Top 10 Book Writing Software, Websites, and Tools in 2026

• Mar 06, 2026
• 7 min read

• Tags: Book Writing, Fiction, Fiction Writing, Novel, Novel Writing

Writing a book today is nothing like it was ten years ago. Back then, most of us opened Microsoft Word, typed blindly, and prayed the file wouldn’t crash. Now, we have powerful book writing software, book writing tools, and book writing websites designed specifically for authors, tools that help you plot, draft, edit, and even format your book for publishing.

We’ll take you through the top book writing tools, ranked by usefulness, affordability, and functionality, as professionals who have tested these platforms on fiction and nonfiction projects. Real benefits, drawbacks, and honest thoughts!

Here are the best book-writing software, tools, and websites of 2026:

1. Scrivener

Best overall book writing software for serious authors

Pricing: One-time purchase (~$59.99), free trial

Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS

Features of Scrivener

• Automatically saves your work within the program
• Offers a distraction-free full-screen writing mode
• Let’s you set word count or character count goals
• Enables side-by-side document viewing
• Includes built-in script formatting tools
• Offers customizable templates for MLA, APA, novels, novels with parts, screenplays, documentaries, and BBC-style drama scripts
• Helps you organize and separate scenes and chapters easily
• Displays a clear outline with chapters and subchapters shown separately
• Allows you to drag and drop chapters and subchapters for quick reordering
• Offers an optional mobile version for purchase

Pros

• One-time payment (no subscription fatigue)
• Deep organizational tools
• Perfect for long novels and research-heavy books

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• No real-time collaboration
• Interface can feel complex

Experience and review

I loved how simple it was to switch between scenes without having to scroll through a huge Word document. I can keep a character sheet open while writing dialogue thanks to the split-screen mode, which makes everything feel more structured and realistic. However, there are some significant drawbacks.

I had to export chapters to Google Docs for editors because there was no real-time collaboration, syncing across devices relies heavily on Dropbox and careful manual management, and it took me roughly three days of tutorials before I felt fully at ease using the program.

2. Atticus

Best all-in-one book writing software 

Pricing: One-time: $147

Platforms: Web-based, desktop PWA

Features

• Browser-based writing editor
• Prebuilt formatting themes for ebooks and print
• Real-time book preview on Kindle, tablet, and print layouts
• Chapter and scene organization
• Export to EPUB and print-ready PDF
• Custom trim sizes and typography
• Collaboration and sharing tools

Pros

• Professional formatting without designers
• Cross-device cloud access
• No monthly subscription

Cons

• Writing editor is less advanced than Scrivener
• Limited offline functionality

Experience and review

Atticus felt refreshingly modern and clean compared to other writing software. I really liked that it integrates writing and formatting in the same software, so I wouldn’t have to go back and reformat everything for publishing.

It’s very easy to use and is a browser-based application, making it easily accessible on any device. The outlining and story planning functionality is very rudimentary, and offline writing capabilities are limited, which can be frustrating during long writing sessions with unreliable internet access.

3. Reedsy Studio

Free book writing website for authors

Pricing: Free core, add-ons from ~$4.99/month

Platform: Web

Features

• A clean and minimalist writing environment to help you focus
• A chapter browser to easily navigate your manuscript
• Functions to help you set writing goals and track your progress
• The ability to import manuscripts from Word documents and plain text files
• Boards to help you keep track of character information, world-building details, and research
• Real-time collaboration tools to work with editors and co-authors
• Commenting and tracking tools to help with feedback and changes
• Pre-formatted preview options to share with beta readers
• Pre-designed templates for ebook and print formats
• Instant export options for EPUB and PDF files
• One-click access to the Reedsy marketplace to connect with professional editors

Pros:

• With its built-in spell checker and goal reminder, this book-writing tool corrects your spelling errors and ensures you stay on track.
• Another advantage of Reedsy Studio is its professional formatting tools. Users can export their manuscripts as EPUB files, making them publish-ready for ebook stores.
• Reedsy Studio also offers in-depth planning templates to help you map out your story and characters. 

Cons:

• There is no Reedsy Studio app available for mobile devices.
• Some planning features are locked behind a premium subscription.
• Reedsy Studio has yet to implement an offline mode

Experience and review

Reedsy Studio was surprisingly pleasant to write in, especially since it feels like a minimalist version of Google Docs specifically designed for writers. I really liked the clean design, export-ready formatting, and ease of sharing with editors. It’s very bare-bones, though—there aren’t any in-depth plotting tools, character management, or world-building functionality, so I had to use other software to plan out my story.

