bibisco vs yWriter

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

yWriter

• Novelists who plan and draft scene by scene
• Windows users who want free novel-writing software
• Writers who want their work stored on their own computer

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.

yWriter

• Only the Windows version is free: the Android app costs $5.49 and the iOS app $14.99 in the US stores.
• The macOS version is an unstable beta, free for now; the site says it will become paid software.
• There is no native Linux version; the site documents running the Windows program under Wine.
• The Android page says Google Drive support is not working, which leaves Dropbox for sharing projects.

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.

yWriter

Chapters and scenes

A project is split into chapters and scenes that can be dragged into a new order, with chapters renumbered automatically. A scene can be marked unused to keep it out of word counts and exports.

Characters, items and locations

Each scene has fields for its viewpoint character, goal, conflict and outcome, and can be linked to several characters, items and locations.

Storyboard and word counts

A storyboard gives a visual layout of the work. Word counts are shown for every file, and a daily log records words per file and the total.

Snapshot backups

Automatic backups are saved to sequential files at intervals the writer sets, so a scene can be rolled back to an earlier version.

Export

Exports selected chapters to RTF for proofing and re-import, to LaTeX for producing a print-ready PDF, and to Epub and Mobi ebooks.

Mobile apps

Paid Android and iOS apps open the same project files as the desktop program, for editing a novel away from the PC.

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.

yWriter

• yWriter7 for Windows$0

  The full desktop program for Windows 7 SP1 and newer. Optional registration, Silver at $11.95 or Gold at $24.95, supports the developer.

• yWriter for macOS (beta)$0

  Unstable beta for macOS 10.11 and later, free while feedback is gathered. The site says it will be paid software once it is complete.

• yWriter for Android$5.49

  one-time purchase on Google Play

  Mobile app for editing yWriter projects on the go, with projects shared through Dropbox.

• yWriter for iOS$14.99

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  iPhone and iPad app that shares project files with the desktop versions. Owners can also run it on Macs with Apple silicon.

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.

yWriter

No public discounts listed.