an honest comparison
Scrivener is the writer's workhorse: a binder, a corkboard and a compiler that can produce almost any manuscript format. It's a one-time purchase per platform, with no Android version. Tansy is also bought once and also compiles manuscripts, then adds scripts that read themselves aloud, story maps, handwritten notebooks, planning and flashcards in the same library.
Scrivener facts checked October 2026 on their own site; plans and prices change, so check before you buy. Tansy launches August 12, 2027.
| What | Tansy | Scrivener |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 once ($19.99 for the first 30 days after launch). 14-day free trial. | One-time licence per platform: Mac and Windows sold separately (with a bundle), iOS and iPadOS $23.99 as a separate app. 30-day trial. Check their store for current prices. |
| Platforms | iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android. One Apple purchase covers iPad, iPhone and Mac; Windows and Android are bought in their own stores. | Mac, Windows, iPad and iPhone. No Android. |
| Sync | Your own folder: iCloud Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive. No account. Edits from two devices merge. | Dropbox for iOS sync; otherwise your own files. |
| Your files | Regular files in a folder you can see, back up and keep. Nothing uploaded to us. | Project folders on your disk, in Scrivener's format. |
| Long-form writing | Manuscripts with every chapter in one scrolling view, compiled to ePub, PDF or Word. Story bible from profiles. | Binder, corkboard, outliner, snapshots and a very configurable compile. |
| Scripts | Scripts that format themselves, Fountain and Final Draft, industry PDFs, a table read with a voice per character, storyboards from scenes. | Scriptwriting mode with standard formats and Fountain and Final Draft support. |
| Beyond writing | Notebooks, planners, documents, manuscripts, scripts, canvases, storyboards, sheet music, flashcards, tasks, tables and boards in one library. | Writing and research only. |
| Import from the other | Imports Scrivener exports. | Imports Word, RTF, Markdown and Fountain. |
Export your Scrivener project and import it into Tansy. Chapters become a manuscript; research files land in your library beside it.
Nothing is locked away afterwards either: every Tansy file stays a file in your own folder, and exports to common formats whether or not you buy. How your files work →
Tansy compiles a manuscript to ePub, PDF or Word. Scrivener's compiler offers far more settings; if you need fine control over every output format, Scrivener is the deeper tool.
Yes. Tansy runs on Android tablets and phones, as well as iPad, iPhone, Mac and Windows.
Yes. Tansy imports Scrivener exports.
Try Tansy before anyone else and help shape it before it launches on August 12, 2027. The beta is small, so we'll email you if you get a spot. Everyone on the list hears when Tansy launches.