What is Dabble used for?

Dabble is novel writing software for fiction authors with plotting tools, goals and cloud sync in a distraction-free editor. It is a good fit for drafting a first novel and managing a long manuscript.

How much does Dabble cost?

Paid plans for Dabble start at $19 per seat per month, and there is no free plan. A free trial is available.

Is Dabble open source?

No. Dabble is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Productivity category, open-source options include PowerToys, Stirling PDF and Ladybird.

What are some alternatives to Dabble?

Dabble competes with Scrivener, novelcrafter and Sudowrite.

Dabble: features, pricing and alternatives

About Dabble

Dabble is novel writing software built for fiction authors. It combines a distraction-free editor with tools to plan a plot, write the draft and keep a manuscript organized, with cloud sync so work is available on different devices.

The vendor presents it as a middle path between general text editors such as Google Docs, which can struggle with large manuscripts, and feature-heavy writing software that can overwhelm. Writers can set goals and word counts, outline plots and track story elements. The company also publishes free writing education through DabbleU, including articles, a community campus and an academy of courses.

Dabble is a hosted commercial product with a free 14-day trial and a pricing page. A free 60-day novel challenge is advertised on the site.

Key features

Distraction-free novel editor
Plot planning and outlining
Writing goals and word counts
Cloud sync across devices
Free writing courses through DabbleU

Good fit for

→Drafting a first novel
→Managing a long manuscript

Tags: novel-writing; fiction; plotting; writing-goals; cloud-sync; authors; manuscript

Dabble: questions and answers

What is Dabble used for?: Dabble is novel writing software for fiction authors with plotting tools, goals and cloud sync in a distraction-free editor. It is a good fit for drafting a first novel and managing a long manuscript.
How much does Dabble cost?: Paid plans for Dabble start at $19 per seat per month, and there is no free plan. A free trial is available.
Is Dabble open source?: No. Dabble is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. In the Productivity category, open-source options include PowerToys, Stirling PDF and Ladybird.
What are some alternatives to Dabble?: Dabble competes with Scrivener, novelcrafter and Sudowrite.