I've been writing both fiction and nonfiction books for over 12 years. In that timeI have used just about every book writing software that's hit the market. Whether that was something broad like Wordor specific like ScrivenerI've tried them all.
Furthermoreeven when I thought I had found my favorite book writing software that now houses all of my workbecause of my writing on KindlepreneurI have gotten wind of just about every new tool out there. With the advent of AI and AI software developmentthere seems to be even more hitting the market every day…many of which you should absolutely avoidas I'll discuss later.
Because of all of thisI am constantly asked what is the best book writing software. But before I answer thatI'd like to first start with detailing what exactly makes a writing app a ‘book” writing software. Writing apps are simple…it's a system by which you can type words. Howeverfor something to truly be a good book writing softwareyou need planningwritingcollaboratingand formatting. Thereforea good book writing software should have the capability to allow you to turn your words into a book and ebook you are proud of.
Now someas you'll see can actually do all of that. While others specialize in one general area and usually need to be paired with others apps in order to fully write and publish a book. Many authors just want one writing tooland others want to learn all the different types out there and have a full system of tools to use. One for plottingone for writingone for collaborating and one for formatting.
Soto best answer the question on which one is the bestI will list my absolutely favorite (which does everything)and then list which ones I think specialize or win in a category of book writing. Sowith thatlet's check them out.
1. Atticus: Editor's Choice – Best All In One
Back in the dayI used to use Scrivener for writinggoogle docs for collaborating with my editorand then a book formatting software to turn my writings into a proper looking epub and pdf file for print. Not only was that expensive paying for all of thembut then I had soooo many different versions of my book as I moved it from software to software.
It was because of this pain that I was excited about Atticus when it came on the market. One of the things I love most with Atticus is that you can writecollaborate and format your book in the same place. You don’t have to rebuild your manuscript later or move files aroundand create painful version controls. You don’t have to worry about breaking things when you export. You just writepreviewand export when you’re ready. It's because of thisthat I like to best describe Atticus as what you'd get if ScrivenerGoogle Docsand Vellum got together and had a baby.
I also love that it works pretty much on any type of computer. WindowsMacLinuxChromebookbrowseretc. You’re not locked into one type of computer.
And then there is the formatting. Atticus allows me to make some absolutely stunning looking books and in many casesmy readers have left reviews to that affect. The best part isits not only very simple to do these kind of booksbut Atticus has wonderful support and tutorial videos to show you.
Another thing I love about Atticus is that it is a one-time purchase. I think this is incredibly important for authors. I personally do not like the idea of putting all my written work on a subscription based software.
What happens if I stop paying for the software? Do I lose all my work? Do I have to migrate everything over? Thereforea subscription for my book writing software feels wrong. I want to just pay onceand ensure I can use that software for life…never have to moveand never have to worry about it.
One thing I don't likeis that it doesn't currently include a plotting feature or functionality. It would be nice if it had plottingcharacter cardsetcbut it doesn't…although that is something that will come out in the future. Another thing to bring up is that when it first came outit was a bit buggy. Howeverthe team has made some major strides over the past yearand now it hums along perfectly. Sono more problems or issues and claims of this are old and outdated.
Sobecause its a one time pricedoes everything you need to make your bookworks on all computers and is super easy to useAtticus is my top choice and the one I use for all of my book writing.
If you want the full breakdownI go much deeper in my full Atticus review.
2. Scrivener: Best for Pure Writing (But Not for Everyone)
Let's give credit where credit’s due… Scrivener is great for writing. HeckI used it for years (back when I worked for Apple)and wrote 4 booksas well as my Master Thesis on it while I was at Naval Post Graduate School.
For a pure drafting experiencefew tools do it better. And like Atticusit is also a one-time purchasewhich I love. No subscription. You buy itand you own it. That part is great. (Side note: You can get a 20% off coupon here)
Howeverwhenever they do an updateyou do need to pay again in order to get the updatewhich I don't like. Another issue is that Scrivener is SUPER slow with updates. I think the last time they updated was over 6 years ago? And when they updatethey'll release the Mac updateand then years later update the PC.
