The Gingko Writer Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Gingko Writer in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Gingko Writer
The Insider’s Guide
Tree-based writing app that breaks long documents into cards
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Gingko Writer’s own pages.
Made by Gingko Inc · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Gingko Writer’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Gingko Writer’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 5 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Gingko Writer, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its FAQ, last updated about four years ago, says there's no collaboration and no LaTeX, and images can't be uploaded at all.
- 1
Best for outlining and drafting on the same screen
Gingko Writer breaks a long document into cards arranged as a tree, so notes, outline and draft sit side by side.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9.75 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117).
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.0 GPA, above 5 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
You could make this
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Gingko Writer at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Gingko Inc, since 2013
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for outlining and drafting on the same screen
Gingko Writer breaks a long document into cards arranged as a tree, so notes, outline and draft sit side by side. It's a web app only, at $9.75 a month billed yearly or $12.75 month to month, with no free plan after the 14-day trial. Its FAQ, last updated about four years ago, says there's no collaboration and no LaTeX, and images can't be uploaded at all.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $9.75 a month billed yearly, which is $117, or $12.75 month to month. Either figure sits between this category's cheaper quarter at $5.00 and its dearer quarter at $12.00, so it's priced like everything else. One plan, the full app, and refunds on request. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. There's a 14-day trial that asks for no credit card, and when the fortnight is up the app needs a subscription. Nothing stays usable after that. |
| Features | C | Every document is a tree of cards, with premise, outline and text on screen together and no separate outlining mode, plus export to ordinary document formats. It does that one unusual thing fully, but the FAQ admits the gaps: no collaboration, no LaTeX, and images only linked from elsewhere, never uploaded. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and writing in a tree of cards instead of a page is a way of working you have to get used to. Nothing to install, at least, and you arrange the cards in the same place you write them. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web app and nothing else: no phone app, no desktop app, not one integration listed. The vendor says the old desktop version on GitHub has not been kept up to date. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Gingko Writer is for
- Fits if you outline and draft at the same time and want both on one screen
- Works for long single-author documents like a thesis, a novel or a legal brief
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you write with someone else, as the FAQ says collaboration isn't supported
- Skip it if you want a free plan, because after the 14-day trial it needs a subscription
- Too light for documents with pictures or math, since images can only be linked and LaTeX isn't supported
- Not for you if you want a phone or desktop app: it's web only, and the old desktop version hasn't been kept up to date
- Watch out: the FAQ was last updated about four years ago, and no integrations are listed
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9.75
A month to start
Gingko Writer is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9.75 per month, billed yearly ($117).
One plan, the full app, and refunds on request.
Pay Yearly
$9.75
per month, billed yearly ($117)
The full app, billed once per year. The pricing page puts the saving against monthly billing at $36.
Pay Monthly
$12.75
per month, billed monthly
The full app with monthly billing. It can be canceled at any time, and refunds are given on request.
Trying it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Read from gingkowriter.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save $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
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Tree-based writing app that breaks long documents into cards. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: Markdown, long-form writing.
A web app and nothing else: no phone app, no desktop app, not one integration listed.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Gingko Writer is made by Gingko Inc, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Gingko Writer's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 5 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 5.
Its paid plans start at $9.75 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 27 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 27 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Gingko Writer’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Gingko Writer is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
You could make this
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
What Gingko Writer does at its core is long-form writing and Markdown, and that is the kind of thing an AI app builder makes well. Nothing on its listing is beyond a weekend of building. It costs $117 a year. An AI app builder starts at about $19 a month on our listings, and you only need it while you build.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
- It runs in a browser, which is where something home-made would run too.
What this rests on. Gingko Writer’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Scrivener, Plottr, Dabble, Ulysses and Novlr
The 5 tools Gingko Writer is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Only Gingko Writer lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Scrivener can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.2GPA
Plottr
Free trial · from $60/yr
Visual book outlining and series bible software.
- Only Plottr lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Plottr can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Gingko Writer also covers Markdown and long-form writing.
- 2.4GPA
Dabble
Free trial · from $19/mo
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync.
- Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Gingko Writer also covers Markdown.
- 2.6GPA
Ulysses
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Only Gingko Writer lists a web app.
- Only Ulysses lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Ulysses also covers grammar & style.
- 2.0GPA
Novlr
Free plan · from $8/mo
Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals.
- Novlr has a free plan. Gingko Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Gingko Writer also covers Markdown.
- Novlr also covers grammar & style.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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).
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.
How does Gingko Writer compare with other writing tools?
Gingko Writer's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 5 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is Gingko Writer good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Gingko Writer C for value for money. On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4.
Could I make my own version of Gingko Writer?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. What Gingko Writer does at its core is long-form writing and Markdown, and that is the kind of thing an AI app builder makes well.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Gingko Writer’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Gingko Writer's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Gingko Inc. Prices change, so check gingkowriter.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Gingko Writer, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/gingko-writer
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Gingko Writer: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/gingko-writer
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/gingko-writer/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Gingko Writer, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Gingko Writer’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Gingko Writer is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Gingko Inc. Prices and plans change: check gingkowriter.com before you buy.