Scrivener vs StackEdit

Scrivener8.7Visit StackEdit8.4Visit

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

vs

StackEdit #7 in Text App 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit StackEdit

• Scrivener fits best

  Writers organizing long-form manuscripts

• StackEdit fits best

  Markdown users wanting publishing and collaboration

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Side by side

Feature	Scrivener 8.7/10 Visit ↗	StackEdit 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.4
Ranking	#5 in Text App	#7 in Text App
Best for	Writers organizing long-form manuscripts	Markdown users wanting publishing and collaboration
Pricing model	Paid	Free
Starting price	$23.99 one-time	Free plan
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Platforms	macOS, Windows, iOS	Web, Chrome extension
Integrations	4 integrations	6 integrations
Features Scrivener 1/4 · StackEdit 1/4
Markdown support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Real-time collaboration	—	✓ (best)
Offline access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Version history	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Platforms	Not checked yet	web, chrome_extension, self_hosted
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.	Live preview, synchronized scrolling, and WYSIWYG formatting controls Offline writing plus sync with Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub Collaborative workspaces, inline comments, and CMS publishing
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.	Use is limited to web, Chrome extension, or self-hosted deployments Support channels are community-based Its Markdown flavor is custom
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 →	StackEdit is an open-source Markdown editor for individuals and teams who want to write, collaborate, and publish documents in a browser. It combines Markdown syntax highlighting with WYSIWYG formatting controls and a live preview that… 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.

• StackEdit — where it wins

  • Live preview, synchronized scrolling, and WYSIWYG formatting controls
  • Offline writing plus sync with Google Drive, Dropbox, and GitHub
  • Collaborative workspaces, inline comments, and CMS publishing

  Where it doesn't

  • Use is limited to web, Chrome extension, or self-hosted deployments
  • Support channels are community-based
  • Its Markdown flavor is custom

• Scrivener8.7/10 · 30-day trial

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

  Visit ScrivenerFull verdict →
• StackEdit8.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source Markdown editor with offline writing, cloud sync, and CMS publishing.

  Visit StackEditFull verdict →