Are you tired of using World Anvil for your worldbuilding projects and looking for alternative tools to organize your ideas and stories?💁
Maybe you find World Anvil’s interface clunky or its pricing plans too expensive for your budget. Or perhaps you crave more customization options, privacy controls, or collaborative features that World Anvil doesn’t offer.
Whatever your reasons, you’re not alone in your quest for a better world-building platform. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best World Anvil alternatives that can help you unleash your creativity and streamline your world-building process.
Whether you’re a writer, game designer, dungeon master, or just a fan of worldbuilding, you’ll find something to love among these top picks. We’ve covered you, from free and open-source tools to paid and premium services.
So, let’s dive into worldbuilding and discover your next favorite platform.
What is the World Anvil?🔭
World Anvil emerges as an unrivaled platform for creative endeavors, embodying the essence of comprehensive worldbuilding.
It is a powerful tool that empowers writers, game designers, and enthusiasts alike to forge intricate and cohesive fictional universes. At its core, World Anvil functions as a digital anvil, where imagination is forged into vivid realities.
With many features and templates, it provides a framework for crafting well-structured lore and histories while offering map tools to breathe life into sprawling landscapes and intricate cityscapes. Beyond its technical prowess, World Anvil thrives as a vibrant community, fostering collaboration and creative exchange.
Through interactive timelines, character sheets, and plot organization tools, creators seamlessly weave intricate narratives, drawing inspiration from fellow worldbuilders.
Unleashing the potential of multimedia, World Anvil transcends text-based worldbuilding, integrating audio and visual uploads, relationship maps, and timeline events. This convergence of elements creates an immersive experience that captivates readers and players on multiple levels.
In conclusion, the World Anvil is the quintessential companion for those seeking to transform their creative visions into rich, tangible worlds. With its comprehensive array of features and dynamic community, it stands as a pillar of innovation in worldbuilding.
Criteria for Evaluating World Anvil Alternatives👍
When searching for World Anvil alternatives, it is crucial to establish a set of criteria that can help guide your decision-making process. Considering these factors, you can determine which alternative platforms align best with your needs and requirements.
1. Functionality and Features:- Begin by examining the functionality offered by each alternative. Look for features essential to your world-building processes, such as comprehensive organization, rich text formatting, map creation, character and timeline management, and interactive storytelling capabilities. Consider the range and depth of features provided to ensure they meet your expectations.
2. User Experience and Interface:- Evaluate the user experience and interface of the alternatives. A user-friendly and intuitive platform can significantly enhance your productivity. Look for clean designs, intuitive navigation, and customizable options that allow you to tailor the platform to your preferences.
3. Collaboration and Community:- If you value collaboration and community engagement, consider platforms that offer robust collaboration features, such as shared editing, commenting, and team management capabilities.
Additionally, explore whether the platform has an active and supportive community where you can seek advice, share ideas, and gain inspiration.
4. Pricing and Value:- Analyze the pricing structure of each alternative and determine whether it aligns with your budget and expectations. Consider the value provided about the cost, including factors such as storage capacity, premium features, and customer support. Look for flexible options like free tiers, trial periods, or affordable subscription plans.
By carefully evaluating these criteria for evaluating World Anvil alternatives, you can make an informed decision and select a platform that caters to your unique worldbuilding needs. Remember to prioritize the features and functionality that are most important to you and ensure that the chosen alternative enhances your creative process.
Here, we have prepared a list of some of the best ones –
Best World Anvil Alternatives With Powerful Features
1. LegendKeeper
In world-building and campaign management tools, LegendKeeper emerges as a stalwart contender, positioning itself as one of the best World Anvil alternatives available to seasoned storytellers and dungeon masters.
With a multifaceted approach to organizing and detailing intricate narrative universes, LegendKeeper is a beacon for those seeking a comprehensive yet intuitive platform.
Unparalleled Organization: LegendKeeper boasts an array of features that champion the cause of meticulous world-building. Its system revolves around creating “articles,” akin to individual lore entries, encompassing everything from characters and locations to magical artifacts and pantheons. This structure encourages a granular approach, allowing for a detailed depiction of each facet of your world.
Fluid Interconnectedness: What sets LegendKeeper apart is its emphasis on interconnectedness. The tool seamlessly weaves together articles, offering a holistic view of your campaign. The ability to link characters to locations, events to deities, and spells to artifacts fosters a dynamic narrative ecosystem.
Distinctive Mapping System: For those who revel in cartographic endeavors, LegendKeeper offers a robust mapping system. World Anvil alternatives rarely match its cartographic prowess, allowing for the creation of interactive maps that breathe life into your fictional landscapes.
Privacy and Ownership: LegendKeeper respects the need for privacy and ownership of your creative works. Unlike other alternatives, it does not require you to share your world publicly, ensuring your campaign’s secrecy until you’re ready to unveil it.
Immersive Markdown Editor: Writers will appreciate the immersive Markdown editor, enabling the incorporation of rich text, images, and even LaTeX equations to enhance the depth and versatility of your articles.
In summary, as storytellers continue seeking the ideal platform for their world-building endeavors, LegendKeeper is a shining example of an alternative to World Anvil.
Its meticulous organization, interconnectedness, mapping prowess, privacy features, and immersive editor make it a compelling choice for crafting immersive and expansive narrative universes.
Key Features:-
Granular Organization: LegendKeeper allows users to create detailed “articles” for characters, locations, events, items, and more, providing a structured framework for comprehensive world-building.
Interconnected Lore: The platform links articles, enabling creators to establish intricate relationships between various campaign elements, enhancing storytelling and world depth.
Interactive Mapping: LegendKeeper offers a robust mapping system, allowing for creating dynamic, interactive maps that bring fictional landscapes to life.
Privacy and Ownership: Unlike some alternatives, LegendKeeper prioritizes the privacy and ownership of your creative content, ensuring you have control over when and how you share your world.
Markdown Editor: The tool features an immersive Markdown editor, empowering writers to include rich text, images, and even LaTeX equations, making it versatile for content creation.
