Choose by strength.

Publisher appraisal by Radial Timeline. Squares indicate feature fit: minimal = manual/basic, solid = built in, strong = a dedicated workflow or broad toolkit. They are not benchmark scores or overall product rankings. Brainstorming includes optional Obsidian visual plugins; these require installation. Separate-tool, unavailable, and unverified statuses remain distinct. Plugin details distinguish explicit vendor statements from documentation-based assessments.

Obsidian + RT + ED includes Timetable, Inquiry, Editorialist, and RT manuscript publishing. Software is free for this workflow; optional sync, web hosting, AI, and editor services can cost extra. Scapple is a separate purchase. Prices are US list prices before tax; editions and platforms vary. Matched hands-on benchmarking remains unverified.

Strong

A dedicated workflow we consider a particular strength. An editorial appraisal, not a performance score.

Solid

The named setup supports this workflow directly, including the stated companion apps. Setup or plan requirements may still apply.

Minimal

Possible through author-managed steps, general-purpose tools, or a workaround.

Separate tool

The documented workflow uses a tool outside the named setup or an external document exchange.

Unavailable

Not offered as a supported capability in the vendor documentation reviewed. Details distinguish explicit vendor statements from audits of the published product interfaces.

Unverified

The reviewed documentation does not settle the question. Unknown is not the same as unavailable.

