Updated October 2026

The best book writing software in 2026

Ten apps for writing a book, free and paid, and what each one is best at.

Writing a book means keeping chapters, plans, research, characters and drafts in order, often for months or years. Book writing software keeps all of it organized and close at hand, from the first notes to the manuscript you send out. Here are the ten apps we’d look at, what each one costs, where it runs and where it falls short. We make Studio, the first app on the list, so we’ve been careful to say where the others do better.

See the top picks Compare all ten

By the BYOK team · Prices checked on October 25, 2026 · No affiliate links

The short version

Our top picks

If you read one section, make it this one.

The short answer

For most writers, we think it’s Studio. It gives you manuscripts, outlines, a story bible wiki, index cards and a plot grid, free on Mac and Windows, with no account and no trial. If you need ebook and print files from the same app, look at Atticus or Reedsy Studio. If you want the deepest toolset and don’t mind a learning curve, Scrivener. If you co-write, Google Docs.

Best overall, and best freeStudio(ours)Free on Mac and Windows
Best for power usersScrivener$59.99 for Mac or for Windows
Best for self-publishersAtticus$147, one-time
Best for plottersDabbleFrom $15 a month, billed yearly
Best free app in a browserReedsy StudioFree
Best for Apple usersUlysses$5.99 a month or $39.99 a year
Best for working with agents and editorsMicrosoft Word$99.99 a year with Microsoft 365
Best free option for co-writingGoogle DocsFree
Best open-source optionManuskriptFree
Best for building a writing habitNovlrFree for two projects

Before you choose

What to look for in book writing software

A book is many things at once.

A book is chapters and scenes, a plan that changes as you write, characters and places to keep straight, research and reference material to draw on, and draft after draft of revisions. Good book writing software keeps all of that organized and within reach while you work. These are the things worth checking.

Chapters as separate pieces

You should be able to write each chapter or scene on its own, read and export them as one manuscript, and move them around without cutting and pasting.

Room to plan

Outlines, index cards or a plot grid, depending on how you think. Plotters need more here than pantsers, but everyone needs somewhere to put the idea that arrives mid-chapter.

A story bible, or wiki

A wiki for characters, places, research and anything else you look up, a click from the chapter you’re writing, so a minor character’s eye color doesn’t change halfway through the book.

The right exports

Agents and editors want Word. Self-publishers need EPUB for the ebook and a print-ready PDF for the paperback, which some apps make and others leave to a formatting tool.

Where it runs

Check your computer, your tablet and your phone, and whether you can write without a connection. Some apps are desktop-only; some live entirely in a browser.

What it really costs

A one-time price, a subscription or free. Count every device you’ll write on, since some apps charge per platform, and check what happens to your work if you stop paying.

How we picked

We looked at the apps that come up most in writers’ recommendations and in the big book-software guides, and asked one question of each: what is it like to write a whole book in it? That means organizing chapters, planning, the writing itself, getting the book out, where it runs and what it costs. Prices are US prices from each developer’s own site, checked on October 25, 2026. We left out tools that only edit or only format, such as grammar checkers and Vellum, but we mention them where they matter.

The list

The 10 best book writing apps

Ranked for writing a whole book, with what each does well and where it falls short.

Best overall, and best free

1. Studio

Price: Free on Mac and Windows; The Premium tier, which includes sync and every tool on the web and mobile, is $6.99 a month on the yearly plan, or $9.99 month to month.
Runs on: Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, iPad and Android

We make Studio. It’s first because of what it gives you for free, and the limits further down are real.

Studio is the writing app we build at BYOK, and it’s the only app on this list that gives you manuscripts, outlines, a story bible wiki, index cards and a plot grid for free on both Mac and Windows. There’s no account to create and no trial that runs out. The desktop app works offline, and your library stays on your computer.

