# Page 3 | Scrivener Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Page 3 - Is Scrivener the right Proofreading solution for you? Explore 202 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/180597/Scrivener/reviews --- Scrivener 4.7 (202) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/180597/Scrivener/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated December 14th, 2025 # Page 3 - Reviews of Scrivener ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 51-75 of 202 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use SO Sallie O. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My favorite for writing fiction!" November 17, 2022 5.0 At first, I found Scrivener intimidating. Watching YouTube videos about Scrivener for Beginners was very helpful. I also printed out some cheat-sheets to keep on my desk for quick reference. But once I figured out the basic functions that I needed for what I'm doing, I was off and running. There's still a LOT of features I have never played with, but it's nice to know they're there if the need should ever arise. But I'm still looking for a character specific timeline feature. I've heard it's in there somewhere, in some form. But I have yet to locate it. Pros I like that the creators of Scrivener have tried to anticipate the needs of a wide variety of users to make the software as useful as possible. I especially appreciate the versatility of the Compile function. Cons The learning curve is HUGE if you want to use all of its features, and it isn't always intuitive. Reason for choosing Scrivener Scrivener was the #1 most recommended software in the writer's group I am active in. The group has thousands of members. Review Source NR Nanci R. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Scrivener" May 30, 2023 5.0 I love it. It helps me get the writing done in a timely manner. Pros I like the way it's organized to make it easier to navigate. Cons There's not much that I don't like about Scrivener. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Marketing Consultant Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Solid Writing Software" September 5, 2019 5.0 Scrivener has been amazing for not only my book writing projects, but even everyday planning. It wasn't designed to be used as a planner, but it fits that need just fine for me. I like to keep my ideas in one place and Scrivener allows me to do that. Pros Simplicity is key with Scrivener. There's a million tools out there that can make keeping track of your writing complicated, but scrivener focuses on keeping it simple and streamlined. I write books with it, but I also use it as a place to store my ideas, to do's and other things related to my business. It's easy to drag and drop separate files to different places as needed. Cons Compiling books can be a minor nightmare. Some of the settings are confusing when it comes time to compile all of your files into one document. The only reason this isn't a huge deal is because you'll only do it once or twice with a book or document, not every day. My only other 'complaint' would be that its local only, no cloud saves or accessing it from another computer. That's not the end of the world, just something to be aware of. Review Source JL Jack L. Author Publishing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Gold Standard" June 8, 2023 5.0 What I love most is "everything all in one place". And easy to use basic functions immediately... and then adding using features as I discover them or need them. Pros Unbelievable value for the price. Amazing amount of features. Cons Granted... the learning curve for all the features is steep at times. Alternatives considered [Microsoft 365](https://www.capterra.com/p/227157/Microsoft-365/) Reason for choosing Scrivener MSWord is great for word-processing... Scrivener is the bees-knees for novel writing. Switched from [Google Docs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160756/Google-Docs/) comprehensive nature of Scrivener Review Source RC Richard C. CEO Human Resources Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Writing's on the Wall" February 13, 2024 5.0 I generally love it. It's my go to software for writing and compiling documents for books, presentations, trainings, business plans, and SOR, and much more I'm probably forgetting. Overall very positive. And if I recall when I had interactions with support they were responsive and extremely helpfully. I think it was related to installing on a second computer. Pros I like that I can map out, plan, write, rearrange, reorder, and edit, documents easily. In my case this is presentation scripts, books, and also business plans, and SORs. It's so nice to just be able to move sections of writing around easily. Which leaves time for just writing without worrying about the order. Cons There's little I didn't like about it. I know I'm only scratching the surface with what I use it for, even as a writer, marketer, and author. So nothing stands out as an 'I don't like' for me. Reason for choosing Scrivener Evernote. Hemmingway. Microsoft Word. Apple Pages. Switched from [Pages](https://www.capterra.com/p/229116/Pages/)[Google Docs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160756/Google-Docs/)[Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) Scrivener is powerful, full-featured, yet simple and easy to use. Just the navigator and being able to easily rearrange sections and keep things organised did it for me. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Intern Publishing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Scrivener: For the Pros" February 18, 2020 5.0 Scrivener is one of the few pieces of software that I can give a perfect score. 10/10. Pros Scrivener is a word processor that provides templates for different mediums, including fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, and more. It can be used to write novels (which is my primary interest), essays, letters, HTML—essentially anything that requires words on the page, all without the actual page. What makes it distinct from other word processors is the ability to write pieces in any order and move them around with ease. You can also incorporate research from another site or source, and keep it available in the background until you need it. There's a project-management aspect of Scrivener that I haven't used much, but it's nice to have the option available. Overall, it's an excellent piece of software that I use often. Cons It's a very minor complaint, but I would love to have a build for Linux, so I can write on my practice computer. There was one a while back, but it is no longer available. Review Source BA Breshea A. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Couldn’t have done it without Scrivener " January 12, 2023 5.0 Scrivener has helped me write several books! I couldn’t have done it without this awesome software. Pros I love that this app seamlessly exports files into the necessary formats. I also really enjoy the organization features, such as the scene cards and tags. The cork board function is awesome for someone like me, who needs visuals. Cons There are no features in the latest version of Scrivener that I dislike. Switched from [Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) Scrivener’s export and organization features! Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Senior Business Systems Analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Extremely powerful software for novel-writing" October 14, 2020 5.0 It's great for tracking daily word counts, as well as setting daily/project word goals. The ease of use is extremely handy, and it formats projects in such a way to keep all my outlines, notes, images, etc. all in one place. I'll never use another writing software again. Pros What I love about Scrivener is that it molds to the user. If a user is a lightweight when it comes to technology, they can still use the software to meet their needs. But if the user expands to use the software to its full capabilities, they won't need to utilize other software to complete projects and export solid-looking books. Cons The Kindle plugin is buggy. A lot of times I have to export my books to an ePub file, then use 3rd party software to convert the file to mobi. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Personal Trainer Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Can't go without it" April 15, 2021 5.0 I started using Scrivener around 8 years ago now. I love how organized it keeps my writing and how organized it keeps me. It has project trackers, word counts, various folders and resource tracking. I honestly cannot go a day without using it so it's open pretty much the entire time my computer is on. Whether I'm writing or just jotting down quick notes so I don't forget something. I've gifted copies to friends, recommended it to several people, it's absolutely essential in my day to day activities. Pros I love having the ability to organize projects within projects. I have one document for fitness, one for flash fiction writing, and one for novels in progress. I can further breath those down into categories and chapters without having to create separate documents and I can keep it all very organized. Cons If you come from simply using word or pages, there is a steep learning curve to understanding what scrivener can do for you. Especially since it can do so many things. Tutorials are an amazing lifeline to understanding this product Review Source CD Chuck D. Writer Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful tool to energize your writing efforts" August 28, 2019 5.0 When I first started using Scrivener, I was skeptical of the enthusiasm of my colleagues for the software, but it allows me to organize so much information in one application, that the benefits couldn't be denied. It serves you throughout the entire writing process, from brainstorming to publishing. And the tracking abilities keep you on your deadline during the entire time. Pros 1\. There's a wide variety of tools available in Scrivener 2. The Binder allows you to have your research and manuscript in the same window 3. The Binder is great for structuring your ideas without resorting to a different app for outlining/corkboard 4. Tools for tracking progress built in 5. Many options for publishing the document into a more standard format 6. The price can't be beat Cons 1\. It's hard to get it to work well with syncing and maintaining format 2. It doesn't support markdown very well 3. It requires some effort to master Switched from [Microsoft 365](https://www.capterra.com/p/227157/Microsoft-365/) I still use Office 365, and it's better for general word processing tasks, as Scrivener is not a Word Processor. However, the functionality and organization of Scrivener is a lot better for long-form writing. Review Source RS Robert S. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best stable reliable product for writing novels" June 5, 2023 5.0 Incredibly positive. There is plenty of online competition but nothing is as stable as Scrivener. Pros It's a straightforward tool with great editing capabilities. It's easy to rearrange scenes to get your novel in the right order. Cons I don't enjoy using the compile feature. It improved with version 3 on Windows but I prefer to produce ebooks outside of Scrivener. Review Source Dayne E. Owner Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Scrivener streamlines writing books" February 26, 2019 5.0 With Scrivener I am able to have one scrivener file per book and/or series and keep documents with notes and then make each chapter a text file. That way, if I need to locate a specific scene I don't have to mess with scrolling through a Word document to find what I'm looking for (or use the clunky Find feature). Pros What I like most about Scrivener is how simple it is to organize my book by chapters or scenes. It helps me outline my book from the start, which in turn makes writing it faster. I also love using the split-screen function to allow me to have the notes on one side of my screen and the actual writing on the other. Cons There is a learning curve with Scrivener in order to unlock its full potential. I don't generally dig into the Compile functions (to generate a print-ready manuscript, etc.) and instead just compile to a basic Word file and format the book myself using the vendor's style guide. Review Source Mike K. CEO Security and Investigations Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Indispensable for Writers" March 12, 2019 5.0 Pros There are several things that make it very useful for anyone writing: 1. There's a very good search feature that makes it easy to find a word or phrase throughout the document 2. It keeps track of daily and overall word counts, which is a metric most writers use for goals. 