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The ultimate writing studio for long-form projects, combining tools for drafting, research, and organization.

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Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge
291 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Paid plans only

Biggest pro

Best for long-form writing

Biggest con

Learning curve

TL;DR - Scrivener

  • Organizes long-form writing projects with flexible structuring and outlining tools.
  • Integrates research materials directly alongside your writing for easy access.
  • Facilitates compilation and export to various formats for publishing or sharing.
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.5/5 across review platforms

What is Scrivener?

Editorial review
Scrivener is a comprehensive writing software designed for long-form projects like novels, screenplays, academic papers, and non-fiction books. It acts as a digital ring-binder, scrapbook, and typewriter, integrating all the necessary tools for writers from initial concept to final draft. It allows users to compose text in any order, break down large projects into manageable sections, and restructure them with ease using a project outline and drag-and-drop functionality. The software is built to keep all research materials, notes, and writing in one accessible place, enabling writers to work efficiently without switching between multiple applications. It supports various research formats like photos, interviews, PDFs, and web pages, which can be viewed alongside the writing. Once a project is complete, Scrivener facilitates compilation into a single document for printing, self-publishing, or export to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft, or plain text, while also allowing for different formatting for submission guidelines. It caters to a wide range of writers, including novelists, screenwriters, academics, and journalists, providing flexibility in their writing process.

Available on: macOS, Windows, iOS

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Best for long-form writing
  • Great organization
  • Research tools
  • Compile flexibility
  • One-time purchase

Cons

  • Learning curve
  • UI dated
  • Windows version behind Mac
  • No real-time collaboration
  • Sync via Dropbox only

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(291 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Long-form writingResearch organizationCorkboardOutlinerCompile optionsDistraction-free

Pricing Plans

30-day Free Trial

Scrivener 3

$60/one-time

  • Full writing environment
  • Binder organization
  • Corkboard view
  • Outliner
  • Compile to multiple formats
  • Research storage

Bundle (Mac + Windows)

Discounted

  • Both platform licenses
  • Separate license per platform
  • Full features on both

How Scrivener's pricing compares

At $60/mo, Scrivener is the most premium of its 2 direct competitors.

$4.17
Scrivener
$60

Entry paid plan, monthly.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 291 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2, SourceForge

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Scrivener FAQ

How does Scrivener assist with organizing extensive writing projects?

Scrivener functions as a digital ring-binder, allowing users to break down large projects into manageable sections and restructure them with drag-and-drop functionality. It keeps all research materials, notes, and writing in one accessible place, which helps maintain organization throughout the writing process.

What kind of user benefits most from Scrivener?

Scrivener is best suited for writers engaged in long-form projects such as novels, screenplays, academic papers, and non-fiction books. It caters to novelists, screenwriters, academics, and journalists who need comprehensive tools for drafting, research, and organization.

How does Scrivener compare to Ulysses for long-form writing?

Scrivener is designed as a comprehensive writing studio that integrates drafting, research, and organization, making it ideal for very long and complex projects. While Ulysses also supports long-form writing, Scrivener's strength lies in its extensive research tools and flexible compilation options for diverse output formats.

Does Scrivener support research integration within a project?

Yes, Scrivener allows users to integrate various research formats, including photos, interviews, PDFs, and web pages, directly into their projects. These materials can be viewed alongside the writing, eliminating the need to switch between multiple applications.

What are the primary limitations of using Scrivener?

Scrivener has a notable learning curve due to its extensive features, and some users find its user interface to be dated. Additionally, the Windows version typically lags behind the Mac version in terms of updates, and it lacks real-time collaboration features, relying on Dropbox for syncing.

How is Scrivener priced?

Scrivener is available as a paid product, requiring a one-time purchase for its license. There is no permanently free tier offered for the software.

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