Manuskript
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
What is Manuskript?
Manuskript is a free, open-source tool for writers who like to plan before they draft, distributed under the GNU General Public License v3. It combines an outliner and index cards with notes on characters, plots and the story's world, a novel assistant based on the snowflake method, and a distraction-free editor. The project describes itself as still in development and recommends frequent backups.
Manuskript is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Novelists who outline and plan before drafting
- Writers who want a free planning and drafting tool on Linux or Windows
- People who want their manuscript kept in plain-text files
Worth knowing
- The download page says Manuskript is still in the early development stages and recommends frequent backups.
- Release 0.17.0 is packaged for Linux and Windows only; on macOS it has to be run from the Python source code.
- Import and export of ePub, OpenDocument and DocX need Pandoc installed separately.
- No web or mobile version is offered.
Key features
- Outliner
- Arranges chapters, scenes and notes in a hierarchy that can be reordered at any time, showing which parts are written and which characters appear in each scene.
- Index cards
- Shows notes, scenes and chapters as index cards, as a second way to arrange and review the structure of a book.
- Snowflake-method novel assistant
- Guides a premise from one sentence to a paragraph and then a full summary, asking questions along the way to develop characters and plots.
- Characters, plots and world
- Keeps notes on every character, plot, event and place, links plots to characters, and offers a story-line view of the strands running through the text.
- Distraction-free mode
- A full-screen editor with editable themes, including themes imported from FocusWriter. It can lock the writer in until a word-count or time goal is reached.
- Plain-text projects and export
- Projects are saved automatically as plain-text files in a folder or a zip. With Pandoc installed, it imports and exports formats such as ePub, OpenDocument and DocX.
Manuskript pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole program is free software under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. The site asks for optional donations to support development.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | The complete program: .deb and .rpm packages, Flatpak and Snap for Linux, a zip for Windows, and source code for other systems. |
Read from theologeek.ch on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Manuskript before you buy.
Works with
- Pandoc
- FocusWriter
Manuskript alternatives
- Manuskript vs bibisco
Free plan · from $3.49/mo
- Manuskript vs yWriter
Free plan · from $5.49 one-time
- Manuskript vs Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
- Manuskript vs Plottr
Free trial · from $60/yr
Common questions
Is Manuskript free?
Yes. Manuskript is free to use. The whole program is free software under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. The site asks for optional donations to support development.
How much does Manuskript cost?
Manuskript lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from theologeek.ch on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Manuskript work on?
Manuskript is available on Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does Manuskript have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Manuskript is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Does Manuskript have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Manuskript is listed for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Is Manuskript open source?
Yes. Manuskript is open source, according to its own site.
What does Manuskript integrate with?
Manuskript's listing names Pandoc and FocusWriter. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Manuskript?
Manuskript is made by olivierkes and contributors.
What are the alternatives to Manuskript?
The closest alternatives to Manuskript in our directory are novelWriter, bibisco, yWriter, Scrivener and Plottr. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Manuskript.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.