Scrivener
Manuscript writing app with a binder, corkboard and outliner
Our verdict
Third of our top three writing tools
For: Writers of novels, theses and other long manuscripts
Scrivener is built for long manuscripts such as novels, theses and scripts. A project is split into sections that sit in a binder beside your notes and research, and moving index cards on a corkboard or rows in an outliner reorders the manuscript itself before it is compiled into one document. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription: $59.99 for macOS or Windows, and $23.99 for iPhone and iPad. It is third because it serves one kind of writing and has no free version, only a trial that lasts for 30 days of use. Each platform needs its own license, no Android, Linux or web version is listed, and sync between the iPhone and iPad app and the desktop versions runs through Dropbox.
See all three and how we rankScrivener report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for long manuscripts you keep rearranging
Scrivener is the classic app for wrestling a long manuscript into shape: you write in small sections, shuffle them as index cards on a corkboard, then compile the lot into one document. It's $59.99 once, with no subscription. But every platform is a separate purchase, and getting your work between the iPhone app and your computer goes through Dropbox.
Who Scrivener is for
- Great if you're managing a novel or a thesis and want to write it in small pieces
- Handy when you restructure a lot, since moving a card on the corkboard moves the chapter
- Good for people who'd rather pay once than subscribe
Who Scrivener is not for
- Skip it if you write on Android, Linux or in a browser, as none of those is listed
- Pricey if you want it on Mac, Windows and iPhone, because each one is a separate licence
- Not for you if you don't want Dropbox, since that's how the iOS app syncs with the desktop
Why Scrivener gets a 3.2
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$59.99 once for macOS or Windows, covering every computer in your household on that platform. That's about half a year of a typical $10 a month writing tool. You do pay again per platform: the iOS app is $23.99, and a Mac and Windows bundle is $95.98.
- CFree plan and trialNo free plan. The Mac and Windows versions have a free trial that lasts for 30 days of use, not 30 calendar days, which is generous. There's no trial of the iOS app at all.
- AFeaturesA binder for manuscript sections, notes and research, a corkboard and outliner where moving a card reorders the book, snapshots before a rewrite, and word targets. Compile turns it all into Word, PDF, Final Draft or ePub. There's a scriptwriting mode too.
- BEase of useThere's no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It's an app you install, and the trial counts 30 days of actual use, so there's time to find your way around. Syncing with the iOS app is more work, as it needs a Dropbox account.
- BPlatforms and integrationsmacOS, Windows, iPhone and iPad, each bought separately. No Android, Linux or web version is listed. Dropbox is the one integration, and it's how the iOS app syncs with the desktop.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Literature & Latte's own pages on 5 October 2026. Its store page would not load when we went back to check it, so we looked at its App Store listings instead. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/scrivener#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/scrivener.svg" alt="Scrivener: 3.2 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is Scrivener?
Scrivener is a writing app for long manuscripts such as novels, theses and scripts. A project is split into sections that sit in a binder next to notes and research files, and those sections can be rearranged as index cards on a corkboard or as rows in an outliner before being compiled into one document. It is sold as a one-time license for each platform, with no subscription.
Scrivener is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows. See every plan
Good for
- Novelists and academics managing book-length projects
- Writers who restructure a draft by moving scenes and chapters around
- People who want to pay once instead of subscribing
Worth knowing
- Each platform needs its own license: the macOS, Windows and iOS versions are bought separately.
- The store sells versions for macOS, Windows and iOS only; no Android, Linux or web version is listed.
- Sync between the iOS app and the desktop versions runs through Dropbox and needs a Dropbox account.
- A license does not cover major version updates; moving from Scrivener 3 to a future Scrivener 4 means buying a discounted upgrade.
Key features
- Binder
- Keeps manuscript sections, notes and reference material in one sidebar, so a long text is written and navigated in small pieces.
- Corkboard and outliner
- Every section has an index card with a synopsis. Moving cards on the corkboard or rows in the outliner reorders the manuscript itself.
- Compile
- Exports the assembled manuscript to formats including Microsoft Word, RTF, PDF, Final Draft and ePub, with formatting applied at export.
- Snapshots
- Saves a copy of a section before a rewrite, so the earlier version can be compared with the new one or restored.
- Research alongside the draft
- Imports PDFs, images, web pages, and sound and movie files into the project and shows them next to the text being written.
- Targets and scriptwriting
- Word or character targets with live counters and a writing history, plus a scriptwriting mode that handles screenplay and stage-play formatting.
Scrivener pricing
- Starts at
- $23.99 one-time (iOS); $59.99 one-time for macOS or Windows
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free trial on macOS and Windows that lasts for 30 days of use, not 30 calendar days. No trial of the iOS app.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Scrivener for iOS & iPadOS | $23.99one-time purchase | The iPhone and iPad app. There is no trial, and a Dropbox account is required for sync. |
| Educational Licence | $50.99one-time purchase, per platform | The macOS or Windows version for students and academics. Requires an institutional affiliation. |
| Standard Licence | $59.99one-time purchase, per platform | The full macOS or Windows version, licensed for every computer in a household that runs that platform. |
| macOS + Windows bundle | $95.98one-time purchase | A separate license for each of macOS and Windows, sold together at a lower combined price. |
Read from literatureandlatte.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Scrivener before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- EducationEducational Licence for students and academics
The macOS and Windows versions are sold to students and academics with an institutional affiliation for $50.99, against $59.99 for a Standard Licence.
Stated on literatureandlatte.com - Other savingsmacOS and Windows bundle
Buying Scrivener for macOS and Windows together costs $95.98, against $119.98 for two separate Standard Licences.
Stated on literatureandlatte.com - Other savingsDiscounted upgrades from older versions
Owners of an earlier major version can buy an upgrade license at a discount instead of paying the full price for the new version.
Stated on literatureandlatte.com
Works with
Scrivener alternatives
- Scrivener vs Ulysses
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
- Scrivener vs Dabble
Free trial · from $19/mo
- Scrivener vs Atticus
From $147 one-time
- Scrivener vs LivingWriter
Free plan · from $15/mo
- Scrivener vs Novlr
Free plan · from $8/mo
Common questions
Is Scrivener free?
No, Scrivener is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial on macOS and Windows that lasts for 30 days of use, not 30 calendar days. No trial of the iOS app.
How much does Scrivener cost?
Scrivener lists 4 plans. Scrivener for iOS & iPadOS: $23.99 one-time purchase. Educational Licence: $50.99 one-time purchase, per platform. Standard Licence: $59.99 one-time purchase, per platform. macOS + Windows bundle: $95.98 one-time purchase. Prices were read from literatureandlatte.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What platforms does Scrivener work on?
Scrivener is available on macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Scrivener offer any discounts?
Scrivener publicly lists the following: Educational Licence for students and academics; macOS and Windows bundle; Discounted upgrades from older versions.
Does Scrivener have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Scrivener is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Scrivener have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Scrivener is listed for macOS, Windows and iOS.
Is Scrivener open source?
Scrivener is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Scrivener integrate with?
Scrivener's listing names Dropbox. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Scrivener have a student discount?
Educational Licence for students and academics. The macOS and Windows versions are sold to students and academics with an institutional affiliation for $50.99, against $59.99 for a Standard Licence.
Who makes Scrivener?
Scrivener is made by Literature & Latte. It dates from 2006.
What are the alternatives to Scrivener?
The closest alternatives to Scrivener in our directory are Ulysses, Dabble, Atticus, LivingWriter and Novlr. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Scrivener.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.