It’s designed so you don’t have to learn it before you can write: open a file and type. When you want more, it’s there. A manuscript reads your chapter files as one book you can scroll, reorder and export. The outline shows a live word count for each chapter, so your plan shows what’s written and what isn’t. And the wiki keeps your characters and places, and underlines their names wherever they appear in your chapters.

A ten-minute overview of Studio’s main tools.

An outline for a novel in Studio, with a word count on each chapter and the scratch pad’s task list open beside it — The outline shows each chapter’s word count as you write. The scratch pad holds your to-do list.

Cards, a grid and a scratch pad for the planning

Card stacks are a corkboard for scenes and beats: color them, group them by act, or flip them into columns. The grid is an open whiteboard for plot maps, timelines and family trees, with tiles you can size, group and connect with arrows.

The scratch pad catches the ideas that turn up mid-chapter, with a task list for everything you mean to fix. Drag an idea into a chapter, a card stack or the wiki when it’s ready.

Scene cards for a novel in Studio, color-coded and arranged in three columns, one for each act — Card stacks in columns, one for each act.

A character’s page in Studio’s wiki, used here as a story bible, with quick facts for age, home, wants, fears and eyes — Quick facts for every character, and a count of the chapters that mention them.

A chapter in Studio’s editor, with the view menu showing dark mode, theme, writing font, focus mode and word count — Focus mode, themes and writing fonts, a click from the page.

Bring your draft, take your book

Already started in Word or Google Docs? Studio imports Word, RTF, Markdown and plain-text files and keeps numbered files in order, so a draft comes in as chapters.

When you’re done, a manuscript exports to Word, PDF, Markdown or plain text, set in your writing font or in Times New Roman, Arial or Courier New for submissions. For an ebook or a paperback, the final formatting step happens in another tool for now; publish-ready formatting is on our roadmap.

Studio’s Add Existing Files window, adding two Word files, an RTF file and a text file to a manuscript in order — Word, RTF, Markdown and text files come in as chapters, in the order you pick.

What it does well

Every tool is free in the desktop app, on as many computers as you like
Works offline with no account, and your library stays on your computer
Manuscripts, outlines, a wiki, card stacks, a grid and a scratch pad that link to each other
A calm editor with focus mode, eight writing fonts and more than two dozen color themes
Version history, and one-file backups of your whole library
Apps for the web, iPhone, iPad and Android as well as Mac and Windows
No AI features, by design

Where it falls short

No EPUB or print-ready export yet: for a publish-ready ebook or paperback, the final formatting step happens in another tool
No screenwriting mode, footnotes or endnotes yet
Made for one writer at a time, with no live co-writing yet
Sync between devices, and every tool on the web and mobile, are in the Premium tier
Fewer power-user extras than Scrivener so far, such as custom metadata and saved searches

Studio is in active development and regularly updated, and several of these are on our roadmap, including publish-ready formatting for ebooks and print.

Choose it if you want a calm, complete place to write your book, and you’d rather not pay for it.

Download free for Mac or Windows Start in your browser

Coming from Scrivener? See how Studio compares as a free Scrivener alternative.

Best for power users

2. Scrivener

Price: $59.99 for Mac or for Windows; One-time, per platform. $23.99 for iPhone and iPad. 30-day free trial.
Runs on: Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad

Scrivener has been the go-to recommendation for novelists for years, and it earns it. The binder splits a book into as many pieces as you like, the corkboard and the outliner give you two ways to plan, and the research folder keeps PDFs, images and web pages inside the project. Compile turns the same manuscript into Word, PDF, EPUB or Kindle files, and there’s a scriptwriting mode for screenplays.

The price of all that is complexity. Reviewers routinely mention the learning curve, and Compile is a skill of its own. Each platform is a separate license, there’s no Android or web version, and the iPad app syncs with your computer through Dropbox.

Scrivener on a Mac, with the binder of chapters on the left and the corkboard of index cards on the right — Screenshot from the Scrivener press kit, courtesy of Literature & Latte.