4. Novlr

Best minimalist cloud-based writing tool

Pricing: Free plan and paid plans starting from $6 to $14 per month

Platform: Web

Features

• Cloud-based writing editor
• Daily word-count tracking and writing streaks
• Project organization by chapters and scenes
• Writing analytics dashboards
• Autosave and backup
• Export to Word and other formats
• Goal setting and reminders

Pros

• It lets you archive your novels.
• It is equipped with a built-in thesaurus.
• You can write unlimited novels with the help of this tool.

Cons

• Missing project management components.
• No features for world-building.
• It lacks plotting features.

Experience and review

Novlr is excellent for tracking progress and staying motivated. I really enjoyed the daily word targets, analytics, and distraction-free writing mode, which made it very easy to stay on track. The design looks very refined and writer-centric. However, it is subscription-only, and the outlining features are not as robust as Scrivener or Plottr, so I still had to use other tools for planning.

5. Dabble

Best structured book writing tool for plotters

Pricing: Ranges between $7/per month and $29/month (depending on the subscription plan). Dabble’s lifetime pricing is $699.

Platforms: Web and desktop

Features

• Scene cards and storyboard
• Character, location, and plot notes
• Drag-and-drop chapter organization
• Writing editor with dark mode
• Collaboration tools
• Cross-device syncing
• Plotting templates

Pros:

• It comes with helpful features like a built-in thesaurus, find and replace, and goal-tracking features. 
• It offers customization options that include data management, dictionary maintenance, cache management, spelling and grammar checking, and light and dark theme options.
• Dabble autosaves and syncs your work to the Cloud.

Cons:

• It offers simple formatting options, which may not be sufficient for many writers.
• The platform has a high lifetime access cost.
• It lacks features for exporting files in EPUB or PDF formats.

Experience and review

Dabble is very good for planning your stories while you are writing. I enjoyed the ability to view chapters, story plots, character information, and story ideas all in one place. The software is very beginner-friendly and does not feel cluttered. However, it is cloud-only, so offline writing is not its strong suit, and it does not have some of the more advanced publishing features.

6. Plottr

Best plotting and story planning software

Pricing: $60/year, and a lifetime plan costs $150

Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Feautures

• Visual story timelines
• Story structure templates (Save the Cat, Snowflake)
• Character arc tracking
• Series bible management
• Drag-and-drop event timelines
• Notes and tags

Pros

• Plottr is a tool that assists writers in plotting out their story, characters, and structure through the use of timelines and templates.
• The tool comes with pre-designed story structures (such as Save the Cat, Snowflake, and Hero’s Journey) that help with plot and pacing.
• The software is very intuitive and easy to use, even for new writers who may feel overwhelmed by complex stories.
• Plottr comes with extensive character and world-building tools that help writers keep track of character traits, relationships, and settings.

Cons

• The software is designed as a planning tool and lacks the functionality of grammar checking, writing assistance, or editing tools.
• The software requires a subscription to use all of its features, which may be a problem for writers on a tight budget.
• The software lacks collaboration tools and is not ideal for writers working on a project with co-authors.

Experience and review

Plottr is an amazing tool for visualizing story planning. The timeline and templates (such as Save the Cat and Snowflake) were very useful in helping me organize my story before I began writing. There are also very detailed templates for character and world-building. However, it is not a writing software; it is strictly for plotting, so I had to go back to writing in either Scrivener or Google Docs, which added an extra step to the process.

7. LivingWriter

Guided book writing software for beginners

Pricing: Paid plans from $12.00 to $14.99/month, free plan available

Platforms: Web, iOS, Android

Features

• Cloud-based editor for writing novels online.
• Organizes books into chapters and scenes.
• Provides built-in plot and story structure templates.
• Lets you create character and world-building profiles.
• Tracks word count and writing progress.
• Supports real-time collaboration with co-authors.
• Allows comments and feedback on drafts.
• Imports Word documents easily.
• Exports manuscripts to Word, PDF, and EPUB formats.
• Automatically saves work in the cloud.

Pros

• LivingWriter comes with pre-designed story templates that help writers organize their plots, scenes, and story structure in an easy-to-plan manner.
• It comes with character and world-building profiles that help writers organize story details and maintain consistency.
• LivingWriter has a simple and easy-to-use interface that is ideal for new and experienced writers alike.
• It comes with word count tracking and progress analysis features that help writers stay productive and meet their writing goals.

Cons

• It lacks advanced grammar checking and style suggestions, which are offered by advanced editing software such as Grammarly.
• The software requires an internet connection since it is cloud-based, which restricts offline writing functionality.
• Some of its advanced features are only accessible through a paid subscription plan, which may not be ideal for budget-conscious writers.

