Manuskript
A Scrivener-shaped box of scenes, characters, plots, index cards, and rough edges that cost exactly nothing.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-11
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-3.0+
- Hosting Model
- Local (on your machine)
- Platforms
- desktopone-click install
- Installation
- Windows portable ZIP, Linux .deb/.rpm/Flatpak/Snap, or source install on macOS
- Operational Setup
- Windows antivirus may flag the unsigned PyInstaller build; macOS has no current packaged app and requires running from source, while DOCX/EPUB export needs Pandoc
- Where Your Data Lives
- Projects save on local disk in Manuskript's open plain-text project format; the default single-file project is an archive, with an uncompressed-folder mode also available
- The Catch / Trade-off
- It offers deep planning but is much rougher to install and use, with no managed cloud sync, mobile app or Dabble's polished plot-grid workflow.
Replaces 4 paid apps
up to $34/mo ($408/yr) in subscriptions
Manuskript FAQ
Common questions
Is Manuskript free and open source?+
Manuskript is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-3.0+ that runs on local. A Scrivener-shaped box of scenes, characters, plots, index cards, and rough edges that cost exactly nothing.
What paid software does Manuskript replace?+
Manuskript serves as a free replacement for 4 paid SaaS applications: Dabble, LivingWriter, Novelcrafter, Scrivener, saving up to $34/month ($408/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Manuskript?+
Installation: Windows portable ZIP, Linux .deb/.rpm/Flatpak/Snap, or source install on macOS. Setup notes: Windows antivirus may flag the unsigned PyInstaller build; macOS has no current packaged app and requires running from source, while DOCX/EPUB export needs Pandoc
What is the catch or trade-off with Manuskript?+
It offers deep planning but is much rougher to install and use, with no managed cloud sync, mobile app or Dabble's polished plot-grid workflow.