What it does well

Binder, corkboard and outliner for organizing a book
Compile to Word, PDF, EPUB, Kindle and print formats
A research folder for PDFs, images and web pages
Scriptwriting mode, footnotes and snapshots
One-time prices, not a subscription

Where it falls short

A steep learning curve, especially Compile
Separate licenses for Mac, Windows and iOS
No Android, Chromebook or web version
iPad sync goes through Dropbox
Major new versions are paid upgrades

Choose it if you want the deepest toolset there is, and you’re happy to learn it.

Weighing Scrivener against Studio? Here’s how the two compare, including where Scrivener is still the better choice.

Best for self-publishers

3. Atticus

Price: $147, one-time; Covers every platform and all future updates. No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee.
Runs on: Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, in a browser or installed as an app

Atticus is built for authors who publish their own books. You write chapter by chapter, with book goals and a writing habit tracker, then format the book in the same app, choosing from 17 chapter themes and previewing the ebook and the paperback as you go. It exports EPUB, print-ready PDF and Word, and one payment covers every platform.

Its strength is the finished book rather than the plan. The planning tools are light, so writers who outline in detail often pair it with a separate plotting app. And you can’t try it for free, only ask for a refund within 30 days.

What it does well

Writing and professional ebook and print formatting in one app
Exports EPUB, print-ready PDF and Word
One price for every platform, with updates included
Works online and offline
Imports your Word files

Where it falls short

Light planning tools; detailed outliners often add a plotting app
No free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee
A $147 upfront cost if all you need is somewhere to write

Choose it if you self-publish and want one tool from the first draft to the finished files.

Best for plotters

4. Dabble

Price: From $15 a month, billed yearly; That’s the Writer plan. Author is $23 and Bestseller $39 a month, billed yearly; lifetime access from $699. 14-day free trial, no card needed.
Runs on: Any browser, on a computer, tablet or phone, with offline writing

Dabble keeps the story and its plan side by side. The plot grid lays each scene against your plot lines so you can spot pacing problems before you draft, the story notebook keeps characters and world-building next to the manuscript, and goals turn a deadline into a daily word count that adjusts as you go. You can invite a co-author to write with you live.

It’s a subscription unless you buy lifetime access, which starts at $699. Manuscripts export to Word and plain text, so ebook and print formatting happens somewhere else.

Dabble with a sample chapter open, the project’s manuscript, plot, characters and notebook in the sidebar, and writing goals on the right — Screenshot by BYOK, with our sample chapter.

What it does well

A plot grid for every plot line across your scenes
Goals that turn a deadline into a daily plan
Live co-authoring on every plan
Works in any browser, offline included, and syncs when you reconnect
Your manuscripts stay readable and exportable if you cancel

Where it falls short

A subscription from $180 a year; lifetime access starts at $699
Exports to Word and text only, so formatting happens elsewhere

Choose it if you plan with a plot grid, write on several devices, or co-write.

Best free app in a browser

5. Reedsy Studio

Price: Free; Optional add-ons from $4.99 a month.
Runs on: Any modern browser; there’s no desktop or mobile app

Reedsy Studio, from the publishing marketplace Reedsy, is the strongest free option if you’re happy to write in a browser. The free core includes a clean manuscript editor, a writing goal, 30 days of history and one-click exports to EPUB and print-ready PDF. You can invite a co-author, editor or proofreader to work with you in real time, with track changes and comments.

The free planning boards show cards only; fuller boards, notes and templates come with a paid add-on. It runs only in a browser, and it doesn’t work offline yet.

Reedsy Studio with a sample chapter open and the book’s front matter, chapters and back matter in the sidebar — Screenshot by BYOK, with our sample chapter.

What it does well

Free EPUB and print-ready PDF exports
Real-time collaboration, with track changes and comments
A clean, focused editor
Runs on any computer with a browser, Chromebooks included

Where it falls short

Browser only, with no offline writing yet
Fuller planning boards and notes need a paid add-on
Free writing history goes back 30 days

Choose it if you want to write and format a book for free, online.

