Best Scriptwriting Software
in 2026 (Free and Paid)
The short answer, by what you are writing
If a production office will open your file, this is the file they expect. Expensive, but you buy it once.
Professional formatting, .fdx and Fountain, Mac, Windows, and Linux on one licence, and a demo that lets you write the whole script first.
Both do real-time co-writing in the browser. WriterDuet has the deeper collaboration tools; Arc Studio has the nicer editor.
Trelby is fully free on Windows and Linux. On Mac or in the browser, the free plans of Arc Studio and WriterDuet go a long way.
Fountain-based, native, and quiet. Highland has more features on a subscription; Slugline is leaner for a one-time unlock.
Not screenwriting software. Two-column AV, voiceover runtime, client review with no login, and one click to a storyboard. See why the job is different below.
Scriptwriting software compared
| Tool | Best for | Platforms | Free tier | Price | Screenplay format | Two-column AV | Real-time collab | Storyboard link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Draft | Film and TV production | Mac, Windows, iOS | 5-day trial | $249.99 one-time | ||||
| WriterDuet | Writing partners and browser-first writers | Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android | Free plan, three projects, no time limit | Free; from $9.99/month | ||||
| Arc Studio Pro | A modern screenwriting experience with collaboration | Mac, Windows, Web, iOS | Free plan, up to two watermarked scripts | Free; from $69/year | ||||
| Fade In | A one-time price with professional features | Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android | Full-featured demo with a watermark on print and PDF | $79.95 one-time | ||||
| Highland Pro | Mac writers who want to write, not format | Mac, iOS | 30-day trial (no free plan) | $59.99/year | ||||
| Slugline 2 | Minimalist Fountain writing on Mac and iOS | Mac, iOS | Free for the first six pages of a script | $49.99 one-time | ||||
| Celtx | Script plus breakdowns, schedules, and budgets | Web, iOS, Android | 7-day trial, then a free plan with one seat and one project | Subscription, not published | ||||
| StudioBinder | Production management with a script editor attached | Web | Free plan: one project, one screenplay, ten shots and scenes | Free; subscription per project | ||||
| Scrivener 3 | Long-form writers who also write scripts | Mac, Windows, iOS | 30-day trial, counted in days of actual use | One-time per platform | ||||
| Trelby | Free and open source on Windows and Linux | Windows, Linux | Free and open source (GPL) | Free |
Six things we checked for every tool
Format fidelity
Does it produce a script the people downstream will accept: proper screenplay pagination for film and TV, or a real two-column AV layout for video.
Exports and interchange
.fdx and Fountain in and out for screenplays, PDF that survives the handoff, and whether you can leave without retyping.
Collaboration
Real-time co-writing, comments, and whether a producer or client can read and mark up without buying a seat.
Price model
One-time licence, subscription, or free, and what the total looks like after three years of use.
Platforms
Mac, Windows, Linux, browser, and mobile. Several of the nicest tools are Mac only, which is fine until it is not.
What happens next
Whether the script feeds a breakdown and schedule (screenplays) or a storyboard and client sign-off (video), or stops at the PDF.
The best scriptwriting software in 2026, reviewed
1. Final Draft
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, iOS
- Free tier
- 5-day trial
- Price
- $249.99 one-time licence (on sale for $199.99 when checked); upgrades from $79.99; a subscription option is also soldChecked August 2026
Final Draft 13 is what a production office means when it says "send the script". It has been the default in film and television for three decades, less because it is the best writing experience and more because .fdx is the file format the industry runs on. Version 13 adds a Beat Board and Outline Editor for planning, tracked revisions, built-in comments, and automatic version saving. One licence activates on two computers, and there is a separate Final Draft Go app for iOS.
Pros
- The .fdx format is accepted everywhere; nobody will ask you to convert
- Production features that matter on set: revision colours, locked pages, scene reports
- One-time licence, still cheaper than three years of most subscriptions
- Beat Board and Outline Editor are genuinely useful for structure
Cons
- The most expensive tool here, and paid upgrades every major version
- Real-time collaboration is limited compared with WriterDuet or Arc Studio
- The trial is five days, which is short for a decision at this price
- No Linux, no browser version, and no two-column AV layout worth using
If you write for film or television and other people will open your files, buy it and stop thinking about it. If you are a student, an occasional writer, or a video team, you are paying for compatibility you will never use.
2. WriterDuet
- Platforms
- Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android
- Free tier
- Free plan, three projects, no time limit
- Price
- Plus $9.99/month or $89.88/year; Pro $11.99/month or $107.88/year; Premium $13.99/month or $125.88/yearChecked August 2026
WriterDuet started as the tool for two people writing the same script at once, and that is still what it does best. It runs in the browser with desktop apps on paid tiers, keeps everything in the cloud with Google Drive and Dropbox backups, and imports and exports Fountain and .fdx. The free plan is genuinely free, with three projects and no expiry, but collaboration and unlimited projects start on Plus. Pro adds revision tracking and production tools; Premium adds history restore and multi-column tools.
