Best Book Writing Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Scrivener is ranked #1 of 34 as of 2 October 2026, ahead of Dabble and bibisco. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Campfire. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Novelcrafter at $4/mo.
When a book moves from outline to finished manuscript, the software around it can shape how you plan, revise, and prepare the work for export. Compare outlining tools and manuscript formatting with revision history to see how each option supports your process. Cloud sync, collaboration, and supported platforms matter if you write across devices or with others; export formats show what you can take into the next stage. The ranking begins with Scrivener, Dabble, and bibisco, with Campfire and LivingWriter also among the first entries. Check free-plan availability and paid-from details alongside those features to weigh the workflow against your budget.
34 book writing software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scrivener | 7.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $23.99/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 2 | Dabble | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | View |
| 3 | bibisco | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 4 |  Campfire | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19/mo | Yes | 0.5 /mo | — | View |
| 5 | LivingWriter | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 6 | Novlr | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8/mo | Yes | 8 /mo | — | View |
| 7 |  yWriter | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 8 | Storyist | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 9 | Novilot | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | web | View |
| 10 | novelWriter | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 11 | NovelPad | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $12.50/mo | No | 15 /mo | — | View |
| 12 | Manuskript | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 13 | Novvler | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 9 /mo | web, ios | View |
| 14 | Plot Factory | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 9 /mo | web | View |
| 15 | Manuscribe | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 17 /mo | web | View |
| 16 | Novelcrafter | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4/mo | No | 4 /mo | — | View |
| 17 | Plumelisse | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | web | View |
| 18 | Quoll Writer | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 19 | Novellum | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 15 /mo | web | View |
| 20 | DragonWriter | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | web, android | View |
| 21 |  Wavemaker Cards | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | web, windows, linux, android | View |
| 22 | Author's Forge | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 20 /mo | macos, windows, linux | View |
| 23 | oStorybook | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Windows, macOS, Linux | View |
| 24 |  Pagewright | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | web, windows, macos, linux | View |
| 25 | Squibler | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $29.99/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which book writing software is ranked first on Inferse?
Scrivener is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 7.6. Dabble is second and bibisco third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Novelcrafter has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.