The Novlr Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Novlr 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.
Novlr
The Insider’s Guide
Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Novlr’s own pages.
Made by Novlr Ltd. · checked Oct 6, 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 Novlr’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Novlr’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 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
Novlr is a browser-based writing workspace for novelists and other creative writers. It pairs a distraction-free editor with goals, streaks, writing sprints and analytics, and adds notes and a planning grid for plotting. The company is partly owned by its writers and states that it has no generative AI writing tools; the Studio plan adds a proofreader, a grammar and style checker and an author website builder.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Novlr, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Signing up and typing is easy enough; getting the planning side going is the slower part.
- 1
Best for building a daily novel-writing habit
Novlr is a browser app for drafting a novel, with streaks, sprints and word-count stats on every plan, and the company says it has no generative AI writing tool.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $8 per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly (Starter).
- 3
There is a free plan
2 projects with sync across devices, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments, writing analytics and starter Academy courses.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Distraction-free editor
A full-screen focus mode and a typewriter mode keep the page clear, with dark and light modes and search and replace.
- 6
Goals, streaks and sprints
Keep writing streaks, run timed writing sprints and get success nudges on every plan. Setting weekly and monthly goals is listed from the Starter plan up.
- 7
Notes and planning grid
Notes for research, characters and lore sit beside the manuscript, and a plot grid built from those notes lays out story arcs and plot threads.
- 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
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Novlr at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $8 per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly (Starter)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Novlr Ltd.
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for building a daily novel-writing habit
Novlr is a browser app for drafting a novel, with streaks, sprints and word-count stats on every plan, and the company says it has no generative AI writing tool. The free plan stops at 2 projects with no version history listed. The proofreader, grammar checker and backups sit on Studio at $16 a month billed yearly, and there's no desktop or phone app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Starter is $8 a month billed yearly, or $10 monthly, which lands in the middle band for writing tools, where plans run from about $5 to $12. It buys 10 projects, 30-day history and goals. The proofreader, grammar checker and backups need Studio at $16, or $499 once for life. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free for good, with sync, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, sprints, streaks and analytics. But it stops at 2 projects and version history isn't listed for it at all. One novel and one side project and you're full, which is a cap you'll hit. |
| Features | C | It covers the basics of drafting: focus and typewriter modes, streaks, sprints and analytics on every plan, notes and a plot grid built from them. The gaps are the ones its own pricing shows, though, with the proofreader, the grammar and style checker and the backups all Studio-only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and this is a web app where the work is the thing you build: notes to write up, a plot grid to lay out, goals to set. Signing up and typing is easy enough; getting the planning side going is the slower part. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only. The site lists no desktop or mobile apps, offline is described only as cover for a wobbly connection, and the only things to connect to are Google Drive and Dropbox backups, which need Studio. |
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 Novlr is for
- Fits if you want to build a daily novel-writing habit with streaks, sprints and stats
- Works for writers who want a writing tool with no generative AI in it
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you need a desktop or phone app, as it only runs in a browser and offline is only cover for a weak connection
- Pricey if all you're after is the grammar checker, which sits on Studio at $16 a month billed yearly or $20 monthly
- Tight if you're staying free and have more than 2 projects on the go, and no version history is listed for free
- Tight if you're on Starter at $8 a month, with 10 projects and 30 days of version history
- Watch out: Google Drive and Dropbox backups are Studio-only
Good to know
Good for
- Novelists who want a clean, distraction-free place to draft
- Writers building a daily habit with goals, streaks and sprints
- Writers who want a tool with no generative AI in it
Worth knowing
- The Free plan is limited to 2 projects; Starter allows 10 and only Studio is unlimited.
- The proofreader, the grammar and style checker, and Google Drive and Dropbox backups are Studio-only.
- It runs in a browser; the site lists no desktop or mobile apps, and offline use is described only as protection for unstable internet.
- Version history is 30 days on Starter and unlimited on Studio, and is not listed for the Free plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Novlr has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8 per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly (Starter).
Free for good, with sync, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, sprints, streaks and analytics.
Free
$0
2 projects with cross-device sync, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments and analytics.
Starter
$8
per month, billed yearly ($96); $10 billed monthly
10 projects with 30-day version history, writing goals with streak tracking, and full access to Academy courses.
Studio
$16
per month, billed yearly ($192); $20 billed monthly
Unlimited projects and version history, proofreader and grammar checker, Google Drive and Dropbox backups, and Novlr Sites included.
