Scrivener Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to Scrivener for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac 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 loads of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Scrivener are yWriter, Zettlr, bibisco and Dendron.

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 Android, Linux, Free, Online, Open Source, Free + Novel Authoring and Windows. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Scrivener.
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Alternatives list

  1. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     170 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.

    124 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     
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    10
    Manuskript vs Scrivener Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    9

    There are many similar layout features compared to Scrivener. It also has a few features Scrivener seems to be missing or doesn't define clearly such as an outline process. However, it is very early development and has many bugs to work out.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    tux0r
    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.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 10 comments
    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
  2. yWriter icon

    yWriter

     69 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.

    79 yWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Main screen on Windows XP
     
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    8
    yWriter vs Scrivener Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    robyellow95
    2

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    MachiTamago
    Positive
    0

    novel writing and organization software

    3 of 8 comments
    • yWriter is Freemium and ProprietaryScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • yWriter is LightweightScrivener is not according to our users
  4. Zettlr icon

    Zettlr

     250 likes

    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.

    187 Zettlr alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Zettlr Main Window (dark mode)
     
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    3
    Zettlr vs Scrivener Comments
    C.A.
    Negative
    3

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

    RCLeahcar
    Negative
    6

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

    Guest
    Positive
    -6

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Zettlr is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • Zettlr is Privacy focused and LightweightScrivener is not according to our users
  5. Ad
  6. bibisco icon

    bibisco

     85 likes

    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.

    57 bibisco alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    • Node.JS
    Novel architecture
     
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    7
    bibisco vs Scrivener Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    callyw
    3

    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
    4

    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!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    LapoMelzi
    Negative
    9

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

    3 of 7 comments
    • bibisco is Freemium and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • bibisco is Privacy focusedScrivener is not according to our users
  7. Dendron icon

    Dendron

     71 likes

    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.

    209 Dendron alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Visual Studio Code
    Dendron screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Dendron vs Scrivener Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Dendron is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • Dendron is Privacy focusedScrivener is not according to our users
  8. Ulysses icon

    Ulysses

     69 likes

    Ulysses is a text editor for creative writers. Used by bloggers, poets, students and published novelists all over the world, it offers an integrated environment to brainstorm, draft, revise and even submit text on a professional level.

    133 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Ulysses screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Ulysses vs Scrivener Comments
    ndas1
    Negative
    3

    Primarily oriented towards "scripts" for film, play, etc. Might be useful for (non)fiction writing but does not share the wider array of tools found in Scrivener.

    • Ulysses is Paid and ProprietaryScrivener is also Paid and Proprietary
  10. Pinery icon

    Pinery

     11 likes

    Combines Markdown writing, live preview, and powerful design controls with instant exports in ePub, PDF, and HTML formats. Open format Markdown file storage, no vendor lock-in, customizable themes, and full privacy with local or iCloud storage on Mac.

    30 Pinery alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Pinery screenshot 1
     
  11. novelWriter icon

    novelWriter

     28 likes

    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.

    69 novelWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt
    • Python
    Screenshot of older version
     
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    1
    novelWriter vs Scrivener Comments
    tuqueque
    Positive
    0

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

    • novelWriter is Free and Open SourceScrivener is Paid and Proprietary
    • novelWriter is Privacy focused and LightweightScrivener is not according to our users
  12. Story Architect (STARC) icon

    Story Architect (STARC)

     17 likes

    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.

    48 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android
    Story Architect (STARC) screenshot 1
     
  14. Daino Notes icon

    Daino Notes

     9 likes

    Offers fast, distraction-free note-taking via a high-performance editor with real-time Markdown, local-first storage, image support, Kanban task boards, intuitive drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts, configurable themes, fast search, and cross-platform access.

    83 Daino Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Daino Notes screenshot 1
     
  15. Fantasia Archive icon

    Fantasia Archive

     20 likes

    Free offline worldbuilding and story creation tool with dozens of templates, complex tagging options, document linking, and project-wide search. Template examples: characters, places, events, religions, currencies, magic, species, languages.

    34 Fantasia Archive alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Fantasia Archive screenshot 1
     
12 of 52 Scrivener alternatives