Best for Apple users

6. Ulysses

Price: $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year
Runs on: Mac, iPhone and iPad

Ulysses is one of the most elegant writing apps you can get for a Mac. Everything lives in one library of sheets that you group into chapters and books, formatting is done in Markdown so your hands stay on the keys, and goals sit on every sheet and group. It exports to Word, PDF and EPUB, publishes straight to WordPress, Ghost, Medium and Micro.blog, and syncs across your Apple devices.

It’s Apple-only and subscription-only, and its planning tools stop at notes, keywords and goals, with no corkboard or wiki for a story bible.

Ulysses on a Mac, with a novel’s library, its list of chapter sheets and a chapter open in the editor — Screenshot from the Ulysses press kit, courtesy of Ulysses.

What it does well

A calm, minimal place to write
Markdown keeps your hands on the keyboard
Writing goals on every sheet and group
Exports Word, PDF and EPUB, and publishes to blogs
Syncs across Mac, iPhone and iPad

Where it falls short

Apple devices only
Subscription only
No corkboard or story bible wiki
Markdown takes some getting used to

Choose it if you write on a Mac and an iPad, and the writing experience matters most.

Best for working with agents and editors

7. Microsoft Word

Price: $99.99 a year with Microsoft 365; Or $9.99 a month, $179.99 one-time for Office Home 2024, or free with fewer features in a browser.
Runs on: Windows, Mac, web, iPhone, iPad and Android

Word is still the language of publishing. Most agents, editors and publishers ask for a Word file, and Track Changes is how most manuscript edits happen, so you’ll probably end up in Word at some point even if you write somewhere else. Heading styles and the Navigation pane make a long manuscript easier to move around.

For writing the book itself, though, one long document gets unwieldy, and there’s nothing for planning beyond headings, outline view and comments. Most of the apps on this list, Studio included, export to Word when it’s time to send the book out.

Microsoft Word in a browser, with a sample chapter heading and four paragraphs — Screenshot by BYOK, with our sample chapter. Microsoft and Word are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

What it does well

The file format agents and editors expect
Track Changes and comments that every editor knows
Runs everywhere, and free with fewer features in a browser
Powerful styles and page layout

Where it falls short

One long file is hard to navigate and reorganize
No index cards, plot grid or story bible wiki
The full desktop app needs a subscription or a one-time Office purchase

Choose it if you’re preparing a manuscript for an agent or an editor, or you already know Word inside out.

Best free option for co-writing

8. Google Docs

Price: Free; With a Google account.
Runs on: Any browser, with apps for iPhone, iPad and Android

Google Docs is free, familiar and the easiest way to write with other people. Share a chapter, and your co-writer or beta readers can comment and suggest edits while you watch. Document tabs let you keep chapters in one file, and you can download your book as Word, PDF or EPUB.

It’s a word processor rather than book software. There are no index cards or story bible wiki, and a whole novel in one document gets slow and hard to navigate. You can write offline, but you have to turn offline access on in Chrome first.

Google Docs with a sample chapter, and its heading listed under the document tab in the sidebar — Screenshot by BYOK, with our sample chapter. Google Docs is a trademark of Google LLC; this guide isn’t endorsed by or affiliated with Google.

What it does well

Free real-time co-writing, comments and suggestions
Works on any device with a browser
Document tabs for chapters
Downloads as Word, PDF and EPUB

Where it falls short

No planning tools beyond headings and tabs
Long documents slow down
Offline writing has to be set up in Chrome
Needs a Google account

Choose it if you co-write, want quick feedback from readers, or need something free today.

Best open-source option

9. Manuskript

Price: Free; Open source, under the GPL.
Runs on: Windows and Linux

Manuskript is a free, open-source app for novelists that covers a lot of ground: an outline, index cards, character and plot sheets, a world-building section, goals and a distraction-free mode. It also has a novel assistant based on the Snowflake method, which grows a one-sentence idea into a full outline.

