The Dabble Alternative That Won't Break the Bank
Dabble is a solid novel-writing tool. But every co-author needs their own plan from $19/month, there's no free tier, and you can't export directly to PDF or EPUB. Plotiar gives you more tools for a fraction of the price.
Common frustrations with Dabble
Collaboration costs $38/month for two people
Dabble includes co-authoring from its Writer plan at $19/month - but each co-author needs their own subscription to edit. That's $38/month just to write together. On Plotiar, real-time collaboration starts at $5/month (or $50/year).
No direct PDF or EPUB export
Dabble exports to Word, Google Docs, Markdown, and the web. For a PDF you have to print to PDF from your browser, and there's no EPUB at all - you'll need a separate tool for digital distribution.
No free tier - just a 14-day trial
When the 14-day trial ends, your work goes read-only until you subscribe. Dabble's cheapest plan starts at $19/month (pricing as of 2026-09 - confirm current rates with the vendor). Plotiar's free tier is genuinely free, forever, with no feature lockout.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
How Plotiar and Dabble compare on the features that matter for long-form writing.
Pricing (collaboration)
$5/month (or $50/year) for real-time collaboration
$19/month per person on Writer - each co-author needs their own plan ($38/month for two)
Free tier
Free forever - up to 5 projects with full features
No free tier - 14-day trial only, then $19/month minimum (pricing as of 2026-09 - confirm current rates with the vendor)
Export formats
TXT, DOCX, PDF, and EPUB
Word, Google Docs, Markdown, and web - PDF only via print, no EPUB
Page layout
Real A4 pages - what you see is what you print
No real page layout - writing view doesn't reflect print formatting
Visual planning
Flowcharts, freeform ideaboards, interactive maps, AND a Plot Grid for structured scene-by-storyline plotting
Plot Grid for structured fiction plotting (no flowcharts or freeform canvases)
Focus mode
Distraction-free writing mode
Focus mode on every plan
Platform access
Web-based - works on any device with a browser
Web app plus desktop apps (Windows, Mac, Linux); phones and tablets use an installable web app
AI tools that read, never write (Pro plan)
AI chat, text inspection, manuscript analysis, and BYOK support (Pro plan, $12/mo with $2.50/week AI cap)
No AI features
AI reference generation (Pro plan)
AI Studio with 23 generators - character bibles, relationship maps, plot grids, family lineage, and more (Pro plan)
Not available
Covers and smart export
Cover Studio for print, ebook and audiobook covers (all plans); auto-generated table of contents and bibliography (Plus plan)
No auto-generated front/back matter - Word, Google Docs, Markdown, and web export
Version history
Free: named snapshots, visual timeline, and one-click restore. Plus: branching drafts and side-by-side diff comparison.
Version history with named versions and project or single-document restore - no branching
What Plotiar offers that Dabble doesn't
Real Pages, Print-Ready Export
Write on actual A4 pages and export directly to PDF or EPUB when you're ready. No reformatting, no third-party converters. Your manuscript goes from screen to print or digital store without extra steps.
Flowcharts and Idea Boards Built In
Map story arcs with drag-and-drop flowcharts, brainstorm on freeform canvases, and build interactive worldbuilding maps. Dabble has Plot Grid for structured plotting, but Plotiar gives you visual tools that work for any kind of project.
Collaboration Without the Premium Tax
Invite your co-author, editor, or writing partner for $5/month (or $50/year). Not $19/month per person. Real-time co-editing with live cursors and comments, without every collaborator needing their own subscription.
When Dabble might be the right choice
We believe in honest comparisons. Here's where Dabble still has an edge:
Word count goals with daily targets - Dabble tracks your writing progress against daily and project-level goals, which is great motivation during NaNoWriMo or any deadline push.
Desktop apps and offline writing - Dabble offers desktop apps for Mac, Windows, and Linux plus an installable app for phones and tablets, and the installed app keeps working offline.
DabbleU content library - Dabble's blog and resource library is packed with writing advice and craft tutorials, building a strong community around the tool.
Dabble vs Plotiar FAQ
Common questions from writers comparing the two.
Ready to write without the premium price tag?
Real pages, real collaboration, real export options. Start for free and upgrade only when you need to.
Free forever. No credit card required.