1. Obsidian — pricingFree app; optional Sync and Publish pricing
2. Radial Timeline — ProAll plugin features free, including Pro; AI provider costs separate
3. Radial Timeline — READMEModes, local files, desktop-only plugin, setup
4. Radial Timeline — TimetableLinked table, sketches, reading pane, properties and chronology
5. Radial Timeline — InquiryStructured narrative questions; evidence and citations; cloud/local model requirements
6. Radial Timeline — manuscript exportMarkdown, Word, PDF and Pandoc/LaTeX requirements
7. Scrivener — crossgrading and US price$59.99 desktop license price
8. Scrivener — store and platformsMac/Windows licensing, separately priced iOS, Dropbox sync
9. Scrivener — licensingMinor updates included; possible paid major upgrades
10. Scrivener — featuresEditor, Scrivenings, corkboard, metadata, snapshots, targets, compile
11. Ulysses — US pricing$39.99 annual, $5.99 monthly; Apple devices and sync
12. Ulysses — perpetual licenseOne-time perpetual license option exists
13. Ulysses — product overviewMarkup editor, sheets, projects, supported platforms, export formats
14. Ulysses — goalsSheet/group/project goals, session history
15. Ulysses — release notesVersion 39 moved the advanced text check (Revision Mode) into the dashboard; version 41 added Siri and Apple Writing Tools support.
16. Ulysses — collaboration limitationsNo built-in collaboration; external-folder alternatives and backup caveat
17. Microsoft Word — features and US plansFree web edition, $99.99/year Microsoft 365 Personal, collaboration, platforms, AI plan boundaries
18. Word — navigation paneHeading-based navigation; dragging a heading moves its section
19. Word — Track ChangesRevision markup and accepting/rejecting edits
20. Word — save or convert to PDFPDF output from desktop Word
21. Microsoft — desktop, licensing and offline accessDesktop offline editing and reconnect behavior
22. Google Docs — product overviewPersonal access, document tabs, co-editing, history, Word compatibility, AI plan limits
23. Google Docs — suggested editsSuggestions and accept/reject review
24. Google Docs — download documentsDownload copies and choose output type
25. Google Docs — offline requirementsOffline setup, Chrome/Edge and extension requirement
26. Dabble — public US pricingWriter/Author annual prices, included tools, lifetime options and post-cancellation access
27. Dabble — plans and pricing guidePlan structure, billing intervals, eligibility and no AI writing
28. Dabble — product guideManuscript editor, structure, Plot Grid, notebook and goals
29. Dabble — manuscript exportDOCX, Google Docs, web, Markdown, print-to-PDF and no direct EPUB
30. Dabble — platforms and offline useBrowser, desktop and mobile availability; offline and caching behavior
32. Obsidian Sync — shared vault collaborationObsidian does not yet support live co-editing of the same file; shared-vault edits merge on sync, and every collaborator needs Sync.
33. Dabble — real-time co-authoringSimultaneous co-author editing and live cursors
34. Scrivener 3 — Windows user manualProject sharing and alternating external-folder collaboration rather than live co-editing
35. Scrivener — Does Scrivener use AI?Vendor confirms no built-in AI or background text scraping; Apple system writing tools are separate.
36. Scrivener — Why do I see AI prompts on Mac?Vendor explanation, updated September 2026: Scrivener has no AI; Apple OS writing tools may appear in its editor.
37. Editorialist — README and licenseStructured feedback review, RT integration, desktop support, and free creative use.
38. Editorialist — Author PlannerPersonal outcomes, target dates, hard deadlines, effort ranges, weekday-capacity scheduling; separate from engagement capacity.
39. Editorialist — Editor EngagementEditor dates, tasks, milestones, reference documents, questions window, and activity history. File exchange remains external.
40. Editorialist — Revision PlanReview queues, deadline and capacity scheduling, editable effort estimates, progress, and finish forecasts.
41. Editorialist — Importing ReviewsStructured import format for outside feedback. Word markup needs conversion; no claim of native DOCX Track Changes.
42. Scapple — overviewFreeform connected notes, group shapes, and moving notes into Scrivener; separate companion app.
43. Scapple — US storeStandard Scapple license $20.99 per desktop platform, verified in rendered US store on 25 October 2026.
44. Scapple — licensing FAQSeparate platform licenses, 30-use-day trial, minor updates and possible paid major upgrades.
45. Obsidian — CanvasIncluded core visual canvas for connected notes, cards, files, and groups.
46. Dabble — goals and deadlinesWord-count targets, optional deadlines, writing days, daily pacing, and timed challenges.
47. Word — drawing toolsDesktop document drawings, shapes, and connectors; features depend on edition.
48. Google Docs — drawingsCreate and insert a drawing inside a Google document on computer.
49. Obsidian — community pluginsInstall community-built plugins that add or change functionality inside Obsidian.
50. Notion — pricing and plan limitsFree individual plan, file/history/guest limits, paid AI and developer feature boundaries.
51. Notion — writing and editingPage/block composition, rearrangement, text formatting, word counts, and general AI writing actions.
52. Notion — database viewsBoard, timeline, calendar, list, table, properties and filters for a configurable workspace.
53. Notion — suggested editsSuggest text additions/removals; accept or reject them, subject to block and permission limits.
54. Notion — offline pagesDesktop/mobile offline downloads; subpages downloaded separately, database row limits, no browser offline mode.
55. Notion — export contentPDF, HTML and Markdown/CSV export; DOCX is not listed as a native export format.
56. Notion — connectionsAPI integrations, embeds and connections; a different extension mechanism from local editor plugins.
57. Notion — Developer PlatformHosted Workers in public beta, CLI, custom agent tooling and data connections; not evidence of a local community-plugin loader.
58. Word — add-ins overviewAdd-in commands and task panes extend Word UI and document behavior.
59. Google Docs — Workspace add-onsInstall third-party add-ons that expand Docs; permissions and account controls apply.
60. Ulysses — automation APIOfficial URL actions for controlling Ulysses from external automation; not a community editor-plugin catalog.
