How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Reedsy Studio is the best free app for writing a book, with chapter tools plus free EPUB and print PDF export.
- Google Docs suits writers who want simple drafting, cloud sync, and collaboration for free.
- LibreOffice Writer is the best free desktop word processor, with full .docx support.
- FocusWriter is best for distraction-free drafting on Windows and Linux.
- Wavemaker Cards is the closest free equivalent to Scrivener for fiction plotters.
- yWriter and Manuskript suit structured fiction writers who plan scenes and chapters.
- Novlr is best for goal-driven minimalist drafting, with a free plan for two projects.
- Free tools have limits. Paid add-ons, sync fees, or project caps apply on some plans, so check the limits before you commit to a long manuscript.
Quick comparison
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The best free apps for writing a book
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Reedsy Studio is the single best free option for finishing and publishing a book in a browser. You create a free account, add chapters in the sidebar, and write in a clean interface with footnotes, block quotes, and spellcheck. When the book is done, Reedsy exports typeset-quality EPUB and print-ready PDF files with front matter and a table of contents at no charge. Reedsy makes its money from a freelance marketplace, so the core editor stays free.
The limits are planning depth and add-ons. Studio Craft and Outlining add-ons cost extra, and planning boards do not match Scrivener depth. For writers who want to draft and export a finished book for free, Reedsy Studio is the clear first pick.
What we like- Free EPUB and print PDF export
- Chapter sidebar
- Real-time collaboration
Watch out for- Web only
- Outlining and craft add-ons cost extra
- Fewer planning features than Scrivener
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Docs is the best free drafting tool if you do not need chapter structure. It syncs to the cloud, keeps version history, and lets editors and beta readers comment in real time. Plenty of published books were drafted in Docs, and its simplicity is the point: open a document and write.
The trade off is organization. Docs has no scene management, no corkboard, and no structural overview, so complex fiction with many threads gets hard to manage. Very long manuscripts can also slow down. For linear nonfiction or a first draft you plan to move elsewhere, Google Docs is the simplest free choice.
What we like- Free
- Cloud sync
- Version history
- Easy collaboration
Watch out for- No chapter or scene structure
- Weak for complex fiction
- Large manuscripts can slow down
#3LibreOffice Writer
Best for: Free desktop word processor4.1/5 on
G2 (87 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit libreoffice.org
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
LibreOffice Writer is the best free Microsoft Word replacement for authors who want a traditional desktop word processor. It opens and saves standard .docx files with Track Changes intact, which matters when you send work to traditional editors. The Navigator sidebar lets you jump between headings in a 300-page manuscript without lag.
The limits are planning and sync. Writer has no scene or plot tools, and cloud sync needs a separate setup. For writers who want a reliable desktop word processor for free, LibreOffice Writer is the safe pick.
What we like- Free
- Opens and saves .docx with Track Changes
- Navigator sidebar for long manuscripts
Watch out for- Plain interface
- No fiction planning tools
- No cloud sync built in
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
FocusWriter is a free distraction-free writing app for Windows and Linux. It opens full-screen with no menus, just words, a timer, and daily goal tracking. Writers who struggle with distraction often find that a plain screen helps more than any feature set.
The trade off is scope. FocusWriter has no current Mac version, no chapter structure, and no collaboration. It is a drafting tool, not a book management tool. For getting words down without distraction, FocusWriter is the best free option.
What we like- Full-screen distraction-free writing
- Timers and daily goals
- Plain text files
Watch out for- No Mac version
- No chapter structure
- No collaboration
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Wavemaker Cards is the closest free equivalent to Scrivener for fiction plotters. It runs in your browser as an offline-capable web app and includes a grid planner, a beat board for story structure, a mind map tool, and a distraction-free manuscript editor. Plotters who plan scenes on cards will feel at home.
The catch is sync. You need to click the Google Drive sync button at the end of every session, or work can sit only in the browser. The community is smaller than Scrivener, so fewer tutorials exist. For free fiction planning with a visual board, Wavemaker is the best pick.
