Looking for a Scrivener alternative that keeps your novel and its planning together? Faustica combines a manuscript editor, Plot Planner, Compendium and timeline in one program for Windows and macOS. Work offline, keep your projects on your own device and try Faustica free for 30 days with your own manuscript.
This guide shows how Faustica supports your writing and planning, how to bring your text over from Scrivener and what to consider when switching. It also covers other programs for specific needs such as mobile writing or collaboration.
This Writing Academy is published by Faustica. Comparisons are based on documented vendor information. Sources for other software are listed at the end; check current vendor information before buying.
What Scrivener does well
Before looking at alternatives, it is worth taking an honest look at the original, because you will miss some of it. Scrivener by Literature & Latte organizes a manuscript in a “Binder,” where chapters, scenes and research material sit side by side. Every section has an index card on a virtual corkboard; move a card and the text moves with it. An outline view shows synopses, word counts and metadata. When you “Compile” the manuscript, you get Word, RTF and PDF files, e-books and more.
Scrivener runs on macOS, Windows and iOS, and you can sync via Dropbox. Licenses are paid once and, according to the vendor, cover all computers in your household that run the licensed operating system, but they are sold per platform; a new major version costs extra, at a discount. Once you have set Scrivener up, it is a very flexible tool.
Why writers look for alternatives
The reasons for switching tend to be the same:
- The learning curve. Scrivener can do a great deal, and Compile in particular takes some getting used to. If you just want to write, the sheer range can feel like a burden.
- Mac and Windows. If you work on both systems, you need two licenses. Features and handling can differ between the platforms. Check the features that matter to you during the trial before you buy.
- Devices. Besides the desktop versions there is an app for iPhone and iPad, but none for Android.
- Planning. Scrivener is built mainly for organizing text and research. If you prefer to plan storylines, timelines or character relationships visually, you often look for a specialized tool.
- Writing together. If you want to work on the same text with others at the same time, you usually end up with cloud services.
The alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | What it does differently from Scrivener | Platforms | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faustica | Plot Planner, Compendium, timeline; offline | Windows 10/11, macOS 13+ | One-time purchase per platform through its respective store |
| Ulysses | Minimal markup editor, iCloud sync | Mac, iPad, iPhone | Subscription |
| yWriter | Chapters, scenes, characters, locations; very plain | Windows (other versions by another developer) | Free (Windows) |
| novelWriter | Plain text with markdown-like syntax, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free |
| Plottr | Planning tool only, exports to Scrivener and Word | Windows, Mac; browser on Pro plans | Subscription or lifetime |
| Dabble | Cloud, plot grid, co-authoring | Any device via your account | Subscription or lifetime |
| Atticus | Writing plus book formatting | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, browser | One-time purchase |
| Word / LibreOffice Writer | Familiar word processor, no planning area | Windows, macOS (Writer also Linux) | Subscription/one-time or free |
As of October 2026. Sources at the end of the page. For a broader overview that also covers word processors in detail, see Writing software compared.
The alternatives by reason
Writing and planning in one program: Faustica
Faustica connects your manuscript with visual planning: organise storylines and scenes in the Plot Planner, develop characters and settings in the Compendium and keep research and events together with notes and a timeline. Import your text as a Word file and try Faustica free for 30 days with your own project.
If you want something leaner and only use Apple: Ulysses
Ulysses is a calm, markup-based editor for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Your texts live in a library, goals and deadlines keep you going, export produces PDF, Word files and e-books, and sync runs via iCloud. A grammar and style checker is built in. Ulysses is subscription-only, billed yearly or monthly. The vendor mentions no dedicated tools for characters or plot, and no Windows version.
If it shouldn’t cost anything: yWriter and novelWriter
yWriter divides your novel into chapters and scenes that you can move between chapters, and keeps track of characters, locations and items; a storyboard shows the scenes visually. According to the developer, yWriter7 is free on Windows and exports RTF, EPUB and LaTeX, among others. Versions for Mac and mobile devices come from another developer and are paid.
novelWriter is open source and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; on macOS, according to the project site, it is currently offered only as a Python package. You write in plain text with markdown-like syntax and link notes through tags; an outline view shows the structure. At the end, novelWriter builds Word, Open Document, PDF, HTML or Markdown files. If you love the corkboard and index cards, this is quite a change.
If you just want to plan better: Plottr
Plottr doesn’t replace Scrivener, it complements it. It offers a visual timeline for scenes and chapters, templates, and sheets for characters and places. According to the vendor, you write in another program, and Plottr exports your outline to Scrivener and Word, among others. There are subscriptions and lifetime licenses, and there is a 30-day free trial.
If you write on many devices or with others: Dabble and Google Docs
Dabble works with an online account, syncs automatically and keeps a local copy for offline use, according to the vendor. A plot grid connects planning and text, and co-authors can work on the same manuscript. Plans are subscriptions billed monthly or annually, lifetime access is also available, and the free trial lasts 14 days.
Google Docs is free with a Google account, runs in the browser and as an app, and lets several people edit at the same time. Headings and the document outline help with longer texts, but specialized tools for storylines and characters are missing. For working on individual chapters together, that may be enough. In both cases, your manuscript is stored with the provider.
If you self-publish and want a finished book file: Atticus
Atticus combines a writing editor with book formatting: drag-and-drop chapters, writing goals, 17 formatting templates and export to EPUB, PDF and DOCX. According to the vendor, it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook and in the browser, works offline and is a one-time purchase including future updates. The vendor doesn’t describe a corkboard or research binder like Scrivener’s, so if you rely on those, you might keep drafting elsewhere and use Atticus for the final layout.
