Which screenwriting app suits the script you're writing now? It comes down to where you write and who reads the draft. Industry-format desktop apps, Mac-first writing apps, free and open-source editors, and collaborative production platforms all handle screenplay format, so the real differences are in rewrites, sharing and devices. The ten below are grouped by that job, not ranked.
You're halfway through act two, the deadline's real, and the last thing you want is to learn new software. That's the honest test for any screenwriting app: does it get out of your way on page sixty? If you're doubting Final Draft or leaving it, this page lays out ten alternatives for writers comparing apps against the script on their desk.
Free screenplay software that keeps the format
The program you're leaving leads with a free trial on its own page rather than a free plan. If that's your reason for looking around, it's worth knowing that leaving doesn't mean giving up screenplay format. Trelby describes itself as a free, open screenplay editor that enforces script format and pagination. Beat describes itself as free and open source, made by a screenwriter for macOS and iOS.
Several other apps on this page state a free plan too. Free options can be a sensible home for a first script or a side project, and they're a good way to check whether an app suits the way you think before you move a feature-length draft into it.
Four families of screenwriting app
Industry-format desktop apps
Fade In and Movie Magic Screenwriter are downloadable desktop programs. The first leans on outlining and revision management; the second covers stage plays, teleplays and musicals alongside screenplays, and has been around a long time.
Mac-first writing apps
Highland Pro is a Mac app for screenplays and prose, from screenwriter John August's team. Slugline runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad and handles the formatting as you type, with an outline and timeline beside the page.
Story development and collaboration
Arc Studio talks about developing the idea and writing alone or with others, and WriterDuet calls itself professional screenwriting software. Both are worth opening side by side if you write with a partner.
From script to production
Celtx and StudioBinder both sit inside wider production tools. If your script is about to become a shoot, that link between the page and the schedule can save someone a lot of retyping.
The ten apps side by side
| Tool | Kind of app | Who it's built for |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Studio | Screenwriting app | First scripts, written alone or with a partner |
| Beat | Open-source screenwriting app | Mac and iOS writers wanting a quiet screen |
| Celtx | Script writing and production suite | Projects moving from script into production |
| Fade In | Desktop screenwriting app | Writers deep in rewrites and revisions |
| Highland Pro | Mac screenwriting app | Mac writers moving between screenplays and prose |
| Movie Magic Screenwriter | Desktop screenwriting app | Stage plays, teleplays and musicals as well as films |
| Slugline | Mac and iOS screenwriting app | Writers who want formatting handled as they type |
| StudioBinder | Online script and production tool | Teams drafting scripts inside a production platform |
| Trelby | Free screenwriting program | Writers wanting strict format at no charge |
| WriterDuet | Screenwriting app | Writers comparing browser-based options |
All ten, A to Z
Listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each line is based on what the maker says about its own app.
Arc Studio
Best for: Developing the idea, building the story and writing the script, alone or with others; the vendor says it's simple enough for your first script.
Beat
Best for: Distraction-free writing on macOS and iOS, in an app made by a screenwriter with an open-source codebase.
Celtx
Best for: Writers whose project spans film, TV or interactive media, with story development and production tools next to the script.
Fade In
Best for: Heavy rewriting, with outlining, navigation, formatting and revision management; the vendor says it's made by humans for human writers.
Highland Pro
Best for: Mac users who write screenplays and prose, in an app developed by screenwriter John August and his team.
Movie Magic Screenwriter
Best for: Playwrights and screenwriters working across screenplays, stage plays, teleplays and musicals, as downloadable software sold on the Screenplay.com store.
Slugline
Best for: Typing first and formatting later, on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with an outline, timeline and notes to hand.
StudioBinder
Best for: Drafting, sharing and formatting scripts online as part of a wider production platform that the vendor offers.
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Trelby
Best for: Keeping strict script format and pagination, with spell checking, in a free and open screenplay editor the project calls infinitely configurable.
WriterDuet
Best for: Anyone adding one more screenwriting app to a shortlist; the vendor calls it professional screenwriting software you'll love.
Mid-draft advice: finish the pass first
Don't switch mid-draft unless you have to. Finish the current pass in the software you know, export a copy in a format another app can open, and only then try something new on the next project or the next rewrite. Moving a script between apps is usually fine, but checking every page break under deadline pressure isn't anyone's idea of a good week.
If you'd like a wider view, my guide to screenwriting software looks at the whole field, and my roundup of free screenwriting software goes further on the no-charge options. If your script is heading towards a shoot, the list of storyboard software picks up where the page stops.
One scene, typed twice
Take one scene you know well, ideally a dialogue-heavy one with a couple of location changes, and type it into two apps from the same family. Don't paste it in; type it, because that's how you'll feel the formatting shortcuts. Then make a small rewrite, add a note, and export a PDF from each.
Open both PDFs next to each other and read them as a reader would. If one looks right and felt natural to write, you've got your answer. If neither did, try the next family along.
Do you make screenwriting software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative that still formats screenplays correctly?
Yes. Several apps here describe themselves as free or state a free plan, including open-source editors that enforce script format and pagination.
Can I open my existing scripts in another screenwriting app?
Often, but check before you commit. Export a copy of a current script, open it in the new app, and look closely at page breaks, scene headings and dual dialogue.
Which screenwriting apps work on an iPad?
Two of the Mac-first apps here say they run on iPhone and iPad as well as Mac. Check the maker's own site for the current device list.
Do I need production tools in my screenwriting app?
Only if your script is heading into a shoot and the same team will plan it. For spec scripts and competitions, a clean writing app is usually enough.
Can two writers work on the same script?
Some apps here talk about writing with others or collaborating on scripts online. Test it with your co-writer on a short scene before moving a full draft.
Should beginners start with a desktop or an online app?
Either works. Pick the one that runs on the device you write on most, and choose a free option for a first script so you can find out what you need.
