The Fortelling app on a phone: a story project with characters, worldbuilding places, pin boards and notes

Book writing app
& worldbuilding tools

Plan your world and write your book in one free app: outline, timeline, worldbuilding templates and plot diagrams next to your editor.

Get started – for freeDownload for free See how it works
Trusted by 700,000+ creativesNo AI tools
https://web.fortelling.app Open in new tab
The Fortelling chapter editor with the chapter's scenes open on the side

“Your writing desk, finally organized.”

Novel writing – Software to outline & plot your story

Split your large story into events and scenes. Find and fill story gaps in between, or create new stories from it. Your imagination is the limit.

Learn moreOutline Timeline

Fortelling outline view with chapters split into events and scenes

Open your text editor next to your other tools such as the timeline, outline, characters, links, locations, notes, lore and more.

Learn moreText editor

Fortelling text editor with the character Alice open in the side panel next to the chapter

With writing statistics, and create consistency by building a habit or writing with motivational tools.

Learn moreWriting statistics Writing sprint

Fortelling outline view with chapters split into events and scenes
Fortelling text editor with the character Alice open in the side panel next to the chapter
Get started – for free
★★★★★ Best writing app
“I’ve used so many writing apps and platforms, and this one is by far the best! Many of the features this app has for free are expensive on other platforms. It’s also amazing for worldbuilding!”
Jul 9, 2026 – mamamia · App Store

Plotting – Plan your world and keep it consistent

Characters, locations, items, languages or your custom tools.

Learn moreWorldbuilding tools

A Fortelling location template filled in for the planet Ezoz, with sub-locations, attribute groups, pictures and a table

Pin boards, plot diagrams and mood boards.

Learn moreBoards

Fortelling pin board with notes linked to story elements

Upload your research, images and reference files, add notes to them, and label and colour-code everything so you find it again later. Create safely with no AI tools. You keep 100% ownership.

Fortelling files view with research files, notes and colour-coded labels
A Fortelling location template filled in for the planet Ezoz, with sub-locations, attribute groups, pictures and a table
Fortelling pin board with notes linked to story elements
Fortelling files view with research files, notes and colour-coded labels
Get started – for free

Writer tools – Build the story bible
your world needs

Every story has its own rules. When characters, locations and items aren't enough, create your own template: a magic system with its source, cost and limits, a faction with its leaders and territory, an inventory for every character. Fill it in once per entry, link it to the characters, places and chapters it touches, and it opens beside your text while you write.

A custom Battle log tool in Fortelling: each battle with both fighters, the winner, the location and its lore
Starting a custom tool in Fortelling: create a category or create a tool
Choosing the data fields of a custom tool category in Fortelling, such as Cost, Duration and Limitations

Community examples: tools that Fortelling writers built for their own stories.

CommunitySkin-covered trunk, watercolour by Russell Madole, c. 1939
InventoryItemOwnerWeightWhere it is
CommunityMock joust of war with flying shields, German drawing, c. 1512–1515
Battle logsSidesRoundOutcome
CommunityPainted Egyptian tomb wall with hieroglyphs above a procession of figures
Power templatesTypeCostWho can use it
CommunityGold bracelet, watercolour by William P. Shearwood, c. 1936
Magic systemsSourceCostLimitsUsers

Like one? Import it into your own project from the Template Hub.

See how writer tools work
★★★★★ Best writing tool on the App Store!
“100% recommend. It has absolutely everything you need, from character descriptions to writing the story itself.”
Jan 17, 2026 – Anonymous · App Store

Boards – Link your story together

Get started – for free

Pin board

Pin characters, places and images, then link them together with labelled connections.

Mood board

Collect images, colors and references that set the tone of your story.

Plot diagram

Map how your plot rises and falls, from the opening scenes to the climax and the ending.

Family tree

Map heirs, houses and lineage across generations.

Pin board: Pin characters, places and images, then link them together with labelled connections.

Plot together – Free collaborative writing

Make things easier between you and your collaborators with tools that help you stay consistent and clear on who does what.

Project chat with a list of collaborators and their roles

See the writing statistics of every author and keep the files of your project in shared storage.

Shared project files organised in folders

Control what you share or keep private. Share any element of your story with others, and decide who is an editor, a viewer or an admin.

Learn moreCollaboration

A location page shared on a public wiki
Project chat with a list of collaborators and their roles
Shared project files organised in folders
A location page shared on a public wiki
Learn more about collaboration

Invite your co-author to your project and write and plan together. Co-writing is free; Fortelling Pro adds control over what each collaborator can see.

