The Manuskript Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Manuskript 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.
Manuskript
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Manuskript’s own pages.
Made by olivierkes and contributors · 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 Manuskript’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Manuskript’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
2.8
GPA, above 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Manuskript, taken from its own pages and our grades.
On a Mac you run it from the Python source, ePub and DocX need Pandoc installed separately, and there's no web or phone version.
- 1
Best for free novel planning on Linux or Windows
The project itself says it's still in early development and tells you to back up often.
- 2
It is free
Manuskript has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, Linux and macOS.
- 4
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.
- 5
Index cards
Shows notes, scenes and chapters as index cards, as a second way to arrange and review the structure of a book.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 43 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Manuskript is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Manuskript at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- olivierkes and contributors
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free novel planning on Linux or Windows
Manuskript is a free, open-source novel planner with an outliner, index cards, a snowflake-method assistant and notes for every character, plot and place. The project itself says it's still in early development and tells you to back up often. On a Mac you run it from the Python source, ePub and DocX need Pandoc installed separately, and there's no web or phone version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free software under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later, so there is nothing to buy where most of this category wants $8.33 a month. Download it and run it; the site only asks for optional donations. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The whole program is free, with no paid tier above it and nothing held back for people who never pay. |
| Features | C | It covers the planning side: outliner, index cards, the snowflake assistant, notes linking plots to characters. The gaps are on its own download page, though. It's still in early development, ePub and DocX only work if you install Pandoc yourself, and there's no web or mobile version. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and there's a bit of a climb. Windows and Linux get a package, but macOS means running the Python source, export needs Pandoc set up separately, and the project tells you to back up often. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Desktop only, and not even all of it: packages for Linux and Windows, macOS from source. No web, no phones, and the only things it joins up with are Pandoc and FocusWriter themes. |
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 Manuskript is for
- Fits if you outline and plan a novel in detail before you draft it
- Works for people on Linux or Windows who want their manuscript kept as plain-text files in a folder
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you can't risk losing work, as the project says it's still in early development and to back up often
- Not for you if you're on a Mac and don't want to run an app from Python source code
- Too light for writing on the go, since no web or mobile version is offered
- Watch out: ePub, OpenDocument and DocX import and export only work once you install Pandoc yourself
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Manuskript is free to use.
Download it and run it; the site only asks for optional donations.
Free
$0
The complete program: .deb and .rpm packages, Flatpak and Snap for Linux, a zip for Windows, and source code for other systems.
The 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.
Read from theologeek.ch on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, Markdown, long-form writing.
It covers the planning side: outliner, index cards, the snowflake assistant, notes linking plots to characters.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Pandoc
- FocusWriter
Manuskript is made by olivierkes and contributors.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
43/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Manuskript's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 58 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Manuskript has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Manuskript’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 58 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. Manuskript 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.
Keep it
Manuskript is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Manuskript’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
novelWriter, bibisco, yWriter, Scrivener and Plottr
The 5 tools Manuskript is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
novelWriter
Free
Free, open-source plain-text editor for writing novels.
- Only Manuskript lists a macOS app.
- 3.0GPA
bibisco
Free plan · from $3.49/mo
Novel planning and writing software built around characters.
- Only bibisco lists iOS and Android apps.
- bibisco can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Manuskript also covers Markdown.
- 3.0GPA
yWriter
Free plan · from $5.49 one-time
Novel-writing software that organizes a book into scenes.
- Only Manuskript lists a Linux app.
- Only yWriter lists iOS and Android apps.
- Manuskript is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Manuskript has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Manuskript lists a Linux app.
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- 2.2GPA
Plottr
Free trial · from $60/yr
Visual book outlining and series bible software.
- Manuskript has a free plan. Plottr does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Manuskript lists a Linux app.
- Only Plottr lists a web app.
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 Manuskript free?
Yes. Manuskript is free to use.
How much does Manuskript cost?
Manuskript lists one plan. Free: $0.
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.
How does Manuskript compare with other writing tools?
Manuskript's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
Is Manuskript good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Manuskript A for value for money. Manuskript has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Manuskript?
Manuskript is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Manuskript’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 Manuskript's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-03.
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 olivierkes and contributors. Prices change, so check theologeek.ch 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
- Manuskript, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/manuskript
- 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, "Manuskript: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/manuskript
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/manuskript/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Manuskript, 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 Manuskript’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. Manuskript is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by olivierkes and contributors. Prices and plans change: check theologeek.ch before you buy.