# Scrivener vs Aeon Timeline 3

The clearest difference is price: Aeon Timeline 3 at Free against Scrivener's $23.99. Aeon Timeline 3 also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (60% vs 46%). Scrivener's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 50). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Aeon Timeline 3 is free to download; Scrivener costs $23.99 up front. Aeon Timeline 3 sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year. Scrivener asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scrivener holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scrivener has 2.6K ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 46% of Scrivener's written reviews are positive against 60% of Aeon Timeline 3's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, Aeon Timeline 3 monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scrivener | Aeon Timeline 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $23.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.2 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrivener/id972387337/reviews)** | [3.9 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aeon-timeline-3/id1563351378/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | 45.6% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Literature & Latte](https://appshunter.io/developer/418889514) | [Timeline.App Pty. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563351380) |

## What reviewers say

### Scrivener

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scrivener/id972387337)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Productivity, #78 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app is a comprehensive writing tool designed for long-form manuscripts. It allows users to compose text in any order, manage research materials alongside their writing, and export to various formats. It supports flexible outlining and restructuring of content.

**Highlights:** Manuscript composition in sections, Research material integration, Flexible outlining and reorganization, Export to multiple formats, Interactive tutorial, Project-wide search

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Aeon Timeline 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aeon-timeline-3/id1563351378)

Create visually rich timelines for creative writing, project management, legal cases, and research. Offers multiple views like timeline, relationship, and mindmap. A free read-only mode is available, with editing unlocked via a one-time in-app purchase.

**Highlights:** Multiple data visualization views, Timeline, relationship, and mindmap views, Story arc and character tracking, Project breakdown and task management, Legal case event mapping, Customizable calendars, Scrivener/Ulysses integration

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aeon Timeline 3 + Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Updates: Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| Updates: One Year | $34.99 | one-time |
| Aeon Timeline 3 | $64.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent for fiction writing
- 💡 Highly customizable data structures
- 🚀 Efficient for project management
- 🔄 Multiple flexible data views
- ✨ Aesthetically pleasing design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Expensive pricing/licensing
- 🐛 Glitchy mobile app
- 📉 Steep learning curve
- 🐌 Slow performance with large datasets
- 🚫 No export options (iOS)

**Reported bugs**

- Mobile app is glitchy
- Cannot tap bottom option when scrolling
- Tilting phone sends back to another menu
- File icon drops into Files app with no way back
- Date inputs defaulting to year 2000

**Requested features**

- Timeline-map feature
- Manual distance labeling on maps
- Sliding through time with character labels on maps
- Manual export options from iOS app
- A reference manual instead of just online knowledge base


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scrivener free?

Scrivener costs $23.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Aeon Timeline 3 free?

Aeon Timeline 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Scrivener or Aeon Timeline 3?

Scrivener is rated higher. Scrivener averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Aeon Timeline 3 averages 3.9 from 50 ratings.

### Do Scrivener or Aeon Timeline 3 have ads?

Neither Scrivener nor Aeon Timeline 3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scrivener or Aeon Timeline 3?

Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, and Aeon Timeline 3 monthly. Most recently, Scrivener was updated on November 11, 2026 and Aeon Timeline 3 on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*