Yes. novelWriter is free and open-source software, distributed under the GPL-3.0 license.

Which platforms does novelWriter support?

novelWriter provides downloads for Windows, Linux.

What is the latest version of novelWriter?

The latest version is v26.1.1, released on Jun 28, 2026.

What platforms does novelWriter support?

novelWriter is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and can potentially run on any operating system that supports Qt, PyQt, and Python.

How is novelWriter licensed?

novelWriter is open source software licensed under GPLv3. Details can be found on the GNU General Public License website or in the project's LICENSE.md file.

Where can I find documentation for novelWriter?

Documentation is available at docs.novelwriter.io, and additional project details can be found on the main website at novelwriter.io.

novelWriter

by vkbo 3.0k stars GPL-3.0Developer Tools

Download

About novelWriter

novelWriter is a plain text editor specifically designed for writing novels composed of multiple smaller text documents. It employs a minimal formatting syntax inspired by Markdown, along with meta data syntax for comments, synopsis, and cross-referencing. The editor prioritizes simplicity and organization, using human-readable text files for storage to ensure compatibility with version control and file synchronization tools.

Written in Python with a Qt6 and PyQt6 interface, novelWriter is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It focuses on providing a straightforward environment for writers to manage their projects without complex formatting, making it suitable for those who prefer plain text workflows.

Key features

Plain text editor for novel writing
Minimal Markdown-inspired formatting syntax
Meta data syntax for comments and cross-referencing
Supports organization of text and notes
Human-readable text file storage
Compatible with version control systems
Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS

Download v26.1.1

Jun 28, 2026

Windows
Windows

x64 · novelwriter-26.1.1-amd64-setup.exe99.3 MB

Linux
Linux

x64 · novelwriter-26.1.1-x86_64.AppImage80.8 MB novelwriter_26.1.1-oldstable_all.deb3.4 MB novelwriter_26.1.1_all.deb3.4 MB

View all 11 versions

Frequently asked questions

Is novelWriter free?: Yes. novelWriter is free and open-source software, distributed under the GPL-3.0 license.
Which platforms does novelWriter support?: novelWriter provides downloads for Windows, Linux.
What is the latest version of novelWriter?: The latest version is v26.1.1, released on Jun 28, 2026.
What platforms does novelWriter support?: novelWriter is available for Linux, Windows, and macOS, and can potentially run on any operating system that supports Qt, PyQt, and Python.
How is novelWriter licensed?: novelWriter is open source software licensed under GPLv3. Details can be found on the GNU General Public License website or in the project's LICENSE.md file.
Where can I find documentation for novelWriter?: Documentation is available at docs.novelwriter.io, and additional project details can be found on the main website at novelwriter.io.

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