Search and Navigation: LegendKeeper’s efficient search and navigation features facilitate easy access to your extensive lore, streamlining the creative process.
Version Control: It offers version control, allowing you to track changes and revisions to your world, ensuring you never lose crucial details.
Collaboration: Collaborate seamlessly with co-creators and players, enabling a shared world-building experience.
User-Friendly Interface: With an intuitive and user-friendly interface, LegendKeeper makes it accessible for beginners and experienced world-builders.
Offline Mode: You can access your world and edit without an internet connection, ensuring you can work on your campaign anytime, anywhere.
These key features collectively position LegendKeeper as an excellent alternative to World Anvil, catering to the needs of storytellers and dungeon masters who seek a comprehensive and versatile platform for their world-building endeavors.
Legendkeeper vs. World Anvil:-
The clash between LegendKeeper and World Anvil unfolds as an epic saga in world-building platforms. These two titans, each with its distinctive arsenal, vie for the allegiance of storytellers, dungeon masters, and world-builders seeking a realm to craft their immersive narratives.
LegendKeeper, the newcomer on the scene, boasts an intricate web of interconnected lore, allowing creators to weave a narrative tapestry with unparalleled finesse. Its article-centric approach allows users to dive deep into every facet of their worlds, fostering a granular organization that fuels creativity.
In the opposing corner stands World Anvil, a seasoned veteran. Its strength lies in its robust community and vast repository of templates that expedite world-building. With various collaborative features, it beckons world-builders to gather and create together.
The battle intensifies in the arena of mapping. LegendKeeper wields the power of dynamic, interactive maps, while World Anvil relies on its established cartographic might, allowing creators to chart their realms with precision.
Yet, it’s the skirmish over privacy and ownership where the distinctions sharpen. LegendKeeper champions the cause of secrecy until its unveiling, safeguarding creators’ rights. World Anvil, in contrast, encourages sharing, contributing to its vibrant community but at the cost of exclusivity.
In conclusion, the choice between LegendKeeper vs. World Anvil rests on the creator’s needs. One offers intricate interconnectedness and privacy, while the other thrives on its seasoned community and collaborative prowess. The world-builder’s journey is paved with choices, where these two giants beckon, each offering a unique adventure.
2. Campfire
In the vast cosmos of world-building tools, Campfire emerges as a radiant star among the constellation of options, shining brightly as one of the best World Anvil alternatives.
Campfire offers a luminous beacon of creativity for those seeking an immersive and versatile platform to craft their fictional universes.
Unparalleled Organization: Campfire excels in providing a structured canvas for creators to weave their intricate narratives. Its foundation lies in creating “worlds,” within which you can craft detailed “articles” to explore every facet of your universe, ensuring a granular organization that sparks ingenuity.
Interwoven Lore: What sets Campfire apart is its ability to connect the threads of your world’s lore. This interconnectedness fosters a dynamic storytelling environment where characters, locations, and events come alive through their relationships, elevating Campfire as a pinnacle of interconnected lore.
Exquisite Mapping: Campfire’s cartographic prowess is a testament to its commitment to world-building. The mapping system enables creators to craft visually stunning and interactive maps, breathing life into the landscapes they envision.
Privacy and Control: Much like a vigilant guardian, Campfire respects your need for privacy and creative ownership. It allows you to control the visibility of your worlds, ensuring that your magnum opus remains concealed until you decide to share it, establishing trust as a pillar of its offering.
Immersive Writing Tools: Writers and storytellers will revel in Campfire’s immersive Markdown editor, empowering them to craft rich narratives with text formatting, images, and more, thus enriching the storytelling experience.
As you embark on your world-building odyssey, consider Campfire a leading alternative to World Anvil. With its meticulous organization, emphasis on interconnected lore, exquisite mapping capabilities, privacy features, and immersive writing tools, Campfire beckons to creators, igniting the flames of creativity as they forge vibrant and immersive fictional worlds.
Key Features:-
Structured Organization: Campfire provides a framework for world-building, allowing creators to craft their narratives within distinct “worlds” and detailed “articles.”
Interconnected Lore: The platform encourages the interweaving of lore, fostering dynamic storytelling by linking characters, locations, and events to create a rich and cohesive narrative tapestry.
Interactive Mapping: Campfire’s mapping system empowers users to create visually stunning and interactive maps, enhancing the visual representation of their fictional worlds.
Privacy and Control: Campfire respects creators’ privacy and creative ownership, enabling them to control the visibility of their worlds and content, ensuring their work remains confidential until they choose to share it.
Immersive Writing Tools: The platform offers an immersive Markdown editor, allowing writers to incorporate text formatting, images, and other elements to enrich their narratives and make them more engaging.
Collaborative Environment: Campfire supports collaborative world-building, facilitating teamwork and creativity among co-creators, writers, and storytellers.
Version Control: Creators can track changes and revisions to their world, ensuring they never lose important details and maintaining a history of their creative process.
Ease of Use: Campfire features an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to beginners and experienced world-builders.
Offline Access: Users can access and edit their worlds without an internet connection, providing flexibility in their creative process.
These key features collectively position Campfire as an exceptional alternative to World Anvil, catering to the needs of storytellers and world-builders who seek a comprehensive and flexible platform for crafting immersive fictional universes.
World Anvil vs Campfire:-
In the ever-expanding galaxy of world-building platforms, the clash between World Anvil and Campfire emerges as a celestial battle, each wielding its unique arsenal to captivate the hearts of creators, storytellers, and world-builders.
World Anvil, a venerable guardian of world-building, beckons with its extensive library of templates and a thriving community. It is a paragon of collaborative prowess, where co-creators unite to sculpt intricate realms and narratives.
On the opposite horizon shines Campfire, a rising star, luring visionaries with its innate flair for interconnected lore. Campfire’s strength lies in its ability to weave intricate narratives through meticulously crafted articles, fostering granular organization that sparks ingenious world-building.
World Anvil wields its cartographic might when the battleground shifts to mapping, enabling creators to craft precise and visually striking maps. In contrast, Campfire kindles the flames of imagination with its dynamic and interactive mapping system, breathing life into fictional landscapes.
