19 Book Writing Tools to Help You Finish Your Novel

Whether you are trying to finish your first novel or have written multiple bestsellers, you’re probably already using a word processor to get those words on a page. Non-fiction and fiction writers alike use software to help make the writing, editing, and formatting process easier, faster, and simpler. These online tools can also help you improve your skills and achieve your writing goals. 

While even the most sophisticated piece of software won’t actually write your book for you, there are many tools available to help you through the writing process of plotting, writing, editing, grammar checking and formatting your book. In this article, I’ll describe some of the best book writing software, categorized by what you’re most likely to use it for. If you’re not in love with your current novel writing software, perhaps you’ll find something in here to make managing your writing projects easier.

Some of the programs listed below are free writing software. Others are divided into free versions and premium versions. Some are only available with a paid purchase or subscription. Because prices can change and render this article inaccurate, I’m not listing specific prices, but rather rating the cost from $ (cheapest) to $$$ (most expensive). I’ll also list if they have desktop apps, and their operating platforms (Windows, iOS, Android).

Plotting

Plottr

Writers who plot can “outline faster, plot smarter and turbocharge productivity” with this visual book planning software. With popular story structure templates built into the software, this program gives users a plethora of options to start plotting their book. Using an online index card composition, information is stored in scenes that are easy to drag and drop to find the best spots for each event. The visual timeline helps see an overview of a manuscript, or even a series. Beyond simple plotting, this tool has character, location and other sheets to ensure users have access to all the details of their story in one spot. 

Plottr has the ability to group books into series and is customizable with colors, images and more.

Cost: $-$$ depending on the number of devices

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Both

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

Cork Board

Similar to Plottr, this visual outlining tool helps writers with virtual index cards to plot stories scene by scene. The drag-and-drop capabilities, color options, and multiple boards that can be saved and printed make this an easy way to see the flow and structure of a proposed story.

Beware: Users of this tool must have Microsoft Word as this is essentially a Word document.

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Writing

Scrivener

Scrivener was created by writers, for writers. With basic features like a focus mode for distraction-free writing. It also has templates to help with formatting. Scrivener is known for having a steep learning curve if you want to use all its features, so you may need to spend some time with tutorials. However, it can be powerful creative writing software once you’ve figured it all out.

Think of the program as a virtual binder where each book is broken into chapters and sections. Now add a convenient drag-and-drop interface that gives users the freedom to reorganize their manuscript and view scenes as index cards on a virtual corkboard. 

Additional features include adding project targets such as creating word count goals and then tracking your progress.

Cost: $

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: One Time

Sync across devices: Through Dropbox 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Microsoft Word

With over 200 million users a month, this granddaddy of word processing has been around for over 40 years. Once a basic screen, the writing software has grown into a powerhouse with so many advanced features they offer courses to understand them all. At its base, the program offers to help you “write like a pro” with a built-in spell checker, a grammar checker, and more. Unlike some options on this list, Word works offline without needing to take extra steps to enable functionality.

Collaboration is easy with other Word users using an email address to track edits, comments, and suggestions.  

Cost: $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Subscription

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

Google Docs

Word processing with the added touch of easy collaboration, Google Docs is free, portable, and doesn’t require any backups as everything is stored on the cloud on your Google Drive. Acting much like Microsoft Word, but pared down and simplified. Documents can be uploaded and downloaded from other sources.

Multiple users can edit and comment on a single document sharable with only a link or using email addresses. Users can track changes and comment, thus giving writers the option to collect alpha reader feedback, editor notes, etc. all in one location. 

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A 

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

FocusWriter

FocusWriter is a lightweight text writer, designed to be free of the distractions of complex word processing applications. In full-screen mode, there are no toolbars or windows, just background and text - so it can help with concentration while writing. Behind the scenes, it offers some basic options including find and replace, word count, templates etc., all accessed by rolling a mouse around the screen. 

Fun Fact: Users can add their own background picture for inspiration

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A 

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

yWriter

Designed by an author and programmer is rich with stats and heavy on structure. This free writing app encourages users to compose scenes rather than chapters, because scenes are smaller and more manageable. yWriter also provides dozens of places to store details about a manuscript, and compiles all this metadata into useful charts and tables—it's a wonderful tool for those interested in data analysis who won’t get distracted by this level of detail.

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

Proofing

ProWritingAid

With over ten years of providing AI generated editing services, this program is an accessible and affordable alternative for those that don’t have access or the funds to hire an editor. The software goes beyond checking spelling and grammar, providing 20 in-depth writing reports, diving into writing style. 

The program can integrate into Word, Scrivener, Google, Chrome and other programs to provide editing suggestions on the go and offers Masterclasses to help writers learn and grow.

Cost: General–Free, Premium - $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: One Time or Subscription

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Pro-tip: Watch for special offers with discounts for a lifetime license of ProWritingAid, particularly in November during NaNoWriMo.

Grammarly

In competition with ProWritingAid, Grammarly offers similar AI powered editing suggestions and options. Their claim to fame is to help users find opportunities for writing that is short, simple and direct with their communication assistance. Also available as an integration with Microsoft Word and Google Docs, this tool tends to lean more toward business orientated communications, but the suggestions and guidance are easy to review.

