Gingko Writer
Tree-based writing app that breaks long documents into cards
What is Gingko Writer?
Gingko Writer is a web-based writing app in which a document is a tree of small cards instead of one long page. Notes, outline and draft sit side by side in a single view, so a writer can move between the overall structure and a specific passage and rearrange both along the way. It is sold by subscription after a 14-day free trial, and a finished draft can be exported to conventional document formats.
Gingko Writer is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117). See every plan
Good for
- Writers who outline and draft at the same time
- Long projects such as a thesis, a novel or a legal brief
- People who lose track of structure in a single long document
Worth knowing
- There is no free plan: after the 14-day trial the app needs a subscription.
- The vendor's FAQ, last updated about four years ago, says collaboration and LaTeX are not supported yet and points to the legacy gingkoapp.com version for both.
- Images cannot be uploaded: the FAQ says they are added by linking to a file hosted elsewhere with Markdown image syntax.
- The current version is a web app. An older desktop version is still on GitHub, but the vendor says it has not been brought up to date.
Key features
- Documents as a tree of cards
- Text is written in small chunks called cards, so a novel, thesis or legal brief is worked on one piece at a time instead of as a single long page.
- Notes, outline and draft in one view
- The overall premise, the outline and the detailed text stay on screen together, so an idea for a specific scene can be written down without leaving the big picture.
- Organize while writing
- There is no separate outlining mode: cards are written and arranged in the same place, so the structure can change as the draft grows.
- Export and print
- A draft can be exported to conventional document formats or printed. Anything placed between HTML comment markers in a card is left out of the output.
- Import from the older Gingko
- Trees from a legacy gingkoapp.com account can be brought in from the File menu, or as a JSON export for very large trees.
- Templates by duplication
- Any tree can be duplicated from the sidebar, which is how the vendor suggests making a reusable template for new documents.
Gingko Writer pricing
- Starts at
- $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117)
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Pay Yearly | $9.75per month, billed yearly ($117) | The full app, billed once per year. The pricing page puts the saving against monthly billing at $36. |
| Pay Monthly | $12.75per month, billed monthly | The full app with monthly billing. It can be canceled at any time, and refunds are given on request. |
Read from gingkowriter.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Gingko Writer before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- Annual discountSave $36 a year with yearly billing
The pricing page lists $117 billed once per year against $12.75 a month, and states the saving as $36.
Stated on gingkowriter.com
Gingko Writer alternatives
- Gingko Writer vs Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
- Gingko Writer vs Plottr
Free trial · from $60/yr
- Gingko Writer vs Dabble
Free trial · from $19/mo
- Gingko Writer vs Ulysses
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
- Gingko Writer vs Novlr
Free plan · from $8/mo
Common questions
Is Gingko Writer free?
No, Gingko Writer is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
How much does Gingko Writer cost?
Gingko Writer lists 2 plans. Pay Yearly: $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117). Pay Monthly: $12.75 per month, billed monthly. Prices were read from gingkowriter.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Gingko Writer work on?
Gingko Writer is available on Web.
Does Gingko Writer offer any discounts?
Gingko Writer publicly lists the following: Save $36 a year with yearly billing.
Does Gingko Writer have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Gingko Writer is listed for Web.
Does Gingko Writer have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Gingko Writer is listed for Web.
Is Gingko Writer open source?
Gingko Writer is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Who makes Gingko Writer?
Gingko Writer is made by Gingko Inc. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Gingko Writer?
The closest alternatives to Gingko Writer in our directory are Scrivener, Plottr, Dabble, Ulysses and Novlr. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Gingko Writer.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.