Privacy and control become the sentinel watchtowers in this cosmic conflict. World Anvil encourages sharing, nurturing a vibrant community, while Campfire upholds the sanctity of privacy and creative ownership, allowing creators to decide when their magnum opus shall be unveiled.
Ultimately, the choice between World Anvil and Campfire rests on the creator’s quest. One offers collaborative strength and an established community, while the other champions interconnected lore and meticulous organization. The path to world-building greatness branches into these two celestial realms, where each beckons with a unique promise of creative adventure.
3. Notebook.ai
In the vast landscape of world-building tools, Notebook.ai emerges as a compelling alternative to World Anvil, beckoning to creators and storytellers alike with its unique offerings and features.
Granular Organization: Notebook.ai provides a structured canvas for creators to detail their fictional realms meticulously. With the creation of “notebooks” dedicated to specific aspects of your world, it offers a granular organization approach that allows for in-depth exploration and development.
Character-Centric Focus: Unlike some other world-building platforms, Notebook.ai places a particular emphasis on character development. It invites world-builders to delve into the hearts and minds of their creations, fostering a character-centric approach that enriches storytelling.
Interconnected Elements: Much like the intricacies of a well-crafted narrative, Notebook.ai empowers users to establish connections between various elements of their world. These intricate linkages breathe life into your creations, making it a champion of interconnected lore.
Privacy and Customization: Notebook.ai respects your need for privacy and creative control. It offers the option to keep your world private or share it with a select audience, ensuring your creative vision remains under your guidance.
Visual Storytelling: Creativity finds wings in Notebook.ai’s visual storytelling capabilities. With features like image uploads and embedded content, it enhances the visual storytelling aspect of world-building.
As you embark on your world-building journey, consider Notebook.ai a formidable contender among World Anvil alternatives. Its meticulous organization, character-focused approach, interconnected elements, privacy options, and visual storytelling capabilities make it a standout choice for those seeking a versatile and immersive platform to craft their fictional universes.
Key Features:-
Structured Organization: Notebook.ai provides a structured framework with dedicated “notebooks” for different aspects of your world, enabling a granular and organized approach to world-building.
Character-Centric Focus: It places a strong emphasis on character development, allowing creators to delve deep into the personalities, histories, and relationships of their characters.
Interconnected Lore: Notebook.ai encourages the creation of intricate connections between various elements of your world, fostering a rich and interconnected narrative.
Privacy and Customization: Creators can keep their world private or share it with select individuals, offering control over who can access and contribute to the creative process.
Visual Storytelling: The platform supports visual storytelling through image uploads and embedded content, enhancing the visual appeal of your world and characters.
Collaborative Tools: Notebook.ai allows multiple users to contribute to a world, making it suitable for co-creation and collaborative storytelling.
Character Sheets: It offers detailed character sheets to record essential information about your characters, making tracking their development easier.
Interactive Maps: Notebook.ai includes mapping features that enable the creation of interactive and visually captivating maps of your world.
Timeline Tracking: The platform allows for the creation of timelines, aiding in organizing historical events and the chronological development of your world.
World Encyclopedia: Notebook.ai is a comprehensive encyclopedia for your world, compiling all the information and details in one accessible location.
These key features collectively position Notebook.ai as a robust and user-friendly alternative to World Anvil, catering to world-builders, writers, and storytellers who seek a versatile platform to bring their fictional universes to life.
4. OneNote
OneNote emerges as a captivating and unconventional alternative to traditional platforms like World Anvil in the expansive realm of world-building tools. While it may not be the first choice for many, its unique features and capabilities make it a hidden gem for creators and storytellers.
Organized Chaos: OneNote thrives on digital notebooks, like having an array of parchment scrolls meticulously arranged in a virtual library. This approach offers a sense of organized chaos that some creators find liberating, allowing them to structure their worlds according to their unique vision.
Flexibility Unleashed: Unlike the rigid templates of some world-building platforms, OneNote offers boundless freedom. Creators have the power to shape their content without constraints, enabling a level of creative flexibility that can be both liberating and inspiring.
Hyperlink Magic: OneNote’s hyperlinking abilities are a subtle enchantment. Creators can effortlessly connect different parts of their world, crafting an intricate web of lore and characters with hyperlink magic.
Multi-Media Canvas: OneNote goes beyond text. It embraces integrating multimedia elements like images, audio, and videos, turning your digital notebook into a dynamic and immersive multi-media canvas for world-building.
Privacy and Control: Much like safeguarding the secrets of a mystical tome, OneNote allows creators to choose their level of privacy and control over their content, ensuring that their world remains locked and key until they reveal it.
While unconventional, OneNote’s flexible organization, creative freedom, hyperlinking prowess, multi-media integration, and privacy features make it an intriguing choice as a World Anvil alternative.
For creators seeking a more fluid and open-ended canvas for their world-building endeavors, OneNote beckons as an uncharted and enchanting realm to explore.
Key Features:-
Digital Notebooks: OneNote allows creators to organize their world-building content into digital notebooks, offering a structured yet flexible approach to content organization.
Creative Freedom: Unlike rigid templates, OneNote provides unparalleled creative freedom, allowing users to structure their world and content as they see fit.
Hyperlinking Capabilities: OneNote’s hyperlinking features enable creators to establish intricate connections between different elements of their world, facilitating interconnected lore.
Multi-Media Integration: It supports multimedia elements such as images, audio, and videos, enabling a dynamic and immersive world-building experience.
Privacy and Control: Creators can choose the level of privacy and control over their content, ensuring that their world remains confidential until they are ready to share it.
Collaboration: OneNote allows for collaboration among multiple users, making it suitable for co-creation and shared world-building endeavors.
Cross-Platform Accessibility: OneNote is accessible across various devices and platforms, ensuring creators can work on their world-building projects anytime, anywhere.
Search and Organization Tools: It offers powerful search and organization tools, making finding and managing content easy, even in extensive notebooks.
Version History: OneNote maintains a version history, allowing creators to track changes and revisions to their world-building content.
