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NovelWriter
Use novelWriter as a plain-text editor designed for novels and larger projects made up of smaller plain-text documents.
About NovelWriter
novelWriter is a plain-text, markdown-like editor designed for writing novels and larger projects composed of multiple smaller plain-text documents. It supports organization of text files and notes, includes a metadata syntax for comments, synopses, and cross-referencing between files, and stores all content in plain text for robustness.
As of the 2026.1 release, macOS DMG installers are discontinued, with the only current macOS installation method being setup via a Python environment using the PyPI package. The Ubuntu PPA is deprecated and will soon stop receiving updates, and the Fedora package follows a delayed release cycle.
Key features
- Plain-text, markdown-like editing tailored for novel writing
- Organizes multiple small text files and notes for large projects
- Metadata syntax for comments, synopses, and cross-referencing
- Stores all project content in plain text for robustness
Best for: Writers working on novels or large multi-document writing projects who prefer plain-text storage and cross-referencing between files.
Good for
- Stores all project content in plain text for long-term robustness and portability
- Includes built-in metadata syntax for comments, synopses, and cross-references
- Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS with multiple installation options
Watch out for
- macOS DMG installers are discontinued as of the 2026.1 release
- Ubuntu PPA is deprecated and will soon stop receiving updates
- Fedora package has a delayed release cycle relative to core releases
NovelWriter at a glance
- Website
- novelwriter.io
- Category
- Productivity › Writing Apps
- Type
- Online tool
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
NovelWriter alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
ZenPen provides a minimal text editor with save options for Markdown, HTML, and plain text, designed to keep attention on writing.
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NovelWriter FAQ
How do I install novelWriter on macOS as of the 2026.1 release?
The only current method is setting up a Python environment and installing the novelwriter package via PyPI, as macOS DMG installers have been discontinued.
Is the Ubuntu PPA still supported for novelWriter installations?
No, the Ubuntu PPA is deprecated and will soon stop receiving updates; users should migrate to the Cloudsmith repository.
Why might the Fedora package of novelWriter be older than the latest release?
The Fedora package is maintained by Fedora package managers and has a delayed release cycle.
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