Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Scrivener VS Plot Factory

Compare Scrivener VS Plot Factory and see what are their differences

Scrivener logo Scrivener

Scrivener is a content-generation tool for composing and structuring documents.

Plot Factory logo Plot Factory

Online story planner, organizer, and writing application.
  • Scrivener Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16

FROM LITERATURE & LATTE WEBSITE: Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. Tailor-made for long writing projects, Scrivener banishes page fright by allowing you to compose your text in any order, in sections as large or small as you like. Got a great idea but don't know where it fits? Write when inspiration strikes and find its place later. Grow your manuscript organically, idea by idea. In Scrivener, everything you write is integrated into an easy-to-use project outline. So working with an overview of your manuscript is only ever a click away, and turning Chapter Four into Chapter One is as simple as drag and drop. Need to refer to research? In Scrivener, your background material is always at hand, and you can open it right next to your work. Write a description based on a photograph. Transcribe an interview. Take notes about a PDF file or web page. Or check for consistency by referencing an earlier chapter alongside the one in progress. Once you're ready to share your work with the world, compile everything into a single document for printing, self-publishing, or exporting to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text. You can even share using different formatting, so that you can write in your favorite font and still satisfy those submission guidelines.

  • Plot Factory Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30

Scrivener features and specs

  • Comprehensive Organizational Tools
    Scrivener offers a robust suite of tools like the corkboard, outliner, and binder, allowing for seamless organization and structuring of complex documents, making it easier to manage large projects.
  • Distraction-Free Writing Mode
    Scrivener provides a distraction-free writing mode that helps users focus solely on their writing by hiding all other elements on the screen.
  • Research Integration
    Users can import and manage research materials directly within the application, including PDFs, images, and web pages, which helps in keeping all relevant data in one place.
  • Customizable Workspaces
    Scrivener allows for extensive customization of the workspace, enabling users to set up their writing environment according to their preferences and needs.
  • Versatile Export Options
    Offers a range of export options to various formats such as PDF, Word, ePub, and more, facilitating easy sharing and publishing.
  • Snapshot Feature
    The snapshot feature allows users to save versions of their work before making major changes, providing a safety net to revert back if needed.

Possible disadvantages of Scrivener

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and functionalities, new users may find Scrivener overwhelming and may require a significant amount of time to fully master the software.
  • Cost
    Scrivener is a paid software with a one-time purchase cost, which might be a deterrent for those who are looking for free writing tools.
  • Limited Collaboration Features
    Scrivener lacks robust real-time collaboration tools, making it less ideal for projects requiring simultaneous multi-user editing.
  • Compatibility Issues
    While Scrivener is available for both macOS and Windows, some users have reported compatibility issues and feature discrepancies between the two versions.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile version of Scrivener, though useful, is not as feature-rich as the desktop version, which might limit productivity on the go.
  • Complex Export Process
    Some users find the export process to be complicated and not as straightforward as they would like, requiring additional time to configure settings appropriately.

Plot Factory features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Plot Factory offers a clean and user-friendly interface that allows writers to easily navigate and manage their writing projects without needing extensive technical knowledge.
  • Cloud-Based Platform
    Being a cloud-based platform, Plot Factory allows users to access their stories from any device with internet access, providing flexibility and convenience for writing on-the-go.
  • Story Elements Organization
    The platform provides tools for organizing story elements such as characters, settings, and plot points, which helps writers keep track of intricate details and maintain consistency.
  • Collaboration Features
    Plot Factory supports collaborative writing, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, which is beneficial for co-authors and writing groups.
  • Export Options
    Users can export their stories in various formats, allowing for greater compatibility with other writing and publishing tools.

