Manuscript
What Manuscript is
Manuscript is a desktop writing app for novelists on macOS and Windows. It combines prose editing, story planning, a story bible, and book export. The editor includes focus and typewriter modes, version history, global find and replace, chapter notes, and autosave. Writers can arrange scenes, chapters, and multiple storylines, reorder material, track chapter status, and record point of view and timeline details. The story bible links characters, locations, organizations, items, and lore with chapter tracking. AI tools provide manuscript analysis, craft metrics, prose suggestions with accept-or-reject changes, and context-aware chat. Users connect their own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or another provider and pay those providers separately. Exports include EPUB, PDF, KDP-ready files, DOCX, and TXT, with trim-size and custom-margin controls. Files remain local, the app works offline, no account is required, and the maker says writing activity is not tracked. A seven-day Pro trial is available.
Who it suits
It suits novelists who want drafting, plotting, story-reference tools, AI analysis, offline work, and publishing exports on macOS or Windows.
What it does well
- Offline desktop writing
- Story bible with linked references
- AI analysis and prose suggestions
- EPUB, PDF, DOCX, and TXT exports
- No account required
What to know first
- No mobile apps
- AI provider charges are separate
- No free plan
- Pro plan listed at $79 a month
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pro trial | Seven days of Pro features · No credit card required | On request |
| Pro | lifetime · 7-day free trial · unlimited books, storylines & acts · AI requires your own provider key | $79, paid once |
As getmanuscript.app lists them, read 24 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Manuscript brings novel drafting, organization, reference management, AI assistance, and book export into one desktop application. Its local-file and offline approach may suit writers who avoid account-based workflows.
Facts from Manuscript's own pages
- AI cost limit
- AI usage requires the user's own provider key, and the maker says model-provider charges are separate from the one-time app price. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- AI features
- AI features include manuscript analysis, craft metrics, prose suggestions with accept-or-reject diffs, and context-aware chat about the manuscript. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- AI providers
- The site says users can connect their own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or another provider and pay the provider directly. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- extensive · getmanuscript.app, 24 Sept 2026
- Exports
- Export formats listed include EPUB, PDF, KDP-ready, DOCX, and TXT, with controls for trim size and custom margins. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · getmanuscript.app, 24 Sept 2026
- Mobile apps
- No · getmanuscript.app, 24 Sept 2026
- Offline mode
- Yes · getmanuscript.app, 24 Sept 2026
- Platforms
- The download page lists macOS for Apple Silicon and Intel, and Windows 10/11 64-bit. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says manuscripts are stored as local files on the user's machine, the app works offline, no account is required, and it does not track writing activity. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Publishing tools
- Yes · getmanuscript.app, 24 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Manuscript is a desktop writing app for novelists that combines a prose editor, story planning, a story bible, and book export. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Story bible
- The story bible organizes characters, locations, organizations, items, and lore with cross-links and chapter tracking. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Story organization
- Writers can organize scenes, chapters, and multiple storylines, reorder them, track chapter status, and assign point of view and timeline details. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The Pro plan lists priority support. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
- Writing tools
- The editor includes focus and typewriter modes, version history, global find and replace, chapter notes, and autosave. · getmanuscript.app, 11 Oct 2026
Where Manuscript stands on Freedom251
- Writing Apps#105 of 135