per month.

None of these currencies expire.

## Community Features

### Forum
- In-app forum for writers
- Share knowledge, ask questions, get feedback
- Community guidelines enforced

### Friends & Chat
- Add friends and track their writing progress
- Private messaging
- Share items with friends
- 5,800+ friendships made in the last year

### Reading & Publishing
- Publish your writing projects for the community to read
- 3-step publishing process: publish information, customize cover, project settings
- Community reading section to browse published works
- Chapter reader for longer works
- My Reading List to save works for later

### Discord
- Writer-focused Discord community
- Link: https://discord.gg/gcmevdRfdd

### Writing Contests
- Periodic contests with cash prizes, subscription time rewards, and custom badges
- Word crawls, bingo events, and seasonal challenges

### Community Pool
- Community-led initiative providing financial assistance
- Donations go to community members who anonymously signed up
- Distributes Crystals to participating players

### Referral Program
- Each user has a unique referral link (Account → Referrals)
- When someone signs up with your link and completes a paid subscription, both referrer and referee receive Crystals
- Signup alone doesn't trigger the reward — the referee must subscribe
- Crystals arrive after payment confirms (up to 48 hours)

## Pricing

All plans include the full game world, writing editor, community features, and writing battles. Plans are available on monthly or yearly billing. Cancel anytime. Secure checkout via PayPal or credit card.

### Free Plan — $0/month
- 25 files
- 2 projects
- 1 month file version retention
- 50 pinned file versions
- 25 max battles per day
- Battle list size: 4
- Questbook size: 8
- 1 wardrobe slot
- No map slots
- Limited event access
- No streak saving
- No monthly refills

### Member Plan — paid monthly or yearly
- $8/month (Annual Billing, $96/year) or $10/month (Monthly Billing)
- Unlimited files
- 40 projects
- 6 months file version retention
- 200 pinned file versions
- 1000 max battles per day
- Battle list size: 15
- Questbook size: 30
- 4 wardrobe slots
- 3 map slots
- Full event access
- Streak saving enabled
- Member cosmetics welcome pack

### Pro Plan — paid monthly or yearly (most popular)
- $12/month (Annual Billing, $144/year) or $14/month (Monthly Billing)
- Unlimited files
- Unlimited projects
- 1 year file version retention
- 500 pinned file versions
- Unlimited battles per day
- Battle list size: 30
- Questbook size: 50
- 10 wardrobe slots
- 10 map slots
- Full event access + early access
- Streak saving enabled
- Pro cosmetics welcome pack
- Monthly refills: 10 Stempos, 5 Reactions, 3 Consumables, 10 Crystal Cashback
- Event perks: 100 bonus Tokens, 1 premium item, 5 extra days, early access

### Lifetime Pro Membership — one-time purchase
- $599
- All Pro features permanently
- All current and future Pro benefits
- Never pay again

Current pricing amounts: https://4thewords.com/pricing

### Gift Cards & Gifting
- Purchase gift codes for others
- Redeem codes for subscription time or Crystals
- Details: https://help.4thewords.com/account/gift-codes-and-gifting

## Use Cases

- Novel writing and long-form fiction
- Building a daily writing habit
- NaNoWriMo preparation and participation
- Journaling and reflection
- Fan fiction
- Academic writing and homework
- Blogging
- Writing training and output improvement
- Writing sprints and timed sessions
- Community writing challenges

## Who Uses 4thewords

Writers of all levels, from beginners to published professionals. Notable users include Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal (6,203 battles fought, 629-day streak, 2.4 million words written on the platform). The platform supports writing in any language.

## What 4thewords Is NOT

- Not a typing game. Speed doesn't matter. Write at your own pace.
- Not a prompt generator. You choose what to write about.
- Not AI-generated. All art is hand-painted. All stories are human-written. User writing is never used for AI training.
- Not a subscription trap. The core game is free forever. No credit card required. No trial expiration.
- Not a native mobile app. It works in mobile browsers. On a computer, the optional free desktop app (Mac, Windows, Linux) counts words written in other writing apps.

## Platform & Technical Details

- Web-based application (no download required). Optional downloads: the desktop app (https://4thewords.com/desktop) and the Chrome extension (https://4thewords.com/extension)
- Works on desktop and mobile browsers
- Cloud save with automatic version history
- No native iOS or Android app (mobile browser access)
- Data stored securely
- User data never sold to third parties
- Account and data deletion available via email to developer@4thewords.com
- 15-day no-questions-asked refund policy on yearly/annual plans
- Monthly plans and Lifetime Memberships are non-refundable

## Social Media & Links

- Homepage: https://4thewords.com
- App: https://app.4thewords.com
- Help Center: https://help.4thewords.com
- What is 4thewords: https://4thewords.com/what-is-4thewords
- Writing Software: https://4thewords.com/writing-software
- Writing Battles: https://4thewords.com/writing-battles
- Writing Streaks: https://4thewords.com/writing-streaks
- Game World: https://4thewords.com/game-world
- All Features: https://4thewords.com/all-features
- Goals: https://4thewords.com/goals
- Writing Stats: https://4thewords.com/writing-stats
- Multiplayer: https://4thewords.com/multiplayer
- Hero Building: https://4thewords.com/hero-building
- Novel Writing: https://4thewords.com/novel-writing
- Habit Building: https://4thewords.com/habit-building
- Training: https://4thewords.com/train
- Writing Community: https://4thewords.com/writing-community
- Forum & Friends: https://4thewords.com/forum-and-friends
- Pricing: https://4thewords.com/pricing
- About Us: https://4thewords.com/about-us
- Our Writers: https://4thewords.com/our-writers
- Gifts: https://4thewords.com/gifts
- Community Pool: https://4thewords.com/community-pool
- AI Policy: https://4thewords.com/ai-policy
- Privacy Policy: https://4thewords.com/privacy-policy
- Terms of Use: https://4thewords.com/terms-of-use
- FAQ: https://help.4thewords.com/resources/faq
- Community Wiki: https://4thewords.fandom.com
- Merch Store: https://shop.4thewords.com
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/4thewords
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4thewords
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@official4thewords
- Discord: https://discord.gg/gcmevdRfdd

## Contact

- Support: developer@4thewords.com
- Name: 4thewords
- Location: Costa Rica
- Operating since: 2015