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Head-to-head · Book Writing Software

Scrivener vs yWriter

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Scrivener #1 in Book Writing Software 9.4/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Scrivener
yWriter #7 in Book Writing Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit yWriter

Scrivener leads on 0 checks, yWriter on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreScrivener · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly yWriter
  • Free trialonly Scrivener

Scrivener scores higher on our rubric for book writing software: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

yWriter offers free plan; Scrivener doesn't.

Scrivener is the better fit for serious long-form authors. yWriter is the better fit for free multi-platform traditional writers.

  • Scrivener fits best

    Serious long-form authors

  • yWriter fits best

    Free multi-platform traditional writers

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Side by side

Feature Scrivener 9.4/10 Visit ↗ yWriter 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.6
Ranking #1 in Book Writing Software #7 in Book Writing Software
Best for Serious long-form authors Free multi-platform traditional writers
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $23.99 one-time —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Integrations 4 integrations 2 integrations
Features Scrivener 0/5 · yWriter 0/5
Outlining tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Manuscript formatting Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Collaboration — Not checked yet
Revision history Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Export formats extensive extensive
Our review
Pros
  • Binder, corkboard, outliner, and folder views organize complex manuscripts.
  • Research, snapshots, targets, backups, and progress tracking stay with the project.
  • Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks into extensive export formats.
  • Free desktop software with Windows support and Linux use through Wine
  • Organizes chapters, scenes, characters, locations, and items
  • Exports documents, ebooks, HTML, and LaTeX for publishing workflows
Cons
  • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration is provided.
  • Separate perpetual licences are required for macOS, Windows, and iOS.
  • Availability is limited to macOS, Windows, and iOS.
  • Linux use depends on Wine rather than a native desktop version
  • Mobile-app prices are one-time regional store prices that vary by country
  • Its chapter-and-scene structure may not suit one-document writing workflows
Our verdict

Scrivener is a long-form writing application for novelists, screenwriters, academics, journalists, and other writers managing substantial projects. Its binder-style structure lets authors divide work into sections, folders, and subfolders,…

Read the review →

yWriter is novel-writing software for authors who prefer building a book from chapters and scenes instead of working in one large document. It combines a built-in scene editor with automatic backups, earlier-project restoration, word-count…

Read the review →
  1. ScrivenerBook Writing Software 9.430-day trial
  2. yWriterBook Writing Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Scrivener — where it wins

    • Binder, corkboard, outliner, and folder views organize complex manuscripts.
    • Research, snapshots, targets, backups, and progress tracking stay with the project.
    • Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks into extensive export formats.

    Where it doesn't

    • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration is provided.
    • Separate perpetual licences are required for macOS, Windows, and iOS.
    • Availability is limited to macOS, Windows, and iOS.

  • yWriter — where it wins

    • Free desktop software with Windows support and Linux use through Wine
    • Organizes chapters, scenes, characters, locations, and items
    • Exports documents, ebooks, HTML, and LaTeX for publishing workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux use depends on Wine rather than a native desktop version
    • Mobile-app prices are one-time regional store prices that vary by country
    • Its chapter-and-scene structure may not suit one-document writing workflows

More comparisons

All book writing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update