Scrivener vs Storyist (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Scrivener if

• Fits if you're managing a novel or a thesis and want to write it in small pieces
• Works for writers who restructure a lot and would rather pay once than subscribe

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you write on Android, Linux or in a browser, as none of those is listed
• Pricey if you want it on Mac, Windows and iPhone, because each one is a separate license
• Not for you if you don't want Dropbox, since that's how the iOS app syncs with the desktop
• Watch out: a license doesn't cover major versions, so a future Scrivener 4 means paying for an upgrade
• Watch out: there's no trial of the $23.99 iOS app, only of the Mac and Windows versions

Pick Storyist if

• Fits if you write on a Mac and would rather buy once than subscribe
• Works for novelists and screenwriters who plan on index cards

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as neither is supported
• Not for you if you want one purchase for all devices, because Mac and iOS are bought separately
• Too light for iOS-only writers who need the book editor, which is described only for the Mac
• Watch out: the trial length isn't stated

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.

Storyist

• There is no Windows, Android or web version.
• The Mac and iOS apps are bought separately.
• Orders from the vendor's store are processed by Paddle, the merchant of record.
• The iOS app lists a narrower set of formats and tools than the Mac app, and the book editor is described only for the Mac.

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.

Storyist

Story sheets

Editable forms for plot, character, setting and section, which can be customized to hold the details you track.

Index cards and corkboard

Scenes appear as color-coded index cards that can be arranged, and shown beside the manuscript while you write.

Manuscript and screenplay formatting

Stylesheets and templates for manuscripts and screenplays, with quick keys for changing screenplay elements.

Book editor and ebook export

On the Mac, builds print-ready PDFs with trim size, margins and bleed set, and creates ePub and Kindle editions.

Import and export formats

Handles Word, RTF, OpenDocument, Scrivener, Final Draft (.fdx) and Fountain files.

Outliner and word-count goals

An outliner gives a high-level view of a manuscript, and daily and project word-count goals are tracked.

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.

Storyist

• Storyist 4 for iOS$19

  one-time

  iPhone and iPad version with index cards, outline and screenplay template; needs iOS 17 or later.

• Storyist 4 for macOS$59

  one-time

  Mac version with story sheets, outliner, book editor and ePub and Kindle export; also sold on the Mac App Store.

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.

Storyist

No public discounts listed.