Untold Novel is a productivity app for fiction writers to manage characters, timelines, and scenes on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Writers hire this tool to centralize complex narrative data, reducing the cognitive load of tracking story elements across multiple files.
For Fiction writers and screenwriters seeking a structured, visual environment to manage complex narrative elements.
Key features
Tracks character traits, strengths, and flaws with image attachments
Organizes story events and plot points chronologically
Maps settings with distance tracking and custom icons
Layouts scenes with weather, atmosphere, and tension tracking
How much does it cost?
The one-time purchase model includes all updates for the current major version and promises free access to the upcoming macOS version.
Velocity
Steady developmentShow more...
5 versions in history. Development pace: steady.
Who built it?
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
The recent review mood reads thrilled. Users appreciate granular project organization tools help writers maintain focus on complex creative novel planning.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Granular project organization tools help writers maintain focus on complex creative novel planning
- Word count tracking fails to register progress when users input manual writing statistics
4 of 4 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 more frustration theme and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Untold Novel - Story Planner
How's the Productivity market?
Untold Novel holds the #86 Paid position in the UK category, reflecting a niche but stable presence. The $14.99 price point positions it as a premium alternative to free-form note-taking apps.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Bartolome Masco Lopez
This is the only direct competitor that shares the exact 'novel planning' niche and user intent.
- Provides dedicated character, location, and scene-tracking modules specifically for long-form fiction authors.
- Offers a structured 'story arc' visualization tool that guides writers through the narrative planning process.
- Maintains a specialized focus on the writing workflow rather than general-purpose note-taking or task management.
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Untold Novel - Story Planner
Where is it heading?
The novel-planning market is consolidating around tools that offer either deep specialization or extreme flexibility. Untold Novel remains exposed to technical friction that prevents it from fully capitalizing on its visual-first differentiator, so the PM must stabilize the core data architecture to prevent users from migrating to more stable, general-purpose platforms.
- Data-persistence failures in character profiles create churn risk, which directly undermines the app's value as a reliable long-term planning hub.
- Recent updates focused on bug fixes and translation, indicating a maintenance-heavy phase rather than aggressive feature expansion.
The SWOT
- Visual scene-crafting interface reduces cognitive load for complex narrative planning
- One-time purchase model lowers barrier to entry for professional writers
- Expand character species options to capture the non-human protagonist fiction market
- Develop macOS integration to increase utility for desktop-based professional authors
Next best moves
Rebuild character data persistence logic because data loss is a top-reported blocker → increase long-term retention
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The one-time purchase model is a strategic liability…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Real-time collaboration (available in Notion but absent here) +1
Since the last report: The app has gained clearer competitive positioning but faces material technical regressions in data persistence and tracking that threaten user retention.
Bottom line
Untold Novel succeeds by offering a visual, specialized planning environment, but technical instability regarding data persistence threatens its long-term viability, so the PM must prioritize core reliability over new feature requests.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
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