Integration with Other Tools: OneNote can be integrated with other software and applications, enhancing its functionality and usability for world-building purposes.
These key features collectively position OneNote as a versatile and flexible tool for world-building, appealing to creators who value creative freedom and a personalized approach to organizing and crafting their fictional universes.
5. Kanka
Kanka emerges as a brilliant alternative to traditional platforms like World Anvil in the vast cosmos of world-building tools. With its unique features and intuitive interface, Kanka illuminates the path for creators and storytellers seeking a versatile platform to craft their immersive universes.
Structured Realms: Kanka’s realm-centric approach gives creators the canvas to craft their worlds meticulously. It offers a structured foundation akin to a world-builder’s sanctum, allowing for the creation of detailed entries for characters, locations, events, and more.
Interconnected Lore: What sets Kanka apart is its focus on interconnected lore. The platform facilitates the creation of intricate relationships between different elements of your world, fostering a narrative ecosystem where every character, artifact, or location contributes to the overarching story.
Dynamic Mapping: Kanka’s mapping features breathe life into your fictional landscapes. Its dynamic mapping tools allow for creating immersive and visually stunning maps that serve as cartographic masterpieces for your world.
Privacy and Collaboration: Like the guardians of a mystical tome, Kanka respects your need for privacy and creative control. At the same time, it encourages collaboration with co-creators, ensuring a balance between the sanctity of your world and the spirit of collaborative storytelling.
Versatile Content Creation: Kanka’s versatile content creation tools, including a Markdown editor, empower creators to shape their narratives with rich text, images, and more, enhancing the depth and vibrancy of their worlds.
In summary, Kanka stands as a shining beacon among World Anvil alternatives, beckoning to world-builders and storytellers with its structured realms, interconnected lore, dynamic mapping, privacy features, and versatile content creation tools.
For those on a quest to craft immersive and captivating fictional universes, Kanka offers a radiant path to illuminate their creative vision.
Key Features:-
Structured Realms: Kanka provides a framework for world-building, allowing creators to craft their worlds through detailed entries for characters, locations, events, and more.
Interconnected Lore: The platform facilitates the creation of intricate relationships between various elements of your world, fostering a dynamic and interconnected narrative.
Dynamic Mapping: Kanka’s mapping features enable the creation of immersive and visually stunning maps, enhancing the cartographic representation of your fictional landscapes.
Privacy and Control: Creators can control the visibility of their content, ensuring that their world remains private until they decide to share it while still allowing for collaborative storytelling.
Versatile Content Creation: Kanka offers versatile content creation tools, including a Markdown editor, empowering creators to shape their narratives with rich text, images, and more, enhancing the depth and vibrancy of their worlds.
Structured Realms: Kanka’s realm-centric approach allows for organized and detailed world-building, akin to a world-builder’s sanctum.
Collaboration: The platform supports collaboration among co-creators, ensuring a balance between creative control and collaborative storytelling.
Search and Organization: Kanka provides powerful search and organization tools, making finding and managing content easy, even in extensive realms.
Dynamic Relationships: Creators can establish dynamic relationships between characters, locations, events, and other elements of their world, creating a rich narrative ecosystem.
Versatility and Customization: Kanka’s versatile features and customizable options cater to a wide range of world-building styles and preferences.
These key features collectively position Kanka as a comprehensive and user-friendly tool for world-building, appealing to creators who value structured organization, interconnected lore, dynamic mapping, privacy, and versatile content creation in their creative endeavors.
Kanka vs World Anvil:-
In the expansive cosmos of world-building tools, the clash between Kanka and World Anvil unfolds as an epic duel, each wielding its unique arsenal to captivate creators and storytellers alike.
Kanka, a rising star in the world-building arena, offers structured realms as the foundation for meticulous world creation. Its interconnected lore capabilities empower creators to weave intricate narratives, crafting a dynamic tapestry of characters, locations, and events.
On the opposing front, World Anvil is a seasoned titan renowned for its extensive community and template library. It thrives on collaborative strength, fostering co-creation and storytelling among a diverse array of world-builders.
Regarding mapping, Kanka dazzles with its dynamic cartographic tools, while World Anvil boasts established cartographic prowess, enabling creators to chart their fictional landscapes with precision.
Privacy and control become the sentinel watchtowers in this cosmic conflict. Kanka respects the sanctity of creators’ worlds, allowing them to decide their level of privacy. At the same time, World Anvil beckons creators to share their creations, contributing to a vibrant world-building community.
In summary, the choice between Kanka vs. World Anvil hinges on the creator’s preferences. Kanka shines with structured realms and interconnected lore, while World Anvil thrives on collaborative strength and an established community.
The world-building odyssey embarks on a path illuminated by these two titans, each offering a unique adventure for creators to explore.
6. Scrivener
If you are working on long-form writing projects, then Scrivener is the tool you need.
This tool is designed for all writers, including novelists, story writers, playwrights, journalists, non-fiction writers, lawyers, and others. Anything associated with writing can be done on Scrivener.
You can use the tool to pen down your ideas, thoughts, and imaginations on the go and then combine them with a drag-and-drop feature to prepare an interesting manuscript for the novel.
With this ability in the tool, you shall never feel stuck about your writing and will always know that you can express your thoughts at some point.
Moreover, the tool also helps create and develop characters throughout your story. Besides that, the tool supports simultaneous research work as well. Furthermore, the tool has other advanced features and functionalities, such as a text editor, project planner, and an outliner.
With these features, it becomes easier for you to plan your entire drafts and manuscripts. You can create end-to-end outlines for your drafts and plan the content to be put in them accordingly. Later on, once you are done with your content, you can directly make edits and have a final copy.
Also, sharing your projects and stories once they’re done is easier as the application allows you to share them directly in PDF, documents, and text forms. You can print the stories directly from the application if you like.
The only issue is that the application is not free except for the 30 days free trial period. Once your free trial is finished, you must purchase a license for the application. However, it’s not very costly.
The license comes at $49 for Windows and macOS devices. For iPhone devices, the price is even lesser, and you can get it at just $20. However, for iOS, the cost has to be borne upfront since there’s no free trial in this case.
