Ellipsus

Ellipsus is a writing workspace for stories, manuscripts, and collaborative drafts rather than a general task manager. Its Android Google Play listing describes documents and folders, connected drafts, comments, version history, Reader links, and publishing to AO3. The developer's feature page confirms that collaborators can work in the same draft or prepare separate versions to merge into a main document. That workflow is useful when an editor's suggestions should be reviewed, not silently overwrite a writer's current text. A free plan exists, but some history, customization, and collaboration extras belong to Ellipsus Plus.

Keep a main document while trying alternate drafts

The unusual part of Ellipsus is its connected-draft model. You can write a main document, create another draft for a different scene or an editor's changes, compare versions, and choose what to merge. Ellipsus says drafts stay linked to the document. That is more deliberate than copying a passage into a separate file and hoping everyone remembers which copy is current. It is especially helpful for a co-author testing a different opening or a beta reader proposing a substantial rewrite.

Start by naming the document and its purpose, then separate exploratory work into drafts. Invite someone to comment on a specific scene rather than sending an entire manuscript with a vague request for thoughts. The official feature page says you can assign collaborator roles or create a link with chosen permissions. Review those permissions before sharing an unfinished work publicly. A comment is feedback; a merged draft changes the main text. Treat those as separate decisions so that an energetic collaborator does not unintentionally become the final editor.

Feedback, Reader links, and AO3 publication

Ellipsus supports comments and reactions during writing, with version history to revisit earlier states. Its feature page also describes a Reader link for sharing a polished piece; readers can see the work without an account. The Google Play listing says readers may leave comments and props. If you publish fiction on Archive of Our Own, the developer also advertises direct AO3 posting or updating. Check the preview and formatting before posting a chapter, because a writing draft and the public version serve different audiences.

A sensible handoff is to collect beta-reader comments, make a separate revision draft, merge only accepted changes, and then export or create a Reader link. The developer lists PDF, HTML, Markdown, and Rich Text export on its feature page, while the Android listing specifically mentions importing DOCX and Markdown. That flexibility is useful, but it does not mean every layout element will look identical in every export. For long work, test a short sample with headings and dialogue before relying on a format for final delivery.

What is free, and what belongs to Plus?

Ellipsus's current Plus page says the free plan includes unlimited documents, drafts, folders, and collaborators, alongside basic writing and sharing. It lists a 30-day version-history window and a 512 KB image-upload limit for free users. Plus adds unlimited version history, larger image uploads, custom themes, writing insights, and public version history for Reader links. Those distinctions matter more to a writer with a long revision cycle or image-heavy project than to someone drafting plain text.

The pricing page also says collaborator chat is moving to Plus, while documents, comments, drafts, and collaboration access remain available on the free plan. Do not confuse in-document comments with the separate chat feature. The page describes a trial and several ways to pay for Plus, but prices and transition dates can change; check the live plan page before upgrading. If your project depends on a specific paid feature, confirm that it works in your Android account rather than assuming a website comparison table guarantees immediate mobile availability.

A point to verify before relying on offline work

There is a discrepancy in the publisher's own materials. The Google Play listing says you can write and edit offline, yet the current Ellipsus Plus pricing page still labels offline access and mobile support as “more to come.” The Android app is clearly listed on Google Play, so the pricing text may lag behind the release, but it is not safe to resolve the offline question by guessing. Before writing during a flight or while traveling, open an existing document without a connection, make a small test edit, reconnect, and check that the change appears where you expect. Do not use an unverified offline workflow for your only copy of important writing.

Ellipsus also markets itself as free of generative AI and says it will not train such models on writers' work. That is an official company commitment, not an independent security or privacy audit by YouxiSky. If the handling of unpublished material is decisive for you, read the developer's current privacy policy and sharing settings before inviting collaborators or publishing a Reader link.

Ellipsus versus a general workspace

Notion is a broader workspace for notes, pages, tasks, and databases, with optional AI features. Ellipsus is narrower: it centers on prose, connected drafts, comments, and writer-to-reader publication, while explicitly rejecting generative AI. Choose based on your real workflow. A team planning a project may need Notion's structure; a fiction group revising scenes may care more about Ellipsus's draft-and-merge model. If you only need file storage and sharing across devices, Google Drive is a different layer of the workflow and does not replace the writing-specific revision tools described here.

Questions writers are likely to ask

Do I need Plus to write with another person?

No, the Ellipsus Plus page lists unlimited collaborators, documents, and drafts in the free plan. Comments and core collaboration also remain free according to that page. Separate collaborator chat is moving to Plus, however. Check the current comparison table if your group relies on chat rather than comments attached to the text.

How far back can I restore an older version?

The current plan comparison gives free accounts 30 days of version history and Plus accounts unlimited history. That is a meaningful limit for a manuscript revised over months. A version-history feature is not a substitute for an export you control, so consider keeping a separate file copy before major structural edits.

Can I write offline on Android?

The Google Play listing advertises offline writing, but the developer's Plus page still presents offline access as forthcoming. Because those official statements conflict, we cannot guarantee the exact Android behavior. Test a noncritical document offline and verify synchronization before relying on it for travel or work with no reliable connection.

Can readers open a shared story without signing up?

Ellipsus's feature page says a Reader link lets anyone read a shared work without an account. The Google Play listing adds reader comments and props. Review the link's permissions and what version it exposes before sending it widely, especially if collaborators are still editing private drafts.

Does Ellipsus add AI-generated prose to my drafts?

The developer states that Ellipsus has no generative AI and says it does not train generative models on users' writing. That is a published product and policy position, not something YouxiSky has independently audited. Writers who need stronger assurances should examine the current privacy policy and export options themselves.

Who will get the most from it?

Ellipsus is most compelling when the writing process includes alternate drafts, human feedback, and a decision about which edits to merge. It is less obviously necessary for a single short note or a team that mainly manages tasks. The free plan is substantial, but the 30-day history window, image-size limit, Plus-only extras, and unclear offline messaging are real considerations. Start with a small document and one collaborator to see whether the draft-and-merge approach matches the way you actually write; this is an editorial reading of official materials, not a hands-on test.

Official sources: Ellipsus on Google Play, Ellipsus features, and Ellipsus Plus plan details.