It looks dated next to the other apps here, and development is slow: version 0.17.0 arrived in June 2025. The downloads are for Windows and Linux only. On its own it exports plain text, Markdown and HTML; for Word or EPUB, you install the free Pandoc converter as well.

Manuskript with its navigation panel, a tree of chapters and scenes, and chapter cards on a corkboard — Screenshot of Manuskript 0.5 from the Manuskript project’s website.

What it does well

Free and open source
Outline, index cards, characters, plots and world-building in one app
A novel assistant based on the Snowflake method
Distraction-free mode and goals

Where it falls short

A dated look and feel
No Mac download
Word and EPUB export need Pandoc installed
Slow development

Choose it if you want free, open-source software, especially on Linux.

Best for building a writing habit

10. Novlr

Price: Free for two projects; Starter is $8 and the top plan $16 a month, billed yearly; lifetime access is $499.
Runs on: Any browser (it’s a web app)

Novlr is a writer-owned web app built around the habit of writing. Daily goals, streaks, sprints and detailed stats keep you moving, a plot grid and notes sit beside the manuscript, and focus and typewriter modes keep the page quiet. The free plan covers two projects.

It’s web-only, with no native apps, and it isn’t meant for long stretches offline. The grammar and style checker is only on the top plan.

Novlr with a sample chapter open in the manuscript view and its sections listed on the left — Screenshot by BYOK, with our sample chapter.

What it does well

Goals, streaks, sprints and detailed stats
A plot grid and notes beside your manuscript
A free plan for two projects
Focus and typewriter modes

Where it falls short

Web only, and not made for long offline stretches
The free plan is limited to two projects
Grammar checking only on the top plan

Choose it if goals and streaks keep you writing, and you like working online.

Side by side

Book writing software compared

Price, platforms and offline writing at a glance.

App	Price	Runs on	Works offline	Best for
Studio	Free on Mac and Windows; Premium tier, with sync, $6.99 a month billed yearly	Mac, Windows, web, iPhone, iPad, Android	Yes, in the desktop app	Best overall, and best free
Scrivener	$59.99 per computer platform, one-time; $23.99 for iOS	Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad	Yes	Best for power users
Atticus	$147, one-time	Browser or installed app on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook	Yes	Best for self-publishers
Dabble	From $15 a month, billed yearly; lifetime from $699	Any browser, including tablets and phones	Yes	Best for plotters
Reedsy Studio	Free; add-ons from $4.99 a month	Any browser	No	Best free app in a browser
Ulysses	$5.99 a month or $39.99 a year	Mac, iPhone, iPad	Yes	Best for Apple users
Microsoft Word	$99.99 a year, $179.99 one-time, or free on the web	Windows, Mac, web, iPhone, iPad, Android	Yes, in the apps	Best for working with agents and editors
Google Docs	Free	Any browser; iPhone, iPad and Android apps	Once you turn it on in Chrome	Best free option for co-writing
Manuskript	Free, open source	Windows, Linux	Yes	Best open-source option
Novlr	Free for two projects; from $8 a month, billed yearly	Any browser	Briefly, if your connection drops	Best for building a writing habit

US prices from each developer’s site, checked on October 25, 2026. Scrivener charges per platform; Studio’s Premium tier, Dabble, Ulysses and Microsoft 365 are subscriptions.

Free apps

The best free book writing software

What “free” actually gets you with each one.

Plenty of writing apps are free to start. Fewer are free for a whole book. If you’re looking for free novel writing software, here’s what each free option includes, and the catch.

