Campfire vs yWriter

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.

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.