If you want to go back to a word processor: Word or LibreOffice Writer
Some writers leave Scrivener because they realize they hardly use its planning features. Then a word processor is an honest step. According to Microsoft, Word comes with Microsoft 365 Personal as a subscription or with Office Home 2024 as a one-time purchase; LibreOffice is free. You then manage planning and characters elsewhere, for example in Plottr or on paper. What to watch out for is explained in Word alternatives for writers.
Planning your move away from Scrivener
Switching programs works best with a plan. These steps have proven useful:
- Pick your moment. Switch between two projects or after finishing a draft, not in the middle of a chapter.
- Back up the Scrivener project. Keep the original untouched so you can always go back.
- Export the text. According to the vendor, Scrivener exports to Word and RTF, among others. Check which format your new program can import, and test it with one or two chapters first.
- Carry over the structure. Which part and chapter headings come along depends on your Compile settings. Index card synopses, labels and status usually don’t turn into the matching planning data in the new program when you import text. Note beforehand which metadata you really need.
- Move planning and research by hand. Character sheets, setting descriptions and research notes are organized differently in every program. This is a good chance to tidy up rather than copy everything.
- Compare word counts and spot-check. Make sure all chapters are there, and check the beginning and end of each chapter as well as italics, paragraphs and scene breaks. Word counts are an extra clue, but they can differ depending on how they are counted and don’t prove on their own that everything came across.
An example: moving a crime novel
The example is a writing project about ferrywoman Rika and her childhood friend Hauke, who draws her into drug transport without her knowledge and later threatens her. Suppose this invented suspense novel already lives in Scrivener: chapters in the Binder, profiles for both and notes on island supplies and shipments.
A trial move should test more than body text. Do headings and chapter order transfer appropriately? Which scene summaries, labels and research files need separate transfer or recreation?
Test discovery – aggressive threat – Rika’s counterplan. Missing notes can leave the imported narrative apparently complete but strip out important motivations. Compare the sample with the original project before moving the full draft. Changing software does not change the established ending involving the anonymous tip.
Common mistakes
- Switching to solve a problem that isn’t about software. If the draft has stalled, a new tool rarely helps.
- Moving everything at once. Bring every old note along and you will have the same clutter in the new program straight away.
- Not testing the export. Finding out during editing that footnotes or formatting are missing costs time.
- Deleting the original. Keep the Scrivener project at least until your next finished draft.
Practical tips
- Test every alternative with the same three chapters. That way you compare programs, not texts.
- Check the minimum requirements for operating system and devices before you buy.
- If offline work matters to you, check whether a program requires an account or an internet connection. More on this in Writing software without a subscription or cloud.
- Whether you need specialized software at all, and which features really matter, is covered in What to look for in novel writing software.
Try Faustica free for 30 days
Faustica is an alternative for writers who work offline on a novel on Windows or macOS and want planning and text in one program. Instead of a binder full of documents, it has dedicated areas: in the Plot Planner, storylines form the rows and chapters the columns, you move scene cards via drag and drop, and four structure templates help you place your turning points. You assign scenes to chapters; their position in the book is calculated from chapter word counts and how scenes are distributed. The Compendium collects characters, places and your own categories, with a relationship graph. Export produces Word, PDF, EPUB and Markdown, with templates including a standard manuscript format.
With Faustica, your novel and its planning stay together: chapters, characters, settings and research are close to your text. Write and plan offline, keep your projects on your own device and get started without a Faustica account. You can import existing text as Word or Markdown files and continue working on it in Faustica.
Try Faustica free for 30 days and see how it fits your writing process. You can then buy the version for your platform as a one-time purchase: Windows through the Microsoft Store and macOS through the Mac App Store. Each version is sold separately through its respective store.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Scrivener?
Yes. yWriter (on Windows) and novelWriter are free, according to their developers, and both divide a novel into chapters and scenes. LibreOffice Writer is free too, but has no planning tools.
Which Scrivener alternative works on an iPad?
Ulysses runs on Mac, iPad and iPhone, Dabble on any device through your account, and Atticus in the browser. Scrivener itself also has an iOS version. Faustica has no iPad or Android app.
Can I move my Scrivener projects to another program?
The text, yes, by exporting to Word or RTF. Planning data such as index cards, labels or collections usually don’t come across completely and have to be set up again in the new program. Test the move with a few chapters first.
Is Plottr a replacement for Scrivener?
No. According to the vendor, Plottr is a planning tool without a manuscript editor; you write in another program. Many writers use it alongside Scrivener or Word rather than instead of them.
Sources
Research on other companies’ software: October 2026, based on the vendor pages linked below. This is a comparison of documented features and pricing models, not a hands-on test of every program. Statements about suitability and ways of working are editorial assessments.
- Scrivener, features, platforms and versions: literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview · Licensing: literatureandlatte.com/how-our-licensing-works
- Ulysses, features and platforms: ulysses.app
- yWriter: spacejock.com/yWriter7.html
- novelWriter: novelwriter.io · novelwriter.io/features.html
- Plottr, features: plottr.com
- Dabble, features: dabblewriter.com
- Atticus: atticus.io
- Google Docs: workspace.google.com/products/docs
- LibreOffice: libreoffice.org · libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice