The Best Book Writing Software (2024 Update)

As a budding author, I’ve tried and tested many book-writing tools over the years in order to find the best one for writing my novel. What I discovered is that — while no writing software can miraculously make you a professional author — plenty of digital tools can improve your writing, boost productivity, and make the publishing process easier. 

In this post, I’ll share some of the best book writing software available today to help you find the best app for your needs as a writer.

The best book writing software, compared

⚙️ Software	💻 OS	💸 Cost	🏆 Best for
Reedsy Studio	Web-based	Free	Book writing and formatting.
Scrivener	macOS, Windows, iOS	$59.99 one-time fee 30-day free trial	Detailed planners and complex projects.
Ulysses	macOS, iOS	$5.99/mo or $39.99/yr 7-day free trial	Distraction-free writing.
Plottr	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android	$60/yr 30-day free trial	Visual story mapping.
Campfire	Web-based	Free starter plan $14/mo or $132/yr for the Standard Plan	Worldbuilding.
Sudowrite	Web-based	$29/mo or $264/yr Free trial	AI-powered drafting and brainstorming.
Word	Web-based, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android	Free plan $69.99/yr for Microsoft 365 Personal	MS Word aficionados.
Google Docs	Web-based	Free	Those just getting started.
Novlr	Web-based	Free starter plan $8/mo or $96/yr for Plus plan	Finding a writing community.
Hemingway app	Web-based, macOS, Windows	Free web-app $19.99 for the desktop app	Improving clarity and readability.
Vellum	macOS	Free to download and try $199.99 to export ebooks only or $249.99 for ebooks and print	Professional book formatting.

Let’s look at them one by one.

Reedsy Studio: Best for book writing and formatting

• 📥 Download: Get Reedsy Studio
• 💻 OS: Web-based
• 💸 Cost: Free

I’m certainly biased, but Reedsy Studio is a powerful all-in-one piece of book writing software. You can easily set an overall word count goal for your manuscript and create as many time-based goals as you’d like (e.g. set weekly or daily word goals, or even word sprints!). Plus, you can share your manuscript with beta readers or collaborators to write together or get editing feedback.

Studio’s Boards feature makes plotting a breeze. Whether you're outlining chapters, building character profiles, or keeping track of research, the customizable cards and folders help you see both the big picture and the finer details at a glance. I love how easily I can pin crucial notes alongside my manuscript, so everything I need is always accessible while I’m writing.

The pro formatting and export options are also invaluable. As you write in Reedsy Studio, the platform applies professional-grade typesetting, allowing you to see your work as it would appear in print. Unlike most other programs, it also makes editing front and back matter (like the copyright page or table of contents) super simple. Once you’re done, you can export your manuscript as a print-ready PDF or EPUB file in a range of popular trim sizes. 

Overall, it’s the best app to both write and format your novel for self-publishing.

➡️ Read our full Reedsy Studio guide

👍 Reedsy Studio Pros:

• Clean and intuitive interface
• Great outlining features with Boards
• Professional book formatting

👎 Reedsy Studio Cons:

• Not possible to use when offline
• Only web-based, no mobile app
• No dark mode available

Scrivener: Best for detailed planners and complex projects

• 📥 Download: Get Scrivener
• 💻 OS: macOS, Windows, iOS
• 💸 Cost: Mac/Windows: $59.99 (Standard), iOS App: $23.99

Scrivener is a favorite among experienced authors, in no small part because it was one of the first pieces of writing software created with authors in mind. It’s packed with tools specifically designed to handle the complexities of any writing project, from novels and screenplays to academic papers and beyond. 

Its organizational features are outstanding. At the heart of Scrivener is the Binder: a sidebar that consolidates all your notes, research, and manuscript files, facilitating easy access and organization. Complementing this is the Corkboard, which allows writers to visualize their work using digital index cards, aiding you to structure and rearrange your content seamlessly. Once you find your ideal book writing setup, you can even save it as a template to reuse in the future. 

The Linguistic Focus mode is great for self-editing. This feature lets you visually highlight specific parts of speech — like dialogue tags or adjectives — and review your manuscript much more easily.

Scrivener 3 is undeniably a feature-packed powerhouse, but many users will only scratch the surface of its extensive capabilities — so the price tag might not be worth it compared to more straightforward writing applications.

➡️ Read our full Scrivener review

👍 Scrivener 3 Pros:

• Comprehensive set of features for various writing stages
• Great organization tools with the Binder and Corkboard
• Includes free templates

👎 Scrivener 3 Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Higher cost compared to alternatives
• No built-in real-time collaboration feature

Ulysses: Best for distraction-free writing

• 📥 Download: Get Ulysses
• 💻 OS: macOS, iOS
• 💸 Cost: $5.99/month or $39.99/year

Ulysses is lauded for its sleek, clean, "distraction-free" interface. Its enthusiasts say this writing app gives you just the right amount of customization options in terms of appearance — without so many different options that it leads you astray from the actual goal of writing.

