For writers, by writers
Write your novel, screenplay, or thesis without subscriptions, lock-in, or corporate ownership. Your words live in plain files you control forever.
Native app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Free forever. No account required.
Your words. Your files. Forever.
Other apps lock your writing in proprietary formats. Manuscript stores everything as plain Markdown files that will be readable in 50 years.
Free Forever
No subscription. No trial. No upsells. Just a complete writing app with zero cost.
No Lock-In
Plain Markdown files in regular folders. Open your project in VS Code, iA Writer, or any text editor.
Sync Everywhere
iCloud syncs your projects across all your Apple devices. Start on Mac, continue on iPad, review on iPhone.
Loved by writers worldwide
From first-time novelists to published authors, writers are making the switch.
"I've used Scrivener for years, but the sync issues drove me crazy. Manuscript just works. My novel is always there, on every device, exactly where I left it."
"As an editor, I need to access manuscripts everywhere. The fact that it's just Markdown means I can open client projects in any app. No more 'can you export that for me?'"
"I wrote my entire thesis in Manuscript. The snapshot feature saved me when I accidentally deleted a chapter. One click and it was back. Lifesaver."
"Finally, a writing app that doesn't want my credit card. I'm on a teacher's salary—free actually means something to me. And it's better than apps I used to pay for."
"The AI assistant is actually useful—not gimmicky. It helped me work through a plot hole I'd been stuck on for weeks. And it runs locally, so my unpublished work stays private."
"I switched from Ulysses when they went subscription. Manuscript imported everything perfectly. Same features, no monthly fee. Should have switched sooner."
Everything you need to write your book
The tools serious writers expect, without the bloat or complexity.
Why pay for what should be free?
See how Manuscript compares to the tools you're probably already paying for.
| Manuscript | Scrivener | Ulysses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free forever | $49+ per platform | $50/year forever |
| Source code | Fully open | Closed | Closed |
| File format | Plain Markdown | Proprietary RTF | Custom Markdown |
| Cloud sync | Free (iCloud) | DIY / Dropbox | Paid required |
| AI assistance | Built-in | None | None |
Your files are just files
No proprietary formats. Ever.
Your manuscript is a folder of Markdown files. Open them in VS Code, iA Writer, or even Notepad. Commit to Git for real version control. Write scripts to analyze your word count.
If Manuscript disappeared tomorrow, your writing would still be there, perfectly readable, in files you can open with anything.
Start writing today
Download Manuscript for free. No account needed. No credit card. Just open and start writing.