Experience and review

LivingWriter was like a Scrivener alternative, but much easier to learn. I enjoyed the story templates, character boards, and collaboration features, which made it a great tool for co-writing projects. The cloud-based editor is very clean and easy to use. However, it does require an internet connection, and some of the more advanced features are only available on the paid plans.

8. Storyist 

Best writing tool for authors on Mac

Pricing: One-time purchase cost $59

Platform: Mac

Features

• Full-featured word processor for novels and scripts.
• Automatically formats manuscripts and screenplays.
• Includes a corkboard and outliner for planning.
• Manages multiple writing projects in one place.
• Stores research notes, images, and references.
• Links story elements and external resources.
• Syncs projects across devices via iCloud or Dropbox.
• Works on macOS and iOS devices.
• Exports files to Word, PDF, Final Draft, and EPUB.

Pros

• Storyist provides a full-featured word processor with built-in formatting for novels, screenplays, and manuscripts.
• It offers powerful outlining and corkboard tools to help writers plan chapters, scenes, and story structure visually.
• Storyist has an intuitive and professional interface that is easy to use for writers on macOS and iOS.
• It includes research storage, linking, and project management tools to keep all writing materials in one place.

Cons

• It does not provide advanced grammar checking, style suggestions, or plagiarism detection like dedicated writing assistants.
• Real-time collaboration is not built in, so sharing drafts with editors requires exporting files.
• Storyist is only available on macOS and iOS, which limits accessibility for Windows and Android users.

Experience and review

Storyist is very capable, particularly for Mac users who are writing novels as well as screenplays. I enjoyed the formatting and corkboard organization tools, which have a very professional feel to them. It’s a great option for writers who want something in between Scrivener and Final Draft software. The drawbacks are that it is Mac-only software, has poor collaboration tools, and requires cloud syncing through services such as Dropbox.

9. Google Docs

Best free book writing tool for writers

Pricing: Free

Platform: Web

Features

• An online word processor accessible in a web browser.
• Saves documents automatically to Google Drive.
• Supports real-time collaboration with multiple users.
• Offers comments, suggestions, and revision history.
• Allows easy sharing with permission controls.
• Integrates with third-party tools and add-ons.
• Works on desktop and mobile devices.
• Provides offline writing mode when enabled.

Pros

• Google Docs allows multiple users to write and edit the same document in real time, making it ideal for collaboration with editors and co-authors.
• It automatically saves your work to the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about losing progress.
• Google Docs has a simple and user-friendly interface that is easy for beginners to learn.
• It includes built-in spelling and grammar suggestions to help writers avoid basic writing errors.

Cons

• It does not offer advanced novel-writing tools like plot outlining, character tracking, or story structure frameworks.
• Large documents with many collaborators can sometimes lag or slow down, affecting the writing experience.
• Some features require an internet connection, although offline mode must be manually enabled and is limited compared to desktop writing software.

Experience and review

Google Docs is my favorite for collaboration. The real-time editing, comments, and version history are all very smooth when working with editors. It’s easy to use, dependable, and accessible from any computer. The problem is that it doesn’t have any novel-writing-specific features such as scene organization, plot organization, or character tracking, and very large documents can sometimes cause it to slow down.

10. Scribble Hub

Top free book-writing websites to write books in various genres

Pricing: Free

Platform: Web

Features

• Web-based platform for publishing serialized fiction.
• Let authors upload chapters directly online.
• Supports story tags and genre categorization.
• Allows readers to comment and rate stories.
• Helps authors build an audience and profile.
• Offers monetization options like donations or premium chapters.
• Provides browsing and discovery tools for readers.
• Focuses on community interaction and distribution.

Pros

• It comes with an easy-to-use publishing tool that allows writers to publish their work quickly.
• By using this tool, you can drag and drop images and other media into your chapters. 
• Apart from writing, you can join different forums and connect with authors and readers. 

Cons

• Scribble Hub lacks the advanced writing tools available on Novelr, Novel Factory, and Dabble. 
• They offer limited options to writers to monetize their work. 
• It has a smaller audience for promotion as compared to platforms like Wattpad and Amazon KDP. 

Experience and review

Scribble Hub is more of a publishing platform than a writing tool. I liked the ease of uploading chapters, engaging with readers, and developing a following for serialized stories. Feedback and ratings from readers are encouraging. The editor is simple, and you won’t be able to use it for serious writing or organizing long novels; you’ll still need other writing software for that.

This concludes our guide to the best tools for writing a book. Whether you are a beginner or a published author, there is one book-writing tool for everyone. 

Once you are done writing, you’ll need to edit your book. Editing enables your creative vision to reach its full potential. To streamline the process of publishing the next potential bestseller, check out our editing and proofreading services, guaranteed to polish your book to perfection.  

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.