Alternatives · Writing
The Novel Factory alternatives
The Novel Factory compared with 7 alternatives: Scrivener, Plottr, Dabble, Campfire, bibisco and 2 more.
The Novel Factory is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic). 3 of the 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Novel FactoryThis tool | Free trial · from $82.50/yr | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows |
| Scrivener | Free trial · from $23.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Plottr | Free trial · from $60/yr | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows |
| Dabble | Free trial · from $19/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Campfire | Free plan · from $0.50/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| bibisco | Free plan · from $3.49/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Fictionary | Free trial · from $14/mo | Trial only | Web |
| yWriter | Free plan · from $5.49 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from The Novel Factory
- Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
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. The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- Only The Novel Factory lists a web app.
Suits: Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
- Free trial · from $60/yr
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. The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- The Novel Factory also covers long-form writing.
Suits: Novelists and screenwriters who outline visually before drafting
- Free trial · from $19/mo
Dabble
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync
- Dabble starts at $19 per month, billed monthly (Writer). The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- Only Dabble lists a Linux app.
- Dabble also covers grammar & style.
- The Novel Factory also covers templates.
Suits: Novelists who want plotting, notes and the manuscript in one place
- Free plan · from $0.50/mo
Campfire
Modular novel writing and worldbuilding app with per-module pricing
- Campfire starts at $0.50 per month for one module; $12 per month for all modules (Standard). The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- Campfire has a free plan. The Novel Factory does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Campfire lists iOS and Android apps.
Suits: Fantasy and science-fiction authors who keep detailed world notes beside the manuscript
- 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. The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- bibisco has a free plan. The Novel Factory does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only bibisco lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only The Novel Factory lists a web app.
- bibisco is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Novelists who want structured character and plot planning
- Free trial · from $14/mo
Fictionary
Story-structure software for outlining, writing and editing novels
- Fictionary starts at $14 per month, billed annually ($168); $19 billed monthly. The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- Only The Novel Factory lists macOS and Windows apps.
- The Novel Factory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Novelists revising a first draft for structure before line editing
- Free plan · from $5.49 one-time
yWriter
Novel-writing software that organizes a book into scenes
- yWriter starts at $5.49 one-time for the Android app. The Novel Factory starts at $82.50 per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly (Basic).
- yWriter has a free plan. The Novel Factory does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only yWriter lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only The Novel Factory lists a web app.
- The Novel Factory can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Novelists who plan and draft scene by scene
Limits worth knowing in The Novel Factory
- There is no free plan: after the 30-day trial it needs a subscription or the $649 lifetime license.
- Basic is limited to one novel and leaves out dark mode and importing characters and locations between novels.
- The lifetime license covers Version 3 only, for as long as that version lasts.
- Offline work needs the desktop app on a PC or Mac. The browser version, which phones and tablets use, requires a stable internet connection.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to The Novel Factory?
The alternatives to The Novel Factory in this directory are Scrivener, Plottr, Dabble, Campfire, bibisco, Fictionary and yWriter. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with The Novel Factory.
Is there a free alternative to The Novel Factory?
Yes. Campfire, bibisco and yWriter have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which The Novel Factory alternatives work on Linux?
The The Novel Factory listing does not include a Linux app. Dabble and bibisco list one.
Which The Novel Factory alternatives work on Android?
The The Novel Factory listing does not include an Android app. Campfire, bibisco and yWriter list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to The Novel Factory?
bibisco is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.