Alternatives / Scrivener
Looking for an open source Scrivener alternative? We compared 5 open source note-taking and writing tools by license, encryption, linking, and offline use. None is a dedicated manuscript tool like Scrivener, so they work best for notes, research, and drafting.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Joplin | Notes and drafts with encryption (server is source available) | AGPL-3.0-or-later (apps) + Joplin Server Personal Use License |
| Logseq | Outlining and linked research notes | AGPL-3.0 |
| Blinko | Self-hosted card notes with AI | GPL-3.0 |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted, long-lived writing | AGPL-3.0 |
| Darkwrite | Simple offline editor (small project) | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source tools that overlap with parts of Scrivener: organizing notes and research, writing drafts, and keeping everything local. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository. Scrivener is built around a manuscript binder with compile and export features, which none of these replicate, so we note where they fall short. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Joplin, Logseq, Blinko, Standard Notes, and Darkwrite are note-taking apps. They do not offer Scrivener's binder structure, corkboard, split editor, snapshots, or compile to a formatted manuscript. If you write novels, you may combine one of them with a document converter or keep Scrivener for the final assembly.
Joplin is the most flexible for notes and drafts, with end-to-end encryption, Markdown, web clipping, and notebooks. Logseq is a local-first outliner with bidirectional links for research and structure, but it is a knowledge tool rather than a writing app. Darkwrite is a simple offline editor with formatting, lists, images, and HTML export.
Joplin's apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later, but its Joplin Server has a Personal Use License, and Joplin Cloud sync is a paid add-on. Standard Notes is AGPL-3.0 with free and paid plans, and Logseq and Blinko are AGPL-3.0 and GPL-3.0. Darkwrite is AGPL-3.0.
Joplin, Logseq, Standard Notes, and Darkwrite had commits within days of this update. Blinko's last commit was in August 2026, and Darkwrite is small with about 315 stars.
Scrivener is a proprietary app sold as a paid license per platform, with separate purchases for macOS, Windows, and iOS and its own project format. Open-source alternatives use plain Markdown or open formats, run on more platforms, and have no license fee, at the cost of lacking Scrivener's binder, corkboard, and compile-to-manuscript features.
Joplin is a cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, Markdown support, web clipping, attachments, and sync through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, or Nextcloud. The apps are AGPL-3.0-or-later, while the self-hostable Joplin Server is under a Personal Use License, which is source available rather than open source.
Pricing: Free and open source; optional hosted synchronization is available.
Logseq is an AGPL-3.0 local-first knowledge management application centered around outlines, blocks, backlinks, queries, flashcards, whiteboards, and connected Markdown documents.
Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0; the core workflow is local-first and file-based.
Blinko is a self-hosted AI-powered note-taking and personal knowledge management application for quickly capturing ideas and organizing information while keeping control of the deployment.
Pricing: Free and open source under GPL-3.0; self-hosted deployment is available.
Standard Notes is an AGPL-3.0 encrypted note-taking application focused on privacy, longevity, secure synchronization, offline access, and a self-hosted server option.
Pricing: Open-source main app with self-hosting; some advanced hosted features require a subscription.
Darkwrite is an AGPL-3.0 offline-first note editor focused on local writing, formatting, lists, images, customization, and export across desktop platforms.
Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0 with a local-first workflow.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | Notes app | AGPL-3.0-or-later + Server Personal Use | Yes | Notes and drafts |
| Logseq | Outliner | AGPL-3.0 | Local-first | Linked research |
| Blinko | AI card notes | GPL-3.0 | Yes | Capturing ideas |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted notes | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Long-lived notes |
| Darkwrite | Offline editor | AGPL-3.0 | Local | HTML export |
Want encrypted notes and drafts across devices
Joplin offers end-to-end encryption, Markdown, and notebooks, with Dropbox or OneDrive sync as a free option.
Want to outline and link research
Logseq is a local-first outliner with bidirectional links, flashcards, and PDF annotations.
Want a simple offline editor
Darkwrite offers text styling, lists, images, and HTML export on Windows, Linux, and macOS.