Best Writing Software for Authors in 2026: 8 Top Picks

The best writing software for authors depends on the book you're writing and the stage you're at. For most novelists and non-fiction authors, we'd start with Scrivener for drafting and organising. If you self-publish and want one tool that also formats your ebook and print files, pick Atticus. If you have no budget yet, Google Docs is a perfectly good free option for a first draft.

One note on how we got here: this roundup is built from official pricing pages, help docs and published reviews, not from our own hands-on test runs. Prices below are as of October 2026 and change often, so check the vendor's page before you pay.

The choice mostly comes down to three questions. Do you want to pay once or subscribe? Do you want AI in your writing tool at all? And do you write on Apple devices, Windows, or in a browser?

Quick picks

Best overall for long books: Scrivener. One-time price, deep organisation, a 30-day trial that counts days you actually use it.
Best for self-publishers: Atticus. Writing and ebook/print formatting in one purchase, on any operating system.
Best for planning before you draft: Plottr. Visual outlining and series planning, with no AI in it.
Best browser app with a free plan: Novlr. A distraction-free cloud editor with goals and a community.
Best for AI on your own terms: Novelcrafter. Cheap subscription, bring your own AI key, or no AI at all.
Best AI drafting tool for fiction: Sudowrite. Built around fiction, but credit-metered and subscription-only.
Best for Apple users: Ulysses. A calm Mac, iPad and iPhone writing app, better for articles and non-fiction.
Best free writing software: Google Docs. Free, familiar, collaborative, and weaker at book-length structure.

Comparison table

Tool	Best for	Price	Platforms	Free trial
Scrivener	Novels and complex non-fiction	$59.99 one-time for Mac or Windows (as of October 2026)	Mac, Windows, iPhone/iPad; no Android	30 days
Atticus	Write and format in one place	$147 one-time (as of October 2026)	Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook/browser	No, but a 30-day money-back guarantee
Plottr	Plotting and series planning	From $60/year (as of October 2026)	Windows and Mac; browser app on Pro	30 days
Novlr	Cloud drafting with community	Free plan; paid from $8/month billed yearly (as of October 2026)	Web	Free plan instead
Novelcrafter	Planning plus optional AI	From $4/month (as of October 2026)	Web	21 days
Sudowrite	AI-assisted fiction drafting	From $10/month billed annually, $19 monthly (as of October 2026)	Web	About 10,000 credits, no card
Ulysses	Apple-only drafting, articles	From $5.99/month or $39.99/year (as of October 2026)	Mac, iPad, iPhone	Yes, via the App Store
Google Docs	Free first drafts	Free with a Google account	Web, plus mobile apps	Not needed

1. Scrivener: best for long books and complex projects

Scrivener is a long-standing choice for novelists, and it's still the one we'd point most people to. It's built for projects with many moving parts: a 100,000-word manuscript, research files, character notes, deleted scenes.

Its strengths are deep organisation, research panels, Corkboard view and flexible Compile export. You write in small scenes or chapters, then rearrange them on the corkboard. Moving a card rearranges your manuscript at the same time. You can export to Word, RTF and PDF, which covers most editor and agent requests.

Pricing (as of October 2026): Scrivener 3 is $59.99 one-time for Mac or Windows, $23.99 for iOS and iPadOS, and $95.98 for the Mac and Windows bundle. Educational licences are $50.99. The 30-day free trial counts days of actual use, not calendar days.

Pros

One-time purchase, no subscription.
Strongest structure tools here for long, messy projects.
The trial is generous enough to draft real chapters.
Works offline on your own machine.

Cons

The learning curve is real. Expect to spend time with the manual and tutorial before it clicks.
Each licence covers one platform, and iOS is sold separately.
There's no Android app.
A licence doesn't cover future major version updates, so a Scrivener 4 would cost extra.
Its EPUB export is usable, but one comparison calls it passable next to dedicated formatters.

Choose it if you're writing a novel or a research-heavy non-fiction book and want to own your software. Skip it if you want a simple blank page, work mostly in a browser, or use Android or Linux.

Try Scrivener free

2. Atticus: best for self-publishers who want to write and format

Atticus is a tool that combines a writing editor with ebook and print formatting, and it runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook. It's aimed squarely at indie authors who would otherwise pair a word processor with a separate formatter.

It exports ebook (EPUB) and print-ready PDF files. The writing side is simpler than Scrivener's, so think of it as a good place to finish and format a book rather than the deepest place to plan one.

Pricing: $147 one-time, no subscription, covering Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook/browser, all future updates and unlimited books. That's the figure as of October 2026; confirm it on atticus.io.

Pros

One payment covers every platform you own.
Handles ebook and print files in the same project.
Unlimited books on one licence.
Works on Linux and Chromebooks, which Mac-only formatters can't.