All these prices don’t seem a lot, and considering the features and functionalities of the application, they are highly worth your time and value. With that said, Scrivener is a tool you must try as a writer, especially if you have diverse thoughts and imaginations.
It isn’t easy to figure out where to put them in your manuscript immediately.
World Anvil vs Scrivener:-
World Anvil is primarily centered around worldbuilding and collaboration, ideal for constructing intricate fictional universes.
Scrivener, on the other hand, is more focused on the writing process, offering organizational features and tools for authors to draft and structure their work efficiently.
Here’s a comparison table between World Anvil and Scrivener, two popular tools used by writers and content creators:-
| Feature | World Anvil | Scrivener |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Worldbuilding and content management platform. | Writing and organizational tool for authors. |
| Online/Offline | Online platform. | Desktop application available for Windows, macOS. |
| Cost | Free version available with limited features. | One-time purchase with different pricing tiers. |
| Collaboration | Supports collaboration and shared worldbuilding. | Limited collaboration features. |
| Organization | Detailed organization of articles and timelines. | Hierarchical structure for managing writing. |
| Content Creation | Rich text editor with templates and formatting. | Distraction-free writing environment. |
| Research | Integrated research tools and worldbuilding aids. | External research integration and references. |
| Publishing | Ability to publish and share content with others. | Export options for various file formats. |
| Community | Community features, sharing, and feedback. | No built-in community features. |
| Mobile Support | Mobile-responsive website. | Mobile app available for iOS devices. |
| Learning Curve | Moderate learning curve due to feature richness. | Minimal learning curve with intuitive interface. |
| Cross-platform | Accessible from any device with internet access. | Desktop app available for multiple platforms. |
7. Realm Works
Are you a worldbuilder searching for a new tool to help you organize your lore and story details? If so, look no further than Realm Works. This software is an excellent world anvil alternative with many unique features that make it stand out from its competitors.
One of the most significant benefits of Realm Works is its ability to handle complex relationships between story elements. With its linking and tagging system, you can connect characters, locations, and plot points in intricate ways, providing a comprehensive view of your world.
Additionally, Realm Works excels in helping you keep track of information by providing a customizable note-taking system that allows you to find and reference important details quickly. Whether you need to access a character’s backstory or a magic system’s rules, the information is easily accessible.
Another advantage of Realm Works is its campaign management tools, allowing you to track your players’ progress through your world and keep all your notes organized for easy reference.
Realm Works offers worldbuilders a comprehensive and intuitive toolset to bring their ideas to life. Its unique features and customizable options make it an excellent alternative to other world anvil software.
Realm Works vs World Anvil:-
Realm Works may be a good fit if you primarily focus on running RPG campaigns and want a structured tool that integrates well with other gaming tools.
On the other hand, if you need a more flexible and comprehensive worldbuilding platform with a larger community and wider application, World Anvil might be the better choice.
Here’s a comparison table between Realm Works and World Anvil:-
| Feature | Realm Works | World Anvil |
|---|---|---|
| Content Organization | Hierarchical structure with topics and subtopics | World, Articles, Categories, and Subcategories |
| Collaboration | Supports multiplayer editing and sharing | Collaborative features with multiple contributors |
| Character Management | Detailed character sheets and tracking | Character profiles with customizable fields |
| World Building | Maps, timelines, relationships, and events | Maps, articles, interactive timelines, and events |
| Campaign Management | Adventure logs, session notes, and GM tools | Session logs, campaign tracking, and GM tools |
| Player Interaction | Player access with controlled permissions | Player collaboration and feedback tools |
| Customizability | Customizable templates and data structures | Customizable templates and CSS styles |
| Privacy Settings | Public, private, and shared access options | Public, private, and shared access options |
| Import/Export | Import from various file formats | Import and export options for data and images |
| Pricing | One-time purchase with no subscription | Free tier with paid subscription for extra features |
8. One Stop for Writers – Worldbuilding Surveys
If you need inspiration and information for writing your stories and creating beautiful and interesting worlds, then this tool is made just for you.
The tool is loaded with all kinds of reference material, including stories, character planning, building and development ideas, story outline, and much more to help you get on with your stories.
Moreover, as you create different timelines in your story world, you need to start keeping track of these timelines so that nothing looks out of the picture or comes as a plot hole.
This application helps track the timelines through various surveys wherein you have to answer some questions that will help you plan and design your fantasy and fiction world with everything in the right timelines and locations.
Moreover, there are features for creating story maps and characters that will help you keep your storyline and plot interesting and the characters relatable at every step.
Furthermore, adding many elements to your story with in-built Thesauruses is possible. As such, you can add several emotions and personality traits. Also, you can create different sites in your world with several physical features, altering weather and climates, adding shapes and textures, etc.
Also, if you ever run out of ideas and imagination, the idea generator in this application will come as a savior for you. With this feature, it’s easier for you to give newer edges, twists, and turns to your story.
Moreover, you can make the story more interesting through the tips and checklists the tool creates to understand how to move further and ensure you’re not missing out on anything in writing your story.
With all these features and functionalities, this tool is a one-stop for writers, offering them everything that anyone will ever need to create compelling stories with the most interesting worlds.
Moreover, the tool is free, at least for the basic features. You will have to subscribe to the paid plans for the advanced features. But they don’t cost a lot either.
The paid plans are much more affordable in comparison with World Anvil. The paid plans for the One Stop for Writers Worldbuilding Surveys start at just $9 a month.
So you can easily get them and have the best support for writing your stories with relatable and interesting plotlines.
9. World Scribe
It would be best to consider many things when creating a fictional or fantasy world for your novel, play, or any other creative task.
You must pay keen attention to details and have everything micromanaged and highly organized to ensure that every timeline, every event, every character introduction and development, and everything in and around the story connects. There is no scope for plot holes. This can become overwhelming unless you have a tool like World Scribe.
World Scribe understands the challenges of story writing, world-building, and the desperate need for organization. With that understanding, it comes with just the solution you need.
World Scribe is a perfect tool and among the best World Anvil Alternatives to help you organize your story and create the world of your imagination without any plot holes or room for confusion.
