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Publishing · head to head

Marq vs Scrivener

Marq logo

Marq

Publishing

Web-based design and publishing for brand templates

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Scrivener logo

Scrivener

Publishing

Long-form writing and manuscript organisation software sold as a one-time purchase per platform, with no subscription at any tier

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Marq has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Marq enterprise pricing requires sales consultation with no online quotes; Scrivener each platform (Mac, Windows, iOS) is a separate purchase, so a writer working across a Mac desktop and an iPad or Windows laptop pays multiple times, even with the cross-grade discount applied.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Marq and Scrivener actually diverge.

Attributes where Marq and Scrivener differ
AttributeMarqScrivener
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebmacOS, Windows, iOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Publishing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Marq

Nothing recorded that Scrivener does not also cover.

Only in Scrivener

  • Binder and corkboard
  • Compile
  • Full-screen composition mode
  • Research and reference storage
  • Snapshots and version history
  • Cross-platform licensing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Marq

  • Design automation for print materialsnot Scrivener
  • Team-based design collaborationnot Scrivener
  • Brand asset managementnot Scrivener

Scrivener

  • A novelist wanting scene-level reordering and a corkboard view rather than one continuous linear documentnot Marq
  • A screenwriter needing industry-standard script formatting alongside manuscript organisationnot Marq
  • An academic writer wanting research references and citations stored alongside the manuscript being draftednot Marq
  • A writer who specifically wants to avoid an ongoing subscription for writing software and prefers a one-time purchasenot Marq

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Marq

  • Enterprise pricing requires sales consultation with no online quotes
  • 3 project limit on free tier restricts heavy users

Scrivener

  • Each platform (Mac, Windows, iOS) is a separate purchase, so a writer working across a Mac desktop and an iPad or Windows laptop pays multiple times, even with the cross-grade discount applied.
  • Real-time collaborative editing is not a strength of the product, which is built around single-author, offline-first writing rather than concurrent multi-editor workflows common in modern cloud writing tools.
  • It is a writing and organisation tool only, not a distribution or publishing platform, so authors still need separate software (Atticus, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark) to get a finished book onto retail stores.
  • The learning curve for the binder, corkboard and Compile system is real, and writers coming from a simple word processor often need real time to learn the structural model before it pays off.
  • One-time pricing means no ongoing revenue relationship, which is part of why major feature updates and new-platform releases have historically arrived less frequently than in subscription-funded competitors.

Pricing, plan by plan

Marq

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 25MB storage
    • 3 project limit
    • basic template library
  • Pro$10/month
    • 2GB storage
    • 5 free design imports
    • premium library
  • Team$10/month
    • 2GB+ shared storage
    • 15 free design imports
    • admin/user roles
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Unlimited storage
    • 30+ design imports
    • unlimited automations

Scrivener

On request
  • Scrivener for macOS/Windows$59.99/one-time
    • Standard licence, one-time purchase per platform
    • Educational licence $50.99 for students and academics
  • Scrivener for iOS$23.99/one-time
    • Separate purchase from desktop versions, cross-grade discount available
  • All platforms bundle$121.93/one-time
    • macOS, Windows and iOS combined

Which should you pick?

Choose Marq if

  • You want to start without paying.
Marq review

Choose Scrivener if

  • You need binder and corkboard.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS.
  • You also want compile.
Scrivener review

Questions people ask

Is Marq or Scrivener better?
Neither clearly leads. Marq starts at Free and Scrivener at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Marq or Scrivener?
Marq has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Marq and On request for Scrivener.
Does Marq or Scrivener run on more platforms?
Marq runs on Web. Scrivener runs on macOS, Windows, iOS.
Can I use Marq for free?
Yes. Marq has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Scrivener starts at On request.
What is Marq best used for?
Marq is most often used for design automation for print materials, team-based design collaboration, brand asset management. Of those, design automation for print materials and team-based design collaboration are not what Scrivener is typically brought in for.
What can Marq do that Scrivener cannot?
Scrivener covers Binder and corkboard, Compile, Full-screen composition mode, Research and reference storage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Marq: What storage limits apply to each paid plan?

Pro and Team plans both include 2GB+ shared storage. Enterprise plans offer unlimited storage. Free plan limited to 25MB.

Source
Scrivener: Is Scrivener a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase per platform: $59.99 for macOS or Windows, $23.99 for iOS, with cross-grade discounts if you already own one version.

Marq: Can I upgrade from monthly to annual billing for cost savings?

Pro and Team plans offer annual billing at $120 per year (equivalent to $10/month), versus month-to-month at $10/month. Contact sales for Enterprise annual options.

Source
Scrivener: Does Scrivener publish or distribute my book?

No. It organises and formats the manuscript; you still need a separate distribution tool such as Draft2Digital or IngramSpark to publish to retail.

Marq: How many team members can be added per plan?

Team plan supports 2-20 licenses with 1 primary user and 1 secondary free license included. Pro plan limited to 1 user. Contact sales for Enterprise member scaling.

Source
Scrivener: Can I use one purchase across Mac, Windows and iOS?

No, each platform is licensed and purchased separately, though a discounted cross-grade price applies if you already own another platform version.

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