The best writing software for authors, compared.
Scrivener, Atticus, Vellum, Dabble, Sudowrite and Word are all good at something. Here's an honest look at what each one does, what it costs, and why so many authors end up paying for three of them.
The big table
Writing, formatting, publishing and AI, side by side.
| Salt of the Page | Scrivener | Atticus | Vellum | Dabble | Sudowrite | Word / Google Docs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 once, or $10 a month | $59.99 once per platform | $147 once | $199.99 to $249.99 once | $19 to $49 a month | $10 to $44 a month | Free to $99.99 a year |
| Runs on | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android and the web, synced | Mac, Windows, iOS (sold separately) | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, browser | Mac only | Browser (cloud) | Browser | Everywhere |
| Write the draft | Yes | Yes | PartlyBasic editor | NoFormatting only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Characters, places and lore in one place | YesSource of Truth | YesBinder and research | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Style and grammar check built in | YesFiction-aware, runs on your device | No | PartlySpell check; ProWritingAid add-on | No | Yes | PartlyAI feedback | Partly |
| Import Word, Google Docs and PDF | YesAll three, with a chapter-split preview | PartlyWord and PDF | PartlyWord only | PartlyWord only | PartlyPaste in | PartlyWord and others | Yes |
| Design the book and preview it on devices | YesPaperback, Kindle, iPhone, Android, iPad | PartlyCompile settings | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| EPUB and print-ready PDF | YesEPUB validated before download | Yes | Yes | Yes | NoWord export | No | Partly |
| Blogs for several websites | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Newsletter | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Website visitor analytics | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| AI | YesOptional, your own AI, assists but never writes | NoNone | NoNone | NoNone | NoNone, by policy | YesWrites prose for you | PartlyCopilot or Gemini on paid plans |
| Work together on one book | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | PartlyNot listed | Yes |
What a stack costs
Three apps, three logins, and still no blog.
Prices from each company's website, checked October 2026.
A typical author stack
- Scrivener (one platform)$59.99
- Vellum, print and ebook (Mac only)$249.99
- ProWritingAid, one year$120.00
- A blog, a newsletter, analyticsseparate tools
First year$429.98+
or
Salt of the Page
- Writing room and Source of Truthincluded
- Book design, EPUB and print PDF, any computerincluded
- Fiction-aware style checkincluded
- Blogs, newsletter and analyticsincluded
Forever$150
Head to head
Switching from something? Start here.
Where others are stronger
We'd rather you trust the table.
No app is best at everything. If one of these is the only thing you need, it may be the right pick.
Scrivener
Still the deepest binder for research-heavy non-fiction, with a corkboard and compile options that power users love.
Vellum
More trim sizes (24) and a long track record of beautiful print books, if you work on a Mac.
Plottr
Visual timelines and plot grids for writers who outline everything first.
Google Docs
Free, and the easiest way to share a draft with anyone, anywhere.
One desk instead of four apps.
Write, design, publish and run the blog, for $150 once or $10 a month.