You can easily track the elements and events in your story and ensure that everything is in proper flow and connecting well with each other.
You can create characters and add different personality traits to them. Moreover, you can easily create different connections between and among your characters and make your story interesting.
With all these features, it becomes extremely easy to follow through with your story, and you can finish your novels and plays in almost no time.
The best part of this tool is that it’s free to use. You can download it on your Android device and start creating your stories over it without worrying about paying up even a single dime.
Considering all these factors, the tool is worth your time. It saves you a lot of money, in fact, all of your money, and yet gives you a way to make some money as you finish up and publish your novels, plays, or whatever you write with the help of the tool.
So, it’s a pretty good World Anvil alternative, something you must download, explore and try.
10. Now Novel
Suppose you are an aspiring writer, trying to write a novel for a long time, but are stuck for some reason.
In that case, you are unable to get the right start, you are stuck at a certain point in your story and unable to understand how to take it further, you are not able to be consistent, and the list of these reasons can be endless, the Now Novel is the tool that you must try out.
Like World Anvil, Now Novel also helps you create your novel’s worlds, storylines, and plots in the most interesting and engaging ways your readers shall relate to. So, it’s the perfect alternative to World Anvil.
The application has a story dashboard wherein you can create the content plan and outline for your story and progress from there.
Once you have created a plan, you can move on to the Scene Builder feature of the tool to write up drafts for different scenarios in your story and save them on your dashboard.
With these drafts and summaries for your scenes, you’ll get a base you can further compile to create episodes and chapters for your novel. Additionally, you can keep penning down random ideas that come to your mind and then sequence and order them later in the storyline.
This way, you don’t have to keep yourself stuck to something. You can let your thoughts wander and have them organized for your story later.
Additionally, the application has a character builder that will help you create your characters for the story and guide you on how they develop and appear throughout the storyline.
With all these features, Now Novel is the perfect guide you need to write up and finish up your stories and novels. However, this guide comes at a cost. This tool has no free version; the most basic plan is $15 monthly.
So, while the tool is extremely feature-rich and poses as a great alternative to World Anvil, it’s costly. So, if you subscribe, you need to be sure and serious about writing to have the most value from the tool.
📗FAQ’s
What can I use instead of World Anvil for D&D?
Several alternatives to World Anvil for D&D worldbuilding include Realm Works, OneNote, Trello, and Evernote.
Here are a table listing some alternatives to World Anvil for organizing and managing your Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaigns:-
| Platform/Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Obsidian Portal | A campaign management platform specifically designed for tabletop RPGs like D&D. It offers features such as wiki-like organization, character sheets, adventure logs, and maps. |
| Realm Works | A comprehensive campaign management software that allows you to create and organize detailed campaign content, track events, manage NPCs, and create interactive maps. It also has features for player collaboration and sharing content. |
| Kanka | A web-based campaign management tool that allows you to create and organize your D&D campaign’s world, characters, locations, and more. It offers features like timelines, maps, relationships, and the ability to share your content with others. |
| Trello | While not specifically designed for RPG campaigns, Trello is a popular project management tool that can be adapted for organizing D&D campaigns. You can create boards for different aspects of your campaign, such as NPCs, quests, and locations, and use cards to add details and collaborate with others. |
| OneNote | Microsoft OneNote is a versatile note-taking application that can be used to organize your D&D campaign. You can create notebooks for different campaign aspects, sections for specific topics, and pages for detailed information. It also supports multimedia and collaboration features. |
| Evernote | Evernote is another popular note-taking app that can be used for campaign organization. You can create notebooks, tags, and individual notes to store information about characters, locations, and plot details. It also has features for attaching files and collaborating with others. |
| Scabard | Scabard is a campaign management platform specifically designed for tabletop RPGs. It allows you to create and organize your campaign’s world, characters, and events. It also offers features like interactive maps, timelines, and relationship graphs. |
| Google Sites | Google Sites is a free website creation tool that can be used to build a campaign website. You can create pages for different aspects of your campaign, such as lore, characters, and session logs. It also supports collaboration and integration with other Google tools. |
Is there a free version of World Anvil available?
Yes, World Anvil does offer a free version that provides basic features and functionality for worldbuilding. However, certain advanced features and additional content options may be limited to paid subscription plans.
| World Anvil | Free Version |
|---|---|
| Yes | World Anvil offers a free version that includes basic features and allows you to create up to two worlds with up to 50 articles each. The free version also includes access to the World Anvil community and limited storage space. |
| No | While World Anvil does offer paid subscription plans with more advanced features, there is no trial version of the paid plans. However, World Anvil occasionally offers free trials of their paid plans during special events or promotions. |
What is the difference between Scrivener and World Anvil?
Scrivener and World Anvil serve different purposes. Scrivener is primarily a writing software designed to assist authors in organizing and composing their work.
On the other hand, World Anvil is a world-building platform that focuses on creating and structuring fictional settings, including maps, characters, timelines, and more. While there may be some overlap in functionality, they cater to distinct aspects of the creative process.
Is World Anvil worth paying for?
The value of a World Anvil subscription depends on your specific needs and the extent of your world-building endeavors.
A paid subscription can be worthwhile if you engage in extensive worldbuilding and find the platform’s features beneficial for organizing and sharing your creations.
However, the free version may be sufficient if you have more modest requirements or prefer alternative tools.
here is a table summarizing some of the key features and benefits of World Anvil, as well as its pricing plans:-
| Features/Benefits | Free Plan | Master Tier | Grandmaster Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldbuilding tools | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Private content | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Advanced privacy | ✓ | ||
| Custom CSS | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Priority support | ✓ | ||
| World Anvil Academy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cost per month | $0 | $10 | $20 |
Should I use Euclid or Plato for World Anvil?
The choice between Euclid and Plato on World Anvil depends on your preference and the type of content you wish to create.
Euclid is designed for worldbuilding focused on real-world locations, while Plato caters to fantasy settings. Consider the nature of your project and choose the theme that aligns best with your world’s genre and aesthetic.
