Alternatives · Writing
NovelPad alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best NovelPad alternative for most people is Scrivener (2.8 GPA), third in our ranking of writing tools. The best free one is Novlr (2.0 GPA). The catch, in its listing's words: "2 projects with sync across devices."
NovelPad compared with 5 alternatives: Dabble, Scrivener, Novelcrafter, Plottr and Novlr.
NovelPad is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 per month; $89 one-time for the desktop app. 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a NovelPad sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NovelPadThis tool | Free trial · from $15/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Dabble | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Scrivener | Free trial · from $23.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Novelcrafter | Free trial · from $4/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Plottr | Free trial · from $60/yr | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows |
| Novlr | Free plan · from $8/mo | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
NovelPad starts at $15 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 4 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Novelcrafter.
Dabble scores higher without starting lower. Plottr and Novlr start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from NovelPad
Dabble
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync
- Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer).
- Dabble also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Novelists who want plotting, notes and the manuscript in one place
Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
- Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Scrivener also lists an iOS app.
- Scrivener lists no web app and Linux app, which NovelPad has.
- Scrivener also covers templates.
Suits: Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
Novelcrafter
Novel writing platform with a story wiki and optional AI
- Novelcrafter starts at $4 per month, or $40 billed annually (Scribe).
- Novelcrafter lists no macOS, Windows and Linux apps, which NovelPad has.
- Novelcrafter also covers chat assistant.
Suits: Novelists and series writers who want a story bible tied to the manuscript
Plottr
Visual book outlining and series bible software
- Plottr starts at $60 per year (Plottr); Plottr Pro is $9.99 per month or $99 per year.
- Plottr lists no Linux app, which NovelPad has.
- Plottr also covers templates.
- Plottr does not cover long-form writing, which NovelPad does.
Suits: Novelists and screenwriters who outline visually before drafting
Novlr
Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals
- Novlr starts at $8 per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly (Starter).
- Novlr has a free plan, which NovelPad lacks.
- Novlr lists no macOS, Windows and Linux apps, which NovelPad has.
- Novlr also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Novelists who want a clean, distraction-free place to draft
Limits worth knowing in NovelPad
- The $89 Desktop Only plan has no cloud sync, web app or sharing, and a major new version costs $39 to upgrade.
- Cloud on the Lifetime plan is included for two years, then costs $9 a month or $79 a year.
- There are no iOS or Android apps listed; phones and tablets would use the web app.
- The vendor says the app has no AI features, so it will not draft or rewrite text for you.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to NovelPad?
The alternatives to NovelPad in this directory are Dabble, Scrivener, Novelcrafter, Plottr and Novlr. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with NovelPad.
Is there a free alternative to NovelPad?
Yes. Novlr has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which NovelPad alternatives work on iOS?
The NovelPad listing does not include an iOS app. Scrivener lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.