Sowhat does it do? Wellunlike Atticus it does include two ways of plottinghoweverI find this both complicated and not very useful. And yesit technically has formatting as well. Howeveryou do not want to use Scrivener to format your book. It’s insanely complicated. People literally have to buy a course specifically on how to use the formatting feature. But even with thatwhat you can format is pretty blasé.
So what usually happens is this: people draft in Scrivenerthen export everything to word to collaborate with their editors or Beta readersand then format using something elselike Atticus. But if you’re doing thatyou might as well just use Atticus and keep everything in one place.
I go much deeper into all of this in my full Scrivener reviewif you want the longer version. But ultimatelyScrivener is just a good writing app that doesn't fit the bill for an excellent book writing app. There are better alternatives out there. If you get ityou'll need to look for a better formatting software.
3. Sudowrite: Best AI-Assisted Writing Tool (If You're Careful)
Let's face itthere are many many AI writing tools that are popping up all over the place that claim to either assist authors in writing using AIor are giant content mills. I have tried many over the yearswith Sudowrite being one of the few AI tools I’ve actually found useful for fiction.
I’d never use Sudowrite to write a book for me. But it can help when I’m stuckboredor just sitting there staring at the screen with nothing happening. Where people get into trouble is when they start leaning on it too much. If you treat everything it gives you as “good enough,” your writing can start to feel off pretty quickly. So this is very much a use-it-lightly kind of tool.
What I love most about Sudowrite over others of its kind is its layout and aesthetics. Most of its design is pretty intuitive without require LOTS of training in order to use it. It’s also good for brainstormingthrowing out ideasexpanding a sceneor helping you think through what might happen next.
Unlike Atticus and Scrivenerit is subscription-based. Howeverwith something that is resource intensive as AI writingit actually makes sense that it would be subscription based. You’re paying for an AI system that’s constantly changingnot a static piece of software. I still prefer one-time purchasesbut this is one of the few cases where I don’t totally hate the model.
Another problem with Sudowrite is that it does not format anything. Butthat's not what it was created for. Their focus is on writing and AI assistance for fiction. So if you use ityou’ll still need something else to turn your manuscript into a real book. That’s why it pairs well with Atticus. You can draft and brainstorm in Sudowritethen move everything into Atticus to format and publish.
If you want the full breakdownwe go much deeper into how it works (and how people mess it up) in our full Sudowrite review.
And if you do decide to try itusing our link gets you 200,000 bonus creditswhich is the only way I’d recommend testing it.
4. Google Docs: Best for Collaboration (Not for Long Books)
Google Docs is one of those tools everyone ends up usingwhether they planned to or not. It’s free. It’s in your browser. It saves automatically. You can open your manuscript from basically anywhereon any device. That part is really nice.
But where it really shines is collaboration. If you’ve got co-authorseditorsor beta readersit’s hard to beat. You can share a linkdecide exactly who gets accessand see their comments and suggestions in real time. That means there's no emailing files back and forth and “final-final-v3.docx” nonsense. As a matter of factI use Google docs to write my articles for Kindlepreneurso that I can then have my editor and content manager look it over before formatting it here.
Howevera major issue with is that it wasn't built for books. Firstwhen the document gets big with lots of wordsit starts to run slow. Secondformatting your work into a print and epub version is very difficult and will require another software like Atticus.
But if you’re writing a full-length book and want something that’s actually designed for thatyou’ll probably hit its limits. That saidif you do want to use Google Docs for a bookI’ve written a full guide on how to make it work as smoothly as possible. I walk through structureformatting workaroundsand the exact setup I’d recommend. You can check it out by clicking the button below.
5. Microsoft Word: FamiliarBut Not Built for Books
When it comes to draftingMicrosoft Word is fine and probably the most familiar of them all. HoweverWord was built for ALL types of writingand not just books.
Nowthere are ways you can prepare a word document so that it better aligns with book creation. Butif you try working with something like Atticus or Scriveneryou'll quickly see the major difference between writing a book in Wordas compared to writing a book in a book writing specific software.
