Comparison

Scrivener vs Ellipsus

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Scrivener

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
Read full description

“The biggest software advance for writers since the word processor.” —Michael Marshall Smith, bestselling author Typewriter. Ring-binder. Scrapbook. Scrivener combines all the writing tools you need to craft your first draft, from nascent notion to final full stop. Tailor-made for creating long manuscripts, Scrivener banishes page fright by allowing you to compose your text in any order, in sections as large or small as you like. Got a great idea but don’t know where it fits? Write when inspiration strikes and find its place later. Grow your manuscript organically, idea by idea. Whether you plan or plunge, Scrivener works your way: meticulously outline every last detail first, or hammer out a complete draft and restructure later. Or do a bit of both. All text sections in Scrivener are fully integrated with its outlining tools, so working with an overview of your manuscript is only ever a tap away, and turning Chapter Four into Chapter One is as simple as drag and drop. Need to refer to research? In Scrivener, your background material is always at hand. Write a description based on a photograph. Reference a video or PDF. Check for consistency with an earlier chapter. On the iPad, open two documents side-by-side; on the iPhone, flip between research and writing with just two taps. Once you’re ready to share your work with the world, simply compile everything into a single document for printing, or export to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text. You can even share using different formatting, so that you can write in your favorite font and still keep your editor happy. FEATURES Get Started • Interactive tutorial project • Keep each manuscript and supporting materials in a self-contained project • Import Word, RTF, Final Draft and plain text files • Easily split imported text into separate sections Get Writing • Write your manuscript in sections of any size • View all sections as a single text using the “Draft Navigator” (iPad only) • Quickly navigate sections using the “binder” sidebar • Format with fonts and presets • Comments, footnotes, links and highlights • Simple bullets and lists • Insert images • Pinch-zoom to resize text • Full-screen mode (iPad only) • Typewriter scrolling mode keeps typed text center-screen (iPad only) • Write a screenplay using scriptwriting mode • Live word and character counts • Set word and character count targets • Find and replace • Customizable keyboard row provides quick-access buttons for formatting, navigation and punctuation • Comprehensive keyboard shortcuts for external keyboard users • Dark mode Find Your Structure • Write in any order and reorganize later • Write a synopsis for any text section and see it in the outline • Expand, collapse and drill down into sections of your project • Rearrange sections as index cards on the corkboard (iPad only) • Project-wide search • Track ideas using labels and status • Apply custom icons to your sections Refer to Research • Import research material such as image, PDF and media files • View research files or other sections right alongside your writing (iPad only) • Every section has its own notes area for jotting down ideas • Supports multitasking split screen mode (supported devices only) Share Your Work • Compile to a single document for sharing or printing • Use different formatting in your exported or printed document • Export to Word, RTF, Final Draft, PDF or plain text • Convert rich text to Markdown for sharing with Markdown apps • Create and email zipped backups of your projects Work Anywhere • Use Dropbox to sync between devices and with the macOS and Windows versions of Scrivener* • Copy projects between devices via iTunes * Requires a Dropbox account (not compatible with iCloud). SUPPORT You can contact us at ios.support@literatureandlatte.com, visit our forums at http://www.literatureandlatte.com/forum, or find us @scrivenerapp on Twitter.

About

Ellipsus

This creative writing tool facilitates seamless collaboration for authors, editors, and co-writers. It offers real-time co-authoring, robust draft management with version control, and distraction-free writing environments. Easily share and export your work in various formats.

Highlights
  • Unlimited documents, drafts, folders, and collaborators
  • Real-time collaboration with commenting and chat
  • Version history and version control for drafts
  • Built-in writing sprints and timers
  • Import from Markdown, export to PDF/AO3
  • Distraction-free minimalist design
  • Privacy-focused with no generative AI or tracking
Features
Read full description

Writing together is hard. We think it should be easier. Ellipsus is a creative writing tool built by writers, for writers—whether you’re flying solo, working with betas and editors, or co-authoring something epic. In Ellipsus, you'll find: Creativity without limits: Create unlimited documents, drafts, folders, and collaborators. Real-time collaboration: Comment, chat, manage permissions, and keep track of every change with version history and version control. Draft management with version control: Experiment freely, and merge drafts when you're ready. Collaborators can suggest edits without changing your main document, Writing sprints and timers: Stay focused and creative with built-in sprint timers. Easy sharing and exports: Import from Markdown. Export to PDF or AO3. Share highlights with our Snippets feature. Distraction-free writing—anywhere: Minimalist design and themed workspaces keep you inspired. Write seamlessly on any device. Privacy-first, always: No generative AI. No creepy tracking. Your words stay yours.

Screenshots

Scrivener4 screens
Ellipsus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ellipsus at Free against Scrivener's $23.99. Ellipsus also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (85% vs 46%). Scrivener's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 173). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Ellipsus is free to download; Scrivener costs $23.99 up front. Ellipsus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Scrivener asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ellipsus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scrivener has 2.6K ratings behind it against 173, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Scrivener's written reviews are positive against 85% of Ellipsus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, Ellipsus every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Scrivener versus Ellipsus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScrivenerEllipsus
Price$23.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (2.6K ratings)4.8 (173 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.6% of reviews84.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better173
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#6 — better#101
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB36 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperLiterature & LatteEllipsus

Customer experience

Scrivener

All ratings2,595 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral6.9%
Negative15.6%
Written reviews731 reviews
Positive45.6%
Neutral16.8%
Negative37.6%

Ellipsus

All ratings173 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive84.7%
Neutral8.5%
Negative6.8%

In-app purchases

None

Scrivener

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Ellipsus

One-time1
  • Ellipsus Lifetime$99.00

Questions

Is Scrivener free?
Scrivener costs $23.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ellipsus free?
Ellipsus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Scrivener or Ellipsus?
Ellipsus is rated higher. Scrivener averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while Ellipsus averages 4.8 from 173 ratings.
Do Scrivener or Ellipsus have ads?
Neither Scrivener nor Ellipsus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scrivener or Ellipsus?
Scrivener ships an update every 3 months, and Ellipsus every 3 days. Most recently, Scrivener was updated on November 13, 2026 and Ellipsus on November 13, 2026.
Which is more popular, Scrivener or Ellipsus?
Scrivener currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and Ellipsus at #101. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons