Scrivener vs Dillinger

Scrivener8.7Visit Dillinger8.3Visit

Higher score Scrivener #5 in Text App 8.7/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Scrivener

vs

Dillinger #8 in Text App 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Dillinger

• Scrivener fits best

  Writers organizing long-form manuscripts

• Dillinger fits best

  Markdown writers who want a free browser editor

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Side by side

Feature	Scrivener 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Dillinger 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.3
Ranking	#5 in Text App	#8 in Text App
Best for	Writers organizing long-form manuscripts	Markdown writers who want a free browser editor
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	$23.99 one-time	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	macOS, Windows, iOS	Web
Integrations	4 integrations	5 integrations
Features Scrivener 1/4 · Dillinger 0/4
Markdown support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Real-time collaboration	—	Not checked yet
Offline access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Version history	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Platforms	Not checked yet	web
Our review
Pros	Binder, corkboard, and outliner views help structure large projects. Keep research beside drafts and compare earlier versions with snapshots. Compile manuscripts for Word, PDF, EPUB, Kindle, and Final Draft.	Side-by-side live preview with synchronized scrolling Imports and saves files through five cloud services Exports to Markdown, styled HTML, and PDF
Cons	No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration. Separate licenses are required for macOS, Windows, and iOS. The iOS app is limited to iPhone and iPad.	Available as a web app, not a multi-platform editor No collaboration features are described Core editing works offline only after the initial load
Our verdict	Scrivener brings outlining, drafting, research storage, and manuscript preparation into one writing application for novelists, screenwriters, academics, journalists, and other long-form writers. Its binder-style structure lets writers… Read the review →	Dillinger is a free, browser-based Markdown editor for developers, technical writers, and others creating READMEs, documentation, blog posts, or structured prompts. Its Monaco-based editor includes syntax highlighting, multiple cursors,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Scrivener — where it wins

  • Binder, corkboard, and outliner views help structure large projects.
  • Keep research beside drafts and compare earlier versions with snapshots.
  • Compile manuscripts for Word, PDF, EPUB, Kindle, and Final Draft.

  Where it doesn't

  • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration.
  • Separate licenses are required for macOS, Windows, and iOS.
  • The iOS app is limited to iPhone and iPad.

• Dillinger — where it wins

  • Side-by-side live preview with synchronized scrolling
  • Imports and saves files through five cloud services
  • Exports to Markdown, styled HTML, and PDF

  Where it doesn't

  • Available as a web app, not a multi-platform editor
  • No collaboration features are described
  • Core editing works offline only after the initial load

• Scrivener8.7/10 · 30-day trial

  A manuscript-focused writing app with deep organization tools and separate one-time licenses.

  Visit ScrivenerFull verdict →
• Dillinger8.3/10 · Free plan

  A free web editor for Markdown, with live preview, offline editing, and cloud-file connections.

  Visit DillingerFull verdict →