Free yWriter AlternativesNovel Authoring Tools and other similar apps like yWriter

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

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

yWriter

Freemium • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool

yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all...

More about yWriter

yWriter alternatives page was last updated

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 Linux alternative to yWriter.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to yWriter.
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 yWriter
Almost everyone thinks Manuskript is a great yWriter alternative.
Guest
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.
Positive comment •
0
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.
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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 yWriter
Most users think bibisco is a great yWriter alternative.
Guest
main character's option are really too numerous
Negative comment •
-1

Guest
It may not be as flexible as yWriter to move text between scenes and chapters.
Positive comment •
0
Gingko
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Project Management Tool
Note-taking Tool
Mind Mapping Tool
Online
Software as a Service (SaaS)
81 Gingko alternatives
Write and organize your ideas in Gingko tree documents.

Whether building a business or writing a bestseller, Gingko lets your ideas flow naturally into place.

Write, brainstorm, and organize your document, all in the same flow.

You can also work with others, with Real-time col.
- - Gingko is the most popular SaaS alternative to yWriter.
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Gingko Features
1. Support for MarkDownGingko supports MarkDown for document formatting.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Gingko.
3. Support for LaTeXGingko supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
4. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Gingko simultaneously.
Document structure management
Web-Based
Export to LaTeX
Collaborative writing
Brainstorming
Screenwriting
Outliner
Comments about Gingko as a Alternative to yWriter
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
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.
Positive comment •
0
novelWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking Tool
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
Qt
39 novelWriter alternatives
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.
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novelWriter Features
1. Dark ModenovelWriter supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in novelWriter without registration.
3. Support for MarkDownnovelWriter supports MarkDown for document formatting.
4. Privacy focusednovelWriter is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
5. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with novelWriter.
6. No TrackingnovelWriter will not track you or use your personal data.
7. Spell CheckingnovelWriter can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
8. Live PreviewInstantly see what your files and documents look like as you create them.
9. File VersioningnovelWriter has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Tree structure
Comments and metadata saving
Task Time Tracking
No Coding Required
File Tagging
Automatic Backup
Quoll Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking 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.
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Quoll Writer Features
1. Dark ModeQuoll Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
2. WYSIWYG SupportQuoll Writer integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
3. Works OfflineQuoll Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Quoll Writer without registration.
5. Ad-freeQuoll Writer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Track Characters
Character database
Outliner
Distraction-free Writing
Writing statistics
Writing assistance
Export to EPUB
Cross Linking
Fullscreen support
Story Management
Comments about Quoll Writer as a Alternative to yWriter
Most users think Quoll Writer is a great yWriter alternative.
Linda Jenkinson
According to their website, Quoll Writer is not available for Linux or Mac
Negative comment •
-1
oStorybook
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
43 oStorybook alternatives
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.
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oStorybook Features
Character database
Detailed toolbar
Java based
Text editing
Comments about oStorybook as a Alternative to yWriter
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Layout is easier to use, more intuitive. Character database is excellent. However, yWriter shows you word count for each scene, very helpul.
Positive comment •
0
SmartEdit Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
36 SmartEdit Writer alternatives
SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler) is a project management and writing environment for novelists and short story writers working on Windows PCs. Writers use the software to plan their novels, prepare and maintain research material, and then write that novel chapter by...
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SmartEdit Writer Features
1. Dark ModeSmartEdit Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Nested Notes
Tree structure
Wavemaker Novel Writing
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking Tool
Online
63 Wavemaker Novel Writing alternatives
Looking for a suite of tools for writing your book? This is not just a text editor it does so much more. Organise your story using timelines, planning boards and the snowflake tool, all integrated to make writing intuitive and fun.
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Wavemaker Novel Writing Features
1. Works OfflineWavemaker Novel Writing can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeWavemaker Novel Writing doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Distraction-freeWavemaker Novel Writing has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
4. LightweightWavemaker Novel Writing consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Dark ModeWavemaker Novel Writing supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Wavemaker Novel Writing.
7. Spell CheckingWavemaker Novel Writing can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
User story mapping
Timeline
Writing assistance
Multiplatform
Planning
Mobile friendly
Export to Word
NovaScriber
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking Tool
Windows
69 NovaScriber alternatives
A most awesome tool to outline and write novels, stories, scripts and keep track of all your characters, locations, notes and ideas
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NovaScriber Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in NovaScriber simultaneously.
Tree structure
Export to Word
Corkboard
Export to EPUB
Trelby
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
22 Trelby alternatives
Trelby is simple, fast and elegantly laid out to make screenwriting simple. It is infinitely configurable.
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Trelby Features
1. WYSIWYG SupportTrelby integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Customizable
Discontinued
The project is no longer developed. Last version, 2.2, released in September 2012, can be still downloaded from the official website.