For years, I’ve worked to keep this article current, and for good reason. Every time I turn around, a new “book writing software” pops up, or an existing tool rebrands itself as one.
But finding the best option isn’t as simple as picking a place to type words. Authors don’t just need a writing app. They need help with drafting, revising, organizing chapters, getting feedback, and ultimately turning a manuscript into clean, publish ready files that can actually become a book.
That’s where things get messy. Most writing tools are built to do one thing well. As a result, authors often find themselves juggling multiple pieces of software just to get from idea to finished book. More tools means more cost, more complexity, and more time spent learning systems instead of writing.
So in this guide, I’m going to start by focusing on book writing software that combines multiple core functions into a single workflow. These tools tend to be more affordable, easier to learn, and far less frustrating, because learning four different platforms to produce one book simply doesn’t make sense.
After that, I’ll break down standout tools that excel at specific tasks, in case you prefer a specialized, mix and match setup.
With that, what follows is my honest, practical breakdown of the best book writing software available today, based on what actually helps authors finish books, not just start them.
Key Takeaways
- If you want one tool that handles both writing and formatting, use Atticus. It keeps everything in one place and saves you from juggling multiple apps.
- Scrivener is still excellent for drafting and organizing complex projects, but it’s not a smooth “write → format → publish” solution.
- Google Docs is the easiest choice for collaboration and feedback, but it’s not great for long, serious book projects.
- AI tools like Sudowrite can help you get unstuck and explore ideas, but they work best as assistants, not replacements.
- A lot of popular tools sound good on paper but fall apart for real book workflows. Price, platform limits, and missing features matter more than most people expect.
Why Am I Qualified to Write About Book Writing Software?
Let’s be honest.
A lot of “best writing software” articles are just recycled lists. Half the time, the person writing them hasn’t actually spent much time using the tools they’re recommending.
That’s not how I do this.
I’ve been publishing books for over a decade, and in that time I’ve tested more writing tools than I can count. Some looked great at first and then fell apart. Others quietly earned a permanent spot in my workflow.
I’ve also worked closely with authors, publishers, and writing professionals across the industry — not just as a blogger, but as someone who lives inside this world every day.
And because what works for me won’t work for everyone, I don’t rely on my experience alone. I survey readers. I talk to working authors. I compare notes with people who write for a living.
This guide is the result of all of that: real use, real feedback, and long-term testing.
The Short Version
If you just want the quick answer, here it is:
Atticus is my top pick. It’s the only tool on this list that lets you write, organize, and format your book in one place without making things more complicated than they need to be.
If you want a free option, Google Docs is fine for short projects or collaborative work. I still use it for that.
But if you’re writing a full-length book (especially something in the 60,000 to 100,000-word range), you’re probably going to want software that was built for authors, not office documents.
If you want the deeper breakdown, keep reading.
I’ve organized the tools below by what they actually do best, not by hype. I’ll walk through what I like, what gets in the way, what they cost, and who each one makes sense for.
Let’s start with my top overall recommendation.
1. Atticus: Editor's Choice
I built Atticus because I got tired of using multiple tools just to write one book.
Most writing software is good at one thing. Some are great for drafting. Some are great for formatting. But almost none of them do both in the same place. So you end up writing your book in one tool, then exporting everything and moving it somewhere else to format it.
With Atticus, you write and format your book in the same place. You don’t have to rebuild your manuscript later. You don’t have to worry about breaking things when you export. You just write, preview, and export when you’re ready.
It also works on pretty much anything. Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, browser. You’re not locked into one type of computer.
The other thing I really like is the pricing. It’s a one-time purchase. You buy it, and that’s it. I don’t have to keep paying money every month just to access my own books.
If you want the full breakdown, I go much deeper in my full Atticus review.
But if you want the short version?
This is the tool I use.
2. Scrivener: Best for Pure Writing (But Not for Everyone)
Credit where credit’s due… Scrivener is great for writing.