Cons

There's no permanent free version, though a 30-day money-back guarantee works like a risk-free trial.
At $147 it costs roughly two and a half times as much as Scrivener's $59.99.
Its planning and research tools are thinner than Scrivener's.

Choose it if you self-publish on KDP or similar and want to skip a separate formatting tool. Skip it if you're still outlining your first draft, or you're on a Mac and want the polish Vellum is known for. Vellum is Mac-only, at $199.99 for Ebooks or $249.99 for the Press tier with print, and you can look at Vellum here.

Get Atticus

3. Plottr: best for plotting and series planning before you draft

Plottr isn't really where you write the book. It's a visual outlining tool: timelines, plotlines, characters, places, and a series view that keeps details consistent across books. It focuses on drag-and-drop planning of plots, characters and timelines.

It suits writers who think better in boxes and lanes than in a text outline.

Pricing (as of October 2026): The base plan is $60/year with no monthly option, and Plottr Pro is $9.99/month. There's also a $150 lifetime option on the base plan. Every plan includes a 30-day free trial; there's no permanently free version. Plans change, so check plottr.com.

Pros

Visual structure is easier to scan than a long outline document.
Plottr says plainly that its software has no AI, which some authors will like.
It runs on Windows and Mac, with a browser app on the Pro plan.

Cons

It's a planner, so you still need somewhere to write.
The browser app, cloud sync and real-time collaboration need the Pro plan.
No free tier.

Choose it if you plan series, mysteries or fantasy with lots of threads. Skip it if you discover your story by writing, or you want a single tool for drafting and outlining.

Try Plottr free

4. Novlr: best browser-based writing app with a free plan

Novlr is a cloud novel-writing app. It has a word processor, a progress dashboard and export options, and backs up your writing whenever you're online. It's closer to Google Docs designed for novelists than to Scrivener.

It leans on community: a Discord server, writing sprints and free writing courses. That helps if you struggle to stay motivated alone.

Pricing: There's a free plan limited to two projects. Novlr's pricing page lists Starter at $8/month and Studio at $16/month, both billed yearly, plus a $499 Lifetime Studio plan. That makes it from $8/month (as of October 2026); confirm on Novlr's pricing page.

Pros

Free plan lets you write before paying anything.
Studio includes a proofreader and grammar tools, plus optional cloud backups to Google Drive or Dropbox.
Every Studio plan includes Novlr Sites, its author website tool.
Goals and streaks keep you moving.

Cons

Reviewers flag limited planning and formatting tools.
Browser-based, so it depends on your connection.
The lifetime plan is $499, which is steep next to Scrivener.

Choose it if you want a clean cloud editor, accountability and a free starting point. Skip it if you need heavy research organisation, print formatting, or true offline-first writing.

Try Novlr free

5. Novelcrafter: best for planning with optional AI on your own terms

Novelcrafter pairs a novel-writing workspace with a "Codex" for characters, places and lore. Its approach to AI is unusual: you bring your own key from an AI provider and pay that provider directly.

That means the AI is optional and you pick the model.

Pricing (as of October 2026): Scribe is $4 a month, Hobbyist $8, Artisan $14 and Specialist $20, or $40, $80, $140 and $200 a year. Every plan starts with a 21-day free trial, and none includes AI usage. Scribe has no AI at all, and Artisan adds Workshop Chat for brainstorming.

Pros

Cheapest paid entry point here for a full planning-and-writing app.
Scribe covers unlimited books, series, the Codex and basic review tools.
You can write with no AI.
Specialist adds co-writing and team management.

Cons

Realistic yearly cost adds API fees on top of subscriptions. Budget for both.
It's web-only.
Setting up an API key is a hurdle for non-technical writers.

Choose it if you want story-bible tools and control over which AI, if any, touches your draft. Skip it if you want AI included in one price, or you dislike managing accounts with AI providers.

Try Novelcrafter free

6. Sudowrite: best for AI-assisted fiction drafting

Sudowrite is an AI writing tool built for fiction. It offers a fiction-focused model, a Story Bible for characters and plot, and scene-level drafting. It's web-based.

If you're stuck on a scene, it will brainstorm, rewrite or expand. Whether you want that in your book is a personal call, and some authors and publishers have firm views on AI-generated text.

Pricing (as of October 2026): Billed monthly it's $19 for Hobby & Student, $29 for Professional and $59 for Max; on annual billing that becomes $10, $22 and $44 a month. The free trial is about 10,000 credits with no card; there's no ongoing free plan.

Pros

Designed for fiction, not generic content.
No card needed to try it.
Story Bible helps keep details consistent.

Cons

Credits meter your use. Credits don't roll over on Hobby and Professional; Max rolls them over for 12 months.
Premium models like Muse can shrink your real word count noticeably.
After cancelling you keep your projects but lose the AI features.
One review says it doesn't export KDP-ready formats, so plan on separate formatting.

