Best novelWriter Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from writing apps ranked against novelWriter on the same published basis.
- 1novelWriter vs Celtx
- 2novelWriter vs Final Draft
- 3novelWriter vs WriterDuet
- 4novelWriter vs Story Architect
- 5novelWriter vs Campfire
- 6novelWriter vs Fade In
- 7novelWriter vs Scrivener
- 8novelWriter vs Etherpad
- 9novelWriter vs DramaQueen
- 10novelWriter vs Write.as
- 11novelWriter vs Pendraic
- 12novelWriter vs Substack
- 13novelWriter vs Tolstoy Compose
- 14novelWriter vs LyX
- 15novelWriter vs Novlr
- 16novelWriter vs Arc Studio Pro
- 17novelWriter vs Lastslate
- 18novelWriter vs bibisco
- 19novelWriter vs Dabble
- 20novelWriter vs Calmly Writer
novelWriter alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtx | 9.5 | Free plan | $11.24/mo | Android, Browser, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Final Draft | 8.9 | No | $0.69/mo | iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 3 | WriterDuet | 8.9 | Free plan | Free | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 4 | Story Architect | 8.9 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | Campfire | 8.8 | Free plan | $19/mo | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 6 | Fade In | 8.7 | No | $8.33/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 7 | Scrivener | 8.5 | No | $23.99/mo | iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 8 | Etherpad | 8.5 | No | — | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 9 | DramaQueen | 8.5 | Free plan | $11.90/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | Write.as | 8.4 | Free plan | $6/mo | self-hosted |
| 11 | Pendraic | 8.4 | Free plan | $14.99/mo | Mac, Web, Windows |
| 12 | Substack | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Web |
| 13 | Tolstoy Compose | 8.3 | Free plan | £5/mo | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 14 | LyX | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Novlr | 8.2 | Free plan | $8/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 16 | Arc Studio Pro | 8.2 | Free plan | $5.75/mo | iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 17 | Lastslate | 8.2 | Free plan | $10/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 18 | bibisco | 8.2 | No | — | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 19 | Dabble | 8.2 | No | $19/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 20 | Calmly Writer | 8.2 | Free plan | — | Android, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
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Questions about novelWriter alternatives
What is the best alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx, number 1 in writing apps with a score of 9.5 out of 10. The others here: Final Draft, WriterDuet, Story Architect and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 14 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.