Top 8 Writers' Preferred Scrivener Alternatives, with a Standout Pick for Ultimate Writing Solution
For writers seeking an alternative to Scrivener for their novel-writing needs, there are several options available that cater to various preferences and requirements. Here, we explore six notable alternatives, each offering unique features and advantages to help you make an informed decision.
Atticus: The All-in-One Powerhouse
Regarded as the top Scrivener alternative, Atticus combines powerful writing and professional formatting tools in one cloud-based app. Its simple interface is ideal for beginners, while its extensive front and back matter options, drag-and-drop chapter organization, and built-in ProWritingAid integration make it a strong choice for more experienced writers as well. Atticus offers a seamless editing experience without the need for exports.
Ulysses: A Distraction-Free Haven for Apple Users
Ulysses is a popular choice among Apple users for its clean, distraction-free writing environment and smooth organization capabilities. Suitable for minimalist writers, Ulysses provides effective content management and export options without overwhelming users with excessive features.
Google Docs: Collaborative Excellence for Free
Google Docs shines in collaboration, making it the best free option for working with editors or beta readers in real time. Its suggestion mode, outline view for easy navigation, and cloud storage ensure automatic backups, making it a convenient choice for writers who value collaboration. However, its organizational and productivity features are limited compared to Scrivener.
Quoll Writer: A Free, Open-Source Option
Quoll Writer is a free, open-source alternative that offers both plotting and writing features with a full-screen mode to avoid distractions. Although it has fewer capabilities, occasional glitches, and less frequent updates, it remains a viable option for those seeking a Scrivener-like tool without the cost.
Novlr: Simplicity and Community Support
Novlr is a web-based tool with a minimalist design, simple organizational tools like chapter outlines and character notes, and an active writing community. It is suitable for writers overwhelmed by feature-heavy software such as Scrivener and offers tiered pricing from free to lifetime pro.
Hemingway App: Prose Polishing Perfection
Hemingway App is ideal for improving writing clarity and readability. It highlights stylistic issues and readability stats with a simple interface and affordable pricing. However, it lacks advanced book-length export features, making it best suited as a complement to your main writing software.
Additional Options
Two more alternatives worth mentioning are SmartEdit Writer and FocusWriter. SmartEdit Writer offers features like storing links and images in the research section, writing scene-by-scene, and helping you locate overused words and phrases, along with adverbs and cliches. FocusWriter Pros include customization options, word count goals, timers for writing sprints, a distraction-free interface, and in-app spell check.
Paid Options
Living Writer, priced at $96 per year or $9.99 per month, is a subscription-based app designed for fiction writers, offering features like storytelling templates and auto-suggest/error correction. Atticus, the best paid Scrivener alternative on the market, offers more formatting and customization options, a less distracting interface, and a plethora of other features both currently available and coming soon.
Other Notable Mentions
Bibisco, a free fiction writing project tool, offers great plotting tools, allowing you to view your story as a timeline and add images of important objects. However, it can be too complicated for some, and most of the powerful features are in the paid version. Quoll Writer, while an open-source software that's a viable alternative to Scrivener, is severely limited in its capability and hasn't updated in a while.
In summary, these alternatives cater to various writing styles and needs, from beginner-friendly interfaces to professional formatting and collaborative editing. The choice depends on your workflow preferences and whether you prioritize organization, ease, cost, or collaboration.
- For those seeking a cloud-based alternative with powerful writing tools and professional formatting, Atticus might be the best choice, offering a seamless editing experience without the need for exports.
- For minimalist writers using Apple devices, Ulysses provides a clean, distraction-free writing environment and smooth organization capabilities, making it a popular choice among Apple users.
