Scrivener (and other Academic Writing Software)

• Navigation Pane/Table of Contents
  Write with an outline visible at all times and move chapters/sections around with Microsoft Word's Navigation Pane (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.

NotaBene
Originally created in 1983, this writing software was specifically developed for academic writing and combines note-taking, referencing, & writing functionality. It continues to have a small, but dedicated community of users.

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

List of alternatives to Scrivener:

• Alternativeto's List

Software reviews:

• PC Magazine's review of Scrivener
• PC Magazine's Best Writing Software

Selected free/pay what you want downloaded software:

• Bibisco 

• YWriter - First generation and one of the oldest and longest-lived writing software. PC Magazine's Review of yWriter

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). Consider the privacy, security, and stability implications of writing on the web, especially as it relates to AI. (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 numerous campus peers
• Novlr - Freemium, Designed for fiction. Web-based but protects privacy. A simpler, bare bones alternative to Scrivener.
• Dabble
• Novelpad