Scrivener

Writing app for novels, scripts and theses that organises long projects into pieces.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Scrivener

Scrivener is a word processor built for long writing projects. Instead of one huge document, you write in small sections that you can rearrange in a binder, view as index cards on a corkboard or as an outline, and keep research such as PDFs, images and web pages right next to the draft. When you're done, the Compile feature assembles everything into a manuscript, ebook, screenplay or PDF in the format a publisher or agent expects, and it exports to Word, PDF, Final Draft and plain text. Novelists, screenwriters, academics and journalists use it heavily. It is a one-time purchase per platform from Literature & Latte, available for macOS, Windows and iOS, with a free trial that counts 30 days of actual use. Syncing between devices goes through Dropbox. The learning curve is real, especially Compile, and it is not built for real-time collaboration with editors.

Best for: Novelists, screenwriters and academics working on book-length projects.

What works

Binder, corkboard and outliner make restructuring long drafts easy
Research files live inside the project
One-time purchase rather than a subscription

Why people leave

Compile and settings have a steep learning curve
No real-time collaboration
Mobile sync relies on Dropbox

Top Scrivener alternatives

See all 5

1
Google Docs
Better when editors or co-authors need to comment in real time.
72.2
2
Ulysses
Cleaner Markdown-based writing app on Apple devices with simpler publishing.
66.5
3
iA Writer
Minimal, focused writing for people who find Scrivener too busy.
62.6
4
Obsidian
Free Markdown notes app that some writers use to plan and draft in linked files.
61.5
5
Microsoft Word
What editors and publishers usually expect for final manuscripts.
59.6

Why people left Scrivener

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Scrivener: common questions

Is Scrivener free?

No, Scrivener is a paid product.

Is Scrivener open source?

No, Scrivener is not open source.

What platforms does Scrivener run on?

Scrivener is available for macOS, Windows and iOS.

What are the best alternatives to Scrivener?

The highest-ranked Scrivener alternatives right now are Google Docs, Ulysses and iA Writer. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Scrivener alternatives

Scrivener facts

3 of 3 verified

Free trial: 30 days of use; Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab); “The trial is exactly the same as the full version but will stop working after 30 days of use.”
Export formats: Word, PDF, Final Draft, plain text; Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab); “exporting to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text.”
Import formats: Word, OpenOffice, Final Draft, PDF and more; Checked Oct 25, 2026literatureandlatte.com(opens source in a new tab); “You can import all sorts of files into your Scrivener projects, including Word and OpenOffice documents”