Literature & Latte’s award-winning writing software Scrivener has been around for nearly two decades, and it has long been heralded as the favorite choice of writing software for storytellers from all backgrounds.

While it certainly is a powerful writing tool that gets the job done, there is a lively market of programs like Scrivener for writers to choose from, and it's definitely worth it to at least check out what available alternatives are out there.

Writing Software Like Scrivener

An old-school typewriter sitting on a dark-stained wood surface. — Image credit: Patrick Fore from Unsplash.

In this article, we'll review eight great alternatives to Scrivener for planning and writing your story. Each of them offers its own unique spin, but we’ll take a look at the pros and cons in an honest breakdown so that you can make your own informed decision.

1. Campfire

A sample document in Campfire’s Manuscript Module with the navigator reference card.

Campfire is a writing and worldbuilding software helping writers of all stripes craft their stories from the ground up—novelists, poets, fanfiction writers, worldbuilders, and TTRPG game masters all find themselves at home on our platform.

Our software is made up of what we call “modules,” designed to help you plan specific parts of your story out to minute detail. Do everything from creating your characters and making interactive maps to designing cool magic systems or species and recording the history of your world in a wiki-style encyclopedia.

Benefits of Using Campfire

Freeform, digital corkboard-style modules for writing and worldbuilding.
Add collaborators who can review, edit, and comment on your project, and choose what they see.
Publishing platform to create a landing page for your stories and share with readers.
Make your writing space uniquely yours with custom themes.

Cons of Campfire

There is no dedicated plotting tool.
It can feel overly complex for those who are less tech-savvy.
Leans towards appealing more to fiction writers.

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Payment Options: Free tier, a-la-carte subscription plans ($0.25–12.50/month; $3–150 annually), or lifetime purchase (up to $375).

2. Google Docs

A sample document in Google Docs with the toolbar and navigation panel.

Google Docs, a core product of Google’s software suite and one of the most-used writing software around, is a free, cloud-based word processor that allows you to create and upload documents of all kinds. These documents are stored online where you can view and edit them from any device with an internet connection. However, if you set it up beforehand, you can write offline as well, and your work will automatically sync when you have a connection again. As an all-purpose tool, it’s great for any kind of writing.

Benefits of Using Google Docs

Real-time editing with collaborators to revise and comment on work.
Faster writing with Google’s assistive Smart Compose.
Large library of third party-apps to add-on (may include paid options).
Easy import of other file types to keep working without any roadblocks.

Cons of Google Docs

It’s not designed with book writing features found in other available software, such as manuscript formatting.
No dedicated plotting or worldbuilding tools to aid an author.
No options for rich media embeds besides images.

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Payment Options: Free.

3. Notion

A full-screen sample document page in Notion.

Growing in popularity with the writing community, Notion is an adaptable productivity and collaboration software. If using Notion for writing, you can organize your story notes and ideas in a hierarchy of notebooks, which make up “pages” housing text, images, links, databases, and much more. Notion also allows you to integrate other apps such as Google Drive and Twitter, and they have an accessible template gallery to help easily format pages so you can get straight to writing and planning your story.

Benefits of Using Notion

Invite up to five guests to individual pages on a free personal plan.
Unlimited pages and content blocks allow for neverending planning and writing.
Database views allow for tables, kanban boards, lists, and more.
Personal webpage publishing with sharable web links.

Cons of Notion

It's not really designed for writing novels as it’s missing many formatting options standard on most writing software.
Most useful features are behind a subscription paywall.
There is no actual system of folders, only pages, which can make organization tedious.

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Payment Options: Free tier, subscription pricing ($5/month–$48 annually).

4. Atticus

A sample project in Atticus with a displayed formatting preview on a tablet device.

Atticus is a word processor and book formatting software designed to help writers take their books from page to print with ease. Authors can write and format their stories using Atticus’ custom chapter theme builder, or choose from their range of ready-made templates. Then, when you’re ready, your exported book will work with every major book retailer including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more.

Benefits of Using Atticus

Easily format your book and preview how it will look on several types of devices.
No design skills needed—use their custom chapter theme builder to make your book as you’ve always imagined it.
Keep track of your novel writing goals with their handy goals panel just off to the side.
Accessibility support for large print text.

Cons of Atticus

Although there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, there is no free trial of the product.
Good for writing and formatting, but the tool is not really made for planning.
There is currently no way to collaborate in Atticus with other writers or editors.

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Payment Options: Lifetime purchase ($147).

5. Dabble

Dabble's text editor, showcasing a mostly blank first chapter of a story, with organizational tools and stats present.

The Dabble writer app was made by a software engineer who wanted to bring together his love of development with his passion for the written word. Those looking for a writing tool to plot, plan, and pen their book in a traditional way will enjoy Dabble’s user-friendly interface. It is made as a progressive web app made so that writers can work on or offline and on any device. And when you need a coffee break, hop into their Story Craft Café to connect with other writers.