3. It has a great corkboard feature that allows you to setup each section and visually rearrange them to see how the project flows. 4. It has an active forum with great support. Cons Due to its power, Scrivener has a fairly steep learning curve. I think the most difficult/confusing is in compiling the document, either to export it to Word or to create an electronic book (ebook). There are several settings that control how the document is compiled, and settings within settings, which create a myriad of choices. Even after watching the tutorials I was confused. The good news is that, for the most part, compile wors well using the default settings. You'll just have to expect to tweak the final product a little. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer CCO Entertainment Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "If you need to really organize writing projects and not just write them" July 23, 2023 5.0 Scrivener makes light work of complicated documents and writing projects. Pros We use scrivener when we have a writing project with lots of working parts, not just text but other pieces as well that we need to organize. The corkboard feature is the number selling point for us. Cons Sometimes it can be a little clunky/slow. Switched from [Google Docs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160756/Google-Docs/) For the ability to build more complex projects Review Source EL Erika L. Copyeditor and proofreader Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A must-have for serious writers" August 19, 2021 5.0 As someone who transitioned to Scrivener from another writing software, this one is superior. I used to get caught up in all the extra features other software had, like mapping relationships, filling out character profiles, etc., which was really just my way of procrastinating, honestly. With Scrivener, I can eliminate any categories I don't use, and the simple design keeps me focused. In addition, the one-time fee makes it absolutely worth the switch. Most software charge annual or even monthly fees at the same cost. Pros Scrivener gives you the ability to organize your work, check statistics, and sync with the mobile app to work on the go. I love the variety of views you can select from, whether you're reorganizing the order of scenes and chapters or wishing to view your manuscript as one uninterrupted file. It can appear as simple and distraction-free or technical as you wish. Cons It can take a bit of time to learn how to use it to its full potential, but there are plenty of tutorials online and help features. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer President Online Media Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A great tool to collect any written information" May 30, 2019 5.0 I think more people that write blogs should give Scrivener a go, for me it has changed the way I work I can't speak more highly of it. Pros I use this software to help me manage websites, blogs and ideas. It allows me to store everything in a an easy to use, easy to find way. I love how I can have two documents open side by side, and easily open other ones just with one click. I use this daily. It is my go to for anything I need tot type out. The ability to have reference material easily at hand is great. I know this is a tool for people writing books, and I'm sure it does that job well, but for my purpose I can't rate it highly enough. Cons I wish there was a full blown android app allowing me to add info on the go. Also development seems to always get pushed out as we wait for the latest version. Review Source GS Glen S. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Scrivener Was Made for Writers by Writers" May 11, 2021 5.0 Scrivener is great for writing, not just novels, but non-fiction, blogs, social media posts etc, etc. If you join a Scrivener group on Facebook, there are lots of people who will freely help for any problems, as well as the L&L website. Pros Scrivener has so many features, you will never get around to using them all. Dip in and use what you need to start with and when your Scrivener skills increase, you will use more features. It's the ability to organize work and let it flow around within a binder structure that makes writing so easy. You can write in small chunks and re-arrange it into the order you desire later. There is the facility to create synopsis, save research to Scrivener, create notes and lots more. Flags and progress can be attached to areas that you are working on to keep track of progress. Scrivener also syncs with ProWritingAid and Aeon Timeline, as well as Scrivener's sister product Scapple Cons There is a learning curve to Scrivener which can put some people off. The best practice is to download the trial version, which gives you 30 actual days of use. Then, read the Literature & Latte manual and watch the video before opening the program to get an overview of how it works. Then create a dummy project to learn from. Get used to the compile feature early, rather than waiting until the end of a piece of work. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Business Architect and Trainer Management Consulting Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great tool for knowledge worker and authors" January 31, 2022 5.0 I really enjoy working with Scrivener. It brought back my joy to writing. Pros I like the fact that Scrivener really brings together all my sources of information. While writing a chapter, article or essay I can always look up any information that I need with a few clicks. Scriveners holds the entire document and all external sources together, and makes is easily searchable. Cons Scrivener has a bit of a learning curve. You really need to take your time and go through the introduction program otherwise you lose out on a lot of useful information. Switched from [Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) Scrivener really supports the author. I like Word a lot, but it's not convenient for larger projects that require a lot of related information from external sources. Review Source NW Niels W. Author & Illustrator Arts and Crafts Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Almost perfect" January 22, 2023 5.0 I started using scrivener a long time ago and always used it for mostly all my writing. Combined with Plottr it's the perfect tool for the second half of the project, writing, reviewing and rewriting. Pros It's just a super useful tool from writers for writers. So far I used it mostly for shorter stories, so I only discovered a small amount of the possibilities but it made my writing process so much easier. Cons It's a bit oversized for basic story layout and plotting, for that I started using Plottr. Review Source JR Jeffrey R. bumb writer Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "gives you all the space you need to build an entire story" December 15, 2022 5.0 Love it but so much to learn and keeping all of it fresh in your mind requires review. But like it the way it is reviewing videos which are wonderful and helpful helps when you need time away from. Writing. Pros the options but I forget how to use them and must review the videos wish my memory was better lol.. Cons I had to purchase ProWritingAid to help with editing and stuff. However, love the software too ended up writing in it and moving documents to Scrivener. Which has led me to purchase a new multiple screen computer. Which has not arrived yet Mac studio with three screens, one for notes, one scrivener, one ProWritingAid. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great program for any author!" September 16, 2019 5.0 I've found Scrivener fairly easy to use and set up. I love being able to keep notes in the margins, use the info section to add chapter snippets to my index cards, and create character and setting pages. Adding footnotes and links is easy, too. The fact that I can link it to programs like Grammarly and Pro Writing Aid is an added bonus for when I am able to purchase those programs. Pros I love the cork board which gives me a chance to see my chapters at a glance. The fact that it looks like a corkboard with index cards tacked on is a plus. I also love the preset character and setting profile pages which you can add photos to. Cons Some of the features are hard to figure out without digging through tutorials on YouTube. I had to ask around to find out how to add my map image into the text of my book so it would be included in the final print. I also wish there were additional ways to add more than one photo to a character or setting page. Review Source RJ Robert J. Owner Publishing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Still the best for writers." June 15, 2023 5.0 It’s my go to for Writing annd organizing stories. Pros There are so many programs out there to write with. Scrivener is still one of the best overall. It’s stable, and has good support. Cons Yes, there is a learning curve. But it’s well worth it. Switched from [Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) Scrivener has way more functionality for writers than words does. Review Source José Antonio F. Escritor Performing Arts Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Magnífico programa para escritores" April 30, 2023 4.0 Para los escritores es una gran ventaja tener este programa que permite reunir en un solo programa toda la información que necesitas para escribir un libro. Ya no hace falta que tengas diferentes carpetas para ello, aquí no puedes tener todo junto. Pros Es un magnífico programa para todos aquellos que quieran escribir una novela o algún ensayo. Permite agrupar en diferentes direcciones todos los documentos y documentación que tengas sobre lo que quieres escribir. Así no se pierde nada. Ayuda mucho en mejorar la concentración. Cons Lo que más me gusta es su facilidad de uso, tiene diferentes pestañas para agrupar la documentación en capítulos, ideas, etcétera. Review Source MW Misty W. Author Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Crucial software for writers." December 29, 2022 5.0 I love that I can hold research, images, and notes within the same file. The index cards are great for plotting and/or creating a synopsis. Pros Organizing docs into Parts/Chapters/Scenes is a breeze. Cons The compile feature is difficult for me to grasp/clean up the first time I prepare my book for download. Once it's done, though, I'm all good and don't have to mess with it again. Switched from [Microsoft Word](https://www.capterra.com/p/227146/Microsoft-Word/) It's a one-stop catchall for everything I need while drafting. Review Source Steve T. Owner Writing and Editing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The only way to write a book" February 24, 2020 5.0 I write daily, mostly fiction novels. Scrivener backs up to the cloud every few minutes so my work is never lost. After using Scrivener for over two years I now take full advantage of all its incredible features. Pros Scrivener makes organising my writing work an absolute breeze. The use of folders and documents for all aspects of writing gives ultimate flexibility in bringing together all the ideas contained in a novel or research paper. Separate folders hold research work and character profiles etc. Cons The initial learning curve is quite steep. However, it is easy to use only the parts that you understand and learn the rest as you go along. Reason for choosing Scrivener Far more features and overall capabilities. Review Source Similar Products Featured