Side by side
Essayist vs Quarivell
Both stand on writing apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial iPhoneMac
Essayist combines academic document tools and reference management in one Apple-focused application. Its citation styles, offline mode, and export options suit structured academic writing, while subscriptions require payment after the trial.
Visit Essayist Free trial LinuxMacWindows
Quarivell brings drafting, source research, citations, continuity checks, and optional AI into one project workspace. Its desktop availability and provider-key approach suit writers who want local control across a long-form project.
Visit QuarivellThe facts
| Essayist | Quarivell | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | iPhone, Mac | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Yearly: $79.99 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Maker | Essayist | Not published |
| Website | essayist.app | quarivell.com |
| On writing apps | #112 of 135 | #116 of 135 |
Essayist: what it does well
- Automatic formatting for citations and references
- Built-in Scholar and book searches
- Supports figures, tables, and equations
- Offline use on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
- PDF, Word, and BibTeX support
What to know first
- No free plan
- Apple platforms only
- Requires macOS 11 or iOS 15 minimum
Quarivell: what it does well
- Combines binder, corkboard, and outline views
- Reads and annotates sources beside drafts
- Creates citations tied to files and pages
- Compiles manuscripts to DOCX without overwriting files
- Supports local and external AI providers
What to know first
- No free plan is listed
- Requires users to supply AI provider keys
- MCP client integrations are still being built
- Export formats are described as basic
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