Here’s a comparison table to help you decide whether to use Euclid or Plato for World Anvil:-
| Criteria | Euclid | Plato |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Primarily designed for worldbuilding | Primarily designed for roleplaying games |
| Focus | Emphasizes on creating detailed maps | Focuses on character and story creation |
| Map Features | Robust mapping tools and customization | Limited mapping features |
| Organization | Comprehensive article structure | Character and story-driven structure |
| Collaboration | Allows collaboration with other users | Limited collaboration functionality |
| Community | Active community of worldbuilders | Active community of roleplayers |
| Pricing | Offers both free and paid subscription | Offers both free and paid subscription |
| Integration | Supports integration with other tools | Limited integration capabilities |
| Learning Curve | Steeper learning curve for beginners | Relatively easier to learn |
Does World Anvil own my creations?
World Anvil does not claim ownership of your creations. The intellectual property rights of your content on the platform remain with you as the creator.
Can anyone see my World Anvil?
The visibility of your World Anvil content is under your control. You can determine the accessibility of your worldbuilding content by adjusting the privacy settings within the platform. You can make your content public, visible only to specific individuals, or keep it private.
Is Campfire good for worldbuilding?
Campfire is a popular tool for collaborative worldbuilding, providing features such as map creation, timeline management, and character development.
It offers a range of tools and functionalities to assist in the creative process, making it a valuable resource for worldbuilders.
However, the suitability of Campfire for your specific needs will depend on your preferences and the requirements of your project.
here’s a table summarizing the pros and cons of using Campfire for worldbuilding:-
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Easy-to-use interface for creating and organizing worldbuilding materials | 1. Limited functionality compared to more specialized worldbuilding tools |
| 2. Supports collaborative worldbuilding with other users | 2. Requires a paid subscription for full access to all features |
| 3. Includes a library of pre-made templates for common worldbuilding elements | 3. Limited customization options for templates |
| 4. Offers the ability to create interactive maps and timelines | 4. Maps and timelines can be difficult to use and navigate |
| 5. Provides a platform for sharing and publishing your worldbuilding with others | 5. Limited community and user base compared to larger worldbuilding communities |
Why is Scrivener so good?
Many writers highly regard scrivener due to its comprehensive set of tools and features that aid in organizing and structuring written works.
It provides a flexible interface for managing large projects, allowing writers to create and rearrange sections, outline story arcs, track research materials, and more. Its functionality and versatility make it a favored choice for many authors.
What are the best World Anvil Alternatives?
LegendKeeper, Kanka, Notebook.ai, Campfire, and World Scribe are some popular world anvil alternatives that you can use to Unleash Your Worldbuilding Potential.
Here’s a table comparing some popular alternatives to World Anvil:-
| Alternative | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campfire | A world-building tool that lets you organize and develop your creative ideas. | Simple and user-friendly interface, great for beginners. | Limited features compared to other options. |
| LegendKeeper | A world-building platform that lets you create, organize, and showcase your worlds. | Intuitive and customizable interface, powerful tools for organizing and linking content. | Not as established as some other options, may have a steeper learning curve. |
| Kanka | A world-building tool that allows you to create and manage campaigns, characters, and locations. | Customizable interface, supports collaboration with others. | Some users have reported bugs and glitches. |
| WorldScribe | A mobile app designed for writers and world-builders to organize their ideas on-the-go. | Syncs with multiple devices, great for brainstorming and capturing ideas. | Limited functionality compared to desktop-based options, may not be ideal for long-form writing. |
| Notebook.ai | A tool for creating and organizing worlds, characters, and plots. | Clean and intuitive interface, includes helpful prompts and guides. | Limited customization options, may not be as powerful as some other options. |
Can you use World Anvil for free?
Yes, you can use World Anvil for free. The basic features and functions of World Anvil are free for its users.
However, one can also go for its premium version, which has better world-building functions and options to make your work easier and more presentable.
What is the best map-making software for worldbuilding?
Worldbuilders need maps, and by using map-making software, they can make their maps. The three best map-making software, according to the World Anvil blog, are:
Project Deios- This is the most advanced software created by the phenomenal map illustrator Caeora. It allows a lot of distinctive features that make your work detailed.
Inkarnate- is a browser-based software that works according to your internet connectivity; its full version is pretty attractive.
Wonderdraft – runs on Windows 10, Linux, and Mac OS X. You can use it to swiftly generate maps, just like all the other map-making programs on this list.
Does World Anvil own your work?
No, World Anvil doesn’t own your work or any content you upload. It is purely your work, and you own one hundred percent rights to your content.
Against this privacy policy, a user is also not allowed to disseminate any part of the service other than their own.
Is World Anvil or Campfire better?
Campfire is a better option if you’re looking to buy a tool for its plotting or writing capabilities because World Anvil focuses more on world-building.
But World Anvil is unquestionably the way to go if you enjoy playing role-playing games.
Can we sell our Worldbuilding content?
Yes, you can sell your world-building content. Furthermore, you may write something or create something in your world, and if it’s impressive enough to be monetized, sell the same and earn money through your world-building content.
What is better than World Anvil?
Myth-Weavers, Obsidian Portal, and Roll20 are examples of systems frequently used for world-building and narrative.
Is the free version of World Anvil worth it?
Some fundamental elements of World Anvil are available in the free version and may be helpful to many users.
With World Anvil’s free edition, you can:-
1. Create and arrange the different components of your made-up universe, such as the characters, settings, and events.
2. Use the platform’s default templates and features to aid your first setup.
3. Join forces with other users and let them into your realm.
4. You can only use a few of World Anvil’s features and tools.
Can you use World Anvil offline?
World Anvil is an online platform; therefore, using and accessing it requires an internet connection.
On the other hand, you can utilize the platform on a device with a reliable internet connection and afterward make and save backups of your content on your computer or storage device to use offline. By doing this, you will be able to view and use your stuff even without an internet connection.
Remember that while you are offline, you won’t be able to make any edits to your World Anvil material; instead, you’ll need to re-upload any modifications or additions after you get back online.
Is World Anvil the best?