For a pure drafting experience, few tools do it better. That’s why so many authors like it, and it’s why I started using it back in 2007 before eventually switching to Atticus.
It’s also a one-time purchase, which I love. No subscription. You buy it, you own it. That part is great.
But they barely update the thing. So don’t expect big improvements or new features. What you see is mostly what you’re getting.
And yes, it technically has formatting… but you do not want to use Scrivener to format your book. It’s insanely complicated. People literally buy courses just to learn how to use it. And even then, most books still come out looking rough.
So what usually happens is this: people draft in Scrivener, then export everything and format somewhere else.
But if you’re doing that, you might as well just use Atticus and keep everything in one place.
I go much deeper into all of this in my full Scrivener review, if you want the longer version.
And if you do want to try Scrivener for yourself, you can use the code KINDLEPRENEUR to save 20%.
3. Sudowrite: Best AI-Assisted Writing Tool (If You're Careful)
Sudowrite is one of the few AI tools I’ve actually found useful for fiction.
I’d never use it to write a book for me. But it can help when I’m stuck, bored, or 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.
It’s good for brainstorming, throwing out ideas, expanding a scene, or helping you think through what might happen next.
It’s subscription-based, which I normally hate. But here, it actually makes sense. You’re paying for an AI system that’s constantly changing, not a static piece of software. I still prefer one-time purchases, but this is one of the few cases where I don’t totally hate the model.
One important thing: Sudowrite does not format anything.
So if you use it, you’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 Sudowrite, then move everything into Atticus to format and publish.
If you want the full breakdown, we 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 it, using our link gets you 200,000 bonus credits, which 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 using, whether they planned to or not.
It’s free. It’s in your browser. It saves automatically. You can open your manuscript from basically anywhere, on any device. That part is really nice.
But where it really shines is collaboration.
If you’ve got co-authors, editors, or beta readers, it’s hard to beat. You can share a link, decide exactly who gets access, and see their comments and suggestions in real time. That means there's no emailing files back and forth and “final-final-v3.docx” nonsense.
It wasn't built for books, though.
Once the doc gets big, it starts feeling slow. Formatting for print is a pain. And if you actually want to publish, you’re probably going to end up exporting it to something like Atticus anyway.
So yeah, it’s great for drafts, feedback, and working with other people.
But if you’re writing a full-length book and want something that’s actually designed for that, you’ll probably hit its limits.
That said, if you do want to use Google Docs for a book, I’ve written a full guide on how to make it work as smoothly as possible. I walk through structure, formatting workarounds, and the exact setup I’d recommend. You can check it out by clicking the button below.
5. Microsoft Word: Familiar, But Not Built for Books
Microsoft Word is fine for drafting. Track Changes is good if you’re working with an editor. And yeah, basically everyone already knows how to use it.
But for writing an actual book? It gets annoying fast.
Everything lives in one giant document. You’re scrolling constantly. Moving things around isn’t fun. And it just doesn’t feel built for long projects.
Formatting is another headache. You can do it, but Word clearly wasn’t made for that. We do have free Word formatting templates that help, but even then, a lot of people end up moving their manuscript into something like Atticus to finish it properly.
And unless you’re okay with the stripped-down web version, you’re paying for Microsoft 365 just to use it.
If you want the longer breakdown, I go deeper in my full Microsoft Word guide.
Short version: I wouldn’t use Word for a full-length book.
6. Ulysses: Beautiful, Minimal, and Very Apple
Ulysses is one of the nicest writing apps I’ve ever used. If you care about aesthetics and a distraction-free experience, it’s hard to beat.
But there are two big catches.
First, it’s Apple-only. Mac and iOS. If you’re on Windows, Chromebook, or anything else, you’re out.
Second, it’s a subscription. You’re paying every year just to keep using it.
Some people are fine with that. I’m not.
That’s one of the reasons I prefer something like Atticus, where you pay once and you’re done.