What we like- Grid planner
- Beat board
- Mind map
- Offline-capable web app
Watch out for- Needs manual Drive sync
- Smaller community
- Web-first experience
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
yWriter organizes a novel into scenes and chapters, with tracking for characters, locations, and items. It suits fiction writers who think in scenes rather than pages, and it is free. The scene view makes it easy to reorder parts of a book and see the structure at a glance.
The limits are polish and platform. The interface looks dated, the tool is Windows-first, and cloud sync needs a separate setup. For structured fiction drafting for free, yWriter remains a strong choice.
What we like- Free
- Scene and chapter organization
- Character and location tracking
Watch out for- Dated interface
- Windows-first
- No cloud sync built in
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Manuskript is a free, open source writing tool with structured planning support, including the Snowflake Method for growing a story from a sentence to a full novel. Outline, corkboard, and editor views let you plan and draft in one place.
The trade off is polish. Manuskript has a smaller community than the bigger tools, and rough edges appear from time to time. There is no collaboration. For writers who want a free structured planner with method support, Manuskript is a good fit.
What we like- Free
- Snowflake Method support
- Outline and corkboard views
- Open source
Watch out for- Smaller community
- Occasional rough edges
- No collaboration
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Novlr is a goal-driven minimalist drafting tool on the web. Its clean editor tracks daily word goals and streaks, which helps writers who build a daily habit. The free plan covers two projects, which is enough to test the tool or write a short book.
The limits are project caps and export. The free plan stops at two projects, EPUB export is basic, and print PDF needs a paid plan. For writers who want a simple, goal-focused editor for free, Novlr is a good starting point, with paid plans from $6 per month if you outgrow the free tier.
What we like- Clean minimalist editor
- Writing goals
- Free plan for two projects
Watch out for- Free plan limited to two projects
- Basic EPUB only
- No print PDF on free plan
How we chose
We compared drafting comfort, chapter and scene structure, plotting tools, export quality, and free-plan limits. Tools that are free in name but unusable without paying scored lower than tools with genuinely useful free tiers. We favored tools that export a clean file you own, and noted where paid add-ons or caps apply. We did not test any tool hands-on, and prices here reflect published list prices that vendors change often.
Buying guide: what to check before you pay
Start with your writing style. Plotters need cards and boards, while discovery writers need a clean page and little else. Next, check export. A tool that exports clean EPUB or .docx saves hours at publishing time, while a tool with messy export costs you later. Ask about sync and backup too, since a browser-only tool without sync can lose work if you clear browser data. Check project caps on free plans, since a two-project limit matters once you start a second book. Finally, test the tool for a week with real writing before you commit, because the best tool is the one you actually open every day. During that week, write at least a thousand words, move a chapter, and export a test file. If any of those three tasks feels painful, try the next tool on this list before you invest months in the wrong one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really write a whole book for free?
Yes. Reedsy Studio for drafting and export, Google Docs for backup and collaboration, and a free grammar checker cover the full path from blank page to published ebook and paperback without spending money.
Is Reedsy Studio really free?
Yes, the core editor and EPUB plus print PDF export are free. Paid add-ons cover outlining and craft features, but you can finish and export a book without them.
What is the best free Scrivener alternative?
Wavemaker Cards is the closest free equivalent for fiction plotters, with a grid planner and beat board. yWriter and Manuskript are good free options for scene-based and structured planning.
Can I write a book in Google Docs?
Yes, many authors write entire books in Google Docs. It is free, collaborative, and works on any device, but it lacks scene management and structural tools for complex fiction.
When should I pay for writing software?
Pay when a free tool becomes the bottleneck, such as when you need deeper research storage, advanced compiling, unlimited projects, or print formatting that free tools do not offer. Do not buy new software until your current tool limits you, and always test the paid trial first.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Reedsy Studio
Google Docs
FocusWriter
Wavemaker Cards
yWriter
Manuskript
Novlr