bibisco vs Scrivener

bibisco

• Novelists who want structured character and plot planning
• Writers on Linux, macOS or Windows who prefer a one-time purchase
• People who want to try the core tools free before paying

Scrivener

• Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
• Writers who restructure a draft by moving scenes and chapters around
• People who want to pay once instead of subscribing

bibisco

• The free Community Edition leaves out the timeline, mind maps, analysis, dark theme, search, writing goals and EPUB export.
• The mobile app and cloud sync need a separate bibisco Everywhere subscription, which the Supporters Edition does not include.
• Supporters Edition updates are free for 2 years; later upgrades are sold at a 50% discount.
• Desktop builds are 64-bit only, for Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.13 or later, and Linux.

Scrivener

• Each platform needs its own license: the macOS, Windows and iOS versions are bought separately.
• The store sells versions for macOS, Windows and iOS only; no Android, Linux or web version is listed.
• Sync between the iOS app and the desktop versions runs through Dropbox and needs a Dropbox account.
• A license does not cover major version updates; moving from Scrivener 3 to a future Scrivener 4 means buying a discounted upgrade.

bibisco

Character interviews

Characters are developed through interview-style questions. The Supporters Edition adds custom questions and profile pictures for characters, places and objects.

Story structure

Dedicated sections hold the premise, fabula, setting and storylines, alongside locations, chapters and scenes, in every edition.

Timeline, outline and analysis

The Supporters Edition adds a timeline, a novel outline, mind maps, groups and analysis views for checking how the story fits together.

Writing tools

Distraction-free mode, a dark theme, search with find and replace, writing goals, and images, comments and footnotes in the text are Supporters Edition features.

Export

Novels export to PDF, DOCX and TXT, and to an archive file, in both editions. EPUB export needs the Supporters Edition.

Mobile apps and cloud sync

The bibisco Everywhere subscription adds the Android, iPhone and iPad app and keeps projects synchronized across mobile devices and several desktop computers.

Scrivener

Binder

Keeps manuscript sections, notes and reference material in one sidebar, so a long text is written and navigated in small pieces.

Corkboard and outliner

Every section has an index card with a synopsis. Moving cards on the corkboard or rows in the outliner reorders the manuscript itself.

Compile

Exports the assembled manuscript to formats including Microsoft Word, RTF, PDF, Final Draft and ePub, with formatting applied at export.

Snapshots

Saves a copy of a section before a rewrite, so the earlier version can be compared with the new one or restored.

Research alongside the draft

Imports PDFs, images, web pages, and sound and movie files into the project and shows them next to the text being written.

Targets and scriptwriting

Word or character targets with live counters and a writing history, plus a scriptwriting mode that handles screenplay and stage-play formatting.

bibisco

• Community Edition$0

  Free desktop app for Linux, macOS and Windows with the core planning and writing tools, export to PDF, DOCX and TXT, and automatic backups.

• bibisco Everywhere$3.49

  per month, or $29.99 per year

  Subscription for the Android and iOS app and cloud sync across phones, tablets and desktops. Works with either desktop edition and does not include the Supporters license.

• Supporters Edition$69

  one-time payment

  Desktop edition adding analysis, mind maps, timeline, novel outline, dark theme, search, writing goals and EPUB export, with 2 years of free updates.

Scrivener

• Scrivener for iOS & iPadOS$23.99

  one-time purchase

  The iPhone and iPad app. There is no trial, and a Dropbox account is required for sync.

• Educational Licence$50.99

  one-time purchase, per platform

  The macOS or Windows version for students and academics. Requires an institutional affiliation.

• Standard Licence$59.99

  one-time purchase, per platform

  The full macOS or Windows version, licensed for every computer in a household that runs that platform.

• macOS + Windows bundle$95.98

  one-time purchase

  A separate license for each of macOS and Windows, sold together at a lower combined price.

bibisco

• Annual discount

  Save 28% on Everywhere with yearly billing

  bibisco Everywhere costs $3.49 a month or $29.99 a year, which the download page labels a 28% saving.

• Education

  20% off for students and educators

  The FAQ offers students and educators a 20% discount code on request by email, with enrollment documents or a school certificate as proof.

• Other savings

  50% off upgrades after two years

  Supporters Edition buyers get free updates for 2 years. After that, the FAQ says upgrades are available at a 50% discount, with another 2 years of updates.

Scrivener

• Education

  Educational Licence for students and academics

  The macOS and Windows versions are sold to students and academics with an institutional affiliation for $50.99, against $59.99 for a Standard Licence.

• Other savings

  macOS and Windows bundle

  Buying Scrivener for macOS and Windows together costs $95.98, against $119.98 for two separate Standard Licences.

• Other savings

  Discounted upgrades from older versions

  Owners of an earlier major version can buy an upgrade license at a discount instead of paying the full price for the new version.