The NovelPad Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NovelPad 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.
NovelPad
The Insider’s Guide
Index-card novel writing app for desktop and web
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from NovelPad’s own pages.
Made by NovelPad · checked Nov 12, 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 NovelPad’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NovelPad’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 23 of the 100 other writing tools we grade
NovelPad is a novel-writing app built around scenes as index cards that are arranged on boards by chapter, character, plot or location. It runs as a desktop app and in a browser, and the vendor says it contains no AI. It can be paid for monthly, once, or as a lifetime license.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about NovelPad, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Planning with cards and boards takes some learning.
- 1
Best for drafting novels with scene cards
NovelPad is novel-writing software with scene cards, character tracking and revisions.
- 2
Paid plans start at $15 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $15 per month; $89 one-time for the desktop app.
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial on every plan, no card required
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Scene cards and boards
Every scene is a card; boards lay out the novel by chapter, subplot, character, location or timeline.
- 6
Character tracking
Character sheets with custom fields, plus views of which scenes each character appears in and how that changes across chapters.
- 7
Scene revisions and snapshots
Saves as you write, keeps earlier versions, and lets you compare drafts or restore a chapter.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 23 of 100
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of NovelPad you could make: long-form writing. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
NovelPad at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $15 per month; $89 one-time for the desktop app
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial on every plan, no card required
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- NovelPad
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for drafting novels with scene cards
NovelPad is novel-writing software with scene cards, character tracking and revisions. Cloud is $15 a month, Desktop is $89 once and Lifetime $349. Desktop has no sync or sharing and a major new version costs $39, and there's no phone app or AI.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Cloud is $15 a month, above the dearer quarter of writing tools. Desktop is $89 once and Lifetime $349, well over the $19.99 one-time middle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 14-day free trial on every plan with no card. No free plan. |
| Features | B | Scene cards and boards, characters, revisions and snapshots, goals, beta-reader sharing and import and export. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Planning with cards and boards takes some learning. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web, Mac, Windows and Linux. No iOS or Android apps, and no integrations listed. |
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 NovelPad is for
- Fits if you plan a novel scene by scene
- Works for writers who'd rather buy the desktop app than subscribe
Who it is not for
- Tight if you take Desktop at $89, because it has no sync, web app or sharing
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $15 against $150 a year
- Watch out: a major new version costs $39 to upgrade
- Watch out: Cloud on Lifetime is included two years and then costs $9 a month
- Skip it if you want AI drafting or phone apps, as neither exists
Good to know
Good for
- Novelists who plan with index cards or plot boards
- Writers who want a local, offline desktop app
- People who would rather pay once than subscribe
Worth knowing
- The $89 Desktop Only plan has no cloud sync, web app or sharing, and a major new version costs $39 to upgrade.
- Cloud on the Lifetime plan is included for two years, then costs $9 a month or $79 a year.
- There are no iOS or Android apps listed; phones and tablets would use the web app.
- The vendor says the app has no AI features, so it will not draft or rewrite text for you.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$15
A month to start
NovelPad is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $15 per month; $89 one-time for the desktop app.
Pro Cloud
$15
per month, billed monthly ($150 billed annually)
Desktop and web apps, cloud sync across devices, and sharing with beta readers as viewers, commenters or editors.
Desktop Only
$89
one-time
The desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, fully offline with no sync; major-version upgrades are $39.
Lifetime
$349
one-time
Desktop app with every future update and two years of Cloud; Cloud afterward is $9 a month or $79 a year.
Trying it first
14-day free trial on every plan, no card required
Read from novelpad.co on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
Lifetime license for $349
A single payment covers the desktop app and every future update, with two years of Cloud included.
Stated on novelpad.coAnnual discount
Annual Pro Cloud for $150 a year
The pricing page shows an annual price of $150 against $15 a month, and says a year of annual billing earns loyalty credit toward Lifetime.
Stated on novelpad.co
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and Linux
Index-card novel writing app for desktop and web. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, long-form writing.
Scene cards and boards, characters, revisions and snapshots, goals, beta-reader sharing and import and export.
- Scene cards and boards
- Every scene is a card; boards lay out the novel by chapter, subplot, character, location or timeline.
- Character tracking
- Character sheets with custom fields, plus views of which scenes each character appears in and how that changes across chapters.
- Scene revisions and snapshots
- Saves as you write, keeps earlier versions, and lets you compare drafts or restore a chapter.
- Goals and streaks
- Daily word goals, writing streaks, sprints, and word counts for each scene and chapter.
- Beta-reader sharing
- On the Cloud plan, share a manuscript with readers who can view, comment or edit.
- Import and export
- Existing drafts can be uploaded, and novels can be exported to .docx at any time.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
NovelPad is made by NovelPad.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
23/100
Other writing tools it is graded above
NovelPad's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 23 of the 100 other writing tools we grade, and level with 15.
It stands best on features (B, above 64 of 100) and worst on ease of use (C, above 5).
Its paid plans start at $15 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 49 of the 62 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 30 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 101 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. NovelPad’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 17 of 100
- CFree plan and trialAbove 12 of 100
- BFeaturesAbove 64 of 100
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 100
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 100
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 79 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. NovelPad 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
The plain part of NovelPad you could make: long-form writing. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 62 of the 100 other writing tools grade higher. It costs $180 a year.
What you could make
- Long-form writing: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. NovelPad’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
Dabble, Scrivener, Novelcrafter, Plottr and Novlr
The 5 tools NovelPad is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Dabble
Free trial · from $19/mo
Novel writing app with plotting, story notes and sync.
- Dabble also covers grammar & style.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Only NovelPad lists a web app.
- Only NovelPad lists a Linux app.
- Only Scrivener lists an iOS app.
- 2.6GPA
Novelcrafter
Free trial · from $4/mo
Novel writing platform with a story wiki and optional AI.
- Only NovelPad lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- NovelPad can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Novelcrafter also covers chat assistant.
- 2.2GPA
Plottr
Free trial · from $60/yr
Visual book outlining and series bible software.
- Only NovelPad lists a Linux app.
- NovelPad also covers long-form writing.
- Plottr also covers templates.
- 2.0GPA
Novlr
Free plan · from $8/mo
Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals.
- Novlr has a free plan. NovelPad does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NovelPad lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- NovelPad can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 NovelPad free?
No, NovelPad is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial on every plan, no card required.
How much does NovelPad cost?
NovelPad lists 3 plans. Pro Cloud: $15 per month, billed monthly ($150 billed annually).
What platforms does NovelPad work on?
NovelPad is available on Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does NovelPad offer any discounts?
NovelPad publicly lists the following: Lifetime license for $349; Annual Pro Cloud for $150 a year.
Does NovelPad have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. NovelPad is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does NovelPad have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. NovelPad is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is NovelPad open source?
NovelPad is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does NovelPad work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes NovelPad?
NovelPad is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to NovelPad?
The closest alternatives to NovelPad in our directory are Dabble, Scrivener, Novelcrafter, Plottr and Novlr.
How does NovelPad compare with other writing tools?
NovelPad's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 23 of the 100 other writing tools we grade, and level with 15.
Is NovelPad good value for money?
ToolGPA grades NovelPad C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $15 a month, against a middle price of $8.33 for the category: 49 of the 62 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of NovelPad?
The plain part of NovelPad you could make: long-form writing. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from NovelPad’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from NovelPad's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 NovelPad. Prices change, so check novelpad.co before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 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.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- NovelPad, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/novelpad
- 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, "NovelPad: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/novelpad
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/novelpad/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what NovelPad’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. NovelPad is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by NovelPad. Prices and plans change: check novelpad.co before you buy.