Cost: General–Free, Premium - $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: One Time or Subscription

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Hemmingway

Focusing completely on readability, the Hemingway app is allows users to copy a section of their manuscript and paste it into the website (or write directly in the Hemingway editor on the site) and get graded on the sentence structure of the text based on the use of adverbs, passive voice, etc. The user interface is very simple and easy to understand. There are no upload or download options, so copying and pasting is the only method of importing and exporting parts of a manuscript.

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Formatting

Vellum

Long considered the gold standard of book formatting, this program offers “effortless style” when creating print or ebooks. The software helps users transform their word-processed document to the traditional book readers expect. Users have the ability to control exactly how the book will appear, and create a specialized file for each platform, including Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books.

Users choose a trim-size, upload a word document and the formatting software does the rest, automatically populating the manuscript into pre-defined aspects. The program deals with common formatting issues like widows and orphans, using spread-balancing. 

Cost: $$$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: One Time

Sync across devices: No

Desktop: Yes (MAC ONLY)

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Canva

Fast becoming a go to for creatives, Canva is an online design and publishing tool putting design capabilities into the hands of anyone, even if they have no design experience. Long used by self-publishing authors as a book cover generator, new capabilities in the software allow users to select from templates for ebooks to start formatting on the spot. 

Easily upload images to integrate into the file, collaborate with a team or outside sources using an email or a link, and change colors or fonts with the click of a button.

Cost: General - Free, Pro - $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Subscription

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

All in One

Atticus 

Launched in the formatting landscape in 2021, this formatting software was developed to offer a solution to everyone despite their operating system. The goal was to help non-creative users easily create beautifully and correctly formatted books with ease, similar to Vellum. Manuscripts can be uploaded or written in the program itself. Offering some customization to built-in templates and the ability to upload graphics, the program can churn out a fully formatted print or ebook file in little to no time.

With constant updates to the software, Atticus is continually responding to user requests and finding innovative ways to improve the formatting process. 

Cost: $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: One Time

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: Yes

Pages

Apple’s free text editor software is a writing program, text editor, and collaboration tool all in one. Basic styles and formatting are applied to a manuscript in order to format beautiful looking pages. Images, graphs, and more can be imported to take the book to a new level.

Real time collaboration is possible via iCloud but users have to have an Apple ID.

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Reedsy Book Editor

New and established writers turn to Reedsy for all their book needs. So, it’s no surprise they have their own version of a formatting tool. Both a writing tool and a typesetting software, this program lets writers do everything from write, edit and export professionally formatted PDF and ePub files all in one spot.

While the core program is free, Reedsy’s site offers access to professionals who are able to assist writers with essential services like editing, cover design, etc. in this collaborative space.

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: Yes

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: No

iPhone / iPad App: No

Android App: No

Note-taking

Evernote

Claiming to give you “everything you need to keep life organized”, this software takes note-taking on the go. The program uses personal spaces to collect ideas, thoughts, etc and offers fast searchability with keyword tags. It also has browser extensions allowing users to grab articles, PDFs and images from the web.

Cost: Free, Personal or Professional - $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Subscription

Sync across devices: Yes 

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: Yes

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Ulysses

A step above note-taking, this Mac only program boasts powerful features and a pleasant writing experience. It provides built in grammar and style checks in the form of suggestions and offers a scene by scene overview. Go from app to book by downloading PDFs, Word documents, ebooks and blog posts with the click of a button.

Cost: $

Free Trial: No

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Subscription

Sync across devices: Yes

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Bear

A competitor to Evernote, this is a free note-taking program for Mac users. The software’s aim is to provide simplicity and get straight to the writing by removing folders and fancy text styling. 

Cost: Free

Free Trial: N/A

One Time Purchase or Subscription: N/A

Sync across devices: Yes

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Obsidian

Calling itself “A second brain, for you, forever”, this program works on top of your local folder of plain text files to find connections and relationships between ideas, which it calls bidirectional linking. This graph view of your story allows users to group, filter and display ideas and is valuable when trying to connect together a narrative across a book or even a series. 

Cost: Personal –Free, Catalyst - $, Commercial - $$

Free Trial: Yes

One Time Purchase or Subscription: Both

Sync across devices: Yes

Desktop: Yes

Windows App: No

Mac OS App: Yes

iPhone / iPad App: Yes

Android App: No

Which writing tools are right for you?

The answer comes down to personal preference. With software like ProWritingAid and Grammarly, the commonalities are much larger than the differences. Budget may play a key role in your decision to use the free Google Docs over the yearly subscription to Microsoft Word. Before you jump in and try them all, consider the following:

There are eight things to consider when deciding which program to use for your book:

1. Will you get the output format you need?
2. Is it easy to format the text the way you want?
3. How easy or complicated is the program to use?
4. Are there templates available to get you started?
5. How much does it cost?
6. Does it work on the platform I want to use? (PC, Mac, Linux, etc.)
7. Are you able to access your files no matter where you are?
8. Are you able to collaborate with editors and team members?

Trying programs with a free trial is always a good idea. Remember, the goal here is to make writing easier, not have information across multiple places and programs that you will be required to keep track of.

Writing Software Should Improve your Writing

You can’t become a bestselling author without first finishing a book, and writing and editing software are critical tools in the creation process. What will facilitate success for you? A brainstorming tool to help you work out potential plot holes? An editing tool to help you find grammar errors? A focus mode to keep you dialed in and less likely to check social media? Something that handles auto-saves well, so if the cat pounces on the keyboard, hours of work doesn’t get lost? Know what your goals are before making any purchasing decisions, and have fun!