Best Book Writing Software in 2025: Compare Your Options

Finding the Right Writing Software

Choosing the right writing software can make or break your productivity as an author. The best tool depends on your budget, writing style, and publishing goals. In this guide, we compare the most popular options for book authors in 2025.

BookWriter Pro

Price: Free plan available, Standard at $9.99/month, Pro at $19.99/month

BookWriter Pro is a web-based manuscript editor designed specifically for book authors. It runs entirely in your browser — no downloads required.

Strengths:

• Free forever plan with real functionality
• Web-based — works on any device
• Auto-save every 3 seconds
• Built-in grammar checker
• Chapter and section organization
• Version history
• Export to PDF, Word, TXT, and EPUB

Best for: Authors who want a dedicated book writing tool without the upfront cost. Ideal for students, first-time authors, and anyone who writes on multiple devices.

Scrivener

Price: $49 one-time purchase

Scrivener has been a favorite among authors for years. It's a powerful desktop application with deep organizational features.

Strengths:

• Comprehensive organizational tools (binder, corkboard, outliner)
• Compile feature for multiple output formats
• Snapshot feature for version tracking
• Deep customization options

Weaknesses:

• Desktop only — no web or mobile access
• Steep learning curve
• No built-in grammar checking
• No auto-save to cloud

Best for: Desktop-focused authors who want maximum customization and don't need cross-device access.

Atticus

Price: $147 one-time purchase

Atticus is a newer tool that combines writing and formatting in a web-based interface with a focus on self-publishing.

Strengths:

• Web-based with offline mode
• Beautiful formatting presets
• Built-in book formatting for publishing
• Clean, modern interface

Weaknesses:

• High one-time price
• No free plan or trial
• Limited version history
• Less mature than competitors

Best for: Self-publishing authors who want writing and formatting in one tool and don't mind the upfront investment.

Google Docs

Price: Free

Google Docs is the default choice for many writers because it's free and familiar. But it wasn't designed for book writing.

Strengths:

• Free and widely available
• Real-time collaboration
• Auto-save to Google Drive
• Works on any device

Weaknesses:

• No chapter organization — one long document or many separate ones
• No book-specific features
• No export to EPUB
• Slow with very long documents
• No built-in writing-specific tools

Best for: Short-form writing, collaboration, or authors who only need basic word processing.

Microsoft Word

Price: $6.99/month (Microsoft 365) or $149.99 one-time

Microsoft Word is the industry standard for document formatting and is commonly used for manuscript submissions.

Strengths:

• Industry-standard format for submissions
• Powerful formatting tools
• Track Changes for editing
• Wide compatibility

Weaknesses:

• Not designed for long-form book organization
• No chapter management
• Expensive if you don't already own it
• No version history beyond basic undo

Best for: Authors in the editing and submission phase who need industry-standard .docx formatting.

How to Choose

Consider these factors when picking your writing software:

• Budget: BookWriter Pro and Google Docs offer free plans. Scrivener and Atticus are one-time purchases. Word requires a subscription.
• Device access: If you write on multiple devices, choose a web-based tool like BookWriter Pro, Atticus, or Google Docs.
• Organization: If chapter management matters, choose BookWriter Pro, Scrivener, or Atticus over Google Docs or Word.
• Publishing path: If you're self-publishing, you need EPUB export — available in BookWriter Pro (Pro plan), Scrivener, and Atticus.

Our Recommendation

For most authors starting out, BookWriter Pro's free plan is the best place to begin. You get real chapter organization, auto-save, and export options without spending a penny. As your needs grow, the Standard and Pro plans add grammar checking, version history, and EPUB export at prices that are easy on your budget.