The Best Scrivener AlternativesTop Novel Authoring & Note-taking Tools like Scrivener

Scrivener is described as 'Ideal for long writing projects with flexibility in structure, Scrivener integrates easy project outlines and allows seamless restructuring with drag and drop' and is a very popular Novel Authoring tool in the news & books category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Scrivener for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, Linux and iPhone apps. The best Scrivener alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Scrivener are yWriter, Zettlr, bibisco and Quoll Writer.

filter to find the best alternatives

Scrivener alternatives are mainly Novel Authoring Tools, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Story Writing Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Free + Novel Authoring. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Scrivener.
Scrivener iconScrivener
  257
  • ...

Ideal for long writing projects with flexibility in structure, Scrivener integrates easy project outlines and allows seamless restructuring with drag and drop.

More about Scrivener
Scrivener alternatives page was last updated Mar 17, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Manuskript icon
     162 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    109 Manuskript alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Track Characters
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for MarkDown

    Manuskript VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about Manuskript as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Top Positive Comment
    DarkRedman
    Jul 6, 2019
    5

    Mostly because it's opensource but also because the interface and features are very similar !

    Top Negative Comment
    tux0r
    Jul 24, 2023
    0

    Right now, Manuskript is too unreliable to use. On Windows, it won't even start (on my system). Maybe we should all wait for 1.0.0 before we actually try it.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Jul 3, 2022
    1

    Much more efficient than Scrivener because it's way easier to use and everything is where you expect it to be. The worldbuilding tool is simple but enough and it incorporates the snowflake method flawlessly. But you can ignore it just as easily if you wish. The only aspect where it's lacking compared to Scrivener is in the compile options, but you can always compile as docx and use a text editor to get the standard manuscript format right.

    Show more comments
    3 of 10 comments
    Scrivener Icon
    Manuskript icon
    • Most users think Manuskript is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Scrivener.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Scrivener.

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
  2. yWriter icon
     67 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    68 yWriter alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Outline mode
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Project Organization
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Scene Management
    7.  Plot visualisation
    8.  Character database

    yWriter VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about yWriter as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Top Positive Comment
    robyellow95
    Feb 27, 2021
    2

    For some reason, this reminds me of my high school notebooks: Flipping through pages trying to find crap.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Nov 24, 2020
    1

    I hated it. It kept trying to force me to follow its workflow (invented by the author, I think), and I use a different one. Scrivener suits my workflow, and yWriter does not. It is still on my hard drive, however, just in case.

    Most Recent Comment
    MachiTamago
    Positive Mar 21, 2023
    0

    novel writing and organization software

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    Scrivener Icon
    yWriter icon
    • Most users think yWriter is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • yWriter is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Scrivener.

    • yWriter is Freemium and ProprietaryScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • yWriter is LightweightScrivener is not according to our users
  3. Zettlr icon
     226 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Unified writing platform offering note-taking, easy citations with Zotero integration, LaTeX/Word templates, snippets, themes, dark modes, code highlighting, multi-language support, and knowledge management with Zettelkasten for seamless writing from notes to books.

    161 Zettlr alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Zettelkasten note method
    3.  File Tagging
    4.  Multiple export options
    5. Zotero icon  Zotero integration
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Link files
    8.  Built-in themes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Export to LaTeX
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Write files in markdown

    Zettlr VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about Zettlr as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Most Recent Comment
    C.A.
    Negative Aug 26, 2022
    2

    Doesn't really serve the same purpose in the same way.

    RCLeahcar
    Negative Aug 12, 2021
    5

    Zettlr is more of a general note-taking app, and doesn't have the author-oriented features of Scrivener

    Guest
    Positive Aug 31, 2020
    -5

    Zettlr is a fantastic alternative to Scrivener - give it a go. It's brilliant.

    Scrivener Icon
    Zettlr icon
    • Most users think Zettlr is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • Zettlr is Privacy focusedScrivener is not according to our users
  4. bibisco icon
     84 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Desktop application for novel structuring, offering chapter and scene management, distraction-free text editing, detailed timeline, character interviews, multilingual support, export to publishing formats, revision history, relationship diagrams, and writing goal tracking.

