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

The best free alternative to Scrivener is Manuskript, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Scrivener and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Scrivener are Zettlr, yWriter, Dendron and Quoll Writer.

Scrivener alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Novel Authoring Tools or Word Processors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Scrivener.

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Mac + Free

Scrivener

249

Paid • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool

Typewriter. Ring-binder. Scrapbook. Scrivener combines everything you need to craft your first draft, from nascent notion...

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Manuskript
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
102 Manuskript alternatives
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Scrivener.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Scrivener.
Suggest and vote on features
Manuskript Features
1. Works OfflineManuskript can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeManuskript doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeManuskript supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownManuskript supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. File VersioningManuskript has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Outliner
Tree structure
Tracking of plots
Distraction-free Writing
Tracking of characters
Plot visualisation
Track Characters
Export to EPUB
Visual timeline
Tracking of locations
Comments about Manuskript as a Alternative to Scrivener
Most users think Manuskript is a great Scrivener alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
DarkRedman
Mostly because it's opensource but also because the interface and features are very similar !
Top positive comment •
5

KB_Tidwell
I own Scrivener for Windows and iOS, but my favorite writing machine is a Linux laptop, so here I am. I like that Manuskript closely parallels Scrivener features, throws in a good timeline function that Scrivener doesn't have, but is a lighter, less feature-congested utility. I'm having a great time writing with Manuskript.
Top positive comment •
2

tux0r
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.
Top negative comment •
0

Guest
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.
Positive comment •
1

Guest
It's a very efficient alternative to Scrivener. It does not require long, lengthy tutorials. If there's one thing I don't like, it's that it's pretty slow. It lags a lot. Another is that it's not an app. And it's hard to look for it if you forgot where you stored it. The third is you can't add images and it's not very customizable like Scrivener is. Those are probably the only three things I don't like. Otherwise, it's extremely easy to use :)
Positive comment •
2

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Zettlr
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
140 Zettlr alternatives
Zettlr is a one-stop publication workbench that combines many writing features and collects them in one application. It aims at speeding up your workflow and help you write without any interruptions.
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Zettlr Features
1. Support for MarkDownZettlr supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. File TaggingZettlr can organize and highlight your files with tags and labels.
3. Ad-freeZettlr doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Zettlr without registration.
5. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
6. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Zettlr.
7. Syntax HighlightingZettlr supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
8. Privacy focusedZettlr is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
9. No Coding RequiredZettlr can be used without an coding or programming skills.
Zettelkasten note method
Multiple export options
Zotero integration
Note organization
Link files
Built-in themes
Export to LaTeX
Sync with Nextcloud
Tasklists
Interactive tables
Comments about Zettlr as a Alternative to Scrivener
Most users think Zettlr is a great Scrivener alternative.
RCLeahcar
Zettlr is more of a general note-taking app, and doesn't have the author-oriented features of Scrivener
Negative comment •
4

C.A.
Doesn't really serve the same purpose in the same way.
Negative comment •
1

Guest
Zettlr is a fantastic alternative to Scrivener - give it a go. It's brilliant.
Positive comment •
-4
yWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Android
Android Tablet
57 yWriter alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
yWriter Features
1. LightweightyWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableyWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Outline mode
Project Organization
Comments about yWriter as a Alternative to Scrivener
Most users think yWriter is a great Scrivener alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
MachiTamago
novel writing and organization software
Top positive comment •
0

robyellow95
For some reason, this reminds me of my high school notebooks: Flipping through pages trying to find crap.
Top positive comment •
1

Guest
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.
Top negative comment •
1

Guest
Written and maintained by a novellist/software developer, yWriter is free to use, has a no-frills UI, supports cloud saving/device sync via Dropbox and Google Drive, takes automatic backups, and has an Android app (my main dealbreaker with Scrivener).
Positive comment •
0

Guest
Free, reliable, logical layout. It also has a phone app that can sync with the desktop app if you use a cloud drive. Lots of other great features.
Positive comment •
0

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Dendron
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Visual Studio Code
186 Dendron alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Dendron Features
1. Support for MarkDownDendron supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Dendron.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsDendron can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Privacy focusedDendron is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Local Storage
Block reference
Graph view
VSCode
Backlinks
Quick reference lookup
Publishing
Tagging
Bidirectional links
Built-in themes
Quoll Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Windows
55 Quoll Writer alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Quoll Writer Features
Track Characters
Outliner
Distraction-free Writing
Writing assistance
Writing statistics
Character database
Cross Linking
Fullscreen support
Story Management
Export to PDF
Comments about Quoll Writer as a Alternative to Scrivener
Most users think Quoll Writer is a great Scrivener alternative.
shall
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.
Top positive comment •
0

Guest
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.
Top positive comment •
4

RemovedUser
Free; solid; several features; customizable; new versions released quickly and with new features; developer very receptive; great for writing novels.
Positive comment •
1
Guest
free -clean, uncluttered interface

easy and intuitive to use
Positive comment •
2
Guest
Shares many features, but little of the clutter.
Positive comment •
1
Rentry.co
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Text Editor
Note-taking Tool
Pastebin Service
Online
Self-Hosted
171 Rentry.co alternatives
Rentry.co is a markdown pastebin and publishing service with preview, custom urls and editing. Fast, simple and free.
- - Rentry.co is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Scrivener.
Suggest and vote on features
Rentry.co Features
1. Support for MarkDownRentry.co supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
3. LightweightRentry.co consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Dark ModeRentry.co supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. Syntax HighlightingRentry.co supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
6. Command line interfaceRentry.co either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Publishing
Minimalistic
Tab preview
Distraction-free Writing
Discontinued
No update since 2018.

Comments about Rentry.co as a Alternative to Scrivener
pros, cons and recent comments
desbest
This is just a pastebin for markdown formatted text files, not a novel authoring software.
Negative comment •
1
bibisco
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
Node.JS
40 bibisco alternatives
bibisco is a novel writing software that helps you to write your story, in a simple way.
Suggest and vote on features
bibisco Features
1. Ad-freebibisco doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. Portablebibisco can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Character development
Timeline
Scene Management
Google Drive integration
Export to EPUB
Distraction-free Writing
No installation
Export to Word
Export to PDF
Visual Organization
Comments about bibisco as a Alternative to Scrivener
Most users think bibisco is a great Scrivener alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
callyw
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 positive comment •
4

laurafecco
simple and very useful to know your characters!
Top positive comment •
1

Guest
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!
Top negative comment •
2

LapoMelzi
Too strict in his structure and the same time not thorough enough so that the boxing in would by uselful
Negative comment •
7

thatmasquedgirl
I used bibisco briefly a few years ago, and I remember it being packed to the brim with useful features. It's great for fiction writers because it gives them a variety of fields for defining their character. I felt the software was a bit too bulky for what I wanted, though. The best thing about bibisco is that it's 100% free, which is nice if your funds are limited, or if you aren't making a profit from your writing.
Positive comment •
-4

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5 of 7 comments