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Dabble alternatives · Writing

Free alternatives to Dabble

Dabble has no free plan. 45 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory are free or have a free plan.

Dabble is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). 8 of them have no paid plan at all; the rest pair a free plan with paid ones.

45 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from

The 12 closest to Dabble

  1. LivingWriter

    Cloud writing app for books and screenplays with planning boards

    What is free: One manuscript with a limited word count, outlines and templates, notes and to-dos, a basic Elements board, a small AI allowance and basic PDF export.

    • LivingWriter starts at $15 per month, billed monthly (Pro). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • LivingWriter has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only LivingWriter lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    LivingWriter vs DabbleLivingWriter pricing and details

  2. Novlr

    Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals

    What is free: 2 projects with sync across devices, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments, writing analytics and starter Academy courses.

    • Novlr starts at $8 per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly (Starter). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Novlr has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Novlr vs DabbleNovlr pricing and details

  3. 4thewords

    Writing game where your word count defeats monsters

    What is free: Free plan with no time limit and no card: 25 files, 2 projects, 25 battles a day, one month of file versions and limited access to special events.

    • 4thewords starts at $10 per month, or $96 per year (Member). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • 4thewords has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only 4thewords lists a browser extension.
    • Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    4thewords vs Dabble4thewords pricing and details

  4. Ellipsus

    Collaborative writing tool for creative writers

    What is free: Unlimited docs, drafts, folders and collaborators, comments, real-time collaboration, 30 days of version history, 512 KB image uploads and 37 themes.

    • Ellipsus starts at $6 per month for 24 months, or $99 one-time. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Ellipsus has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Ellipsus vs DabbleEllipsus pricing and details

  5. Reedsy Studio

    Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting

    What is free: Standard: the manuscript editor, unlimited books and devices, import, PDF and EPUB export, one manuscript goal, 30-day writing history, basic stats and 1 Board limited to card view.

    • Reedsy Studio starts at $4.99 per month, or $52.99 billed annually (Craft add-on). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Reedsy Studio has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
    • Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    Reedsy Studio vs DabbleReedsy Studio pricing and details

  6. Microsoft Word

    Word processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser

    What is free: Word for the web is free for 1 person: real-time collaboration, basic spelling and grammar, basic templates, dictation and 5 GB of cloud storage. The mobile apps cover basic editing without a subscription.

    • Microsoft Word starts at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Microsoft Word has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Microsoft Word lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    Microsoft Word pricing and details

  7. Hemingway Editor

    Readability editor that flags wordy, hard-to-read sentences

    What is free: The free web editor highlights hard-to-read sentences, passive voice and weak wording and grades readability. Grammar fixes and AI rewrites need Hemingway Editor Plus.

    • Hemingway Editor starts at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($100); desktop app $19.99 once. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Hemingway Editor has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    • Dabble also covers long-form writing.
    Hemingway Editor pricing and details

  8. Campfire

    Modular novel writing and worldbuilding app with per-module pricing

    What is free: Free account with limited use of all 18 modules: 25,000 manuscript words, 10 characters, 20 timeline events, 2 maps, 5 encyclopedia articles and similar caps on the rest. No credit card required.

    • Campfire starts at $0.50 per month for one module; $12 per month for all modules (Standard). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Campfire has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Campfire lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    Campfire pricing and details

  9. WriterDuet

    Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing

    What is free: Free plan with no time limit: three projects of one document each, industry-standard formatting, read-only collaborators, Google Drive and Dropbox backups, and import and export in common formats.

    • WriterDuet starts at $7.49 per month, billed annually ($89.88); $9.99 billed monthly (Plus). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • WriterDuet has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only WriterDuet lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    WriterDuet pricing and details

  10. Arc Studio

    Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing

    What is free: 2 scripts with industry-standard formatting, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export. PDF export is watermarked, and the desktop and iOS apps are not included.

    • Arc Studio starts at $69 per year (Essentials). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • Arc Studio has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Arc Studio lists an iOS app.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    Arc Studio pricing and details

  11. JotterPad

    Markdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays

    What is free: Free with limited access: Markdown editing, importing .md, .fountain and .fdx files, Unsplash images, and printing Markdown to PDF with a watermark. No cloud sync.

    • JotterPad starts at $29.99 per year on the App Store; $3.33 per month billed annually on the web. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • JotterPad has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only JotterPad lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Dabble lists Windows and Linux apps.
    JotterPad pricing and details

  12. ProWritingAid

    Grammar, style and story-critique toolkit for book writers

    What is free: Grammar, spelling and punctuation checks on up to 500 words at a time, 2 runs of each line-editing report, 10 Rephrases, 3 Sparks and 3 Creative Nudges a day.

    • ProWritingAid starts at $10 per month, billed yearly ($120). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
    • ProWritingAid has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only ProWritingAid lists a browser extension.
    • Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
    ProWritingAid pricing and details

33 more that are free or have a free plan

All 45 in one table

Common questions

Is there a free alternative to Dabble?

Yes. LivingWriter, Novlr, 4thewords, Ellipsus, Reedsy Studio, Microsoft Word, Hemingway Editor, Campfire and 37 more are free or have a free plan.

Does Dabble have a free plan?

Dabble has no free plan. Dabble is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Dabble: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.