Head-to-head · Writing Apps
Novlr vs yWriter
Novlr leads on 0 checks, yWriter on 1, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreNovlr · 5.8/10
- Free planboth
Novlr scores higher on our rubric for writing apps: 5.8 against 3.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #37 and #101.
yWriter offers mobile apps; Novlr doesn't.
Novlr is the better fit for goal-driven novelists. yWriter is the better fit for novelists wanting free offline project structure.
- Novlr fits best
Goal-driven novelists
- yWriter fits best
Novelists wanting free offline project structure
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Side by side
| Feature | Novlr 5.8/10 Visit ↗ | yWriter 3.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 5.8 | 3.0 |
| Ranking | #37 in Writing Apps | #101 in Writing Apps |
| Best for | Goal-driven novelists | Novelists wanting free offline project structure |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $8/mo | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | 2 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Features Novlr 4/5 · yWriter 4/5 | ||
| Publishing tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time collaboration | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Version history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Export formats | Extensive | Extensive |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Novlr is a browser-based creative writing workspace for novelists and other writers who want their drafting, planning and progress tracking in one place. It combines a fullscreen focus mode with project and chapter organization, notes,… Read the review → |
Rather than treating a novel as one long document, yWriter organizes a project into chapters and scenes, with space to track characters and other story elements. It suits novelists who want a structured workspace, word-count tracking, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Novlr — where it wins
- Free plan includes focus mode, writing goals, planning and two projects.
- Studio adds unlimited projects, version history and proofreading tools.
- Novlr Sites and cloud backups support author publishing workflows.
Where it doesn't
- The Free plan is limited to two projects.
- Starter limits projects to 10 and version history to 30 days.
- Mobile access is through browsers rather than a native app.
yWriter — where it wins
- Organizes novels into chapters, scenes, characters, and story elements
- Automatic backups, earlier-backup restoration, and word-count tracking
- Exports to document, ebook, and print-oriented formats
Where it doesn't
- No collaboration features
- No AI features
- Integration support is limited to Dropbox and Calibre
- Novlr5.8/10 · Free plan
A browser-based novel-writing workspace with planning, goals and publishing tools.
Visit NovlrFull verdict → - yWriter3.0/10 · Free plan
A free, structured workspace for novelists who prefer chapters and scenes to one long document.
Visit yWriterFull verdict →
All writing apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update