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

     168 likes
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    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.

    117 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     
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    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.
    yWriter Icon
    Manuskript icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Manuskript is a great yWriter alternative.

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

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

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

    Scrivener

     262 likes
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    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.

    119 Scrivener alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    Scrivener screenshot 1
     
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    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.
    yWriter Icon
    Scrivener icon

    • Most users think Scrivener is a great yWriter alternative.

    • Scrivener is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to yWriter.

    • Scrivener is the most popular commercial alternative to yWriter.

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

    bibisco

     85 likes
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    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.

    50 bibisco alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron
    • Node.JS
    Novel architecture
     
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    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.
    yWriter 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
    Scrivener icon
    Scrivener

    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 ...

    https://www.literatureandlatte.com
    Learn More
  6. Ulysses icon

    Ulysses

     69 likes
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    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.

    122 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    novelWriter

     24 likes
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    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.

    61 novelWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt
    Screenshot of older version
     
  8. Lore Forge icon

    Lore Forge

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

    45 Lore Forge alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Overview screen
     

    • Lore Forge is the most popular Web-based alternative to yWriter.

    • Lore Forge is Free and ProprietaryyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Lore Forge is Privacy focusedyWriter is not according to our users
  10. Quoll Writer icon

    Quoll Writer

     37 likes
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    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.

    73 Quoll Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    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.
    yWriter 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
  11. Daino Notes icon

    Daino Notes

     8 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Daino Notes screenshot 1
     
  12. Fortelling icon

    Fortelling

     7 likes
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    Fortelling provides the tools you need to plot & write your book.

    54 Fortelling alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Fortelling is optimised for both a smal and a large screen.
     

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

    • Fortelling is Freemium and ProprietaryyWriter is also Freemium and Proprietary
  13. Fantasia Archive icon

    Fantasia Archive

     17 likes
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    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.

    29 Fantasia Archive alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Fantasia Archive screenshot 1
     
  14. Plottr icon

    Plottr

     8 likes
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    Visual story plotting software for planning novels with drag and drop scenes, timeline and outline views, centralized notes, features for making characters and locations, color coding, tagging, syncing across devices, and exporting to multiple formats.

    39 Plottr alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Plottr screenshot 1
     
  15. oStorybook icon

    oStorybook

     24 likes
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    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.
    yWriter Icon
    oStorybook icon
    • oStorybook is Free and Open SourceyWriter is Freemium and Proprietary
12 of 73 yWriter alternatives