    46 bibisco alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    • Node.JS

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Character development
    2.  Timeline
    3.  Scene Management
    4.  Tracking of plots
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  WYSIWYG Support
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Spell Checking
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  Portable

    bibisco VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about bibisco as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Top Positive Comment
    callyw
    Dec 21, 2016
    4

    It is actually a better alternative to Scrivener because of its clear, organisation features. I wish I would have discovered this before I purchased Scrivener. Bibisco is much easier to use: You don't need lengthy tutorials to read just to get started. Hands down this is better.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Sep 9, 2021
    3

    Bibisco keeps getting in the way. No, dude. I don't want to outline your way. Not only does it insist to make you fill in stuff you don't want to, it doesn't even offer a way to disable it!

    Most Recent Comment
    LapoMelzi
    Negative Sep 9, 2019
    8

    Too strict in his structure and the same time not thorough enough so that the boxing in would by uselful

    Show more comments
    3 of 7 comments
    Scrivener Icon
    bibisco icon
    • Most users think bibisco is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • bibisco is Freemium and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • bibisco is Privacy focusedScrivener is not according to our users
  5. Quoll Writer icon
     36 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Focus on your words not the interface. Quoll Writer is a writing application that helps you focus on your words. Clean and uncluttered. Feature rich. Features are where you would expect them to be.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Top Quoll Writer Features

    1.  Track Characters
    2.  Character database
    3.  Outliner
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  WYSIWYG Support
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Writing statistics
    11.  Writing assistance
    12.  Export to EPUB

    Quoll Writer VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about Quoll Writer as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Jun 18, 2019
    4

    Clean interface. No non-sense kind of software that has some of the same features of Scrivener. One particular feature I like is the software's ability to automatically link items, characters, places etc. to scenes, chapters, ideas, etc. so you know where every character, item, and place is. Great for keeping track of things in your novel. Has a few bugs here and there, but the developer is friendly, helpful, and responds back in a timely fashion.

    Most Recent Comment
    shall
    Positive Sep 17, 2020
    0

    No cost. Really solid features for writing novels or short stories. It's what I consider a Scrivener-like program without having the (sometimes obtuse and sometimes odd) interface that plagues Scrivener. Cards (corkboard), character/item tracking, notes, full-screen minimal mode, nice editing features, and no format lock-in make this a must-try. I will say it's not a pretty as Scrivener.

    RemovedUser
    Positive Mar 17, 2018
    1

    Free; solid; several features; customizable; new versions released quickly and with new features; developer very receptive; great for writing novels.

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Scrivener Icon
    Quoll Writer icon
    • Most users think Quoll Writer is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • Quoll Writer is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
  6. Dendron icon
     68 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Dendron is an open-source, local-first, markdown-based, note-taking tool built on top of VSCode. It supports all the usual features you would expect like tagging, backlinks, a graph view, split panes, and so forth.

    191 Dendron alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Hierarchical Structure
    4.  Block reference
    5.  Graph view
    6.  VSCode
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Backlinks
    9.  Quick reference lookup
    10.  Publishing
    11.  Tagging
    12.  Bidirectional links

    Dendron VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about Dendron as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Guest
    Negative Mar 17, 2025
    0

    It is not a good Scrivener alternative as it is more focused on development, like Python for example.

    Scrivener Icon
    Dendron icon
    • Dendron is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • Dendron is Privacy focusedScrivener is not according to our users
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler) is a project management and writing environment for novelists and short story writers working on Windows PCs. Writers use the software to plan their novels, prepare and maintain research material, and then write that novel chapter by...

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Windows

    SmartEdit Writer Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Nested Notes
    3.  Tree structure

    SmartEdit Writer VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about SmartEdit Writer as an Alternative to Scrivener
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Aug 30, 2019
    1

    (1) It's free. (2) No nonsense book compile. (3) User-friendly. (4) Less visual clutter. (5) Did I mention it's FREE?

    Guest
    Positive Feb 15, 2019
    1

    A Scrivener wannabe with a lot less clutter.

    Guest
    Positive Dec 5, 2020
    0

    It has a tree structure like Scrivener. It's also free. Can keep tabs of documents open and tabs of notes. What makes this stand out above scrivener is the editing functions with fantastic reports you can run. It does lack some of the tools of scrivener, however, but depending on what tools you find necessary, this may be perfect.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Scrivener Icon
    SmartEdit Writer icon
    • Almost everyone thinks SmartEdit Writer is a great Scrivener alternative.

    • SmartEdit Writer is Free and ProprietaryScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
7 of 108 Scrivener alternatives