Choose Novelcrafter if
- You want its Codex-led planning and writing workflow.
- Its collaboration options or shared series Codex fit your current project.
- You have tried its learning resources and editor and find that they suit you.
Comparison · Checked 6 September 2026
New Quest vs Novelcrafter
Novelcrafter combines a writing editor, planning views and a shared story Codex. It offers optional AI connections, collaboration and learning resources.
Both put writing and story material together. Try the workflow itself, including learning and revision, rather than choosing on an AI label alone.
Product information checked on 6 September 2026. Features and offers can change. The fit recommendations are our assessment, not a ranking. If we have it wrong, tell us.Read Novelcrafter's product information.
The ledger
The same question, asked of both.
What is the writing workflow?
Novelcrafter
Plan and draft alongside Codex entries, with different planning views and series-level sharing.
New Quest
A fiction-first workspace for chapters, scenes, story notes and practical craft guidance. Start with the manuscript; neither a course nor an AI account is required.
How does AI fit?
Novelcrafter
Optional AI supports brainstorming, writing and review. Its site lists external providers and local model connections.
New Quest
AI is optional and starts off. Connect Claude, Codex, OpenCode or another MCP tool to read the books you allow, on your own subscription; the connection is read-only. We do not sell AI credits. An assistant built into New Quest is still in testing.
Where are story details kept?
Novelcrafter
The Codex holds characters, places and lore, with links and tracking across the story.
New Quest
Characters, locations, recorded events and optional progression-fiction fields sit beside the writing. Checks depend on the facts you enter; they cannot certify that a whole novel is consistent.
What do I pay for?
Novelcrafter
Check Novelcrafter's current pricing and provider billing information. Software access and model usage are separate questions.
New Quest
The free trial includes 30 writing days. Cloud is $8 a month or $79 a year, with 1 GiB of storage. The Guild is free. The developing local desktop studio is free and separate from Cloud.
Choosing
One of these is probably you.
Choose New Quest if
- You want writing, story planning and practical craft guidance in the same workspace, and you are comfortable trying a product being built in public.
- You want to write without AI, or choose assistance for particular tasks without buying New Quest AI credits.
- You want fiction-first tools with extra depth for fantasy, progression and serial writing. You do not need to use the game mechanics.
Free for 30 writing days, saved to your account. No AI needed.
Questions
What people ask before switching.
Do I need an AI subscription?
No. Writing, planning and learning do not require one. An optional external provider has its own access rules, usage limits and charges. Cloud does not include AI usage.
Should I move my whole book immediately?
Start with a copy of a chapter. Try drafting, revision and export before moving more. Keep the original project and an independent backup. We do not promise lossless conversion of every other tool's notes, links or formatting.
Does everything work across desktop, web and mobile?
Not yet. Writing in the browser works today; the desktop studio is in testing and keeps a separate library. Complete sync, native phone parity and the integrated desktop assistant are still being developed. Choose based on what you can use today.