Lifetime Studio Member
$499
one-time payment
Everything in Studio with no subscription, plus co-ownership of Novlr and exclusive Discord channels.
The free plan
2 projects with sync across devices, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments, writing analytics and starter Academy courses.
Read from novlr.org on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with yearly billing
Starter is $96 a year ($8 a month) against $10 a month billed monthly, and Studio is $192 a year ($16 a month) against $20 a month.
Stated on novlr.orgLifetime license
Lifetime Studio membership for $499
A one-time payment covers everything in Studio with no subscription. Lifetime members also become co-owners of Novlr.
Stated on novlr.org
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
Browser-based novel writing workspace built around writing goals. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: long-form writing, grammar & style.
The gaps are the ones its own pricing shows, though, with the proofreader, the grammar and style checker and the backups all Studio-only.
- Distraction-free editor
- A full-screen focus mode and a typewriter mode keep the page clear, with dark and light modes and search and replace.
- Goals, streaks and sprints
- Keep writing streaks, run timed writing sprints and get success nudges on every plan. Setting weekly and monthly goals is listed from the Starter plan up.
- Notes and planning grid
- Notes for research, characters and lore sit beside the manuscript, and a plot grid built from those notes lays out story arcs and plot threads.
- Writing analytics
- Analytics track word counts over time and show a writer's habits and most productive moments. They are included on every plan.
- Proofreader and grammar checker
- The Studio plan includes a built-in proofreader and an advanced grammar and style checker. Novlr says it has no AI writing or generating tool.
- Novlr Sites
- An author website builder with themes and custom domains, using the same login. It is included with Studio and costs $6 a month or $60 a year on other plans.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
Novlr is made by Novlr Ltd.
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
Novlr'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 $8 a month, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 20 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 22 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. Novlr’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. Novlr 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.
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
You could make the core of Novlr for yourself: long-form writing. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. It costs $96 a year.
What you could make
- Long-form writing: an app builder makes this well.
- It runs in a browser, which is where something home-made would run too.
What you could not
- Grammar checking as you type, wherever you type.
What this rests on. Novlr’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, LivingWriter, Reedsy Studio, Scrivener and Ellipsus
The 5 tools Novlr 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.
- Novlr has a free plan. Dabble does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dabble lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Dabble can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
LivingWriter
Free plan · from $15/mo
Cloud writing app for books and screenplays with planning boards.
- Only LivingWriter lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Novlr also covers grammar & style.
- LivingWriter also covers chat assistant and templates.
- 2.6GPA
Reedsy Studio
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting.
- Novlr also covers grammar & style.
- Reedsy Studio also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
Scrivener
Free trial · from $23.99 one-time
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner.
- Novlr has a free plan. Scrivener does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Novlr lists a web app.
- Only Scrivener lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- 2.8GPA
Ellipsus
Free plan · from $6/mo
Collaborative writing tool for creative writers.
- Novlr also covers grammar & style.
- Ellipsus also covers documents.
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 Novlr free?
Novlr has a free plan. 2 projects with sync across devices, notes, the planning grid, focus mode, writing sprints, streaks, comments, writing analytics and starter Academy courses.
How much does Novlr cost?
Novlr lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Novlr work on?
Novlr is available on Web.
Does Novlr offer any discounts?
Novlr publicly lists the following: Save 20% with yearly billing; Lifetime Studio membership for $499.
Does Novlr have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Novlr is listed for Web.
Does Novlr have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Novlr is listed for Web.
Is Novlr open source?
Novlr is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does Novlr integrate with?
Novlr's listing names Google Drive and Dropbox. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Novlr?
Novlr is made by Novlr Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Novlr?
The closest alternatives to Novlr in our directory are Dabble, LivingWriter, Reedsy Studio, Scrivener and Ellipsus.
How does Novlr compare with other writing tools?
Novlr's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 5 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 5.
Is Novlr good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Novlr 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 Novlr?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. You could make the core of Novlr for yourself: long-form writing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Novlr’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Novlr's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-10.
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 Novlr Ltd. Prices change, so check novlr.org 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
- Novlr, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/novlr
- 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, "Novlr: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/novlr
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/novlr/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Novlr, 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 Novlr’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. Novlr is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Novlr Ltd. Prices and plans change: check novlr.org before you buy.