Scrivener

Scrivener is the preferred writing tool for long-form content authors: novels, screenplays, doctoral theses, essays. It's not just any text editor — it's a work environment that manages the structure, research and revision of complex writing projects.

Scrivener is writing software for long, structured projects, developed by Literature & Latte. Unlike Word or Google Docs — designed for linear documents — Scrivener organizes work in a navigable binder, where each project section (chapters, scenes, parts) is a separate document you can rearrange with drag & drop without having to copy and paste text blocks. The visual corkboard shows each section's cards like on a bulletin board, with synopsis notes, useful for planning structure before writing. Split view lets you write while looking at your research notes or another part of the text side by side. The Research section gathers images, PDFs, web pages, notes and audio files directly in the project. The goal tracker records words written against the daily target. Final compilation assembles the whole project in the chosen format — .docx, .pdf, ePub, .mobi, .html — applying consistent formatting styles. Scrivener is available for macOS and Windows, with different versions requiring separate licenses.

For novelists, screenwriters, academics, journalists and anyone working on long, complex writing projects that require structure, research and the ability to manage many parts in a non-linear way.

Scrivener is purchased with a one-time license, no subscription: $49 for the macOS version, $49 for the Windows version (the two licenses are separate). The iOS/iPadOS version costs $19.99 on the App Store. Upgrades to subsequent major versions require a paid update (usually discounted for existing license holders). A 30-day free trial is available. Scrivener offers a 20% discount to students and academics.