Best novelWriter Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 apps from writing apps ranked against novelWriter on the same published basis.
- 1novelWriter vs Celtx
- 2novelWriter vs WriterDuet
- 3novelWriter vs Campfire
- 4novelWriter vs LyX
- 5novelWriter vs Substack
- 6novelWriter vs Story Architect
- 7novelWriter vs Final Draft
- 8novelWriter vs Etherpad
- 9novelWriter vs Write.as
- 10novelWriter vs HackMD
- 11novelWriter vs Overleaf
- 12novelWriter vs Hashnode
- 13novelWriter vs HedgeDoc
- 14novelWriter vs Zettlr
- 15novelWriter vs Novlr
- 16novelWriter vs Scrivener
- 17novelWriter vs Fade In
- 18novelWriter vs TeXstudio
- 19novelWriter vs Pendraic
- 20novelWriter vs Curvenote
novelWriter alternatives compared
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtx | 9.6 | Free plan | $11.24/mo | Android, Browser, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 2 | WriterDuet | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| 3 | Campfire | 9.2 | Free plan | $19/mo | Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 4 | LyX | 8.8 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | Substack | 8.8 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Web |
| 6 | Story Architect | 8.8 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 7 | Final Draft | 8.7 | No | $0.69/mo | iOS, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 8 | Etherpad | 8.7 | No | — | Android, API, iOS, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 9 | Write.as | 8.6 | Free plan | $6/mo | self-hosted |
| 10 | HackMD | 8.6 | Free plan | $5/mo | Web |
| 11 | Overleaf | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 12 | Hashnode | 8.5 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | API, Web |
| 13 | HedgeDoc | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | self-hosted, Web |
| 14 | Zettlr | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Novlr | 8.5 | Free plan | $8/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 16 | Scrivener | 8.4 | No | $23.99/mo | iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 17 | Fade In | 8.4 | No | $8.33/mo | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 18 | TeXstudio | 8.4 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 19 | Pendraic | 8.4 | Free plan | $14.99/mo | Mac, Web, Windows |
| 20 | Curvenote | 8.4 | Free plan | $9/mo | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux |
Make your app an alternative to novelWriter
See the priceThe sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled Sponsored.
Questions about novelWriter alternatives
What is the best alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx, number 1 in writing apps with a score of 9.6 out of 10. The others here: WriterDuet, Campfire, LyX and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to novelWriter?
Celtx is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 16 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on.