App	What’s free	The catch
Studio	Every tool in the desktop app for Mac and Windows: manuscripts, outlines, wiki, cards, grid and scratch pad. On the web and mobile, text files and the Scratch Pad.	Sync between devices, and every tool on the web and mobile, are in the Premium tier.
Reedsy Studio	The editor, a writing goal, 30 days of history, and EPUB and print-ready PDF exports.	Browser only, and fuller planning boards need an add-on.
Google Docs	Everything, with a Google account.	No book-planning tools.
Word for the web	Writing and editing in a browser, with a Microsoft account.	Fewer features than the desktop app.
Manuskript	Everything; it’s open source.	Windows and Linux only, and it looks dated.
Novlr	The app, for up to two projects.	More projects and the grammar checker are paid.
bibisco	The Community Edition, for planning and writing a novel.	Some features are only in the paid Supporters Edition.

Free trials aren’t the same as free apps. Scrivener’s trial lasts 30 days of use, Dabble’s lasts 14 days, and Atticus has no trial, only a refund window. And if all you want is a free word processor, Apple Pages comes with every Mac and LibreOffice Writer is free on Windows, Mac and Linux.

By platform

The best writing apps for Windows, Mac and mobile

What runs where, from the ten above.

Writing apps for Windows

Studio (free, with every tool), Scrivener ($59.99), Microsoft Word and the free Manuskript run on Windows, and Atticus installs as an app. Dabble, Reedsy Studio, Google Docs and Novlr work in any Windows browser. Ulysses is the one app here that doesn’t run on Windows.

Writing apps for Mac

Studio (free, with every tool), Scrivener ($59.99), Ulysses ($39.99 a year) and Word run natively, Atticus installs as an app, and the browser apps work in Safari or Chrome. Apple Pages is free on every Mac. Manuskript has no Mac download.

iPhone, iPad and Android

Studio’s apps are free for text files and the Scratch Pad, with every tool in the Premium tier. Word and Google Docs have apps on both. Scrivener ($23.99) and Ulysses are on iPhone and iPad only, and Dabble, Reedsy Studio and Novlr work in a mobile browser.

Chromebook and Linux

Use a browser app: Studio on the web, Atticus, Dabble, Reedsy Studio, Google Docs or Novlr. On Linux, Manuskript runs natively, and Atticus installs as an app.

Decision guide

Which book writing software should you choose?

Find your situation, then start there.

If…	Start with
You want every tool for free, on a Mac or a PC	Studio
It’s your first book and you don’t want to spend anything	Studio on the desktop, or Reedsy Studio in a browser
You self-publish and need EPUB and print-ready files	Atticus or Reedsy Studio, or format a Word export in Vellum (Mac)
You want the deepest feature set and don’t mind learning it	Scrivener
You plot with a grid and like a cloud app	Dabble
You co-write, or want feedback from beta readers	Google Docs, Dabble or Reedsy Studio
You’re submitting to agents or working with an editor	Microsoft Word, for the final manuscript
You only use Apple devices and like Markdown	Ulysses
You use Linux	Manuskript, or any browser app
You write on a Chromebook	Studio on the web, Reedsy Studio, Dabble or Google Docs
You write screenplays as well as books	Scrivener
Goals and streaks keep you going	Novlr or Dabble

Want to draft away from screens and notifications altogether? That’s what a distraction-free writing device is for. See the best ones, compared.

The BYOK writing device in its folio stand with a compact black keyboard, a story draft glowing on its amber screen

Also from BYOK

A writing device made to work with Studio

Studio comes from the team behind the BYOK, a small, distraction-free writing device. Pair it with any keyboard you like and draft with nothing else on the screen: no apps, no notifications, no browser.

Plan and brainstorm in Studio, draft on the BYOK, then shape the book back in Studio. Your BYOK syncs its text files over Wi-Fi with Studio on the web and mobile for free, or by USB or microSD card with the free desktop app; the Premium tier adds Wi-Fi sync with the desktop app. You don’t need a BYOK to use Studio, but the two are made to work together.

Meet the BYOK

FAQ

Questions writers ask

What is the best book writing software?

