Top Dabble Alternatives for Novelists and Writers
Dabble is a popular choice for crafting novels, offering a seamless writing experience across desktop and browser. However, for various reasons—be it pricing, specific features, or platform compatibility—writers often seek out powerful Dabble alternatives. This article delves into the best software options available to help you write your next masterpiece.
Top Dabble Alternatives
Whether you're looking for advanced outlining, distraction-free environments, or robust export options, these alternatives offer compelling features that might be a better fit for your unique writing workflow.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a highly versatile Dabble alternative, often lauded as the industry standard for novelists. Available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and even via PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac) or Wine, it's a Freemium tool designed to handle everything from initial ideas to the final full stop. Key features include a Corkboard, Character database, Scene Management, Distraction-free writing, and robust export options to Word, ePub, and PDF, making it ideal for comprehensive project management.
Manuskript
Manuskript stands out as an excellent open-source and free Dabble alternative for writers. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools including an outliner, character management, plot development, and a distraction-free editor. Its features like Tracking of characters, locations, and plots, along with Outline folding and Markdown support, make it a strong contender for those seeking a no-cost, feature-rich writing environment.
Bear
Bear is a beautiful and flexible writing app, serving as a solid Dabble alternative for note-taking and prose, particularly for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. This Freemium option offers features like Markdown support, Cloud sync, Encryption, and Notes synchronization. Its integration with Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari extensions, along with PDF export and powerful search by tags, makes it a versatile tool for writers who prioritize clean design and cross-device functionality.
Hemingway Editor
Hemingway Editor is a unique commercial Dabble alternative focused on improving writing clarity and boldness. Available on Mac, Windows, and Web, it highlights common errors like wordy sentences, adverbs, and passive voice. Its features include Automated proofreading, Distraction-free writing, Grammar check, and Readability integration, making it an invaluable tool for writers looking to polish their prose and enhance their writing assistance.
Ulysses
Ulysses is a commercial text editor for creative writers, popular among bloggers, poets, and novelists, and a strong Dabble alternative for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. It offers an integrated environment with features like Markdown support, Distraction-free writing, Brainstorming, and seamless Sync with iCloud. Exporting to ePub and PDF is straightforward, providing a comprehensive writing tool for those within the Apple ecosystem.
bibisco
bibisco is a novel writing software that serves as an excellent Freemium and Open Source Dabble alternative. Available as a desktop application for Linux, MacOS, and Windows, it simplifies the story-writing process. Features such as Character development, Novel planning, Timeline, Distraction-free writing, and Scene Management make it a robust choice. It also offers export to Word, ePub, and PDF, alongside Visual Organization, helping writers keep their projects in order.
Gingko
Gingko is a unique Freemium, Web-based, and Software as a Service (SaaS) Dabble alternative that allows you to write and organize ideas in a tree-like structure. It's perfect for both business planning and novel writing, letting ideas flow naturally. Key features include Export to LaTeX, Brainstorming, Collaborative writing, MarkDown support, Notetaking, Outliner, and Real time collaboration, making it highly effective for visual thinkers and team projects.
Quoll Writer
Quoll Writer is a free and open-source Dabble alternative for Windows, designed to help writers focus on their words with a clean and uncluttered interface. Despite its simplicity, it's feature-rich, offering Distraction-free writing, an Outliner, Fullscreen support, and robust export capabilities to ePub and PDF. Its Story Management, Writing assistance, and Writing statistics features further enhance the writing process, making it a compelling choice for Windows users.
oStorybook
oStorybook is a free, open-source novel-writing software available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. This Dabble alternative is designed for creative writers, novelists, and authors to manage multiple plot-lines efficiently. It provides a Character database and detailed text editing tools, helping you keep an organized overview of your story's elements.
yWriter
yWriter is a Freemium writing tool and a practical Dabble alternative available across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS (via iPhone/iPad and Android Tablet, Wine, Mono). It utilizes "scenes" as its unit of text, allowing writers to associate text with various story elements like characters and locations. Its Lightweight, Outline mode, Portable, and Project Organization features make it a versatile tool for structuring your novel.
Ultimately, the best Dabble alternative depends on your specific needs as a writer. Whether you prioritize deep outlining, distraction-free environments, collaborative features, or cross-platform compatibility, there's a tool out there to perfectly support your creative journey. Explore these options to find the ideal software to bring your next story to life.