Scrivener-like features found in other software

  • Write alongside an outline and move chapters/sections around with Microsoft Word's Table of Contents (or Google docs Table of Contents) which also has the benefit of creating an accessible document
  • Productivity: FreeWriter
    Free/pay what you can. A stripped down word processor that focuses on productivity-- alarms, session word counts, productivity logs, etc.

Alternatives to Scrivener

Alternatives are typically aimed at fiction or screenwriting, but like Scrivener, they can be adapted for academic writing.

List of alternatives to Scrivener:

Software reviews:

Selected freemium or free/pay what you want software:

Free/pay what you want is great, of course, but sometimes the trade-off is bare-bones interface and lack of technical support and help.

Selected subscription software:

  • Designed for fiction writing.
  • Most are web-based (with offline options). You'll want to consider the privacy, security, and stability implications of writing on the web. (Terms of Service Didn’t Read TOSDR is a highly recommended tool for quickly getting a sense of what a site’s privacy policy is, in an easy-to-parse manner. Search any service from TOSDR and it'll be awarded a letter grade from A to F. )
  • Require subscription, rather than a one-time purchase.
  • Updated interface which is sometimes easier to use
  • Important: Scrivener's longevity and popularity with academics means that there is more of a community and more tutorials, tips,  trouble-shooting, and campus peers for Scrivener.
  • Dabble
  • Novelpad