Late at night, the scene finally works and your PDF export comes out with broken page breaks. Match the app to the script in front of you, a feature for the industry, a first draft on a Mac, a free project or a production your crew shares, then write one real scene in two of them. Formatting and export are where these apps differ most.
Celtx has been a starting point for many writers, and plenty outgrow it, change machines or simply want to see what else is out there before the next draft. The ten apps below are grouped by the kind of writing each one is built for, so you can go straight to the family that fits your script.
Six questions to settle before you switch
Answer these before you download anything. They'll cut ten apps down to two or three in a few minutes.
- What are you writing now: a feature, a TV pilot, a stage play or something else?
- Which computer and devices do you write on, and do you need the script on your phone?
- Will anyone else write in the file with you, or only read it?
- What file format does your producer, agent, competition or co-writer expect?
- Do you outline on index cards and timelines, or start typing at scene one?
- Is a free app enough for this project, or are you happy to buy software for the long haul?
- Can you get your existing script out of your current app in a format the new one opens?
The last question is the one people skip. Export your current script before you do anything else, and keep that file somewhere safe.
Leaving for the right reason
It's worth being clear about why you're moving. The app you're leaving mentions a free trial of its premium features on its own page, so if all you want is to try something different, a trial of the new app is a lower-effort first step than a full switch.
If money is part of it, the free options here are real ones. Trelby and Beat are described on their own pages as free, Slugline is a free download on Mac, and Arc Studio offers a free tier. You won't be forced into a purchase to get a script written.
So test for the thing that's pushing you out. If it's formatting, write a messy scene and see what each app fixes. If it's sharing with a co-writer, test that first. If it's how the app feels to write in every day, give each one a full writing session rather than ten minutes of clicking around.
Four families of screenwriting app
Industry-format desktop apps
Final Draft, Fade In and Movie Magic Screenwriter are traditional desktop programs. The last of the three goes beyond screenplays to stage plays, teleplays and musicals, which matters if you write for more than one medium.
Mac-first writing apps
Highland Pro is a Mac app for screenplays and prose, and two of the free apps above are made for Apple devices too. If you live on a Mac and like a clean page, this is your group.
Free and open-source programs
Two of the free options are open in a stronger sense: one is an open screenplay editor and the other has an open-source codebase. That appeals to writers who'd like to see how their tools are built.
Shared and production platforms
StudioBinder writes scripts inside a wider production platform, which helps when the script is only the first stage of a shoot. WriterDuet is another dedicated screenwriting app to put on the shortlist and try for yourself.
Ten apps side by side
| Tool | Kind of app | Script it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Studio | Screenwriting app | First scripts, written solo or with others |
| Beat | Open-source screenwriting app | Distraction-free writing on macOS and iOS |
| Fade In | Desktop screenwriting app | Rewrites and revision management |
| Final Draft | Desktop screenwriting app | Industry-standard formatting for film and TV |
| Highland Pro | Mac screenwriting app | Screenplays and prose on a Mac |
| Movie Magic Screenwriter | Desktop screenwriting app | Stage plays, teleplays and musicals as well |
| Slugline | Mac and iOS screenwriting app | Writing on Mac, iPhone and iPad |
| StudioBinder | Online script and production tool | Scripts that feed into a production |
| Trelby | Free screenwriting program | Writers who like configuring their tools |
| WriterDuet | Screenwriting app | Another screenwriting app to trial |
Ten screenwriting apps, A to Z
In no particular order beyond the alphabet. Each line is drawn from what the maker says about its own app.
Arc Studio
Best for: Developing an 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: Writers on macOS and iOS who want an open-source app made by a screenwriter, built, the vendor says, so you can concentrate on writing.
Fade In
Best for: Heavy rewriters, with outlining, navigation, formatting and revision management; the vendor says it's made by humans for human writers.
Final Draft
Best for: Scripts headed for film, TV, theatre or documentary work, formatted automatically to entertainment industry standards, per the vendor.
Highland Pro
Best for: Mac writers moving between screenplays and prose, in an app developed by screenwriter John August and his team, per the vendor.
Movie Magic Screenwriter
Best for: Downloadable software for screenplays, stage plays, teleplays and musicals, sold through its own store; the vendor says it's made software for writers since 1982.
Slugline
Best for: Typing first and formatting later: the vendor says it handles screenplay formatting as you type, with an outline, timeline and notes.
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StudioBinder
Best for: Productions drafting, sharing and formatting scripts online inside a wider production platform, which the vendor offers as free screenwriting software.
Trelby
Best for: Writers wanting a free, open screenplay editor that enforces format and pagination and checks spelling; the vendor calls it infinitely configurable.
WriterDuet
Best for: Anyone adding another screenwriting app to a shortlist; the vendor describes it as professional screenwriting software you'll love.
One messy scene, typed into two apps
Take a scene you've already written, ideally one with a phone call, an intercut or a montage, because that's where formatting gets tested. Type it fresh into two apps from the family that fits you rather than importing it, so you feel how each one handles scene headings, character names and transitions.
Then export both as a PDF and as whatever file your collaborators use, and open those exports on another machine. Check the page breaks and whether dialogue split across pages carries the right markers. If you write with someone else, invite them in and both edit the same scene at once.
Whichever app you forgot you were testing by the end of the scene is usually the one to keep.
Mid-draft? Advice on when to move
Don't switch apps halfway through a draft unless something is stopping you writing. Finish the draft, export it, then move. A new tool is a lovely distraction, and the script won't care which app it was typed in.
If you're still mapping the field, my guide to the best screenwriting software goes wider, and my list of free screenwriting software is the one to read if you'd rather not spend anything. Writers who plan visually should also look at these storyboard tools.
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
Can I move my script from one screenwriting app to another?
Usually, by exporting it in a format the new app can open. Check the new app imports what your current one exports, and proofread the first few pages for formatting slips.
Do free screenwriting apps handle industry formatting?
Several of the free options here say they enforce screenplay format. Write a few pages and compare the layout with a produced script you trust.
Which screenwriting apps work on a Mac and iPad?
Several here run on Apple devices, and a few are built for them first. Check each maker's own site for the devices it supports before you commit.
Do I need industry-standard software to submit a script?
Most readers care about a clean, correctly formatted PDF. Check the submission rules for any competition or producer you're sending to, since some ask for a particular file.
Can two writers work on one script at the same time?
Some apps are built for shared writing and others are single-user. If you co-write, test live editing in a trial before either of you moves the script.
Should I switch apps in the middle of a draft?
Usually not. Finish the draft, export a clean copy, and make the move between drafts.