One thing I will tell youthoughis my editor LOVES working in Word. The track changes capability is bigand I believe many editors are most familiar with Word and so prefer using it when doing their work. Howeverit was because of this that Atticus' collaboration function with editors was designed to mimic and feel like Word.
One thing that really hurts Words as a ‘book' writing software is that formatting into a book is huge headache. You can do itbut Word clearly wasn’t made for that. If you do try to foramt with WordI'd recommend using a formatting template like the one I built here. When I was working on my books in Wordtemplates were key. But even with a great templateyou're super limited in what you can do. 🙁
But the thing that made me truly drop Microsoft Word so far down this listis that it is no longer a life time one time fee. Instead it is a subscription (and not a cheap one)unless you're using the stripped-down web version…ugh.
If you want the longer breakdownI go deeper in my full Microsoft Word guide. But ultimatelyWord wasn't built specifically for us book authors and it shows. It's not cheap or a tool we necessarily already haveand you'll need to buy other software to create your book.
6. Ulysses: BeautifulMinimaland Very Apple
Ulysses is one of the nicest writing apps I’ve ever used. If you care about aesthetics and a distraction-free experienceit’s hard to beat. I love how clean it isand how easy it is to use as well.
Howeverthere are two big catches. Firstit’s Apple-only. Secondit’s a subscription which I am not a fan of when it comes to housing your life's work. You’re paying every year just to keep using it.Some people are fine with that. I’m not.
Another issuewhich I've brought up before as well is that doesn't have any other functionality than to write your manuscript. There isn't any legitimate plotting capabilityor even a way to format. Soif you are into the aesthetics of Ulysses and are using a Macthen great. Howeveryou're still going to need a book formatting software in order to turn your work into a book.
I have a full Ulysses review if you'd like to learn more about it. But here’s the quick takeaway:
If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and want a beautifulminimal place to writeUlysses might be worth a look. If you’re notthere are better options.
Best Book Writing Software Comparison Table
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Writing Tools I Don't Recommend (Or Didn't Make the Cut)
This is the part most “best of” lists avoidbut I think it matters. There are a lot of writing tools out there. Some of them aren’t terriblethey just don’t make much sense anymore when you compare them to stronger options.
Here’s why the following tools didn’t make the cut:
yWriter: I get why some writers like yWriter. If you love tracking every scenecharacterand plot threadit definitely leans into that. But for meit feels clunky and outdatedand the actual writing experience just isn’t great. It also doesn’t handle formatting wellso you’ll still need something else to finish your book. And while people call it “free,” that’s mostly true on Windows. On Mac and mobileyou’re paying. If you’re curioushere’s my full yWriter review.
Apple Pages: I’m a big Mac guyso I really wanted to love Pages. It’s freeit looks cleanand it’s easy to use. But the longer your manuscript getsthe more it starts to feel like you’re using a layout tool instead of a true writing tool. It’s built to make things look prettynot manage big book projects. And if you’re collaborating with anyone not on a Macit gets annoying fast. Honestlyeven though it’s freeI’d still pick Google Docs or Word for most writers.
Novlr: I like the simplicity of Novlr. It’s cleanit autosavesit syncs to the cloudand it even has a built-in proofreader. But once you look at the priceit’s hard to justify. It’s a subscriptionand you’re not getting strong formattingdeep organizationor real collaboration tools. And if you want AI- helpSudowrite runs circles around it. It’s not bad… it just doesn’t do enough for what it costs. If you want the full breakdownhere’s my full Novlr review.
Squibler: Squibler is big on systems. Tons of templatesdashboardsplanning tools… all of it. If you love mapping out every detail before you writeyou might enjoy that. But for most writersit feels bulky and a bit overbuilt. Then there’s the price. At $29 a monthit’s not cheapand it still doesn’t handle formatting wellso you’ll probably need another tool anyway. And if AI help is what you’re afterSudowrite does that far better. If you want moreI have a Squibler review article you should read.
Bibisco: I’ll give Bibisco this. The character profiles and story structure tools are pretty interesting. If that’s your thingit might grab you at first. But once you move past those featuresit starts to feel narrow. For most writersScrivener just gives you more room to breathe and a stronger overall writing setup. Bibisco feels like it’s built to solve one specific problemand that can get limiting fast. If you’re still curiousyou can check out our detailed Bibisco review.
