Campfire vs Plottr

Campfire

• Fantasy and science-fiction authors who keep detailed world notes beside the manuscript
• Writers who want to pay only for the planning tools they use
• Co-writers and editors, since collaborators need only a free account

Plottr

• Novelists and screenwriters who outline visually before drafting
• Series authors who need one place for characters, places and continuity
• Writers who draft in Word or Scrivener and want a separate planning tool
• Writers who want a planning tool with no generative AI

Campfire

• The free plan caps every module (25,000 manuscript words, 10 characters); elements past a limit are read-only on browser and desktop.
• Offline work is limited to the Mac and Windows desktop app. No Linux app is listed, and the mobile app needs an internet connection.
• The mobile app leaves out the Arcs, Calendar, Languages and Relationships modules.
• Monthly subscriptions are non-refundable; annual and lifetime purchases can be refunded within 30 days.

Plottr

• Plottr is an outlining tool, not a manuscript editor: its docs recommend doing the bulk of the writing in another program.
• The web app, cloud sync and collaboration need Plottr Pro, which the docs say requires an internet connection. Each collaborator needs their own Pro subscription.
• The mobile app was removed from the app stores for a rebuild, and the docs say the Pro web app has no phone view. Native Linux builds are unsupported beta software.
• No refunds are given after purchase, and a Pro plan that lapses loses access to its projects until it is renewed.

Campfire

Manuscript module

A word processor with chapters shown as index cards, focus mode, word-count goals and version history. It imports DOCX and EPUB files and exports EPUB and PDF.

Worldbuilding modules

Separate modules cover characters, locations, species, cultures, religions, magic systems, invented languages, calendars and an encyclopedia of wiki-style articles.

Timelines and arcs

The Timeline module tracks story and historical events across several timelines and comes with more than 10 free story-structure templates.

Interactive maps

Upload a map or link one from Inkarnate, then add pins for story elements, nest other maps inside it and mark up regions.

Collaboration and sharing

Any number of people can be invited to view, comment on or edit a project, and they need only a free account. Link sharing gives view-only access.

Desktop and mobile apps

The desktop app for Mac and Windows syncs with the browser version and can work offline. CF Creators for iOS and Android covers most modules and needs a connection.

Plottr

Visual timeline

Scene cards are dragged along a timeline with separate rows for the main plot, subplots and character arcs. The view can be flipped, zoomed and filtered, and plotlines color-coded.

Plot and scene templates

Starter templates based on structures such as the Hero's Journey, Romancing the Beat, Story Circle and Three Act Structure. Users can also create and save their own.

Characters, places and notes

Character sheets, places and notes take custom attributes, tags, categories and images, with character templates and sorting and filtering across all of them.

Series bible

One project holds every book in a series with its characters, places and notes, and a Series View gives a timeline of the whole series alongside each book's own.

Outline and export

Generates an outline from the timeline that can be viewed, edited and exported to Microsoft Word or Scrivener. Projects can be imported from Scrivener and Snowflake Pro.

Plottr Pro cloud features

A web app that runs on Chromebooks, tablets and Linux devices, cloud storage and backups, automatic syncing between devices and live collaboration on a shared project.

Campfire

• Free$0

  Limited use of every module, such as 25,000 manuscript words, 10 characters, 20 timeline events and 2 maps.

• Build Your OwnFrom $0.50

  per module / month; annual and lifetime options

  Unlimited use of only the modules chosen, at $0.50 to $2 a month each; every other module stays on the free limits.

• Standard Monthly$12

  per month, billed monthly

  Unlimited use of all 18 modules. Shown against a crossed-out $19.00, the sum of the modules' separate monthly prices.

• Standard Annual$99

  per year, billed annually

  The same unlimited access billed once a year. Shown against a crossed-out $160.00.

• Standard Lifetime$336

  one-time purchase

  Permanent access to every module, including modules Campfire releases later.

Plottr

• Plottr$60

  per year, or $150 one-time for lifetime; no monthly plan

  Windows and Mac desktop app on unlimited household devices, with files and backups kept on the device. Shown against crossed-out prices of $80 and $199.

• Plottr Pro$99

  per year; or $9.99 per month, or $599 one-time for lifetime

  Adds the browser app, cloud sync and backups, and real-time collaboration. Monthly and lifetime are shown against crossed-out prices of $15 and $699.

• Plottr Pro + Community$129

  per year; or $14.99 per month, or $649 one-time for lifetime

  Pro plus a private community, the Education Vault and networking. Shown against crossed-out prices of $160 a year, $19 a month and $799 lifetime.

Campfire

• Annual discount

  About 31% less on the annual Standard plan

  Standard costs $12 a month or $99 a year. Twelve monthly payments come to $144, so the annual plan works out about 31% cheaper.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime access to all modules for $336

  Standard Lifetime is a one-time purchase covering every module and any released later. Individual modules can also be bought for life, without future modules.

Plottr

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime licenses from $150

  Each tier can be bought once instead of by subscription: $150 for Plottr, $599 for Plottr Pro and $649 for Pro + Community. Lifetime plans never expire and include updates.

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs less than monthly on Pro

  Plottr Pro is $99 a year against $9.99 a month, and Pro + Community is $129 a year against $14.99 a month.

• Education

  Educational rates and bulk licenses on request

  The pricing page invites schools and buyers of bulk licenses to contact Plottr for special pricing. No rates are published.