Scrivener Alternatives for Linux

Scrivener is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Scrivener and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Scrivener are Zettlr, bibisco, Dendron and Story Architect (STARC).

filter to find the best alternatives

Scrivener alternatives are mainly Novel Authoring Tools, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Text Editors 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 Apr 3, 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. Zettlr icon
     225 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.

    160 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
  3. bibisco icon
     84 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    bibisco is a novel writing software that helps you to write your story, in a simple way.

    46 bibisco alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron / Atom Shell
    • 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
  4. 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.

    192 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
  5. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    39 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Screenwriting
    3.  Writing assistance
    4.  Tracking of plots
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  Real time collaboration
    9.  Portable
    10.  Autocompletion
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  No Coding Required

    Story Architect (STARC) VS Scrivener

     
  6. novelWriter icon
     23 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    novelWriter is a Markdown-like text editor designed for writing novels and larger projects of many smaller plain text documents. It uses its own flavor of Markdown that supports a meta data syntax for comments, synopsis and cross-referencing between files.

    55 novelWriter alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Spell Checking
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Live Preview
    9.  Tree structure
    10.  Outline organization
    11.  Scene Management
    12.  Plot visualisation

    novelWriter VS Scrivener

     
    Comments about novelWriter as an Alternative to Scrivener
    tuqueque
    Positive Apr 3, 2025
    0

    It's free, open source, fast, light, multiplatform, with a lot of features and in active development!

    Scrivener Icon
    novelWriter icon
    • novelWriter is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • novelWriter is Privacy focused and LightweightScrivener is not according to our users
  7. Lore Forge icon
     12 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The only app you'll need to write your novels and build your worlds. Organize your thoughts and cross-reference anything at any time.

    39 Lore Forge alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Places tracking
    2.  Character database
    3.  Custom characters
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Portable
    8.  Hierarchical Structure
    9.  Spell Checking
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  Live Preview

    Lore Forge VS Scrivener

     
7 of 21 Scrivener alternatives