Dabble
Novel writing software with a plot grid, word goals and mobile apps
- #8 of 10 in best novel and long-form writing apps
- Paid
- WebiOSAndroid
Ranked 8 of 10 in best novel and long-form writing apps
Plot grid, word goals and mobile apps in one novel tool. Lifetime access costs $699, and export covers Word and text rather than ebook layouts.
Best for Novelists who want planning and word goals in one app
About Dabble
Dabble combines a plot grid, story notes and a worldbuilding bible with a writing editor. Chapters and scenes can be moved by drag and drop, and plot labels help you follow threads across the book. The editor shows live word counts and daily goals, and a contextual thesaurus helps with word choice.
Dabble plans start at $19 a month, and the site also sells a one-time Lifetime Author Access for $699 with future updates included. The 14-day free trial needs no credit card. The app works in the browser and on iOS and Android, and the site lists export to Word and text files rather than ebook or print layouts.
Key features
- Plot grid
- Worldbuilding bible
- Daily word count goals
- Plot labels
- Multi-device access
Strengths
- Plot grid, story notes and worldbuilding in one app
- Daily word count goals and live counts
- Runs in a browser and on iOS and Android
Limits
- Export covers Word and text, not ebook layouts
- Monthly plans start at $19, or $699 for lifetime
Where Dabble ranks
How Dabble compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Planning tools | Export formats | Storage and sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#6 Vellum | 87.5 | Paid | macOS | Imports a finished manuscript | EPUB 2 and 3, print PDF/X-1a | Local Mac app |
#7 Novelcrafter | 86.5 | Subscription | Web | Codex wiki and single-page outline | Export included; formats not listed | Browser app, nothing to install |
| #8Dabble | 85.5 | Paid | WebiOSAndroid | Plot grid and drag-and-drop chapters | Word and text file | Browser, iOS and Android apps |
#9 novelWriter | 83.5 | Free and open source | LinuxWindowsmacOS | Synopsis and cross-reference metadata | Plain text files with Markdown-like markup | Local plain text files |
| #10yWriter | 76.5 | Free | Windows | Scenes with goal and conflict fields | RTF, EPUB and MOBI | Local project files; FTP backups |
The full comparison table for best novel and long-form writing apps has all 10 products.
Related rankings
Questions about Dabble
- Is Dabble free?
- Dabble is a paid product (paid). Plans from $19 a month or $699 lifetime; 14-day free trial.
- Is Dabble open source?
- No. Dabble is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Dabble support?
- Dabble is available on: Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Dabble best for?
- Novelists who want planning and word goals in one app. In our ranking of novel and long-form writing apps it is number 8 of 10 with a score of 85.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Dabble?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Scrivener, Atticus, Ulysses, Reedsy Studio.
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