Vellum: If it wasn't for AtticusI probably would have put Vellum on this list. Howeverunlike Atticus Vellum only works on Mac and not PC. AlsoVellum is over $100 more expensive and basically is just a formatting software. I like itbut sadly it only does one thing well and is too expensive. Thereforeno reason to list it. If you want to learn morehere is my full review of Vellum.
FocusWriter: FocusWriter really is just a blankdistraction-free screen. And if that’s all you wantit delivers. But that’s also the problem. There’s no real organizationno project structureno workflow tools. It’s basically a minimalist typing window. You can get that same “clean screen” feel from tools like Scrivener’s Composition Mode and still have actual writing features when you need them. If you want to see where it fits (and where it doesn’t)we break it down more in our FocusWriter review.
LibreOffice Writer: It’s not terrible. And heyit’s freewhich is always nice. But it feels dated and a little clunkyespecially for long-form creative writing. If you’re going the free routeGoogle Docs just feels more modern and way easier to collaborate with. LibreOffice comes across like something you use because it’s there… not because it’s the best choice for writing a book.
AutoCrit: AutoCrit gives you some formatting- feedback and light analysisbut it never feels very deep. It doesn’t really “get” what you’re trying to do as a writerand compared to newer AI toolsit just feels a bit behind. Then you look at the subscription price and it’s tough to justify. There are simply stronger options out there now. If you want to see exactly where it falls shortwe laid it all out in our full AutoCrit review.
Tools to Possibly Add To Your Book Writing System
On top of the book writing softwarethere are some tools out there that authors like to supplement with their writing work. These include grammar checkersplannersproductivity appsand more.
Many of these I personally use with my writingso I figured they were worth mentioning to give you the full experience across the board.
ProWritingAid is the one I recommend when someone wants serious feedback on their writing. It goes way beyond grammar and spelling. It looks at things like pacingrepetitionreadabilitysentence varietyfiller wordsand more. It can feel like a lot at firstbut if you like understanding why something isn’t working instead of just fixing itit’s incredibly useful. It also integrates with tools like ScrivenerGoogle Docsand Microsoft Wordso it fits into most workflows without much friction. If you want depth and don’t mind a learning curvethis is the one to use. We also have a full ProWritingAid review if you want the deeper breakdown. (And we also have a 20% discount on annual and lifetime plans.)
Publisher Rocket is all about helping your book get found. It lets you research keywordscategoriesand competition on Amazon so you’re not guessing what readers are actually searching for. If you care about discoverabilitythis stuff matters more than most writers realize. It’s especially useful if you plan to run Amazon ads or want to make smarter decisions about how you position your book from the start. You can absolutely publish without itbut it removes a lot of the guesswork. We walk through how it works in our full Publisher Rocket review.
Plottr is a planning and plotting tooland if you like mapping things out before you writeit can be a huge help. It lets you organize scenesstory arcscharactersand timelines visuallywhich makes complex projects easier to manage. That saidit’s not the only option. Some writers prefer other plotting toolsand some still do all of this on corkboardswhiteboardsor paper. If you’re curious about this kind of softwarewe’ve put together a full guide to the best plotting tools that compares the top options.
Verdict: What's the Best Writing Software?
I personally love having one software that helps me do everything I need to write and create a professional looking book. Because of thistechnically I feel as though Atticus is the only true book writing software on this list and seems to be getting better and better every week.
It's a one time payment and you get it for lifeits easy to useand full of what I consider the most important features an author can need.
You could use a combination of other programs like Word to writeGoogle Docs to collaborate and Atticus to format. But trust me when I saythis is problematic and creates issues with version control. Because of a version control mistake where I labeled one of my edited version “FINAL FINAL COPY” (and it turns out that wasn't he final version)I formatted and published the wrong version….ouch.
Sobe careful with that. But if you're using just one software for all of itthen you can rest assured that you're safe.
Sobe sure to check out Atticus.