Editor's Note
Instead of purchasing Ulysses directly, you should know that it also comes bundled as part of Setapp, a subscription service that gives you access to dozens of iOS and Mac apps. I've been a Setapp member for several years, so I can vouch for it. Plans start at $9.99 a month, which is only a few dollars more than what you'd pay for Ulysses alone.
We 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 beautiful, minimal place to write, Ulysses might be worth a look. If you’re not, there are better options.
Writing Tools We Don't Recommend (Or Didn't Make the Cut)
This is the part most “best of” lists avoid, but I think it matters.
There are a lot of writing tools out there. Some of them aren’t terrible, they 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 is made for writers who love tracking data about their story — scenes, characters, structure, all that stuff. For most people, though, it’s a bit much. The interface feels dated, the writing experience isn’t very pleasant, and it doesn’t handle formatting well, so you’ll still need another tool to actually finish your book. It’s also often called “free,” but that’s really only true long-term if you’re on Windows. On Mac, it’s only free while it’s in beta, and the iOS and Android apps are paid. If you want the full breakdown, we go into more detail in our yWriter review.
Apple Pages is free, it looks nice, and it’s easy to use, especially if you’re already on a Mac or iPhone. But it’s really more of a layout tool than a writing tool. It’s built to make pages look good, not to manage long manuscripts, and once your project gets big, it starts to feel clunky. It’s also locked into Apple’s ecosystem, which makes collaboration annoying if everyone isn’t on a Mac. And honestly, even though it’s free, I’d still recommend Google Docs or even Microsoft Word over Pages for most people. They’re more flexible and better suited to actual writing workflows.
Novlr offers a clean, simple word processor with a few nice extras like autosave, cloud syncing, and a built-in proofreader. The problem is the price. It’s a subscription, and for what it offers, it just doesn’t feel worth paying for. It doesn’t have strong formatting tools, deep organization, or collaboration features, and if you’re looking for AI-style help, Sudowrite does that much better. But that said, if you'd like to learn more about it, be sure to check out our full Novlr review.
Squibler is very system-heavy. Lots of templates, planning tools, and dashboards. If you love mapping everything out, you might like it. Most writers, though, will find it bulky and overcomplicated. The bigger issue is the price. At $29 a month, it’s expensive, especially since it still doesn’t handle formatting well and often requires another tool later anyway. And if you’re mainly interested in AI-style help, Sudowrite does that much better. Our in-depth Squibler review goes into more details, if you're interested in learning more about it.
Reedsy Studio is great if you just want a lightweight place to write, but it doesn’t have the deeper organization, flexibility, or all-in-one workflow you get with tools like Atticus, and it’s not as good for collaboration as Google Docs. If you want more advanced outlining or craft tools, you also end up paying monthly for add-on features anyway. So while Reedsy Studio is one of the better free options out there, I think most writers will outgrow it once their projects get more serious.
Bibisco has some interesting ideas, especially around character profiles and story structure. If you’re really into that side of things, it might catch your attention. But once you get past those niche features, it starts to feel limited. For most writers, something like Scrivener gives you way more flexibility and a much stronger overall writing environment. Bibisco feels like it’s trying to solve one specific problem, but ends up being too narrow for real-world book projects. We do have a full Bibisco review if you want the deeper breakdown.
Vellum is a great formatter. No argument there. The problem is that it’s only a formatter, and it only works on Mac. If you already own a Mac and just want a premium formatting tool, it can make sense. But Atticus now gives you similar formatting tools, works on all platforms, and also lets you write your book in the same place — for less money. That makes Vellum hard to justify unless you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and only care about formatting. We also have a full Vellum review if you want more detail.
FocusWriter does exactly what it says: it gives you a blank, distraction-free place to type. And that’s fine. The issue is that it doesn’t really do much beyond that. There’s no real organization, no project structure, and no workflow support. If all you want is a blank screen, you can get that from plenty of tools that also give you actual writing features. Even Scrivener’s Composition Mode does the same thing without being so barebones. We go deeper into this in our full FocusWriter review if you’re curious.