FreeCollaborate for free
Project chat with a list of collaborators and their roles
Chat and collaborateStay clear on who does what
Writing statistics shared by every author of a project, with a menu to pick one author: Tely, Emily or Fortelling
Shared writing statisticsStatistics per author
Shared project files organised in folders
Shared project storageEvery file in one place
ProMore control with Pro
Choosing a member's role in a shared project: admin, editor, viewer or public link
RolesEditor, viewer or admin
Sharing the item Magic Flower: copy link, share, download or share with chat
Share any story elementKeep the rest private
Wiki visibility settings: a slider per story element decides whether admins, editors, viewers or the public can see it
Public wikiReaders see only what you choose
Learn more about collaboration

Who uses Fortelling?

A woman in a laced bodice holding an ornate sword in a forest

Novelists & authors

Keep a whole series inside one project, with characters and worlds shared across every book.

A robed figure in a chariot pulled by griffins: Bandbox Design, watercolour by Lawrence Flynn

Fanfiction writers

Track canon, your own additions and every relationship in between.

A river winding through hazy mountains: The Juniata, Evening, by Thomas Moran

Worldbuilders

Characters, locations, items and the logic behind your world, including TTRPG campaigns.

A cat floating in a bowl among ducks and onlookers: Rural Sports, etching by Thomas Rowlandson

Comic writers

Plan arcs and keep every character consistent from panel to panel.

700,000+ creatives already write here

4.5
★★★★★on the App Store and Google Play
Mariana
Vivi
Pluvias
a.shaxaa
★★★★★Everything I could hope for

I began writing as a side passion project and have no formal training or guidance beyond what you learn in English comp at school. This app has helped me identify important aspects I was overlooking when it was just me and Microsoft Word. It has everything I could hope for in one easy-to-use app. I love it!

Jul 11, 2026 – Herp-derpson619
★★★★★Best Writing app

Honestly, this is so well planned out and so useful. I love it so much!

Jan 1, 2026 – BossofBossGuy
★★★★★Best writing tool on the App Store!

100% recommend. It has absolutely everything you need, from character descriptions to writing the story itself.

Jan 17, 2026 – Anonymous
★★★★★Fantastic

Wow! I keep discovering features that are exactly what I need. I’ve been struggling to find a way to plot my novel, and I’ll consider it a miracle that I found this app! It’s perfect, and I have it on my iPad and my phone.

Jul 9, 2026 – Carlos Cran

Start free. Upgrade when your story grows.

FreeFortelling Pro
Mobile app and web planEvery tool, on every device
7 days free
$0forever No card needed to start.
  • Unlimited writing and plotting on mobile
  • Limited writing and plotting on web
  • Collaboration
  • Advanced statistics
  • Board tool
  • Outline and Timeline tool
  • Free plotting templates
  • Dark mode
  • Ad-free, in 18 languages
  • Everything in Free
  • Unlimited characters and tools on the web
  • Family tree board
  • Build your own tools and templates
  • Control based access for collab and public wiki
  • Tables
  • Layout themes and fonts
  • Template hub
Get started – for free Download Start with ProGet started – 7-day trial Switch to Pro whenever you need more. No contracts, cancel anytime.
Compare every feature on the pricing page

Make your writing space yours

Switch layout themes, set your own colours and pick the fonts you write best in. Set it up once and it follows you on every device. Included in Fortelling Pro.

The Edit theme window in Fortelling: name, light or dark, colour intensity, colours and a live preview
Themes+ custom colours
Layout fontsInterLibreDynaPuff+ dyslexia-friendly
Layout themes17 layout themes to choose from
#FCBC05
Custom coloursSet your own palette
AaAaAa
InterLibreDynaPuff
Layout fontsAdjust it to your personality
Blue app iconDark grey with a yellow pen app iconSunset app iconPaper app iconPurple app iconGreen app icon
App iconPick the icon on your home screen
Discover more Pro tools

Questions writers ask before they start

Yes. The mobile app is free with unlimited writing and plotting, and the web has a free plan. Fortelling Pro costs $7.49 a month, $74.99 a year or $199 once, with a 7-day free trial. See all plans on the pricing page.

Don't leave your story untold.

Write and plot on unlimited devices

A character page in the Fortelling app on a phone
iPhone and Android
App Store Google Play
Fortelling web editor on a laptop
A MacBook Air laptop
Desktop and laptop Get started – for free
Get started – for free
App StoreGoogle Play

4.5 ★ on the App Store and Google PlayNo AI tools