WP Downloader vs FicDownloader: a practical comparison
WP Downloader and FicDownloader are free web tools for saving online fiction. WP Downloader supports more sites and has more features for Wattpad, while FicDownloader supports FanFiction.net and exports MOBI files. The right choice depends on where you read and which format you need.
Quick comparison
| Feature | WP Downloader | FicDownloader |
|---|---|---|
| Tool type | Free web tool | Free web tool |
| Installation required | No | No |
| Account required to use the tool | No for most sites | No |
| EPUB | Yes | Yes |
| Yes, with a free Discord sign-in | Yes | |
| MOBI | No | Yes |
| Total named support | 91 sites | Says 10 or more platforms |
| Wattpad | Yes | Listed as “WP” |
| Inkitt | Yes | Not named |
| Royal Road | Yes | Yes |
| stck.me | Yes | Not named |
| FanFiction.net | No | Yes |
| AO3 | One of the supported archive sites | Yes |
| Wattpad reading lists | Yes | Not stated |
| Wattpad library and archive | Yes, after Wattpad sign-in | Not stated |
| Single Wattpad parts | Yes | Not stated |
| Include story images | Optional | Not stated |
| Update an existing EPUB | No | Not stated |
| Audiobook option | Single Wattpad stories through Audora | Not stated |
Where WP Downloader has more options
WP Downloader supports 91 sites: Wattpad, Inkitt, Royal Road, stck.me, and 87 other fiction archives. The additional sites include fanfiction archives, forums, and web-novel sites. Their support was ported from FanFicFare, the open-source fanfiction downloader licensed under Apache-2.0.
Wattpad has its own set of features. You can download public stories without an account. After signing in with your Wattpad account, you can also download paid stories that you own, as well as stories from your library or archive. WP Downloader supports complete stories, individual parts, and reading lists.
After you paste a link to a single Wattpad story, WP Downloader shows a “Listen to audiobook” button. It opens Audora, a sister service that turns the story into an audiobook. This button is available only for single Wattpad stories.
WP Downloader also supports Inkitt and stck.me directly. Both require you to sign in with an account for the source site. In stck.me downloads, paid or follower-only chapters that your account cannot read remain locked and appear with a notice in the book. WP Downloader retrieves only material that your account can already access.
Both tools support Royal Road. If that is the only site you need, compare their available file formats and sign-in requirements.
Where FicDownloader has more options
FicDownloader exports MOBI files and supports FanFiction.net.
Its available formats are EPUB, PDF, and MOBI. WP Downloader offers EPUB and PDF, but it does not export MOBI, AZW3, or TXT. EPUB is free for everyone on WP Downloader, while PDF requires a free Discord sign-in. Choose FicDownloader if you need MOBI.
FicDownloader names FanFiction.net among its supported platforms, while WP Downloader does not support it. FicDownloader also names AO3, Royal Road, ScribbleHub, Quotev, SpaceBattles, and Sufficient Velocity. Its pages call Wattpad “WP” and say that the service supports more than 10 platforms.
According to FicDownloader, the tool is for personal use and does not bypass paywalls or age restrictions. The service also says that it does not store IP addresses and deletes generated files after download.
Accounts and restricted stories
You do not need a FicDownloader account to use its service.
WP Downloader’s requirements depend on the source site and output format. Public Wattpad stories and Royal Road stories do not require source-site accounts. Inkitt and stck.me require their respective accounts. Some of the other supported archives allow an optional sign-in for members-only stories, and a few require an account. Creating a PDF also requires a free Discord sign-in.
WP Downloader uses source-site credentials only to fetch the story you requested. It downloads only content that your account can already read and does not bypass paywalls, locked chapters, or age restrictions.
This allows readers to download paid Wattpad stories they own, stories in their Wattpad library or archive, and restricted stories they can access on other supported sites. It does not unlock unavailable content.
Downloads and updates
Both tools create EPUB and PDF files for offline reading. WP Downloader requires a free Discord sign-in for PDF files.
WP Downloader can include a story’s images. On its 87 additional archive sites, it downloads whole stories only. Downloads of individual parts and lists are specific to Wattpad.
WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an existing EPUB. To get the currently available chapters, download the story again. FicDownloader’s pages do not state that it can update existing EPUB files.
If you need to update an existing EPUB, read the WP Downloader vs FanFicFare comparison. FanFicFare can update EPUBs, but you must install Calibre for its plugin or Python for its command-line tool.
Which one should you use?
Choose WP Downloader if you:
- Read on Wattpad and want to download complete stories, individual parts, reading lists, your library, or your archive
- Need Inkitt, Royal Road, stck.me, or one of its 87 additional supported archives
- Want to include story images
- Want EPUB without installing software
- Want to open a single Wattpad story in Audora for audiobook conversion
Choose FicDownloader if you:
- Need FanFiction.net, which WP Downloader does not support
- Need a MOBI file
- Read mainly on a platform that FicDownloader names
- Want EPUB or PDF without signing in to the downloader
Neither tool requires desktop installation. WP Downloader supports more sites and has more Wattpad options. FicDownloader supports FanFiction.net and exports MOBI.
For other choices, see the guide to the best fanfiction downloaders or the comparison between WPD and FicHub.
FAQ
Is WP Downloader a free alternative to FicDownloader?
Yes. WP Downloader is a free web tool. EPUB downloads are available to everyone, while PDF downloads require a free Discord sign-in.
Does WP Downloader support FanFiction.net?
No. FicDownloader supports FanFiction.net, but WP Downloader does not.
Can either tool create MOBI files?
FicDownloader can export MOBI. WP Downloader offers EPUB and PDF but cannot export MOBI, AZW3, or TXT.
Does WP Downloader bypass paid or locked chapters?
No. It downloads only content that you or your signed-in source-site account can already read. It does not bypass paywalls, locked chapters, or age restrictions.
Can WP Downloader update a book when new chapters appear?
No. Download the story again to create a new file with the chapters currently available.