1. What does free mean here?
Open-source software is entirely free; a free tier reserves some formats or features for a paid plan. Look closely at exports.
Which free Scrivener alternative should you choose?
Scrivener is sold as a licence for macOS, Windows and iOS. These six alternatives are entirely free or have a lasting free tier, and several run on Linux. Plumelin adds the world of the book, access on every system and import of zipped Scrivener projects.
Six free Scrivener alternatives
A representative, non-exhaustive selection. The “What is free” column separates fully free software from the free tier of a paid service.
| Tool | Best suited to | What is free | Check | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumelin | Authors who want binder-like structure, the world of the book and access on every system. | Outline, scenes, worldbuilding, sync, version history, TXT, Markdown and HTML exports, PDF through browser printing, and import of zipped Scrivener projects. | DOCX and EPUB require the Author plan, at €7 per month. | Plumelin vs Scrivener |
| Manuskript | Authors on Linux or Windows who want a free, open-source tool close to a binder. | Everything: open-source software with a hierarchical outline, characters, plots, world notes and a distraction-free mode. | Its download page offers Linux and Windows, without a macOS version; latest version 0.17.0. | Manuskript overview (new tab) |
| novelWriter | Authors who like durable plain-text files and a Markdown-like syntax. | Everything: open-source software under the GPL-3.0 licence, for Linux, Windows and macOS, with notes and cross-references between files. | Since version 2026.1, macOS installs through the PyPI package rather than a disk image. | novelWriter overview (new tab) |
| bibisco | Novelists who want guidance building their characters. | Community Edition: unlimited projects, character interviews, locations, storylines, chapters and scenes, PDF, DOCX and TXT export. | Timeline, objects, parts and EPUB are reserved for the paid Supporters Edition. | bibisco editions (new tab) |
| Reedsy Studio | Authors who want to write and format the book in the browser. | Manuscript editor, formatting, PDF and EPUB export, and live collaboration with comments and tracked changes. | Online only for now; free planning boards are limited to card view. | Reedsy Studio overview (new tab) |
| yWriter | Windows authors who think of their novel scene by scene. | Everything: chapters and scenes, characters, items and locations, word counts, RTF and EPUB exports. | yWriter7 targets Windows; Android and iOS versions are offered, macOS is in progress, and Linux was only tested through Wine. | yWriter overview (new tab) |
Five questions before leaving Scrivener
Scrivener is sold as a licence for macOS, Windows and iOS. A free alternative must answer the concrete reasons you are leaving.
2. Do you get the binder back?
Scrivener’s binder is for splitting and moving. Check that the tool separates parts, chapters and scenes and lets you reorganise without losing text.
3. Does it run on your devices?
Scrivener does not exist on Linux or Chromebook. If that is why you are leaving, look at each tool’s platform line.
4. Can your Scrivener project come along?
Plumelin imports zipped Scrivener projects. For the other tools, plan an intermediate export from Scrivener, as DOCX or RTF.
5. What happens to the world of the novel?
Scrivener’s research is free-form. Plumelin, Manuskript and bibisco offer structured entries for characters and places.
Which alternative for your situation?
Each tool leads for a specific constraint. Start from the one that makes you leave Scrivener.
You want your projects everywhere
Plumelin is the most direct choice if you write on several devices, including Linux and Chromebook, and want to import your Scrivener project with its world within reach of the scene.
See Scrivener project importYou want open-source software on Linux
Manuskript or novelWriter are worth testing if you prefer an installed app, entirely free, and collaboration is not a need.
See novelWriter (new tab)You want guidance with characters
bibisco is worth testing if character interviews and a free desktop app suit you.
See bibisco (new tab)You want to format the book in the browser
Reedsy Studio is worth testing if free PDF and EPUB export matters more than offline work.
See Reedsy Studio (new tab)Answers before you switch
These answers summarise the differences that genuinely change the choice.
Is there a free version of Scrivener?
No. Scrivener is sold as a licence, with a trial under the official offer. The alternatives on this page are entirely free or offer a free tier.
Which free Scrivener alternative runs on Linux?
Manuskript, novelWriter and bibisco have Linux versions. Plumelin runs in the browser on Linux, offline included, and imports zipped Scrivener projects.
Which free Scrivener alternative runs on a Mac?
Plumelin runs in the browser on a Mac; bibisco offers a macOS version; novelWriter installs through PyPI.
Can I import a Scrivener project for free?
In Plumelin, yes: importing zipped Scrivener projects is part of the product. For the other tools, export from Scrivener to DOCX or RTF first.
Which free alternative exports to EPUB?
Reedsy Studio and yWriter export to EPUB for free. In Plumelin, EPUB requires the Author plan; in bibisco, the Supporters Edition.
Sources and limits of the comparison
Information about the tools listed comes from their official overview, download and documentation pages, consulted on 17 October 2026. Plumelin features were checked in the product and its product pages.
Flying Golem publishes Plumelin. This comparison aims for objectivity based on available public information; unless stated otherwise, it is not an exhaustive real-world test. Has something changed? Email us at hello@plumelin.com.
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Start for free with a zipped copy of your project. Check chapters, scenes and notes before moving the whole novel.
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