LivingWriter vs Novlr

LivingWriter

• Novelists who track characters, settings and plot threads beside the draft
• Writers who move between a computer, a phone and a tablet
• Authors who also write screenplays and want both in one app

Novlr

• Novelists who want a clean, distraction-free place to draft
• Writers building a daily habit with goals, streaks and sprints
• Writers who want a tool with no generative AI in it

LivingWriter

• The Free plan covers one manuscript with a limited word count and exports only basic PDF.
• Sharing and collaboration, the full Boards system and the Canva and Google Drive integrations need Pro.
• Manuscript chat, AI outlines, rewrites, analysis and cover images are listed under the $30 Pro + AI plan.
• Quarterly and annual billing exist, but the public pricing page shows only the monthly prices.

Novlr

• The Free plan is limited to 2 projects; Starter allows 10 and only Studio is unlimited.
• The proofreader, the grammar and style checker, and Google Drive and Dropbox backups are Studio-only.
• It runs in a browser; the site lists no desktop or mobile apps, and offline use is described only as protection for unstable internet.
• Version history is 30 days on Starter and unlimited on Studio, and is not listed for the Free plan.

LivingWriter

Boards

Manuscript, Planning, Elements and Research boards lay out chapters, scenes, story elements and sources as cards that can be dragged into a new order.

Linked story elements

Characters, settings and objects get reusable profiles with aliases and relations. Auto-completion connects them to the text as you write, and each profile lists where it appears.

Outline templates

Ready-made structures include Story Circle, Hero's Journey, the 27 Chapter Method and Romancing the Beat, along with memoir, biography and PhD thesis outlines.

Screenwriting

A screenplay mode formats scene headings, action, characters, dialogue, parentheticals and transitions automatically, and an AI tool converts prose into a script.

AI writing assistant

Optional tools for outlines, rewriting, summaries, manuscript analysis and a chat that knows the manuscript. LivingWriter says manuscripts are not used to train AI models.

Version history and export

Earlier versions can be viewed, compared and restored. Manuscripts export to DOCX, PDF, EPUB and Amazon KDP formats, and existing documents can be imported.

Novlr

Distraction-free editor

A full-screen focus mode and a typewriter mode keep the page clear, with dark and light modes and search and replace.

Goals, streaks and sprints

Keep writing streaks, run timed writing sprints and get success nudges on every plan. Setting weekly and monthly goals is listed from the Starter plan up.

Notes and planning grid

Notes for research, characters and lore sit beside the manuscript, and a plot grid built from those notes lays out story arcs and plot threads.

Writing analytics

Analytics track word counts over time and show a writer's habits and most productive moments. They are included on every plan.

Proofreader and grammar checker

The Studio plan includes a built-in proofreader and an advanced grammar and style checker. Novlr says it has no AI writing or generating tool.

Novlr Sites

An author website builder with themes and custom domains, using the same login. It is included with Studio and costs $6 a month or $60 a year on other plans.

LivingWriter

• Free$0

  A first book with a limited word count, outlines, notes and to-dos, a taste of the AI tools and basic PDF export.

• Pro$15

  per month, billed monthly; quarterly and annual also offered

  Unlimited manuscripts and screenplays, the full Boards system, sharing and collaboration, pro export formats, and Canva and Google Drive integration.

• Pro + AI$30

  per month; the card itself shows no billing period

  Everything in Pro plus the full AI set: manuscript chat, outlines, rewrites, analysis, manuscript-to-screenplay, and cover and element images.

Novlr

• Free$0

  2 projects with cross-device sync, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments and analytics.

• Starter$8

  per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly

  10 projects with 30-day version history, writing goals with streak tracking, and full access to Academy courses.

• Studio$16

  per month, billed yearly ($192); $20 billed monthly

  Unlimited projects and version history, proofreader and grammar checker, Google Drive and Dropbox backups, and Novlr Sites included.

• Lifetime Studio Member$499

  one-time payment

  Everything in Studio with no subscription, plus co-ownership of Novlr and exclusive Discord channels.

LivingWriter

No public discounts listed.

Novlr

• Annual discount

  Save 20% with yearly billing

  Starter is $96 a year ($8 a month) against $10 a month billed monthly, and Studio is $192 a year ($16 a month) against $20 a month.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Studio membership for $499

  A one-time payment covers everything in Studio with no subscription. Lifetime members also become co-owners of Novlr.