# InkSpine vs Google Docs Writing a novel in Google Docs or in InkSpine? How they differ on offline use, file ownership, worldbuilding, export and devices. - - Published 9 July 2026 - Updated 3 November 2026 ## At a glance ### Choose Google Docs if - you want a simple place to start typing in your Google account ### Choose InkSpine if - you want to write on your own computer with Wi-Fi off ## Feature by feature | | Google Docs | InkSpine | | - | - | - | | Offline writing | Built as a cloud app first — offline use has to be set up while you are online | Runs on your machine and works the same with Wi-Fi off | | Where the file lives | Your document lives in your Google account; you can download a copy, but the working version stays on Google's servers | Your project is a folder of Markdown and JSON files on your own disk | | Manuscript structure | A general-purpose document — no chapter files, corkboard or scene structure built for a novel | One file per chapter, plus a corkboard and plot overview | | Characters & locations | No structured place for them — writers improvise with a separate doc or spreadsheet | Structured, linked worldbuilding beside the manuscript | | Mobile apps | Apps for iOS and Android, as well as any web browser | Desktop only today: Windows, macOS and Linux. Mobile apps are on the roadmap. | > Simple, until the novel gets long. Google Docs is the easiest place to start typing. A whole novel asks for more: chapter structure, worldbuilding, writing offline by default, and a finished book file you can publish (InkSpine Core). InkSpine is built for exactly those parts. If your manuscript outgrew a single Google Doc months ago, come give it a real home.