Zettlr AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Novel Authoring Tools

The best Novel Authoring alternative to Zettlr is Obsidian, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Zettlr and many of them are Novel Authoring Tools so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Novel Authoring Tool alternatives to Zettlr are Manuskript, Scrivener, Ulysses and novelWriter.

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Zettlr alternatives are mainly Novel Authoring Tools, but if you're looking for Text Editors or Note-taking Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Zettlr.
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Alternatives
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Alternatives list

  1. Obsidian icon

    Obsidian

     1223 likes

    Privacy-oriented note-taking app for non-linear thinking, blending knowledge graph creation with wiki-style linking. Supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and plugins for customization. Offers distraction-free mode, tags, themes, syntax highlighting, and operates offline without tracking.

    348 Obsidian alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • AppImage
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • CA flagCanada
    Obsidian screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
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  2. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     176 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.

    161 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU
    Manuskript screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Scrivener icon

    Scrivener

     267 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.

    187 Scrivener alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    Scrivener screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  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

     73 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.

    179 Ulysses alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU
    Ulysses screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  7. novelWriter icon

    novelWriter

     33 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.

    101 novelWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Qt
    • Python
    Screenshot of older version
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Untold Novel icon

    Untold Novel

     4 likes

    Untold Novel is a fresh new approach to planning your next bestseller. It helps you keep all your notes, ideas, characters, locations, and much more organized in one convenient place.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Untold Novel screenshot 1
    Untold Novel screenshot 2
    Untold Novel screenshot 3
    Good alternative?
     
  10. Manuscript.no icon

    Manuscript.no

     5 likes

    Modern workspace for novels with ethical AI that analyzes writing but never writes, live readability, import/export, auto-save, full version history, character and plot tools, structured critique, and provenance tracking while ensuring all text remains original.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • NO flagNorway
    Manuscript.no screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  11. ExcellentWriter icon

    ExcellentWriter

     6 likes

    ExcellentWriter is supposed to be a tool which lets you organize, write and format your novel inside Excel and in the end lets you use the power of Word to do the finishing touches.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Organize your book with its chapters and scenes.
    Good alternative?
     
  12. Rayuela Editor icon

    Rayuela Editor

     4 likes

    Rayuela Editor is moderm, privacy-focused writing environment designed for long-form fiction (novels, screenplays, and theses). It bridges the gap between the structural power of Scrivener and the portability of modern web technology, wrapped in a native desktop application.

    68 Rayuela Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Dark Mode
    Good alternative?
     
  13. Wavemaker Novel Writing icon

    Wavemaker Novel Writing

     19 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • GB flagUnited Kingdom
    Wavemaker Novel Writing screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
  15. Deepdwn icon

    Deepdwn

     3 likes

    Deepdwn is a markdown editing suite, designed to organize and edit collections of markdown files.

    101 Deepdwn alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Deepdwn screenshot 1
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 28 Zettlr alternatives