Comparisons

How Lokee compares

Honest, verified comparisons for writers already using — or considering — another tool. Pick the one you're evaluating.

Feature	Lokee	Scrivener	Novelium	Notion	Obsidian	vvd
Automatic character & consistency tracking	Automatic, review-gated	Lokee only No built-in consistency checking — manual freeform sheets	Both Advertises automatic consistency checking too	Lokee only No fiction-specific data model — entirely manual	Lokee only No built-in extraction — manual [[links]] or plugins	Lokee only Entries by hand; change over time as per-era document versions
Relationship graph & family tree	Visual graph + family tree	Lokee only No relationship graph — manual index cards	Lokee only Character database — no stated graph view	Lokee only No native graph view — community templates only	Lokee only Generic graph view — plugins needed for more	Both Connection map — family tree not stated
Local-first data ownership	Local-first, open JSON	Both Local `.scriv` package, manual Dropbox sync	Not stated Not publicly stated — check their site	Lokee only Cloud-hosted by default, limited offline cache	Both Local Markdown files — matches Lokee here	Lokee only Hosted account; offline edits sync back; Markdown export
Free to start, no setup	Free local tier, instant start	Lokee only One-time purchase, real learning curve	Both Free tier + paid plans from ~$19	Lokee only Free tier, but real setup time before it's writing-specific	Lokee only Free, but plugin research & setup needed	Both Free plan + paid plans from $5.75/mo
Mobile app	Android app, paired with Sync	Both iPhone and iPad app, no Android	Both iOS and Android apps	Both iOS and Android apps	Both iOS and Android apps	Both Android tablets and iPad (beta); phones can browse
Maps	Drawn, linked, and resolved through time	Lokee only No map tool — images in Research only	Not stated Lists “world map support” without detail	Lokee only Google Maps or image embeds only	Lokee only Community plugin: image maps with note markers, nothing over time	Lokee only Painted maps with pins, zones, layers and linked maps — no changes over time stated

Automatic character & consistency tracking

Lokee: Automatic, review-gated
Scrivener Lokee only: No built-in consistency checking — manual freeform sheets
Novelium Both: Advertises automatic consistency checking too
Notion Lokee only: No fiction-specific data model — entirely manual
Obsidian Lokee only: No built-in extraction — manual [[links]] or plugins
vvd Lokee only: Entries by hand; change over time as per-era document versions

Relationship graph & family tree

Lokee: Visual graph + family tree
Scrivener Lokee only: No relationship graph — manual index cards
Novelium Lokee only: Character database — no stated graph view
Notion Lokee only: No native graph view — community templates only
Obsidian Lokee only: Generic graph view — plugins needed for more
vvd Both: Connection map — family tree not stated

Local-first data ownership

Lokee: Local-first, open JSON
Scrivener Both: Local `.scriv` package, manual Dropbox sync
Novelium Not stated: Not publicly stated — check their site
Notion Lokee only: Cloud-hosted by default, limited offline cache
Obsidian Both: Local Markdown files — matches Lokee here
vvd Lokee only: Hosted account; offline edits sync back; Markdown export

Free to start, no setup

Lokee: Free local tier, instant start
Scrivener Lokee only: One-time purchase, real learning curve
Novelium Both: Free tier + paid plans from ~$19
Notion Lokee only: Free tier, but real setup time before it's writing-specific
Obsidian Lokee only: Free, but plugin research & setup needed
vvd Both: Free plan + paid plans from $5.75/mo

Mobile app

Lokee: Android app, paired with Sync
Scrivener Both: iPhone and iPad app, no Android
Novelium Both: iOS and Android apps
Notion Both: iOS and Android apps
Obsidian Both: iOS and Android apps
vvd Both: Android tablets and iPad (beta); phones can browse

Maps

Lokee: Drawn, linked, and resolved through time
Scrivener Lokee only: No map tool — images in Research only
Novelium Not stated: Lists “world map support” without detail
Notion Lokee only: Google Maps or image embeds only
Obsidian Lokee only: Community plugin: image maps with note markers, nothing over time
vvd Lokee only: Painted maps with pins, zones, layers and linked maps — no changes over time stated

Scrivener

A mature manuscript-writing app with no built-in character or relationship tracking.

See the comparison →

Novelium

A new AI-assisted writing tool with auto consistency checking and book formatting.

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Notion

A general-purpose workspace you can adapt for writing, with no fiction-specific data model.

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Obsidian

A local-first notes app that can approximate worldbuilding with plugins and manual linking.

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vvd

A hosted worldbuilding platform with interactive maps, a custom wiki, and real-time collaboration.

See the comparison →