Scrivener

Name: Scrivener
Price: 59.99 USD
Author: Scrivener

by Scrivener

Free trial iPhoneMacWindows

Visit Scrivener Alternatives Pricing

What Scrivener is

Scrivener is a long-form writing application for macOS, Windows, and iOS. It lets writers organize large projects into sections of any size while keeping research materials, including PDFs and web pages, beside the draft. Projects can import Word, OpenOffice, plain text, Final Draft, images, PDFs, movies, sound files, and web pages. The editor can display up to four documents together in one project window. Screenwriting tools provide script formatting, printing, and Final Draft export. Non-fiction projects can use footnotes, research libraries, and MLA, APA, and other common templates. Writing History records daily writing amounts. Scrivener includes publishing tools, version history, offline mode, and extensive export formats, but no real-time collaboration. A free trial is available. Licences are sold per platform or for all three, with no recurring payment unless another platform or a major update is chosen.

Who it suits

Scrivener suits novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators, and others working on substantial writing projects. It is also useful for writers who need integrated research, structured sections, or screenwriting and academic templates.

What it does well

Supports macOS, Windows, and iOS
Keeps PDFs and web pages beside drafts
Imports many document and media formats
Includes publishing, version history, and offline mode
Offers screenwriting and non-fiction templates

What to know first

No real-time collaboration
No free plan
Licences are platform-specific unless buying all three
Major updates can require another purchase

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
macOS licence	Perpetual licence for macOS	$59.99 a month
Windows licence	Perpetual licence for Windows	$59.99 a month
iOS licence	For iPhone and iPad	$23.99 a month
All three platforms	paid upfront	$121.93, paid once
iOS license	paid upfront	$23.99, paid once
Windows license	paid upfront	$59.99, paid once
Mac license	paid upfront	$59.99, paid once
Free trial	—	On request

As literatureandlatte.com lists them, read 19 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Scrivener combines structured long-form drafting with research, screenwriting, non-fiction, publishing, and offline features. It is a paid application with a trial and platform-based licences rather than a required subscription.

Facts from Scrivener's own pages

Real-time collaboration: No · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Company history: Scrivener launched in 2007. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Company name: The company is Literature & Latte Ltd. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Export formats: It can export to Word, PDF, Final Draft, and plain text. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Founded: 2006 · literatureandlatte.com, 23 Sept 2026
Free plan: No · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Free trial: A free trial is available, but the supplied text does not state its duration or limits. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Cornwall, UK · literatureandlatte.com, 23 Sept 2026
Import formats: Imports include Word, OpenOffice, plain text, Final Draft, images, PDFs, movies, sound files, and web pages. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Long-form writing: It is designed for long writing projects and lets users compose text in sections of any size. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Major update policy: Major paid updates are occasional, more than two years apart, with discounts for existing users. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Mobile apps: Yes · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Non-fiction support: It supports footnotes, research libraries, and MLA, APA, and other common templates. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Offline mode: Yes · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Supported platforms: Scrivener is shown for macOS, Windows, and iOS. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Pricing model: Pay upfront for the licenses and platforms you need instead of paying a subscription. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Publishing tools: Yes · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Research tools: Research materials can be kept within reach beside the writing, including PDFs and web pages. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Screenwriting support: Scriptwriting features handle formatting, with printing and Final Draft export available. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Side-by-side documents: The editor can display up to four documents at once in the same project window. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Subscription required: No recurring payment is required unless the customer chooses another platform or a major update. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
User scale: The company says Scrivener has millions of downloads and hundreds of thousands of users. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026
Version history: Yes · literatureandlatte.com, 19 Sept 2026
Writing audience: It is used by novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators, and others. · literatureandlatte.com, 27 Sept 2026