Novel writing software—the good, the bad & the ugly

Which novel writing software should you use? How do professional authors write their books? What are the best options for your PC, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook? This article covers the top 8 paid novel writing programs to choose from.

Are we biased?

Of course. In case it wasn’t obvious, we are the creators of Novelize.

Would we ever recommend a program other than ours? Sure.

If you want to write nonfiction or a screenplay, Novelize is not right for you. Similarly, if you don’t have internet access, our software will not work. And if you’re struggling to put food in your mouth, you definitely need to stick to free options.

Otherwise, we think Novelize is definitely worth a shot. But we won’t withhold your other options from you. You’re smart enough to find them elsewhere, anyway.

What software do authors use to write books?

Much like you can run in sandals or torn sneakers, you don’t actually have to pay for novel writing software to write a book. If you already have Word, Pages, or another word processor on your computer, you can write a book. There are some free tools available as well, including Google Docs, although many of them aren’t specifically geared towards novel writers.

In this table below, you can see a quick comparison of the most popular novel writing software on the market.

What is novel writing software?

As the name implies, novel writing software should help you primarily with writing your novel. There are usually two diverging thoughts on writing software. One option is to create a program that has all the features and can do anything (think Scrivener) and another is to just have an uncluttered interface with only minimal features (word processors).

There are lots of options in between. For example, Novlr appears to have the goal to become an online version of Scrivener. Their feature map is extensive and frequently added to. Of course, the more features software has, the more difficult it is for the user to utilize it to its full extent.

At Novelize, our goal is to keep the writing interface as simple as possible while keeping all the relevant information nearby. We have of the few programs that allow you to see your entire novel in one page, whereas most other programs display one chapter at a time. You can also edit and view your character information without leaving your writing screen.

Why should you care about novel writing software?

You can write a novel in Word or Google Docs, but it will be a tedious process. Some people have a notebook they keep alongside their keyboard, which tracks all the details for them. Others use sticky notes. And some people create a myriad of text documents to save the relevant information. And if you want to know what your side character’s main quirk is, you may have to spend some time searching relevant documents.

That time could be spent writing.

Good novel writing software allows you to keep track of the details without losing sight of the actual goal: getting that novel written.

What makes novel writing software useful?

The first step to becoming a published author is to get your novel written. If your writing software supports you in that goal, then you’re off to an impressive start.

If, instead, you spend several days reading an instruction manual or scouring the internet trying to figure out how to use, you’re wasting your time. In a nutshell, the perfect novel writing program must be easy to use, accessible wherever you are on whatever device you’re using, and distraction-free. It also needs to have all the features to help you get your writing done without all the extras you don’t need.

• Ease of use

• Accessibility

• No distractions

• Necessary features

What is the best novel writing software for PC and Windows?

Windows remains the most popular operating software worldwide. According to Statista, just over 76% of worldwide operating systems are running a version of Windows as of the end of 2020. Undoubtably, one reason is the high prevalence of Windows in business organizations, because of their lower price point.

Ironically, some novel writing programs are not available to PC users. In fact, Scrivener did not have a Windows version when it was first released. On our list, Storyist is the only software you can’t use on Windows. The others either have a download for PC or are web-based and accessible on any device with an Internet connection.

• Novelize

• Novlr

• Scrivener

• Bibisco (Windows 10)

• Dramatica

• The Novel Factory

• WriteItNow

What are your options for novel writing software for Mac and iOS?

According to Apple Insider, the company has shipped over 5.7 million notebooks in the first quarter of 2021. With a market share of 8.4%, MacOS can’t be underestimated. Therefore, you’ll find novel writing software geared toward just that target market. In addition, you can use the web-based ones on any device.

• Novelize

• Novlr

• Scrivener

• Bibisco (MacOS Mojave)

• Dramatica

• Storyist (iOS and Mac)

• The Novel Factory (online only)

• WriteItNow

One tool on the list, The Novel Factory, is only available to Mac users in its online version. Mac users also have a few other options, including Ulysses and Pages.

Which book writing programs work on the Chromebook?

Chromebooks are still growing in popularity. In 2020, Chromebooks outsold Macs, according to GeekWire. This isn’t just bad news for Apple though, because Google has claimed some market share from Windows as well.

There are many advantages to writing your novel on a Chromebook. And now you don’t have to worry about finding book writing software, either.

Here are the options you have for online novel writing software:

• Novelize

• Novlr

• The Novel Factory

Admittedly, your options are more limited. But you’re not stuck to writing on the Chromebook, either. When you get home, you can work on your PC or Mac and continue where you left off. You can even use Novelize on your tablet or phone.

Do they make novel writing software for Linux?

Linux users always seem to get the short end of the stick. While you can find plenty of options for other software for Ubuntu, novel writing software is maybe too niche to be made especially for Ubuntu. There is one exception on the market, Bibisco. And of course, Linux users can also take advantage of online novel writing software, accessible on any browser.

• Novelize

• Novlr

• The Novel Factory

• Bibisco (Ubuntu 20)

Which book writing software is best for beginning writers?

As a beginning writer, you probably don’t know what you’re looking for. The most important thing is to not lose that motivation and drive to get your story written. If you have to spend an inordinate amount of time learning the ropes, you may just give up. That’s why we don’t recommend Scrivener for new novelists.

Of course, cost is also a concern. If you don’t have any money to spare, you really should stick to free options to start with. There’s no reason to blow your budget on novel writing software. Sometimes spending a bit of money can help you stick to your goal. That’s partly how gym memberships work. Since you have to pay, you may be more likely to go.

Novelize isn’t expensive at only $9/month. And if you’d rather not worry about a monthly fee, you can pay once and get access for an entire year for only $65. It has everything you need, a clean interface, the ability to keep track of your information, and a clean manuscript export to send to your friends, family, editor, or agent when you’re finished writing your first novel.

What do professional authors use to write?

We will not split hairs on the definition of a professional author, but for this article, we’re talking about people who take their writing seriously. They make time to write every week, and sometimes every day. They write another book when they finish the first one. They invite feedback and try hard to improve their craft. And eventually, they may even make a living with their writing.

One way to help readers find you is to write books in similar style, books set in the same universe, or a series that’s connected with the same characters throughout. You can even connect standalone novels by having them take place in the same setting.

To do this successfully, you must pay attention to the details. That’s where novel writing software comes in. With Novelize, every novel has a notebook. The notebook includes all your information on characters, location, events, and more. You can assign the same notebook to more than one novel, which is perfect for writing a series. And you can do all that without getting distracted by features you don’t need.