It’s great to manage various projects. You can organize your writing files into various groupings — for instance, you might have one group called 'Works in Progress,' or you can set multiple subgroups like 'Characters Names' within 'Fantasy Novel Ideas' within 'Works in Progress,' and so on. You can also set daily writing goals, and even keep tabs on your progress so you can see when there are cyclical dips or spikes in your productivity.

It’s an Apple user’s dream. What really sets Ulysses apart is its seamless integration with macOS and iOS, which ensures a consistent writing experience across all devices with full iCloud auto-syncing. 

While its subscription-based model and Apple exclusivity may deter some, Ulysses is an excellent choice for writers looking for an elegant, focused, and feature-rich tool within the Apple ecosystem.

👍 Ulysses Pros:

• Excellent organizational features
• Built-in grammar and style checkers for multiple languages
• Book layout preview before exporting

👍 Ulysses Cons:

• macOS and iOS exclusive
• Subscription-based pricing model
• Limited collaboration features

Plottr: Best for visual story mapping

• 📥 Download: Get Plottr
• 💻 OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web-based
• 💸 Cost: Starts at $60/year or $199 lifetime

If plotting your novels feels like that iconic scene of Charlie in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, then Plottr might just become your new favorite writing tool. It’s a program designed to help writers organize their stories with drag-and-drop simplicity.

Plottr allows you to visualize your plot structure like no other tool. Its standout feature is the Timeline View, which allows you to visually plot chapters, scenes, and subplots using color-coded cards. You can stack scenes, track specific attributes like POV or conflicts, and filter timelines to get a crystal-clear view of how your narrative unfolds. And for multi-book projects, the Series Planning feature lets you map out timelines and outlines for individual books while keeping everything connected at a series level. 

It integrates with Word and Scrivener. While it doesn’t offer a built-in writing space, Plottr integrates seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Word and Scrivener, making it easy to export outlines or import existing projects for refinement. 

Overall, it’s an excellent organizational tool for visual thinkers and meticulous planners.

➡️ Read our full Plottr review

👍 Plottr Pros:

• Powerful drag-and-drop visual timelines
• Comprehensive Story Bible for characters and settings
• 30+ starter templates for plot and scenes (e.g. Hero’s Journey, 3 Act Structure, etc.)

👎 Plottr Cons:

• No dedicated in-app writing space
• Subscription required for real-time collaboration
• Learning curve for advanced features

Campfire: Best for worldbuiling

• 📥 Download: Get Campfire
• 💻 OS: Windows, macOS, Web-based, iOS, Android
• 💸 Cost: Free plan with limited elements; Standard Plan at $14/month or $132/year for unlimited access to all modules; Custom Plan starting at $0.50/month per module

Calling all fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction worldbuilders! If you're looking to craft intricate worlds and detailed stories, Campfire may be the magical planning and book writing tool you’ve been waiting for. 

Its modules offer great flexibility. The software uses modular organization, offering over 17 modules (like Characters, Locations, Timelines, Maps, and Magic) to customize based on your project’s needs. You can create character profiles, map their relationships and story arcs, and flesh out entire fictional systems. (However, while it does provide a word processor in which to write your novel, it’s not as developed as the worldbuilding features.)

Customize your project to feel immersed in it. I loved how you can customize the interface for each project, either by choosing from premade themes or uploading your own visuals to match the story's mood (like in the screengrab above) 一 it really helps immerse you in the narrative and motivate you to continue developing it further. 

In other words, it’s a great tool for plotters and worldbuilders who enjoy diving into detailed preparations before starting their draft.

➡️ Read our full Campfire review

👍 Campfire Pros:

• Extensive worldbuilding tools with 17+ customizable modules
• Flexible, “à la carte” pricing
• Available across all devices

👎 Campfire Cons:

• Not as intuitive; it can be overwhelming for beginners
• Procrastination risk with too many customization options
• Basic word processor

For 20% off all lifetime purchases on Campfire, use the promo code REEDSY20 at checkout.

Sudowrite: Best for AI-assisted writing

• 📥 Download: Get Sudowrite
• 💻 OS: Web-based
• 💸 Cost: Plans start at $19/month; Free trial available

AI is a divisive topic among authors. Should you use it or not? If you’re in the former camp, you’ll enjoy using Sudowrite. It’s an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help you refine and enhance your prose, overcoming any writer’s block. 

It enhances your writing and editing. The Write feature can generate hundreds of words in your voice, expanding scenes or suggesting what comes next when your inspiration falters. For those focusing on revision, the Rewrite tool refines sentences and offers stylistic alternatives, making the editing process faster and easier. Its standout feature, Describe, helps you with showing (instead of telling) — offering alternative ways to describe your scenes through all five senses and metaphors. 

It gives you tailored feedback. Authors can also use the Feedback function to receive actionable suggestions for improving pacing, tone, or structure. However, keep in mind that it may give similar feedback to other authors as well — so if you don’t want your writing to sound too “uniform” in your genre, try to iterate a bit when you do use the Feedback function.

