For over a decade, Scrivener has been synonymous with "serious writing software." It's the tool countless authors recommend, the one that appears in every "best writing apps" list. But there's a reason many writers try Scrivener and quietly give up: the learning curve is brutal.
In this comparison, we'll take an honest look at Scrivener and Author's Forge - two tools with very different philosophies about what writing software should be.
Quick Overview
What is Scrivener?
Scrivener is desktop writing software from Literature and Latte, designed for complex, long-form projects like novels, screenplays, and academic work. It's been around since 2007 and is widely considered the industry standard for serious authors.
Scrivener costs $59.99 for Mac or Windows (separate licenses required for each platform), with an additional $23.99 for the iOS app. A 30-day free trial is available. The software is known for its powerful organizational features - the Binder, Corkboard, and Outliner views that let you visualize and restructure your work.
What is Author's Forge?
Author's Forge is a desktop application that combines a focused writing environment with an AI Writing Assistant that reads your entire library - every chapter, every note, every character detail you've documented. Unlike generic AI tools, it actually understands the context of your work.
The application runs locally on your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer, requires no account for core features, and is free to download and use. It's designed for authors who want to write today, not spend weeks learning software.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Learning Curve
This is where the two tools diverge most dramatically.
Scrivener: The learning curve is legendary - and not in a good way. One user with decades of computer experience described it as "not steep - it's a cliff." There are entire courses that sell for four times the cost of Scrivener just to teach you how to use it. Users describe the interface as "a patchwork of functionality with miscellaneous add-ons" and note there's "no consistent UI between various components." Even Scrivener fans admit you need to invest significant time before you can use it effectively.
Author's Forge: Author's Forge is designed to be productive from the first launch. Create a library, start writing. The organizational structure - Libraries, Series, Books, Chapters - mirrors how authors actually think about their work. This isn't simplicity for its own sake; it's focus. The features you need are accessible; the features you don't need aren't cluttering your interface.
The verdict: Time spent learning software is time not spent writing. Author's Forge lets you write today. Scrivener's power is real, but so is the investment required to access it - and many authors never get there.
Price
Scrivener: $59.99 per platform. Mac and Windows require separate licenses. If you want both desktop versions plus iOS, you're looking at roughly $144. While marketed as a "one-time purchase," major version upgrades (like Scrivener 2 to 3) have historically required additional payment.
Author's Forge: Free forever for core features including the full writing environment, organization tools, and EPUB export. The AI Writing Assistant is available through Pro ($19.99/month) or pay-as-you-go pricing.
The verdict: For authors who want powerful writing software without upfront cost, Author's Forge removes the barrier entirely. Scrivener's pricing is reasonable for what it offers, but the per-platform licensing feels dated.
Export and Compile
This is Scrivener's most notorious feature - for better and worse.
Scrivener: Scrivener's Compile feature is incredibly powerful, supporting export to Word, PDF, ePub3, Final Draft, and more. It's also, by wide consensus, "the most daunting and difficult part" of the software. Users report spending hours trying to get their formatting right, dealing with mysterious extra page breaks, weird indents, and bullets appearing from nowhere. The process is described as "trial and error, one setting at a time." One reviewer noted: "If you can master this and feel comfortable exporting, the rest will be a cake walk" - which tells you everything about where the difficulty lies.
Author's Forge: Author's Forge exports to industry-standard EPUB format with a straightforward process - select your book, click export, done. The output is accepted by Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, and all major retailers without modification. Automatic table of contents generation and cover image support are included.
The verdict: Scrivener offers more export format options, but the complexity is a real barrier. Many users never successfully export from Scrivener without help. Author's Forge produces publish-ready EPUB files that pass retailer validation - and you won't need a tutorial to figure out how.
AI Features
Scrivener: Scrivener contains no AI features whatsoever. No built-in spellcheck beyond basic functionality, no grammar checking, no writing assistance. The company has stated clearly that "Scrivener itself contains no artificial intelligence." To get AI assistance, you need third-party tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid running alongside Scrivener.
Author's Forge: Author's Forge includes an AI Writing Assistant that understands your entire library - your manuscript, your notes, your world-building, your characters. It can help with inline edits shown in a clear diff view, plot consistency, foreshadowing, and maintaining character voice. This isn't generic AI bolted onto a word processor; it's AI that actually knows your story.
The verdict: If you want AI that understands your work, Author's Forge is the clear choice. Scrivener users who want AI assistance must cobble together third-party solutions that don't understand their project's context.
