Final Draft AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Novel Authoring Tools

The best Novel Authoring alternative to Final Draft is Scrivener. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Manuskript or Story Architect (STARC). If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Final Draft and many of them are Novel Authoring Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Novel Authoring Tool alternatives to Final Draft are Fade In, yWriter, Untold Novel and Causality Story Sequencer.

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Final Draft alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Scrivener icon
     262 likes

    Tailored for extensive writing, this tool offers flexible structure and organization, integrates project outlines, supports various formats, and allows reorganization through drag and drop, ensuring research materials are within reach for efficient work.

    125 Scrivener alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
     
  2. Manuskript icon
     169 likes

    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    121 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
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    5
    Comments about Manuskript as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Top Positive Comment
    José Relland
    1

    Manuskript is more for "quite complex" novels. Not really for screenplays.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    9

    Manuskript is not a scriptwriting program.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    M is for novels, FD is for Screenwriting

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 5 comments
    Manuskript icon
    Manuskript icon
    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
  3. Fade In icon
     5 likes

    Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is a complete application for writing motion picture screenplays, including tools for outlining, organizing, and navigating, plus extensive screenplay formatting and robust tools for managing rewrites and revisions.

    17 Fade In alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
    |
    3
    Comments about Fade In as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    Does everything Final Draft does and more for a much lower price, plus they don't charge for updates.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Less expensive than Final Draft with all of the same features, fully compatible with the .fdx format, and full Linux support.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Supports every major format. Distraction free screenwriting.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Fade In icon
    Fade In icon
    • Fade In is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. A smooth yet powerful writing experience for devoted authors. With only wanted features and native workflow it runs faster than all your previous apps combined.

    45 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android
     
  5. yWriter icon
     68 likes

    yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all manner of story elements (characters, locations, items) as well as place it and rearrange it within the context of chapters.

    78 yWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
     
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    2
    Comments about yWriter as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Negative
    5

    yWriter is for novels. Final Draft is for screenplays.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    Not screenplay or script writing software

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    yWriter icon
    yWriter icon
    • yWriter is Freemium and ProprietaryFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
    • yWriter is LightweightFinal Draft is not according to our users
  6. Untold Novel icon
     2 likes

    Untold Novel is a fresh new approach to planning your next bestseller. It helps you keep all your notes, ideas, characters, locations, and much more organized in one convenient place.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
  7. Rayuela Editor is moderm, privacy-focused writing environment designed for long-form fiction (novels, screenplays, and theses). It bridges the gap between the structural power of Scrivener and the portability of modern web technology, wrapped in a native desktop application.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
     
  8. Celtx icon
     42 likes

    Based on the Firefox engine, supports standards, visual storyboarding, production scheduling, publication & international languages MUI support. Free tutorials, videos & wiki are available from the site. There is a very helpful community too.

    43 Celtx alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Celtx as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Free version for writers to get started.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Celtx icon
    Celtx icon
    • Celtx is Freemium and ProprietaryFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
  9. Campfire provides a one-stop-shop for novelists: organizational and writing tools (Campfire Write), a hub of writing resources (Campfire Learn), & a writing and reading platform for building an audience and sharing your work (Campfire Explore).

    73 Campfire Write alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
     
  10. Storyist icon
     11 likes

    A powerful writing environment for novelists and screenwriters

    Do you have a story to tell? Unlike conventional word processors, Storyist helps you track your plot, characters, and settings, and keeps all of your writing organized and accessible—so you can focus on telling your.

    50 Storyist alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
     
12 of 28 Final Draft alternatives