Pros
- Real-time collaboration, chat, and notifications that actually work
- Free tier with no time limit for solo writers with a few projects
- Runs anywhere with a browser, plus desktop and mobile apps
- Fountain and .fdx in and out, so leaving is painless
Cons
- Subscription only, and three years of Pro costs more than a Final Draft licence
- The features you probably want (collaboration, revisions) are on paid tiers
- The interface has a lot going on compared with Highland or Slugline
The right choice for writing teams and anyone who wants a browser tool with a real free plan. Solo writers who value a quiet page may prefer something lighter.
3. Arc Studio Pro
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, Web, iOS
- Free tier
- Free plan, up to two watermarked scripts
- Price
- Essentials $69/year; Pro $99 first year, then $79/year; student discount availableChecked August 2026
Arc Studio is the tool most working writers who have switched in the last few years switched to. The editor is calm, the outlining is built in rather than bolted on, and it exports Fountain, .fdx, and PDF cleanly. The free plan lets you write two scripts with a watermark and includes cloud sync, backups, comments, and the browser app; inviting collaborators needs a subscription. Paid plans cover unlimited devices across Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and browser, and there are AI research and table-read features as paid extras.
Pros
- The best-looking, least distracting editor of the full-featured tools
- Real-time collaboration, feedback links, and revision management on Pro
- Fountain and .fdx export even on the free plan
- Reasonable annual price for what you get
Cons
- Subscription only, no perpetual licence
- Free plan scripts carry a watermark
- Younger than the incumbents; some production offices still ask for .fdx from Final Draft out of habit
If you are choosing screenwriting software today with no legacy files, start here. It does most of what Final Draft does, collaborates better, and costs less over three years.
4. Fade In
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Free tier
- Full-featured demo with a watermark on print and PDF
- Price
- $79.95 one-time (list $99.95), updates free, one licence covers Mac, Windows, and LinuxChecked August 2026
Fade In is the value pick and has been for a decade. It handles proper screenplay formatting, revision management, outlining, and navigation, imports and exports Fountain and .fdx, and its one licence covers all three desktop platforms with free updates. The demo is the full program with a watermark on output and a purchase reminder after ten pages, so you can write an entire script before paying. Real-time collaboration is only in the paid version.
Pros
- One payment, free updates, three desktop platforms
- Full-strength demo: write the whole script before you decide
- Fountain and .fdx in and out; the only cross-platform native app that includes Linux
- Fast and unfussy
Cons
- The interface looks its age next to Arc Studio or Highland
- Collaboration is basic compared with the browser-first tools
- Mobile apps are separate purchases
The best answer to "I want proper screenwriting software and I do not want a subscription". If the price of Final Draft made you wince, this is the tool.
5. Highland Pro
- Platforms
- Mac, iOS
- Free tier
- 30-day trial (no free plan)
- Price
- $59.99/year ($4.99/month billed annually) or $9.99 month to monthChecked August 2026
Highland is written by screenwriter John August and it shows: the app gets out of the way. You write in Fountain, the plain-text screenplay format, and Highland formats it as you go, so you can also open the file in any text editor. Highland 2 has become Highland Pro, native on Mac, iPad, and iPhone with iCloud sync, and moved from a one-time purchase to a subscription. It has a Navigator, writing goals and sprints, revision mode with colour-coded changes, gender analysis, cast and location lists, and .fdx and PDF export.
Pros
- The nicest place to actually write a screenplay on a Mac
- Fountain means your files are plain text and never locked in
- Revision mode, gender analysis, and reports for not much money
- Native iPad and iPhone apps with iCloud sync
Cons
- Mac and iOS only
- Now a subscription; the old one-time Highland 2 licence is gone
- No real-time collaboration
For a solo screenwriter on a Mac, this is the one to try first. If you write with a partner, or on Windows, look at Arc Studio or WriterDuet.
6. Slugline 2
- Platforms
- Mac, iOS
- Free tier
- Free for the first six pages of a script
- Price
- $49.99 one-time in-app unlock for unlimited writing and .fdx exportChecked August 2026
Slugline is the other Fountain app for Mac, and it is even more minimal than Highland. There is a drag-and-drop outline navigator and timeline, live compare for revisions, scene numbering, colour-coded notes, and iCloud and Dropbox sync between Mac and iOS. It exports .fdx and PDF with proper pagination. You can write the first six pages free, then a single in-app purchase unlocks everything.
Pros
- One-time price, no subscription
- Plain-text Fountain files, so nothing is locked in
- Clean outline navigator and revision compare
- Same app on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
Cons
- Mac and iOS only
- No collaboration features
- Fewer production tools than Final Draft or Fade In
If Highland appeals but you would rather pay once, Slugline is the answer. Solo Mac writers only.
