Google Docs
Focus: documents, word processor and real-time collaboration. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Adds Android and iOS. Rated 4.7 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFree planWeb, Android
4.7Visit
Web App
Ellipsus
A collaborative writing tool built for creative writers, with no generative AI.
Rating
4.5 / 5
Pricing
Freemium
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
Web
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Ellipsus?
Ellipsus is a shared writing space for fiction, fan fiction and worldbuilding, with comments, drafts you can merge back in and real-time collaboration. The free plan includes unlimited docs, drafts and collaborators, and Ellipsus Plus adds custom themes, writing insights and authorship badges for a monthly fee.
Pros: what Ellipsus does well
- Unlimited docs and collaborators free
- Drafts you can merge back in
- Clear no-AI stance
Cons: where it falls short
- No offline or mobile apps yet
- Customisation sits behind Ellipsus Plus
Who Ellipsus is for
Creative writers who co-write stories or want feedback from friends.
Who can skip it
Teams writing business documents and memos.
Ellipsus alternatives
Not sold on Ellipsus? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Overleaf
Focus: latex, academic writing and templates. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Rated 4.7 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFree planWeb
4.7Visit
Craft
Focus: documents, beautiful and apple. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Adds macOS, iOS and Windows. Rated 4.6 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFree planmacOS, iOS
4.6Visit
Typst
Focus: typesetting, latex alternative and documents. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.6 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.6Visit
Flat
Focus: sheet music, notation and composition. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Adds Windows, macOS and iOS. Same 4.5 rating.
Web AppFree planWeb, Windows
4.5Visit
GitBook
Focus: documentation, knowledge base and api docs. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Same 4.5 rating.
Web AppFree planWeb
4.5Visit
Free alternatives to Ellipsus
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
HedgeDoc
Focus: markdown, collaborative editing and self-hosted. Also in Collaboration and Writing, like Ellipsus. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Same 4.5 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Annotely
Focus: annotation, screenshots and markup. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Rated 4.4 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.4Visit
Etherpad
Focus: collaborative editing, real-time and self-hosted. Also in Collaboration and Writing, like Ellipsus. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Rated 4.4 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.4Visit
Docusaurus
Focus: documentation, static site and markdown. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. A framework, not a web app. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Rated 4.7 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
FrameworkFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.7Visit
ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors
Focus: office suite, docx and pdf editor. Also in Writing and Collaboration, like Ellipsus. A desktop app, not a web app. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Same 4.5 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
Story Skills
Focus: writing, storytelling and ai agents. Shares fiction with Ellipsus. An AI tool, not a web app. Free (Ellipsus: Freemium). Rated 4.2 (Ellipsus: 4.5).
AI ToolFreeCross-Platform
4.2Visit
Are you the maker of Ellipsus?Get a free Featured badge for your site, a share image and ready-to-paste posts. No sign-up.
Free Notion database
1,100+ ways people are making money online
Real online businesses, creators and projects, broken down by how they make money: apps, online stores, AI tools and more. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free databaseFree Notion database
399+ ways to make money online
Hundreds of online income methods in one place, so you can compare options and pick one to try. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free listFor research and ideas only. Results vary and nothing here is a promise of income. See our Disclaimer.
Weekly newsletter
Everything new, every Monday.
One short email every Monday with everything shipped that week: new free tools and websites, new guides, new free browser tools and what's new in my free Gumroad libraries, plus how the site is growing. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Join the newsletterYou sign up on Gumroad, which stores your email to send the newsletter. See our Privacy Policy.