novelWriter vs yWriter

novelWriter

• Novelists on Linux or Windows who want a free plain-text editor
• Writers who keep manuscripts under version control or file sync
• Books with many scenes and cross-referenced notes

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

novelWriter

• macOS DMG releases were discontinued as of release 2026.1; on a Mac it runs only by installing the Python package.
• The Windows installer is made for Windows 10 or newer.
• It is scoped to novels and short fiction and uses its own Markdown-like syntax, not standard Markdown.
• No web or mobile version is offered.

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.

novelWriter

Project tree of documents

A novel is broken into as many documents as needed. They can be dragged into a custom order, organised into folders and given sub-documents.

Tags and references

Keyword and value tags in a document link it to project notes. References are clickable, and a References box lists every document that points back to the one being viewed.

Novel View and Outline View

The Novel View shows the book by headings instead of files. The Outline View lists chapters and scenes with their meta data and cross-references in configurable columns.

Build Manuscript

Assembles chosen files into a manuscript, an outline draft or a notes document, which can be printed or saved as Open Document, Word, PDF, HTML or Markdown.

Plain-text storage

Projects are stored as human-readable text files, a format the project describes as well suited to version control software and file synchronisation tools.

Focus Mode and themes

Focus Mode hides the project tree and view panel so the editor fills the window. Colour, icon and editor syntax themes are chosen separately, in light and dark variants.

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.

novelWriter

• Free$0

  The complete editor: AppImage, Flatpak and Debian packages for Linux, a setup installer for Windows 10 or newer, and a Python package.

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.