LibreOffice Writer isn’t terrible. It’s free, which is nice. But it feels dated, clunky, and not especially friendly for long-form creative writing. If you’re going to use a free tool, Google Docs is more modern, easier to use, and much better for collaboration. LibreOffice feels more like a workaround than something you’d actually choose on purpose.
The Best Book Editing Software
Let’s get one thing out of the way.
No software can replace a real editor.
It just can’t.
But good editing tools can make your writing cleaner, tighter, and easier to read before it ever reaches a human. They catch things your brain stops seeing. They point out patterns you didn’t realize you were repeating. And they can save you from sending a draft full of obvious mistakes into the world.
Think of these tools as your first pass, not your final judge.
Here are the ones I think are actually worth using.
ProWritingAid
If you want the most comprehensive feedback, ProWritingAid is hard to beat.
It doesn’t just look for grammar mistakes. It analyzes readability, filler words, pacing, clichés, overused phrases, sentence variety, and a lot more. Sometimes it feels like it’s giving you a full editorial report on your writing.
That can be overwhelming for some writers. But if you like digging into the craft side of things, it’s incredibly useful.
It also plays nicely with other tools. It integrates with Scrivener, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word, which is huge if you don’t want to copy and paste everything into a separate app.
This is the one I’d recommend if you want depth and are willing to learn how to use it well. And if you'd like to learn more about, here's a deep-dive review I wrote on it.
(We also offer a 20% discount on yearly and lifetime plans.)
Grammarly
Grammarly is the easiest entry point for most writers.
It catches spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation problems, and awkward phrasing. It explains what’s wrong and usually gives you a clear fix.
It works as a browser extension, desktop app, and plugin, so it’s almost always available wherever you’re writing.
The free version is genuinely useful. The paid version adds more style and clarity suggestions, plus a plagiarism checker.
If you just want something simple that quietly cleans up your writing in the background, Grammarly does that very well.
Hemingway Editor
Hemingway is different.
It critiques your writing instead of correcting it. It highlights long sentences, passive voice, adverbs, and anything it considers hard to read. It color-codes your text so you can literally see where things get messy.
What it doesn’t do is explain why something is a problem or how to fix it.
That’s either frustrating or freeing, depending on your personality.
I like Hemingway as a second-pass tool. It forces you to look at your writing differently. But I wouldn’t rely on it alone.
AutoCrit
AutoCrit is built with fiction writers in mind.
It looks for patterns that matter in storytelling: repetition, pacing issues, overused words, weak openings, slow paragraphs, and more.
One of its standout features is that it compares your writing to famous authors’ styles. That’s more novelty than necessity, but some writers really enjoy it.
It’s not as clean or intuitive as Grammarly, and not as broad as ProWritingAid, but it can surface some surprisingly useful insights, especially for novelists.
A Quick Note on Plagiarism
If you’re worried about accidental plagiarism, Grammarly’s paid plan includes a built-in checker. ProWritingAid also offers plagiarism checks, but it uses a token-based system. There are free standalone plagiarism checkers out there, too, but be cautious with anything that asks you to upload your full manuscript.
Other Software Every Writer Should Have
Writing the book is only part of the job.
If you want to finish it, publish it, and actually get it in front of people, you’ll probably end up using a few other tools along the way.
Not because you have to, but because they make things easier.
Here are a few that are genuinely useful:
- Publisher Rocket is a must for your book marketing research, including hot keywords and AMS advertising.
- Evernote allows you to share countless “notes” with beta readers, collaborators, other authors, classmates, family members. It is the coolest app for note-taking and -sharing.
- IAWriter’s minimalist, award-winning design cuts out distractions, like rulers and toolbars, and even blinds everything out except the sentence/paragraph you’re writing. Its Focus Mode might just change your life.