Possible disadvantages of Plot Factory

  • Subscription-Based Pricing
    Plot Factory operates on a subscription model, which might not be ideal for users looking for a free solution, potentially making it costly for those with limited budgets.
  • Feature Limitations in Free Tier
    The free version of Plot Factory comes with restricted features, which might not be sufficient for all users, pushing them towards the paid plans for full functionality.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based service, Plot Factory requires an active internet connection to access and work on projects, which may pose issues for users in areas with unreliable connectivity.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functions are intuitive, some advanced features might have a learning curve, requiring users to spend time learning how to effectively utilize them.
  • Customization Limitations
    Some users may find the customization options for templates and layouts limited compared to standalone writing software.

Scrivener videos

Scrivener vs Word: Review of What Scrivener Can Do For You

More videos:

  • Review - Ultimate Scrivener 3 Review
  • Review - Why I Think Scrivener is For Everyone (and why I like it so much)

Plot Factory videos

StoryShop Loves Plot Factory Outlining

More videos:

  • Review - Secret Sauce of Plot Factory

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Scrivener and Plot Factory)
Writing Tools
88 88%
12% 12
Writing
80 80%
20% 20
Markdown Editor
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Scrivener and Plot Factory

Scrivener Reviews

11 Best Scrivener Alternatives
The app’s interface looks similar to Scrivener, but you get a different experience based on your level and interests. Scrivener’s learning curve is designed for intermediate or higher levels of writers, but Ulysses makes it easier by offering tutorials along with its features.
7 Best Scrivener Alternatives
This writing tool is a Scrivener alternative that is similar to a Scrivener. The appearance of the user interface is identical to Scrivener but a little bit more modern.
5 Free Scrivener Alternatives to Manage Writing Projects
Ask most experts what the best novel writing software is, and they’ll usually tell you Scrivener. It’s also a popular tool for organizing research for most writing projects, although it’s not free. While they’re not always as robust, free Scrivener alternatives help you accomplish similar results without any fees. For students, full-time writers, and even freelancers, these...
9 Scrivener Alternative Tools: Overview, Pros, And Cons
No direct import from Scrivener: Ulysses doesn’t handle Scrivener files, at least not directly. You have to export your content as MultiMarkdown files in Scrivener first, click Save, and drag the .mmd file into Ulysses’ library.
17 Top Evernote Alternatives for Note-Taking for 2019
If your notes have anything to do with any type of writing: outlines, notes on drafts, brain dumps on story ideas, blog posts, scripts, essays, anything like that—you should migrate all of it to Scrivener.

Plot Factory Reviews

We have no reviews of Plot Factory yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Plot Factory seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Scrivener mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Scrivener yet. Tracking of Scrivener recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Plot Factory mentions (8)

  • (Help) All the material for my book is on plotfactory.com and the website is down
    Hi, can you help me also please? I have windows software and I did the textfile thing, copied 104.21.72.220 plotfactory.com 172.67.155.162 plotfactory.com but nothing happens, why? Source: over 2 years ago
  • (Help) All the material for my book is on plotfactory.com and the website is down
    Save the file and access the URL https://plotfactory.com/ (edited). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Any approachable Outlining resources out there?
    You can also test https://plotfactory.com/. This page on the site shows a few planning methods including the Snowflake method. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Story Planner Resource
    I write as a hobby too (although I would love to write full-time someday!). A few years ago, I tried a number of software solutions including Scrivener. I found the software somewhat too complex for my needs. I also wanted a platform to enable collaborative writing - not just share a document. I found StoryShop in 2020 and migrated my in progress novel from Scrivener. All looked good, until StoryShop decided to... Source: over 2 years ago
  • I want to write my series before its too late
    You could also organize the skeleton or broad structure of your epic saga in a gigantic spreadsheet or chart. There are multiple free and paid tools online. For example https://plotfactory.com. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Scrivener and Plot Factory, you can also consider the following products

Manuskript - Open-source tool for writers.

Plottr - The #1 rated visual book planning and series bible software for professional and aspiring writers.

iA Writer - Minimal Design, Maximum Focus

Kanka.io - Kanka.

yWriter - Free writing software designed by the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series. yWriter6 helps you write a book by organising chapters, scenes, characters and locations in an easy-to-use interface.

bibisco - bibisco is a novel writing software.