Comparisons, checked 17 October 2026
Onwarder vs Microsoft Word
A document word processor. Free on the web, with desktop apps through Microsoft 365, phone apps and Copilot in eligible plans.Source [1]Source [2]Source [5]
Word offers document editing; Onwarder brings chapters, scenes, a story bible and continuity checks together. You can still export to Word for your editor.Source [1]Source [7]
Side by side.
| Onwarder | Microsoft Word | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for good, with no account. Cloud is $10 a month or $99 a year. | Free on the web. Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, with a one-month trial.Source [2] |
| Runs on | On the web, Mac, Windows and Linux, with iPhone in beta, and Android coming. | Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the web.Source [1]Source [4] |
| Writing with no connection | Books kept on your device open and save with no connection in the desktop and phone apps. | The installed apps write local documents with no connection.Source [3] |
| Story bible linked to the book | Characters, places, factions and items, a click from the page. | No character or place records linked to a novel.Source [1] |
| Checks the book against your notes | Built in, no AI: warns when a dead character acts or a lost item turns up again. | No check of a manuscript against recorded facts found.Source [1] |
| Ebook and paperback files | EPUB, Word, Markdown and PDF, and paperback interiors at three trim sizes. | Word and PDF, and book layouts by hand. No EPUB export.Source [7]Source [8]Source [9] |
| AI, and training on your writing | Optional and off for every book. Bring your own. Never used to train AI. | Copilot in eligible plans, which can be turned off. Microsoft says file contents in its home Copilot apps are not used to train foundation models.Source [5]Source [6] |
| Getting your work out | Every book exports whole, at any time, on any plan. | DOCX files on your computer or in OneDrive.Source [3]Source [7] |
Which to choose
Where Microsoft Word is better
- Tracked changes, comments and document comparison for working with an editor.Source [1]Source [7]Source [9]
- DOCX is a supported format for sharing editable documents.Source [1]Source [7]Source [9]
- Detailed page layout, from booklets to binding gutters.Source [1]Source [7]Source [9]
Choose Microsoft Word if
- You work with an editor in tracked changes, or a publisher wants Word files at every stage.Source [1]
- You prefer a document-based workflow and do not need a dedicated story bible.Source [1]
Choose Onwarder if
- You want the story bible, recorded story events and a continuity check beside the manuscript, with no AI needed.
- You want everything for writing free, on any computer or phone, with no account and no time limit.
- You want the ebook and the paperback interior from the same place you wrote the book.
Questions.
Can I move my book from Microsoft Word?
Export it as a Word document and import that into Onwarder; it keeps chapters, headings, bold and italics. Start with a copy of one chapter, and keep your original until you are happy. We do not promise to carry over every other tool's notes, links or formatting.
Do I need AI to use Onwarder?
No. Writing, planning, the continuity check and Finishing all work without AI. If you connect your own AI, it is off for every book until you allow it, and Onwarder never uses your writing to train AI.
What does Onwarder cost?
Free for good, with no account. Cloud is $10 a month or $99 a year.
Sources, all opened 17 October 2026
- Microsoft Word
- Compare Microsoft 365 plans
- Microsoft 365 home FAQ
- Office on the web browsers
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps: your data
- Turn off Copilot
- File formats
- Save a file in Office for Mac
- Create a booklet or book
Competitor prices are as shown on the linked pages, in US dollars where stated, before tax. Product names identify the tools compared and do not imply endorsement.
Product names are trademarks of their owners. Facts are from each maker's own pages, checked on the date shown. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.