bibisco
Focus: character development and story timeline. Shares novel writing and fiction with Manuskript. Freemium (Manuskript: Free). Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppFree planWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
Desktop App
Manuskript
A free, open-source writing tool that helps you plan a novel before you draft it.
Rating
4.4 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Intermediate
Works on
Windows, Linux
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is Manuskript?
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers that combines an outliner, a distraction-free editor and a novel assistant in one desktop app. The outliner lets you organise ideas and snippets in a hierarchy and reshuffle them as the story grows, the distraction-free mode can hold you to a word-count or time goal, and the novel assistant walks you through the snowflake method to grow an idea into characters, plots and a world. It also keeps notes on characters, plots, events and places. Downloads are offered for Windows and Linux, and the project is supported by donations.
Pros: what Manuskript does well
- Free and open source with no paid tier
- Snowflake method assistant turns an idea into a full plan
- Distraction-free mode with word-count or time goals
Cons: where it falls short
- No macOS download offered
- Still in development, with the site asking for more testing
Who Manuskript is for
Fiction writers who like to outline characters and plot before drafting.
Who can skip it
Writers who just want a plain editor for short pieces.
Manuskript alternatives
Not sold on Manuskript? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Hugo
Focus: static site, blog and documentation. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. Adds macOS. Rated 4.7 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
Scrivener
Focus: Writing, Authoring and Research Management. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. Paid but Affordable (Manuskript: Free). Adds macOS and iOS. Rated 4.7 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppPaid but AffordablemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
LibreOffice
Focus: office suite, word processor and spreadsheets. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.5Visit
mdBook
Focus: markdown, documentation and books. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Zola
Focus: static site, blog and markdown. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Free alternatives to Manuskript
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
draw.io
Focus: diagrams, flowcharts and uml. Also in Brainstorming and Organization, like Manuskript. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web and macOS. Rated 4.7 (Manuskript: 4.4).
Web AppFreeWeb, Windows
4.7Visit
Pexels
Focus: stock photos, stock video and free images. Also in Organization and Brainstorming, like Manuskript. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web, iOS and Android. Rated 4.7 (Manuskript: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb, iOS
4.7Visit
Pixabay
Focus: stock photos, vectors and free music. Also in Organization and Brainstorming, like Manuskript. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.6 (Manuskript: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.6Visit
Freebiesbug
Focus: freebies, mockups and ui kits. Also in Brainstorming and Organization, like Manuskript. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit
Jekyll
Focus: static site, blog and markdown. Also in Writing and Organization, like Manuskript. A framework, not a desktop app. Adds macOS. Rated 4.5 (Manuskript: 4.4).
FrameworkFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Free Design Resources
Focus: freebies, fonts and mockups. Also in Brainstorming and Organization, like Manuskript. A website, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Same 4.4 rating.
WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
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