Choose it if you want AI help with drafting and are comfortable paying per credit. Skip it if you want a one-time purchase, avoid AI, or want something predictable month to month.

Try Sudowrite free

7. Ulysses: best for Apple users writing articles and non-fiction drafts

Ulysses is a clean, Markdown-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Offline use runs through native Apple apps synced by iCloud. It's lovely for focused drafting, essays and shorter non-fiction.

For a sprawling novel with a plotting board, it's less suited.

Pricing (as of October 2026): The App Store lists $5.99 monthly and $39.99 yearly plans. Family Sharing covers up to five household members, with reduced student pricing. You can try it free from the App Store before paying. Prices vary by region.

Pros

Elegant interface with little clutter.
Sheets and Groups make long drafts easy to navigate.
Syncs across all your Apple devices.

Cons

Apple-only: no Windows or Android.
No strong visual outlining and no built-in collaboration.
One review notes that it drops to read-only mode if you stop paying, so your editing ability depends on an active subscription.
Exports suit clean manuscripts or ebooks better than print-ready KDP files.

Choose it if you write across Apple devices and want a calm place to draft. Skip it if you use Windows, hate subscriptions, or need corkboard-style planning.

Try Ulysses free

8. Google Docs: best free writing software

Google Docs is where a lot of first drafts begin, and that's fine. Anyone with a Google account can create, share and edit documents at no cost, and they autosave to Drive. Your editor, beta readers or co-author can comment in the same file.

Pricing: free with a Google account. Docs files count toward your account's shared Google storage, which Gmail and Photos also use, but a text manuscript takes very little space.

Pros

Free, with real-time collaboration.
Nothing to learn.
Easy to share with editors and beta readers.

Cons

Long manuscripts get unwieldy in one file, and there's no corkboard, binder or compile tool.
Offline editing needs to be enabled in advance.
Formatting for publishing needs a separate tool.

Choose it if you're starting out, writing with a partner, or sending work to editors who use Docs. Skip it if you're managing research, multiple storylines or a series bible. You'll outgrow it.

Open Google Docs

How to choose the best writing software for authors

Start with the stage you're at, not the feature list.

Stage	Good fits
Planning and outlining	Plottr, Novelcrafter
First draft	Scrivener, Novlr, Ulysses, Google Docs
AI-assisted drafting (optional)	Sudowrite, Novelcrafter
Revising and organising	Scrivener
Formatting for publication	Atticus

Then check these four things.

Pay once or subscribe. Scrivener and Atticus are one-time purchases. Ulysses, Sudowrite, Novelcrafter and Plottr's cheaper plans are recurring. Over several years the difference adds up.
Your devices. Ulysses is Apple-only. Scrivener has no Android app. Novlr, Novelcrafter and Sudowrite are web-based, and Atticus works in a browser too.
AI comfort. Plottr says it has no AI. Novelcrafter's Scribe plan has none. Sudowrite is built around it. Check any publisher or platform rules before you use AI-generated text.
Exit plan. Make sure you can export your manuscript to Word or RTF before you commit a whole book to one tool.

Our default advice: start with Google Docs or a free plan, then move to Scrivener once your project gets complicated. Add Atticus when you're ready to publish. If you're browsing further, see our writing tools hub and formatting tools.

FAQ

What is the best writing software for authors?

Scrivener is the best all-round choice for most authors writing novels or complex non-fiction, because of its binder, corkboard and one-time price. Self-publishers who want formatting included should look at Atticus. If you want zero cost, Google Docs works for early drafts and collaboration.

What is the best free writing software for a novel?

Google Docs is free and good enough for a first draft. Novlr also has a free plan with a project limit. Neither offers the planning depth of Scrivener, which has a 30-day free trial counted by days you actually use it, so you can test it with real chapters before paying.

Is Scrivener still worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you're writing a long or research-heavy book and want to own your software. It's $59.99 one-time for Mac or Windows, with no subscription. Skip it if you want a simple editor, need Android, or find the learning curve off-putting.

What's the best book writing software for self-publishing?

Atticus is the simplest all-in-one option: $147 once, works on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, and exports EPUB and print PDF. If you only need to write, Scrivener costs far less and you can format elsewhere. Vellum is a polished alternative at $199.99 for ebooks or $249.99 with print, but it's Mac-only.

Is AI writing software like Sudowrite worth it for novelists?

It depends on how you work and your comfort with AI. Sudowrite is built for fiction and starts at $10/month billed annually, but credits are metered. If you want AI optional and under your control, Novelcrafter's bring-your-own-key model or a no-AI planner like Plottr may fit better.

Do I need writing software at all, or is Word enough?

You don't need it. Word or Google Docs will carry a book. Dedicated software earns its cost when your project gets large: many scenes to reorder, research to keep alongside, or a series to keep consistent. If you're not struggling with those, save your money.