For most writers, we think it’s Studio: manuscripts, outlines, a story bible wiki, index cards and a plot grid, free on Mac and Windows with no account. Scrivener has the deepest feature set if you don’t mind a learning curve, Atticus is best if you self-publish and want formatting built in, and Google Docs is best for co-writing. We make Studio, so weigh our pick accordingly.

What is the best free book writing software?

Studio is free on Mac and Windows with every tool included. Reedsy Studio is free in a browser and exports EPUB and print-ready PDF. Google Docs is free and best for working with other people, and Manuskript is free and open source for Windows and Linux.

What is the best novel writing software?

Novels need room to plan and somewhere to keep track of characters. Studio, Scrivener and Dabble all handle outlining and scene planning, and each has a place for characters and world-building: a story bible wiki in Studio, the research folder in Scrivener and the story notebook in Dabble. Studio is free on the desktop, Scrivener is $59.99 per platform, and Dabble starts at $15 a month, billed yearly.

What software do authors use to write books?

There’s no single answer. Many novelists draft in dedicated apps such as Scrivener, Studio or Dabble, and most end up in Microsoft Word at the editing stage, because agents, editors and publishers work with Word files and Track Changes. Self-publishers often format the finished book in Atticus or Vellum.

Can I write a book in Google Docs or Word?

Yes, and plenty of people do. Both are fine for drafting, and Word is the standard for submissions and edits. What they lack is structure for a book: there’s nowhere to plan with cards or keep a story bible wiki, and a whole manuscript in one document gets hard to navigate. Many writers draft in book software and export to Word at the end.

Do I need separate software to format my book?

Only if your writing app can’t make ebook and print files. Scrivener, Atticus and Reedsy Studio can. If you write in Studio, Word or Google Docs, you can format a Word file in Atticus ($147), Vellum (Mac only, from $199.99) or Amazon’s free Kindle Create, or hire a formatter.

Which book writing apps work offline?

Studio’s desktop app, Scrivener, Ulysses, Microsoft Word and Manuskript work fully offline. Atticus and Dabble also work offline, and Google Docs does once you turn on offline access in Chrome. Reedsy Studio needs a connection, and Novlr only copes with short drops.

Can I write a book on my phone or tablet?

Yes. Studio, Word and Google Docs have apps for iPhone, iPad and Android; Scrivener and Ulysses are on iPhone and iPad only; and Dabble, Reedsy Studio and Novlr work in a mobile browser. A phone is handy for notes and short sessions, and many writers pair it with a computer for long ones.

Is Studio really free?

Yes, on Mac and Windows. Every tool in the desktop app is free, on as many computers as you like, with no account and no trial. On the web and mobile, the free plan covers text files and the Scratch Pad. The Premium tier, which includes sync and every tool everywhere, is $6.99 a month on the yearly plan or $9.99 month to month, with a 14-day free trial.

Can I move my book into Studio from another app?

Yes. Studio imports Word, RTF, Markdown and plain-text files and keeps numbered files in order, so you can export your chapters from Scrivener, Word or Google Docs and add them to a manuscript in a few clicks.

Does Studio use AI?

No. There are no AI features in Studio, by design. Your words are yours.

Our verdict

If you want one recommendation, try Studio. It’s free on Mac and Windows, it has the tools a book needs from the first idea to the exported manuscript, and you can be writing in a couple of minutes. We’re biased, but it costs nothing to find out whether you agree.

If you need ebook and print files from the same app, choose Atticus or Reedsy Studio. If you want the most powerful toolset and don’t mind learning it, Scrivener is still excellent. And whatever you write in, keep Word or Google Docs handy for the editing stage.

Download Studio free Compare Studio plans

Prefer the browser? Start writing at app.byok.io

About this guide: it was written by the BYOK team, who make Studio and the BYOK writing device, and last updated on October 25, 2026. Prices are US prices from each developer’s site. There are no affiliate links on this page.

Free Scrivener alternativeStudio and Scrivener, side by side A novel workflowFrom first draft to fourth Writing devicesDistraction-free devices, compared StudioThe whole app at a glance