Scrivener alternatives · Writing
Free alternatives to Scrivener
Scrivener has no free plan. 45 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory are free or have a free plan.
Scrivener is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows. 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 Scrivener
- Free plan · from $15/mo
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- LivingWriter has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LivingWriter lists a web app.
- Only LivingWriter lists an Android app.
- Free plan · from $8/mo
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Novlr has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Novlr lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Free plan · from $3.49/mo
bibisco
Novel planning and writing software built around characters
What is free: Community Edition for desktop: unlimited projects, premise, fabula, setting and storylines, character interviews, locations, chapters and scenes, export to PDF, DOCX and TXT, and automatic backups.
- bibisco starts at $3.49 per month for Everywhere sync; desktop Supporters Edition is $69 one-time. Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- bibisco has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only bibisco lists Linux and Android apps.
- bibisco is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $0.50/mo
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Campfire has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Campfire lists a web app.
- Only Campfire lists an Android app.
- Free plan · from $29.99/yr
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. Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- JotterPad has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only JotterPad lists a web app.
- Only JotterPad lists an Android app.
- Free
Manuskript
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.
- Manuskript is free. Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Manuskript has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Manuskript lists a Linux app.
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- Free
LibreOffice Writer
Free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux
What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.
- LibreOffice Writer is free. Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- LibreOffice Writer has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LibreOffice Writer lists a Linux app.
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- Free plan · from $16.75/mo
Overleaf
Collaborative online LaTeX editor for papers and theses
What is free: Unlimited projects, 1 collaborator per project, a basic compile timeout, 5 AI uses a day and document history for the previous 24 hours only.
- Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25. Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Overleaf has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Overleaf lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Reedsy Studio has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Reedsy Studio lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Free plan
World Anvil
Web-based worldbuilding platform for writers and game masters
What is free: Free Freeman account with content caps. World Anvil's April 2024 announcement set them at 2 worlds, 42 articles, 2 maps, 2 timelines and 100 MB of images; current limits could not be confirmed.
- World Anvil has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only World Anvil lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $7.49/mo
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- WriterDuet has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WriterDuet lists a web app.
- Only WriterDuet lists Linux and Android apps.
- Free plan · from $69/yr
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). Scrivener starts at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Arc Studio lists a web app.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
33 more that are free or have a free plan
- Typst
- Slugline
- 4thewords
- Microsoft Word
- ProWritingAid
- Hemingway Editor
- WPS Writer
- Rytr
- Celtx
- Zettlr
- Calmly Writer
- AutoCrit
- yWriter
- novelWriter
- Story Architect
- Trelby
- Beat
- Ellipsus
- Cold Turkey Writer
- Grammarly
- QuillBot
- LanguageTool
- Wordtune
- Lex
- DeepL Write
- Paperpal
- Writefull
- Jenni AI
- FocusWriter
- ghostwriter
- HyperWrite
- Trinka
- MarkText
Common questions
Is there a free alternative to Scrivener?
Yes. LivingWriter, Novlr, bibisco, Campfire, JotterPad, Manuskript, LibreOffice Writer, Overleaf and 37 more are free or have a free plan.
Does Scrivener have a free plan?
Scrivener has no free plan. Scrivener is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows.
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 Scrivener: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.