The Novel Factory vs yWriter

The Novel Factory

• First-time novelists who want a guided, step-by-step process
• Writers who plan characters, locations and plot before drafting
• Authors who want writing software with no AI in it

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

The Novel Factory

• There is no free plan: after the 30-day trial it needs a subscription or the $649 lifetime license.
• Basic is limited to one novel and leaves out dark mode and importing characters and locations between novels.
• The lifetime license covers Version 3 only, for as long as that version lasts.
• Offline work needs the desktop app on a PC or Mac. The browser version, which phones and tablets use, requires a stable internet connection.

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.

The Novel Factory

Novel Writing Roadmap

A built-in guide of fifteen steps takes a novel from first idea to final manuscript, with a practical task at each step that can be checked off in the software.

Plot Manager and plot templates

Scenes sit on drag-and-drop index cards that give an overview of the story's structure, and genre-specific plot templates set out the beats to hit.

Characters, locations and items

Dedicated sections hold character profiles built from development prompts, locations with sensory details and images, and items. Characters and locations can be linked to scenes.

Manuscript with related notes

A sidebar beside the text shows the scene synopsis, the linked characters and locations, and the plot points that happen in that scene.

Writing statistics and goals

A Statistics tab tracks word counts and writing rates against custom goals, with progress graphs and a weekly average word count.

Version history and Word export

Turn Back Time restores earlier versions of the work. The manuscript and its supporting data export to Word, and a Word manuscript can be imported.

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.

The Novel Factory

• Basic$82.50

  per year, or $8.25 per month billed monthly

  One novel with the core features: Plot Manager, characters, items and locations, the manuscript section and writing statistics.

• Standard$220

  per year, or $22 per month billed monthly

  Unlimited novels, plus dark mode, importing characters and locations between novels and additional formatting features.

• Lifetime$649

  one-time payment

  Access to Version 3.0 for as long as that version lasts, with unlimited novels and all features. Equivalent to Standard.

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.

The Novel Factory

• Annual discount

  Two months free with annual billing

  Annual plans cost ten times the monthly price: $82.50 against $8.25 a month for Basic and $220 against $22 a month for Standard.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime license to Version 3 for $649

  A one-off payment gives Standard-level access to The Novel Factory Version 3 for the life of that version, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Other savings

  Hardship licenses and discounts

  The company says it offers hardship licenses and discounts for people with low incomes or disabilities. No amounts are published.

• Other savings

  Credit for original Windows Desktop licenses

  Owners of the original Windows desktop version can ask for a discount on a subscription equal to what they paid for that license.

yWriter

No public discounts listed.