Best novelWriter Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from writing apps ranked against novelWriter on the same published basis.
- 1novelWriter vs Celtx
- 2novelWriter vs Story Architect
- 3novelWriter vs Write.as
- 4novelWriter vs Final Draft
- 5novelWriter vs WriterDuet
- 6novelWriter vs Campfire
- 7novelWriter vs Pendraic
- 8novelWriter vs DramaQueen
- 9novelWriter vs Lastslate
- 10novelWriter vs Scrivener
- 11novelWriter vs Substack
- 12novelWriter vs Fade In
- 13novelWriter vs HackMD
- 14novelWriter vs Calmly Writer
- 15novelWriter vs LyX
- 16novelWriter vs Hashnode
- 17novelWriter vs HedgeDoc
- 18novelWriter vs Novlr
- 19novelWriter vs Arc Studio Pro
- 20novelWriter vs Overleaf
novelWriter alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtx | 9.6 | Free plan | $11.24/mo | Android, Browser, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Story Architect | 9.0 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 3 | Write.as | 8.9 | Free plan | $6/mo | self-hosted |
| 4 | Final Draft | 8.7 | No | $0.69/mo | iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 5 | WriterDuet | 8.7 | Free plan | Free | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 6 | Campfire | 8.7 | Free plan | $19/mo | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 7 | Pendraic | 8.7 | Free plan | $14.99/mo | Mac, Web, Windows |
| 8 | DramaQueen | 8.7 | Free plan | $11.90/mo | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | Lastslate | 8.6 | Free plan | $10/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 10 | Scrivener | 8.4 | No | $23.99/mo | iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Substack | 8.4 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Web |
| 12 | Fade In | 8.4 | No | $8.33/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 13 | HackMD | 8.3 | Free plan | $5/mo | Web |
| 14 | Calmly Writer | 8.3 | Free plan | — | Android, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 15 | LyX | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 16 | Hashnode | 8.2 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | API, Web |
| 17 | HedgeDoc | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | self-hosted, Web |
| 18 | Novlr | 8.2 | Free plan | $8/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 19 | Arc Studio Pro | 8.2 | Free plan | $5.75/mo | iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 20 | Overleaf | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Web |
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Questions about novelWriter alternatives
What is the best alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx, number 1 in writing apps with a score of 9.6 out of 10. The others here: Story Architect, Write.as, Final Draft and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 17 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.