Comparison · updated 2026-09-24
Novelleo vs Storyworth
Short answer
Storyworth sends one life-story question a week for a year by email or text, then turns the answers into a printed hardcover book. Novelleo is an iOS and Android app where AI drafts your book chapter by chapter while you steer and edit; it exports PDF or Word and doesn't print.
This page is written by the Novelleo team, so we have an obvious interest. We list only what each company states publicly and link our sources below.
| Storyworth | Novelleo | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | A subscription: a year of weekly questions for one storyteller, collected into a book at the end. Questions come from a library of 500+ or you write your own. | A book-writing app. Answer a few questions and Novelleo sets up a title, premise, cast and a 4–20 chapter plan. Book types: your own story (memoir, life, family), something you know (guide, ideas, expertise) or a novel. |
| Who writes | The storyteller, in their own words: typed replies, or on upgraded plans, stories told over the phone and transcribed. Family and friends added as readers can follow along and comment. | You, with AI. It drafts each chapter; you steer the next one (add a scene or a twist, or follow the plan) and edit every line. |
| Pace | One question a week by default for a year. You can change it to as often as daily or as rarely as monthly, and answer old questions at any time, even after the year ends. | Chapter by chapter, at your own pace. |
| AI and writing help | Help is built around the storyteller's own answers. Upgraded plans add personalized questions, a built-in proofreader and phone transcription; Unlimited adds weekly guided phone interviews that turn a conversation into a written story. | AI drafts every chapter with you, plus AI rewrite and a writing coach. |
| Languages | Offered in English and Spanish. Stories can be written in any language; its printing software supports most but not all languages. | App available in English, Korean, Japanese, French, German and Arabic. |
| What you end up with | A printed 6×9-inch hardcover of up to 480 pages (the full-color book included with Color and Unlimited covers up to 300 pages), plus free e-book and audiobook downloads. Shipping within the US is included; international shipping costs extra. | An AI cover and your book exported as PDF or Word. Novelleo does not print books, record audio or publish to Amazon. |
| Price | Memoirs plans in USD on Storyworth's checkout page: Basic $59, Color $99, Unlimited $199 (auto-renews yearly at $99). Each includes at least one hardcover book, and there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if no books have been printed. Its pricing page shows different figures in places (Basic $69, Color $109), so check at purchase. | First AI chapter free. Novelleo Pro: $7.99 a week, or $24.99 every 3 months with a 3-day free trial when eligible. US prices; app stores localize. |
| Extra copies | $39 (black-and-white interior, color cover, up to 480 pages), $79 (full color, up to 300 pages) or $99 (full color, up to 480 pages). | No printing. Export the PDF or Word file to share or to print elsewhere. |
| Platforms | Questions arrive by email or text. Answers go by email reply or on the Storyworth website with no login needed; upgraded plans can record by phone, even a landline. | iOS and Android apps. |
| Public sharing | Private. Stories are shared with the readers you add, who can comment and order copies. | You can publish your book to Novelleo's public library under an author profile. |
Choose Storyworth if…
- You want a printed hardcover book at the end, without arranging printing yourself.
- You're giving a gift to a parent or grandparent who won't install or learn a new app. Email, text or a phone call is enough.
- The storyteller would rather answer one question a week over a year than write a book in bursts.
- You want the book entirely in the storyteller's own words, not drafted by AI.
- You want stories from several family members; the Unlimited plan lets you give memoirs to everyone in the family while it's active.
- Your storyteller prefers to use it in Spanish.
Choose Novelleo if…
- You want to write the book yourself, now, with AI drafting chapters that you steer and edit.
- You want a planned book with a title, premise and a 4–20 chapter plan, rather than a collection of answers.
- Your book isn't only a life story: it could be a guide to something you know, or a novel.
- You'd like to use the app in Korean, Japanese, French, German or Arabic.
- A PDF or Word file is what you need, for sharing or for printing somewhere of your choosing.
- You want to share your book publicly in Novelleo's library.
- You'd rather try it first: the first AI chapter is free.
Start a life story with Novelleo
Choose "My own story", answer a few questions and get a chapter plan. Your first AI chapter is free. Need questions first? Try the life story questions.
Sources
- Storyworth home page (how it works, plans, “starting at $59”) (checked 2026-09-24)
- Storyworth Pricing (plans, extra book copies, e-book and audiobook downloads) (checked 2026-09-24)
- Storyworth Memoirs FAQ (question schedule, recording, book size and page limits, languages, shipping, refunds) (checked 2026-09-24)
- Storyworth checkout page (plan prices in USD) (checked 2026-09-24)
Storyworth is a trademark of its owner. Novelleo is not affiliated with Storyworth.