Buttondown vs yWriter
Buttondown
buttondown.comyWriter
spacejock.comSide by side
| Figure | Buttondown | yWriter |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 7 | 11 |
| Spec score · Writing Apps | 9.0 (#11) | 8.8 (#26) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | The integrations directory lists services including Stripe, Zapier, WordPress, Ghost, Discord, Mastodon, Bluesky, LinkedIn, Medium, YouTube, Spotify and many others. | Mobile editions use Dropbox to edit desktop projects, while the desktop program can back up to FTP when server credentials are supplied. |
| Support | Support is handled by human staff and covers feature questions, migration, deliverability, bugs, feedback, billing and account issues. | Support channels include a Google Group, Facebook page, email and an Android user forum. |
Plans
Buttondown
- FreeFree
- Paid tier$9 a month
- FreeFree
- Basic$9 a month
- Standard$29 a month
- Professional$79 a month
- Advanced$139 a month
yWriter
- DesktopPrice not published
- AndroidPrice not published
- iOSPrice not published
- Mac betaFree
- Windows desktopFree
- yWriter7 for WindowsFree
- yWriter for MacOS betaFree
- Android app$5.49, paid once
- iPhone/iPad app$14.99, paid once
- yWriter for AndroidPrice not published
In their own words
Buttondown
Buttondown has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
yWriter
yWriter is novel-writing software that organizes a manuscript into chapters and scenes; it does not generate plot ideas or perform creative tasks. Scenes can be moved between chapters by drag and drop, and unused scenes can be left out of word counts and exports without being deleted. Each scene can record a viewpoint character, goal, conflict, and outcome, and can include multiple characters. The program tracks word counts per file and for the project, and keeps a daily log of words written. Automatic backups can run at user-set intervals, and the editor can save timed scene snapshots. yWriter is available for Windows, with Linux use tested through Wine, as well as Android and iOS apps. The Windows application stores data on the user's computer and needs no internet connection for ordinary use. The site says mobile versions are intended for editing PC projects on the go using Dropbox. The Windows version is free to use and supports Windows 7 SP1 or newer; the macOS beta is temporarily free but unstable. Mobile apps are described as available for a small charge, with no amount listed.