61. Notion — timeline viewDate-based database timelines with configurable project dates; setup is author-managed.
62. Notion — collaborationPeople can work together on pages with shared edits, comments and permission controls.
63. Notion — update pages through its APIAuthorized external software can update page properties and attributes through the official API.
64. Obsidian — Vault developer APIPlugin API for reading and modifying local vault files; not a built-in hosted REST service.
65. Google Docs — Apps Script integrationsCreate or modify documents through Apps Script, with appropriate permissions; programmable document integration.
66. Obsidian — Mermaid diagramsBuilt-in Mermaid diagrams and charts in notes.
67. Radial Timeline — publishingWord manuscript and designed PDF publishing, layouts, book matter and local Pandoc/LaTeX prerequisites.
68. Radial Timeline — manuscript onboardingImporting Word manuscripts into scene notes is an onboarding workflow, separate from DOCX publishing output.
69. Advanced Canvas — Obsidian community pluginOptional install adds flowchart shapes, presentation tools, and other Canvas features. Not assumed preinstalled.
70. Notion — Mermaid diagrams releaseNotion also supports Mermaid diagram previews inside code blocks; this is distinct from a freeform connected-note canvas.
71. Obsidian Help: File explorerBuilt-in file and folder navigation, note organization, and drag-and-drop operations.
72. L&L support: Scrivener does not support plugins (2017)Direct statement by Literature & Latte support (kewms/Katherine), 13 March 2017: Scrivener does not support plugins.
73. L&L staff: no plugin capability in Scrivener 3 (2021)AmberV, 31 March 2021: no plugins or capability for them; distinguishes external MultiMarkdown tooling.
74. L&L support: There is no Scrivener API (2022)Direct statement by Literature & Latte support (kewms), 30 October 2022: There is no Scrivener API.
75. L&L support: external-folder integration and no published API (2020)L&L support explains bidirectional Sync with External Folder, confirms no published API, and offers the project-format specification on request.
76. Ulysses: editor plugins are for external ULSS editorsVendor describes syntax-highlighting plugins for TextMate, Sublime Text, BBEdit and VS Code; these run in those editors, not inside Ulysses.
77. Ulysses: Shortcuts automationVendor documents Shortcuts actions and their connection with x-callback URL automation.
78. Dabble: Preferences referencePublished settings and customization surface reviewed for a community editor-plugin installation interface; none is documented.
79. Dabble: built-in ProWritingAid and browser-extension handlingVendor says ProWritingAid-powered checking happens inside Dabble with nothing extra to install; browser grammar extensions are identified separately.
80. Notion: supported developer platform and hosted WorkersVendor inventory identifies APIs, hosted Workers, CLI and agent tooling, not a community editor-plugin loader. Workers require Business or Enterprise and are in public beta.
81. Notion: API connections, permissions and webhooksOfficial API read/write/insert capabilities, connections, authorization and webhook documentation.
82. Dabble: public help and feature referenceVendor reference and public help inventory audited for supported plugin SDK or general developer API; no such public interface is offered in the reviewed documentation.
83. Scrivener — custom Compile formats and output controlsReusable custom Compile formats, section layouts, styles, separators, footnotes/comments, page settings, and PDF settings support the Strong output-customization appraisal.
84. Scrivener — free minor updates and paid major upgradesVendor explicitly states that all Scrivener 3.x updates are free and moving to Scrivener 4 would require an upgrade fee. Platform licenses are separate.
85. Scrivener — historical seasonal saleVendor's 2025 Black Friday offer documents a past sale, supporting that list prices can be reduced by promotions. The expired offer is not presented as a current discount.
86. Scrivener — dated chronology through custom dates and OutlinerCustom story date/time fields can be displayed and sorted in the Outliner, independently of manuscript sequence. Author configures fields and supplies dates.
87. Radial Timeline — stage targets, estimates and writing sessionsSeparate Zero/Author/House/Press target dates, scene-based completion estimates, time/word targets, weekly goals, timer sessions and local writing statistics.
88. Radial Timeline — scene status and publishing-stage progressTodo, Working, Overdue and Complete scene statuses; publishing-stage colors distinguish revision progress.
89. Radial Timeline — optional Community progress and activityOptional progress-report and writing-activity sharing; daily aggregate activity and Working Clock rollups. Sharing is opt-in and is not required for local goals or sessions.
90. Radial Timeline — frontmatter and scene propertiesScene metadata and property configuration underpin timeline behavior. Learning-curve severity is publisher judgment, not a measured vendor claim.
91. Dabble — Scenes viewScene cards hold a title, a short summary and an optional label; no story-date field is documented.
92. Dabble — Plot Grid overviewPlot Grid columns are plot lines and rows follow the book’s scenes; no dated timeline view is documented.
93. Dabble — printingThe print view is deliberately plain (12pt, chapters and scenes in order); PDF comes from Print → Save as PDF.
94. Dabble — inviting a co-authorAccess depends on each collaborator’s own subscription; per-project collaborator limits are set by plan.
95. Ulysses — grammar and style checkOnline grammar, punctuation and style check powered by LanguageTool; not a manuscript-structure review.
96. Ulysses — Markdown XL editorial markupComments, annotations and redact (deletion) markup excluded from most exports; no insertion tracking or accept/reject.
97. Ulysses — US App Store listingIn-app purchases list the Perpetual License at $199.99, alongside the $5.99 monthly and $39.99 yearly plans.
98. Editorialist — Review panelScene-by-scene review of imported edit, cut, move, condense and expand suggestions, with accepted, rejected and rewritten counts per round.
99. Google Docs — document tabsTabs nest up to three levels and can be reordered by dragging.
100. Dabble — mobile appDabble’s mobile app is a web app added to the home screen, not an App Store or Google Play app.