Dabble alternatives · Writing
Open-source alternatives to Dabble
Dabble is not described as open source on its own site. 12 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.
Dabble is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). All of them are free or have a free plan.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
How each one differs from Dabble
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
- Typst starts at $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly). Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Typst has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Typst is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free
Zettlr
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing
- Zettlr is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Zettlr has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $3.49/mo
bibisco
Novel planning and writing software built around characters
- bibisco starts at $3.49 per month for Everywhere sync; desktop Supporters Edition is $69 one-time. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- bibisco has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only bibisco lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
LanguageTool
Grammar and style checker for more than 30 languages
- LanguageTool starts at $4.99 per month on a 2-year plan ($119.80); $69.90 billed annually. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- LanguageTool has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LanguageTool lists an iOS app.
- Only LanguageTool lists a browser extension.
- Free
LibreOffice Writer
Free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux
- LibreOffice Writer is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- LibreOffice Writer has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- LibreOffice Writer is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Manuskript
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
- Manuskript is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Manuskript has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Manuskript is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
novelWriter
Free, open-source plain-text editor for writing novels
- novelWriter is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- novelWriter has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- novelWriter is open source, according to its own site.
- Free
Trelby
Free, open-source screenwriting program for desktop
- Trelby is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Trelby has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Trelby is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $11.99 one-time
Beat
Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS
- Beat starts at $11.99 one-time for the iOS app. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Beat has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Beat lists an iOS app.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Free
FocusWriter
Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux
- FocusWriter is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- FocusWriter has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Only Dabble lists a macOS app.
- Free
ghostwriter
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
- ghostwriter is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- ghostwriter has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- Only Dabble lists a macOS app.
- Free
MarkText
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering
- MarkText is free. Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- MarkText has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists a web app.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Dabble?
Yes. Typst, Zettlr, bibisco, LanguageTool, LibreOffice Writer, Manuskript, novelWriter, Trelby and 4 more are open source, according to their own sites.
Is Dabble open source?
Dabble is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 2026 against the pages it cites.
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.