- Ommwriter offers a calm writing environment and meditative tracks to listen to while you write.
- Freedom productivity app helps you stay focused by blocking distracting websites and apps for scheduled writing sessions.
- Write or Die is a somewhat humorous and perhaps helpful tool that gives writers “tangible consequences” if they don’t meet a word count goal or time spent writing goal. Consequences include annoying sounds (such as “Never Gonna Give You Up”) or Kamikaze mode which deletes whatever was just written.
- Plotting Software such as Plottr, Novel Factory, or Plot Factory. Each of these will help you plot your book, build compelling characters, and build your world.
Verdict: What's the Best Writing Software?
If you just want the answer and don’t care about the details: use Atticus.
I’ve tested a lot of writing tools over the years. Some are fine. Some are frustrating. Some look good on a sales page but fall apart once you try to write an actual book in them.
Atticus is the one that keeps me from fighting my software.
I can write in it. I can organize my book in it. I can format my book in it. And when I’m done, I can export files that are actually usable.
That sounds basic, but it isn’t.
Most tools do one of those things well… and then force you into two or three other tools to finish the job.
If you’re on a tight budget, Google Docs can work for short projects. I still use it for blog posts and shared docs. Apple Pages is another decent free option if you’re on a Mac.
But once your manuscript starts getting big, those tools start to feel like the wrong fit. They weren’t built for books. So, if you’re serious about writing a book, don’t make it harder than it has to be.
Use a tool that was built for authors.
That’s Atticus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Book Writing Software
Short answer: Atticus. Longer answer: the “best” tool depends on what you need, but most authors want one place to write, organize, and format their book without juggling three different apps. That’s where Atticus shines. It keeps everything in one workflow, which saves time and removes a lot of friction. If you love deep outlining and project organization, Scrivener is still a strong option. If you need collaboration, Google Docs works. But for most authors who want to go from draft to publish-ready files without headaches, Atticus is the easiest recommendation.
Yes. Plenty of people do. But just because you can doesn’t mean it’s the best tool for the job. Google Docs and Word were built for documents, not books. Once your manuscript gets long, things like performance, navigation, formatting, and exporting start to matter a lot more. That’s where general-purpose word processors tend to fall apart. They’re fine for short projects. They’re not ideal for full-length books
Yes, for the right kind of writer. Scrivener is excellent at organizing complex projects. If you love outlining, rearranging scenes, attaching research, and breaking your book into smaller chunks, it’s hard to beat. Where it struggles is at the end of the process. Formatting and exporting a clean, publish-ready book is more complicated than it should be. That’s one of the main reasons many authors eventually move on.
Most tools only help you write. Formatting software is what turns your manuscript into files that actually work for publishing, like EPUBs and print-ready PDFs. The problem is that many authors don’t realize this until they finish their draft and suddenly need a second tool. Atticus combines both. You write the book and format it in the same place. That’s a big deal.
Yes, but there are always tradeoffs. Google Docs is free and great for collaboration. Apple Pages is free if you’re on a Mac. Reedsy Studio offers a free core writing and export experience, with optional paid add-ons. All of these can work. They just tend to hit limits once your project gets bigger or more complex.
AI tools can be helpful, especially for brainstorming, breaking through writer’s block, or exploring ideas. But they should be treated like assistants, not authors. They can help you move faster. They can’t replace your judgment, your voice, or your storytelling instincts. If you lean on them too heavily, your writing can start to sound generic.
Most commonly: DOCX, EPUB, and PDF. Not every tool exports all of these cleanly. That’s something a lot of authors don’t think about until it’s too late. This is another reason all-in-one tools like Atticus are appealing. You’re not stuck converting files with third-party tools at the end.
They choose what’s familiar instead of what’s appropriate. A lot of authors default to Word or Google Docs because that’s what they’ve always used. Then they spend months fighting their tools instead of focusing on their writing. The right software should make writing easier, not harder.