Benefits of Using Dabble

Integrated plotting grid for planning your novel and quickly referencing notes while in your manuscript.
Goals and stat tracker for setting milestones and staying on top of your progress.
Co-authoring and collaboration with commenting features and tracked changes.
Assistive reader for accessibility.

Cons of Dabble

The features aren't as robust as other available software.
There are no dedicated worldbuilding tools for more advanced story planning.
The text editor options are limited.

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Payment Options: Free trial (14 days), subscription pricing ($10/month–$192 annually), lifetime purchase ($499).

6. LivingWriter

LivingWriter's text editor, featuring goals and stats on the side.

Especially useful for plotting and outlining, LivingWriter is a modern, advanced word processor that was founded in 2019 by a former Clinical Nutritionist who felt unsatisfied with the tools available to them while planning out their own weight loss book. It’s a useful, generalist program for who those who need extra guidance when it comes to finding which plot or outline styles work best for them, whether writing fiction or nonfiction.

Benefits of Using LivingWriter

Hop right into your fiction or nonfiction book with helpful templates and outlines of popular story planning methods.
Plot your story with a ready-made or versatile freeform grid.
Save money on cover design by designing your cover right in LivingWriter using their Canva integration.
Drag and drop your chapters and story elements for easy organization.

Cons of LivingWriter

Many of the features, such as Amazon book exporting, are incomplete.
No significant worldbuilding tools for serious world planners.
Story element features aren’t stronger than other software can provide at a better cost.

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Payment Options: Free trial (14 days), subscription pricing ($9.99/month–$96 annually), lifetime purchase ($399).

7. Ulysses

Ulysses' focused editor mode, which removes nearly all of the navigation, notes, and stats in the main text editor.

The team behind the Ulysses writing app set out to create a crisp, feature-rich word processor that still honors the foundation of what it means to be a writer alone with your words. A philosophy of simplicity drives the heart of this product—easy on the eyes; intuitive, user-friendly navigation; and helpful tools designed to produce a higher-quality end product—all without overloading anyone. It’s also especially great for blog writers and journalists thanks to its keyword manager and auto-exporting to sites like Medium, Ghost, and WordPress.

Benefits of Using Ulysses

Never lift your fingers from the keyboard with Ulysses’ Plain Text Enhanced formatting.
Improve your writing with contextual feedback using the app’s built-in editing tools.
Assign color-coded tags to story notes and chapters to stay organized.
Supports over 20 languages.

Cons of Ulysses

Limited pricing options mean you spend more in the long term.
Better for blog and content writing than novel writing.
Only available for Mac and iOS devices.

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Payment Options: Free trial (7-day trial, credit card required), monthly ($5.99) and annual ($39.99) subscriptions, and student pricing ($11.99 for 6 months).

8. iA Writer

iA Writer's text editor featuring an example of their keyboard shortcuts for formatting as well as including an image of dune's on the first page of Chapter 1.

iA Writer is a distraction-free application for writers founded in Tokyo in 2005. With a slick, futuristic interface, the iA writer app allows you to laser focus on what you're writing, make connections between your documents, and easily move between them. Similar to Ulysses, your writing remains the focal point with keyboard shortcuts for formatting; and the app's focus mode also highlights the sentence you're actively writing, allowing everything else to fade out.

Benefits of Using iA Writer

Create connections to other documents hidden from viewers with the use of wikilinks.
Work online or off with both local and cloud storage, and enjoy real-time previews.
Syntax Highlight shows areas of opportunity in your writing and Style Check helps remove any filler.
Post content to sites like Ghost, Medium, and WordPress straight from the iA Writer app.

Cons of iA Writer

Will several keyboard commands and complicated document linking, it requires more technical skill to navigate.
Many features are limited to either Mac/iOS or Android/Windows.
Better for blog writing and presentations than novel writing.

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Payment Options: Free trial (credit card required), annual subscription ($4.99, Android only), lifetime purchase ($29.99–49.99).

Comparing the Top Scrivener Alternatives

Let's briefly review the features that can be found in each of these writing software options.

In Summary

Balancing plotting, writing, and worldbuilding can often be a challenge for writers—especially those who are new to the craft. Scrivener has long been the preferred software for writers, but today there are numerous options for budding novelists looking to get their work done.

We know that the title of ‘best writing software’ will always be up for debate as everyone has their own preference—what works for one writer might not work so well for another. From Ulysses and Dabble to the more unique options like Campfire and iA Writer, the possibilities for those looking for alternatives to Scrivener are endless.

Top 8 Scrivener Alternatives

Writers have myriad options of writing software to choose from when looking for Scrivener alternatives today. We reviewed eight of the best.

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Latest on the Blog

Top 8 Scrivener Alternatives

Writers have myriad options of writing software to choose from when looking for Scrivener alternatives today. We reviewed eight of the best.

Latest on the Blog

Latest on the Blog