Campfire vs Dabble

Campfire brings together writing software, a mobile writing app, an online eBook store and a reading app for authors, publishers and readers. Its Manuscript Module supports drafting, chapter organization on a digital corkboard, Index Card View, word-count goals and writing statistics. Worldbuilding tools include modules for characters, cultures, items, locations, philosophies, religions, species, systems, an encyclopedia, magic, maps, research, timelines, arcs, calendars, languages and relationships. Users can invite as many collaborators as they want to view, comment on or edit a project. Campfire states that storage is unlimited across its apps, and manuscripts can be exported as PDF or EPUB. The free desktop app for Mac and Windows supports offline writing. The iOS and Android mobile app requires internet access and omits some modules; free-plan element limits apply in browser and desktop access. Campfire says it backs up work with Amazon servers and keeps projects limited to invited people until sharing or publication. Authors can publish eBooks and digital bonus content and connect Stripe for royalties and sales analytics.

Dabble is a fiction-writing tool aimed especially at novelists, from first-time hobbyists to professional authors. Its Plot Grid organizes plot lines, plot points, and labels, alongside character profiles and worldbuilding tools. The editor includes scene organization, focus mode, daily word-count goals, and auto-numbered chapters. For editing, it offers sticky notes, comments, highlights, and built-in grammar and style checks. Co-authors can work together on a manuscript in real time. Dabble says it provides automatic cloud backup and sync, along with regular online and offline backups. Projects can be exported to the web, Word, and Google Docs; a NaNoWriMo word tracker is included. It runs in a browser and has Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android availability. There is no free plan, though a 14-day trial is listed. Writer costs $19 a month, Author $29 a month, and Bestseller $49 a month. After a subscription ends, manuscripts and notes remain viewable and exportable but become read-only.