Sync and Cloud Storage
Scrivener: Scrivener's sync situation is complicated. For iOS sync, you must use Dropbox specifically - not iCloud, not Google Drive. Sync must be triggered manually on mobile. Users frequently report sync failures, corrupted files, and conflicts. The official documentation warns that you must wait for sync to complete before closing your device, or risk corrupting your project. There are entire support articles dedicated to troubleshooting sync issues.
Author's Forge: Your files are stored locally in standard Markdown format. Want cloud backup? Simply put your library folder in Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, or any other service you prefer. The sync happens at the file system level - no special configuration, no manual triggers, no proprietary sync system to troubleshoot.
The verdict: Author's Forge gives you complete flexibility in how you sync your files, using services you already trust. Scrivener locks you into Dropbox for mobile sync with a system that frequently causes problems.
File Format and Portability
Scrivener: Scrivener uses a proprietary .scriv project format. While the project is technically a folder containing RTF files, the structure is Scrivener-specific. If you ever want to leave Scrivener, you'll need to export everything - and as we've discussed, export isn't Scrivener's smoothest experience.
Author's Forge: Your work is stored as standard Markdown files that you can open in any text editor. No vendor lock-in, no proprietary format. If you ever decide to use different software, your files are ready to go.
The verdict: Author's Forge treats your files as yours. Scrivener's proprietary format creates friction if you ever want to move on.
Organization
Scrivener: This is where Scrivener genuinely shines. The Binder provides a tree view of your entire project. The Corkboard lets you see sections as index cards you can rearrange. The Outliner shows chapter overviews with word counts and synopses. For complex projects with lots of research, multiple timelines, and intricate structures, Scrivener's organizational tools are powerful.
Author's Forge: Author's Forge uses a Libraries and Shelves system designed around how authors think. Libraries contain Series, Books, and Notes. A tab system lets you work on multiple documents simultaneously - keep your character notes open beside your chapter, or reference your worldbuilding while you write. Drag and drop reordering keeps things flexible. The structure is focused rather than exhaustive: it handles what most novelists need without the complexity most novelists don't.
The verdict: For writers juggling extremely complex projects with extensive research materials who've already mastered Scrivener, its organizational depth is a genuine advantage. For most novel writers - including those who tried Scrivener and gave up - Author's Forge provides professional-grade organization that's actually usable.
Offline Capability
Scrivener: Scrivener works fully offline as desktop software. Your projects are stored locally.
Author's Forge: All core features work offline. Your files are stored locally on your machine. AI features require an internet connection when you choose to use them.
The verdict: Both tools work well offline for core writing functionality.
Who Should Choose Scrivener?
Scrivener is a good fit if you:
- Are willing to invest significant time learning complex software
- Work on projects requiring extensive research integration
- Need the Corkboard and Outliner views for complex structural work
- Want to export to many different formats (and are willing to master Compile)
- Don't need AI assistance or are happy using third-party tools
- Only use one platform (Mac or Windows, not both)
Who Should Choose Author's Forge?
Author's Forge is a good fit if you:
- Want to start writing today, not after a learning curve
- Want an AI that reads your entire manuscript and catches inconsistencies across chapters
- Write series and need AI that remembers your previous books when helping with the next one
- Tried Scrivener and found it overwhelming - or never want to try
- Want your files in standard Markdown format you can open anywhere
- Don't want to pay $60-144 upfront to start writing
- Want publish-ready EPUB export without mastering a complex Compile system
- Prefer choosing your own cloud sync service instead of being locked to Dropbox
Can You Use Both?
Some authors do use different tools for different phases of their work. You could outline in Scrivener if you love the Corkboard, then write in Author's Forge to take advantage of its AI Writing Assistant and simpler daily experience.
Because Author's Forge is free and uses standard Markdown files, there's no friction in trying this approach.
Final Thoughts
Scrivener earned its reputation as powerful writing software, and for authors who've mastered it, that power is real. But power comes at a cost: a brutal learning curve, a notoriously difficult export system, no AI features, and sync issues that have frustrated users for years.
Author's Forge takes a different approach. It's designed for writers who want to write - not configure software, not master Compile, not troubleshoot sync failures. And it offers something Scrivener can't match: an AI Writing Assistant that has read your entire manuscript. It knows when chapter 15 contradicts chapter 4. It understands your characters because it's read every scene they're in. That's not a feature Scrivener can add with a plugin.
The best writing software is the one that helps you write. For many authors, that means choosing focus over complexity - and getting AI that actually understands their work.