While it won’t replace human creativity (or actual editors), Sudowrite acts as a cool and innovative writing partner, especially for fiction writers looking for inspiration.

👍 Sudowrite Pros:

• Effective AI-powered tools for overcoming writer’s block
• Feedback tailored to pacing, tone, and structure
• Supports creative brainstorming with plot and character ideas

👎 Sudowrite Cons:

• The AI suggestions can be vague and “samey”
• Very basic word processor 
• Subscription pricing quickly adds up over time

Other book-writing tools worth mentioning

Of all the writing tools I’ve tried, the six pieces of software listed above are my favorites. But there are plenty of other great apps out there that can help you write, edit, and format your novel. Here are a few more worth mentioning:

Microsoft Word: Great for Word aficionados

• 📥 Download: Get Word
• 💻 OS: Web-based, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
• 💸 Cost: Free plan; $69.99/year for Microsoft 365 Personal

Many writers stick with the classic Microsoft Word for crafting their stories, for good reason: it’s widely accessible, free for many users, and comes with a familiar, feature-rich interface. Word may work best if you write commercial fiction and you’re a signed author who simply sends your manuscript to your publisher. But for self-publishing authors? Less so. 

Word is a general-purpose tool — not one created specifically for authors. While it can technically handle manuscript formatting, self-publishing a book often means dealing with tedious manual tweaks to margins, spacing, and typography. That’s a lot of extra work — especially when free alternatives exist that offer better tools for both writing and formatting.

➡️ Learn how to format a manuscript on MS Word.

Google Docs: Great for those just getting started

• 📥 Download: Get Docs
• 💻 OS: Web-based
• 💸 Cost: Free

Ah, Google Docs. A web-based favorite of many, Google Docs is a free, straightforward, and modern tool that’s great for those looking to write and format their books. It offers basic styling options for text, paragraphs, and chapters — and with handy add-ons like page-sizing plugins, you can create manuscripts ready for self-publishing. Its cloud-based accessibility and collaborative features are especially useful for writers working with editors or beta readers. 

That said, it’s still not really designed with authors in mind — especially those focused on self-publishing. But if you’re just starting out and want an easy, accessible way to get your words on the page, Google Docs is an excellent choice.

➡️ Learn how to format a manuscript on Google Docs.

Novlr: Great to find a writing community

• 📥 Download: Get Novlr
• 💻 OS: Web-based
• 💸 Cost: Free; Plus ($6/month); Pro ($14/month); Lifetime Pro ($499 one-time)

If you're a minimalist but not an Apple user, Novlr might be the perfect Ulysses alternative for you. It offers a distraction-free writing environment (with both light and dark modes), as well as simple organizational tools that make story planning straightforward, including basic chapter outlines and character notes. 

One thing I personally love is that Novlr also hosts several active Discord groups, like 'Writing Sprints', 'Share Your Struggle', and 'Asking for Feedback', where writers can come to genuinely support each other. 

Overall, Novlr’s clean, user-friendly design and simplicity make it an attractive option for authors who find feature-heavy software like Scrivener overwhelming — and who may be looking for a community in addition to a writing tool.

➡️ Read our full Novlr review

Hemingway App: Great to improve clarity and readability

• 📥 Download: Get Hemingway App
• 💻 OS: Web-based, macOS, Windows
• 💸 Cost: Free web-app; $19.99 for the desktop app

The Hemingway App is a simple, affordable writing tool. It’s designed to improve your prose by analyzing readability and highlighting stylistic issues like adverb overuse, passive voice, and purple prose. Its minimalist Writing Mode allows you to focus on drafting, while the Editing Mode provides readability stats, estimated read time, and color-coded highlights for quick fixes.

Although ideal for blog posts, essays, and short pieces, Hemingway lacks advanced functionality for book-length projects, offering limited export options and certainly no elaborate formatting. Still, it’s a valuable companion for writers seeking concise, reader-friendly prose.

➡️ Read our full Hemingway App review

Vellum: Great for professional book formatting

• 📥 Download: Get Vellum
• 💻 OS: macOS
• 💸 Cost: Vellum Ebooks at $199.99 for unlimited ebook creation; Vellum Press at $249.99 for unlimited ebooks and paperbacks.

Vellum is another Mac-exclusive software — this one designed specifically for formatting books to a professional standard. If you’re writing your manuscript in Word, for example, you can easily import it to Vellum and apply a range of elegant style templates in order to create a beautifully formatted ebook (or print book!). You can customize nearly every aspect of your book’s interior, from chapter headings to ornamental breaks and drop caps.

While Vellum’s pricing is steep, the polished, professional output can be a good investment for serious self-publishers. However, its focus on final formatting means it’s best used with a completed manuscript, rather than throughout the writing process.

➡️ Read our full Vellum review

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At the end of the day, no app is going to be fully able to outline, write, or edit your book for you — but with these book writing software options in mind, you’ll surely be able to find something that makes the process easier, streamlined, and more enjoyable. Now get out there and start creating!