Is Scrivener Free? No, but the Trial Counts Days of Use

That trial rule is the most writer-friendly I've seen, and it's the reason to plan your trial around real writing sessions rather than rushing. Below is what Literature and Latte's own FAQ and product pages say, checked as of October 2026, about the trial, the licence and the catches.

How the Scrivener free trial works

Trial detail	What Literature and Latte says
Platforms	macOS and Windows
Version	Exactly the same as the full version
Length	30 days of use
Example	Use it every day and it stops after 30 days; every other day and it lasts 60 days
How it starts	If you don't own a licence, Scrivener runs in trial mode automatically
iOS	No trial, because Apple's App Store doesn't allow it

So there's no form to fill in or card to enter. You download Scrivener for your platform and it runs as a trial until you enter a licence. Only days you open it count.

What you can do in the trial

Because the trial is the full app, you can test the parts that make writers stick with Scrivener. The product page describes them:

• A ring-binder layout where your manuscript, notes and research sit in one project outline.
• A corkboard of synopsis cards; move a card and you rearrange the manuscript.
• An outliner for an overview of a chapter, a part or the whole book.
• Imports of Word and OpenOffice documents, plain text, Final Draft scripts, images, PDFs, movies, sound files and web pages.
• Compile, which turns everything into one document for printing, self-publishing or export to Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text.
• Templates for repeat sections such as character or location sheets.
• Scriptwriting features and distraction-free writing modes.

My tip: compile a test chapter to the format you'll publish in before your 30 days of use run out. Compile is the feature people learn last, and it's the one that decides whether Scrivener fits how you publish.

The licence rules after the trial

When you buy, a few rules are worth knowing up front, because they affect how much you'll end up paying overall.

Licence rule	What it means
Household licence	Install on any machines you own and are the primary user of
One platform per licence	A macOS licence won't work for the Windows version
iOS	Sold separately through Apple's App Store
Updates	Buy Scrivener 3 and every 3.x update is free; a future Scrivener 4 would need an upgrade fee
Refunds	Within 30 days of purchase when bought direct; App Store refunds go through Apple

The one-platform rule catches people who write on a Windows PC at work and a Mac at home. Literature and Latte says single-platform licences keep prices as low as possible for people who only use one operating system, but if you use both, you'll need two licences.

Scrivener on iPhone and iPad

The iOS version follows different rules. Literature and Latte says it can't offer an iOS trial because Apple's App Store doesn't allow it, that Scrivener for iOS is sold separately, and that Apple has its own licensing for software it sells. The product page says you can spread out on a big screen, sync using Dropbox and then carry on writing on your iPhone, with licences sold separately.

So the cheapest way to judge Scrivener is on the desktop trial first. Only add iOS once you know you'll use Scrivener as your main writing app, because there's no way to try it on a phone before you buy.

What happens when the trial runs out

Literature and Latte says the trial is the full version, except that it stops working once your 30 days of use are up. Your projects are still yours, so if you decide not to buy, compile or export your work to Word or plain text before the last trial day. That way nothing is stuck in a format you can't open.

Is there a free version of Scrivener?

No. Outside the trial, there's no free tier. Literature and Latte's own guide to novel writing software names some free tools for budget-conscious writers, such as yWriter for scene management and character tracking, and FocusWriter for distraction-free writing. Those are separate products, not versions of Scrivener.

How to get the most from the Scrivener trial

1. Download the trial for your platform from Literature and Latte's downloads page.
2. Bring a real project: import an existing draft, notes and a few research PDFs.
3. Spend one session on the binder and corkboard, and one on the outliner.
4. Write in it for at least a week of sessions so the habit test is fair.
5. Compile a sample chapter to Word or PDF, the way you'd send it out.
6. If you buy, buy the licence for the platform you write on most, and add iOS only if you'll write on the go.

My verdict on whether Scrivener is free

Scrivener isn't free, but the trial is fair enough that you'll know within your 30 days of use whether it's worth buying. The household licence and free 3.x updates make it a one-off purchase for most writers, not a subscription. If you'd rather not pay at all, see my lists of free book writing software and Scrivener alternatives, or my Ulysses vs Scrivener comparison if you're on a Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free version of Scrivener?

No. There's a free trial for macOS and Windows that's the full version and lasts 30 days of use, but no permanent free tier.

How long is the Scrivener free trial?

30 days of use. Literature and Latte says if you use it every other day, the trial lasts 60 days.

Is there a Scrivener trial on iPhone or iPad?

No. Literature and Latte says it can't offer an iOS trial because Apple's App Store doesn't allow it.

Can I use one Scrivener licence on Mac and Windows?

No. Each licence covers one platform, so a macOS licence won't work for the Windows version.

Can I get a refund on Scrivener?

Literature and Latte says refunds are provided within 30 days of purchase. If you bought from Apple's App Store, refunds go through Apple.

Do Scrivener updates cost extra?

Not within a major version. Buy Scrivener 3 and all 3.x updates are free; a future Scrivener 4 would need an upgrade fee.