yWriter AlternativesTop Novel Authoring Tools & Word Processors like yWriter

yWriter is described as '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' and is a popular Novel Authoring tool in the news & books category. There are more than 50 alternatives to yWriter for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, Linux and SaaS apps. The best yWriter alternative is Manuskript, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like yWriter are Scrivener, bibisco, Ulysses and novelWriter.

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Alternatives list

  1. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     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

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     
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    1
    13
    Comments about Manuskript as an Alternative to yWriter
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Manuskript combines concepts and functions of yWriter, Novel Factory and Scrivener. It's a bit rough in its presentation, but a good alternative for anyone who can't decide between the aforementioned tools.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Manuskript icon
    Manuskript icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Manuskript is a great yWriter alternative.

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Scrivener icon

    Scrivener

     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.

    123 Scrivener alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    Scrivener screenshot 1
     
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    2
    9
    Comments about Scrivener as an Alternative to yWriter
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    Structural similarity. But it's troublesome complicated program.

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

    Scrivener doesn't have the same layout that yWriter does, nor does it focus on scenes as much as yWriter does. Way too many features and distracting.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Scrivener icon
    Scrivener icon

    • Most users think Scrivener is a great yWriter alternative.

    • Scrivener is Paid and ProprietaryyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
  4. 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.

    54 bibisco alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    • Node.JS
    Novel architecture
     
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    2
    19
    Comments about bibisco as an Alternative to yWriter
    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    main character's option are really too numerous

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

    It may not be as flexible as yWriter to move text between scenes and chapters.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    bibisco icon
    bibisco icon

    • Most users think bibisco is a great yWriter alternative.

    • bibisco is Freemium and Open SourceyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
    • bibisco is Privacy focusedyWriter is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Novlr icon
    Novlr

    Advanced writing tool supporting online and offline modes, accessible from any device. Features chapter and scene organization, grammar checks, version history, and export options including docx and epub. Novlr syncs with cloud s...

    https://www.novlr.org
    Learn More
  6. 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.

    129 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Ulysses screenshot 1
     
  7. novelWriter icon

    novelWriter

     25 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.

    67 novelWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt
    • Python
    Screenshot of older version
     
  8. Quoll Writer icon

    Quoll Writer

     38 likes

    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.

    79 Quoll Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Quoll Writer screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Quoll Writer as an Alternative to yWriter
    Linda Jenkinson
    Negative
    -2

    According to their website, Quoll Writer is not available for Linux or Mac

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Quoll Writer icon
    Quoll Writer icon

    • Most users think Quoll Writer is a great yWriter alternative.

    • Quoll Writer is Free and Open SourceyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
  10. Gingko Writer icon

    Gingko Writer

     58 likes

    Gingko Writer is a text editor that uses a tree-like structure to help you organize and visualize your thoughts, making it easier to outline, draft, and refine complex texts.

    79 Gingko Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Gingko tree for screenplay "2001"
     
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    1
    Comments about Gingko Writer as an Alternative to yWriter
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    it's the only one that actually offers a dynamic word documenting system that is fluid and able to be used by NON-FICTION writers, which is harder to find than you'd think. Still no where near the set up of yWriter though.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Gingko Writer icon
    Gingko Writer icon
    • Gingko Writer is Paid and ProprietaryyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
  11. Daino Notes icon

    Daino Notes

     8 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.

    78 Daino Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Daino Notes screenshot 1
     
  12. Lore Forge icon

    Lore Forge

     18 likes

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

    49 Lore Forge alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Overview screen
     
  14. Fantasia Archive icon

    Fantasia Archive

     17 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.

    31 Fantasia Archive alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Fantasia Archive screenshot 1
     
  15. oStorybook icon

    oStorybook

     25 likes

    oStorybook is a free, open source novel-writing software for creative writers, novelists and authors which will help you to keep an overview of multiple plot-lines while writing texts.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    oStorybook screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about oStorybook as an Alternative to yWriter
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Layout is easier to use, more intuitive. Character database is excellent. However, yWriter shows you word count for each scene, very helpul.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    oStorybook icon
    oStorybook icon
    • oStorybook is Free and Open SourceyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
12 of 77 yWriter alternatives