Alternatives to Dabble
Cloud novel writing with plot grid
Dabble ranks #6 of 10 in Writing apps, with an Alt Score of 68. It is proprietary, sold by subscription from $19/month and available on Windows, macOS and Web. 8 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Fiction authors and novelists, from first-time writers to seasoned pros, who want story-organization tools without the complexity of general-purpose writing software.
A cloud-based novel writing app combining a distraction-free editor with dedicated plotting tools: a Plot Grid for story structure, character profiles, and a Story Bible for worldbuilding and lore. Scenes can be reordered by drag-and-drop and tagged with plot labels to track POV and themes. Revision tools include comments, sticky notes, and highlighting, plus daily word-count goals and NaNoWriMo tracking.
Writers plan their story using the Plot Grid and Story Bible, then draft scenes in the editor with automatic chapter/scene formatting. Work autosaves to the cloud and syncs across computers, tablets, and phones, so writers can plan, write, and revise in one continuous workflow.
Where Dabble stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Dabble
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Dabble compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Writing apps checklist | Dabble | Ulysses | iA Writer | Scrivener | Atticus | Manuskript |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Goals & word counts | ||||||
| Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) | ||||||
| Sync between devices | ||||||
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| One-time purchase option | ||||||
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| Publishing integrations |
Every fact and feature listed for Dabble is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
Dabble grants you a limited license to make personal use of the Service to access and review the Materials for your personal or internal business purposes only.
https://www.dabblewriter.com/terms -
Pricing model Subscription verified 2026-07-11
No credit card required — change or cancel your plan at any time
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Starts at $19/month verified 2026-07-11
$19/month
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Web verified 2026-07-11
Dabble for Windows
https://www.dabblewriter.com/downloads -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Try Free for 14 Days
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Distraction-free mode Yes verified 2026-07-11
Eliminate distractions and concentrate on your writing
https://www.dabblewriter.com/features -
Long-form organization (chapters) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Manuscript organization
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Goals & word counts Yes verified 2026-07-11
Goals and stats
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Export formats (docx, epub, pdf) Partial verified 2026-07-11
You can export to Word, Google Docs, Web, and even just text.
https://help.dabblewriter.com/en/articles/9585084-more-on-exporting -
Sync between devices Yes verified 2026-07-11
save"."
Dabble automatically cloud syncs all your work, so you never have to hit
https://help.dabblewriter.com/en/articles/2865447-recover-deleted-projects -
Version history No verified 2026-07-11
Versioning (coming soon)
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
One-time purchase option Yes verified 2026-07-11
Lifetime Author Access - $699
https://www.dabblewriter.com/pricing -
Offline Yes verified 2026-07-11
Prefer working offline? You can download the desktop or app version of Dabble right here.
https://www.dabblewriter.com/downloads
FAQ
Yes. Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Manuskript, novelWriter and Ghostwriter — every license claim links its source.