World Anvil is a complete platform with many features and tools for worldbuilding and narrative, and many users have given it favorable ratings.
Does World Anvil own your work?
No, if you use World Anvil’s platform, World Anvil has no ownership rights to your work.
The World Anvil terms of service state that you own all intellectual property rights in your work and grant World Anvil a restricted license so that it may display and distribute it on its platform.
This implies that you can use your content however you see fit and remove it from the World Anvil platform anytime.
Can I make a world on World anvil private?
It is possible to make a planet on World Anvil private so that only you and any other people you invite can access it.
To achieve this, go to the account settings for World Anvil and create a private world. Private worlds are not accessible through the platform’s search or discovery tools and are not available to the general public.
By adding them as collaborators or by sending them a link to the world, you can invite other people to join your private network.
Can you import character sheets into World Anvil?
World Anvil allows you to import character sheets. To save time and ensure that your character information is structured and consistent, you can import data from other character sheets or templates into Universe Anvil while creating and managing character profiles for your story or world.
The first step in importing a character sheet is to create a new character profile in World Anvil and then choose the “import” option from the menu.
By doing so, a window will open in which you can paste the content from your character sheet or upload a file containing that information. The information will then be parsed by World Anvil, filling in the necessary fields in the character profile.
It’s important to keep in mind that the formatting of your character sheet may impact the import’s correctness, so you might need to make some changes to the imported data to make sure that it appears as intended in World Anvil.
Is World Anvil like Roll20?
Some significant variations exist between them:-
With tools for developing and managing characters, settings, narratives, and other components of an RPG world, World Anvil focuses primarily on worldbuilding and campaign administration. Calendars and timelines are among the campaign management tools it contains, but its main objective is worldbuilding.
With tools like virtual dice rolling, character sheets, and a map builder, Roll20 is largely focused on aiding online tabletop gaming sessions. Although it contains some campaign management tools, such as a character creation wizard and a distribution system, its main objective is to facilitate online gaming sessions.
As a result, even though the toolsets offered by World Anvil and Roll20 have certain similarities, they are focused on various facets of tabletop RPG gameplay and campaign administration.
Can you draw a map on World Anvil?
World Anvil has a map editor that users can use to make and alter their campaigns.
You may add place names and markers for locations and sites of interest, as well as geographic elements like mountains, rivers, and forests, to your map using the map editor.
The colors and symbols used to indicate various things can all be changed, as well as the overall appearance of the map.
You can import existing maps and draw new ones from scratches, such as those made with graphic editors like Photoshop or GIMP. This can be helpful if you have a particular feel or appearance in mind for your map that you want to accomplish.
The World Anvil map builder is a helpful tool for making and customizing maps for your tabletop RPG sessions.
Can you print World Anvil maps?
You can print the maps you’ve produced on World Anvil; thus, the answer is yes. Before proceeding, you’ll need to select the map you wish to print from the map editor.
When the map is open in the editor, select “Print” by clicking the button in the top right corner of the screen, this will open a print preview of your map, which you can print using your printer’s print software or the browser’s print feature.
It should be noted that the print feature on World Anvil is intended to print maps at a somewhat tiny size, so if you wish to print a larger map, you might need to change the printer’s settings or use a graphics editor like Photoshop or GIMP to resize and print the map.
For making physical copies of your maps to use in tabletop RPG games or for reference while working on your campaigns, World Anvil’s print feature might be a handy tool.
Is World Anvil good for writers?
Writers may find World Anvil helpful, especially if they’re developing a world or setting for a tale.
The platform has several features that can assist authors in planning and organizing the specifics of their world, including instruments for developing and maintaining characters, settings, narratives, and other setting-related factors.
World Anvil can be a helpful tool for composing and releasing content and aiding authors with organization and world-building planning.
A built-in text editor, the possibility to integrate photographs and other media in your articles, and the choice to publish your content openly or privately are just a few of the capabilities offered by the platform.
World Anvil can be a helpful tool for authors trying to build a rich and intricate world for their works.
It offers a platform for creating and posting content, as well as a way for people to keep track of all the components of their settings and organize their thoughts.
Can World Anvil be used on mobile?
It is possible to use and browse World Anvil on portable devices like smartphones and tablets.
As a result of the platform’s responsive design, you can use it on a mobile device exactly like you would on a desktop computer.
You may easily access World Anvil on a mobile device by going to the website using a web browser like Chrome or Safari. Once logged in, you can use the platform like a desktop computer.
While World Anvil can be accessible on mobile devices, it’s important to remember that some of the platform’s features and capabilities might be more challenging to utilize on a smaller screen.
For instance, the map editor and other tools that require a lot of clicking and dragging might be simpler to use on a larger screen.
Does World Anvil have sci-fi?
For building and administering a science fiction setting, the platform has several features and tools that can be helpful, including:
1. A character maker that enables creating and customizing characters with a wide range of diverse features, such as species, skills, and gear.
2. A tool for creating and modifying locations, such as planets, space stations, and other places, in your scenario.
3. A world-building tool that enables the creation and management of all the components of your science fiction setting, such as people, settings, plots, and other specifics.
World Anvil can be a helpful tool for developing and maintaining a science fiction setting for a tabletop RPG or another form of a story.
Final Words
In conclusion, exploring alternatives to World Anvil can open up possibilities for writers, world builders, and storytellers.
By considering the unique features, functionalities, and benefits of different platforms, you can find the perfect match for your creative needs.
Choosing a world-building tool is crucial in bringing your imagination to life. Whether you prioritize collaborative features, customization options, or ease of use, numerous alternatives cater to your requirements.
Don’t limit yourself to a single option when seeking World Anvil alternatives. Take the time to explore and experiment with different platforms, comparing their strengths and weaknesses.
This process allows you to discover the ideal alternative that aligns with your creative vision and enhances your world-building experience.
So, whether you’re a writer looking for a new home for your fantasy saga or a game master crafting intricate universes for your players, the world of alternative world-building platforms awaits.
Embrace the freedom to create, explore, and shape your unique worlds with the perfect alternative to World Anvil. The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours.
Happy world-building!