7. Celtx
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
- Free tier
- 7-day trial, then a free plan with one seat and one project
- Price
- Subscription; prices are only shown after signup, so check the Celtx pricing page (third-party listings put Writer at roughly $11 to $12 per month billed yearly)Checked August 2026
Celtx began as free desktop screenwriting software and is now a cloud preproduction suite. The script editor is competent, and its point is what happens next: breakdowns, scheduling, budgeting, call sheets, and a team plan for three to fifteen people. Higher tiers add story development tools, revision mode, custom watermarking, and review and approval workflows. The free plan is one seat and one project with basic screenplay editing. Celtx does not publish its prices on the public pricing page any more, which is worth knowing before you invest time in it.
Pros
- The whole preproduction chain in one place if you are producing your own work
- Browser-based with mobile apps; team plans with sharing controls
- Unlimited commenting on the script
Cons
- Pricing is hidden until you sign up, and has changed several times
- The writing experience is behind the dedicated screenplay tools
- The free plan is one project, which is a trial by another name
Worth it if you write and then produce, and want breakdowns and schedules from the same document. If you only write, a dedicated screenwriting tool is better and clearer about what it costs.
8. StudioBinder
- Platforms
- Web
- Free tier
- Free plan: one project, one screenplay, ten shots and scenes
- Price
- Subscription per project with per-seat add-ons; the public pricing page renders client-side, so check it directly (support articles cite Starter, Indie, and Professional tiers from $49 per month)Checked August 2026
StudioBinder is production software first. You get script breakdowns, shooting schedules, shot lists, storyboards, call sheets, and production calendars, and a screenwriting editor is included on every plan with auto-formatting and collaboration on paid tiers. The free plan is enough to look around: one project, one screenplay document, ten shots and ten scenes. It is a strong choice for a producer running a shoot and a weak one for a writer who just wants to write.
Pros
- Call sheets, shot lists, and schedules that crews actually use
- Script editor included on every plan, including free
- Storyboards and shot lists live next to the script
Cons
- Priced per project with seat add-ons, and it adds up quickly
- The script editor is not the reason to buy it
- Browser only
Buy it for the production side and treat the script editor as a convenience. As screenwriting software on its own it would not make this list.
9. Scrivener 3
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, iOS
- Free tier
- 30-day trial, counted in days of actual use
- Price
- One-time licence per platform; iOS $23.99 on the store page, desktop licences and a Mac plus Windows bundle sold separately (roughly $60 per desktop platform when checked)Checked August 2026
Scrivener is a novelist’s tool that happens to have a competent screenplay mode with .fdx support. Its strengths are structure: the corkboard, the outliner, the ability to see the whole project as index cards and move scenes around, and Scrivenings mode to read them as one document. If you write books and scripts, or long-form documentary and series work with research attached, it earns its place. If you only write screenplays, the dedicated tools format better and get out of the way faster.
Pros
- The best research and structure tools of anything on this page
- One-time licence, and a trial that counts only the days you use it
- Screenplay mode with .fdx import and export
Cons
- Screenplay formatting is a mode, not the point, and it shows in the details
- Separate licences per platform
- No collaboration; sync between devices is manual via Dropbox or iCloud
For writers who move between prose and script, or who carry a lot of research, Scrivener is worth the money. Pure screenwriters should look elsewhere.
10. Trelby
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux
- Free tier
- Free and open source (GPL)
- Price
- FreeChecked August 2026
Trelby is a simple, fast, open-source screenplay editor. It gets the format and pagination right, has a character name database, reports, and Fountain support, and costs nothing. Development is slow but not dead; the latest stable release was in late 2024. There is no Mac build, no cloud, and no collaboration, and the interface looks like the utility it is.
Pros
- Free, open source, and no account required
- Correct screenplay format and pagination
- Light and fast on old hardware
Cons
- Windows and Linux only
- No collaboration, no cloud sync, no mobile
- Development is slow and the interface is dated
The best fully free option for a Windows or Linux writer who wants a proper screenplay editor and nothing else. Mac users should look at the free tiers of Arc Studio or WriterDuet instead.
Other scriptwriting tools, briefly
- Story Architect (formerly KIT Scenarist)Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
KIT Scenarist is archived; its developer’s successor covers screenplays, novels, comics, and audio drama with a corkboard, timelines, and real-time collaboration on the top tier. Generous free plan. Free plan; Pro from about $4 per month billed annually or $150 lifetime.
- YouMeScriptWeb
A Google Drive app for screenplays with real-time collaboration, comments, and .fdx and Fountain in and out. Free with no sign-in and no ads; a Pro upgrade adds offline work and production tools. Free, optional Pro upgrade.
- Movie Magic Screenwriter 6Mac, Windows
The other veteran. Still sold, still trusted by writers who learned on it, with production breakdown reports and an outline navigator. Development has been quiet for years. $249.95 one-time (on sale for $169 when checked); 14-day demo.
- DramaQueenMac, Windows
German-built writing software for scripts and novels with strong outlining and structure tools, and exports to Fountain, Final Draft, Word, and EPUB. The free version has no time limit. Free version; Plus $99 and Pro $297 one-time.
- StoryistMac, iOS
A Mac and iOS writing app for screenplays and manuscripts with index cards, plot and character sheets, and unusually broad export: .fdx, Fountain, Scrivener, Word, ePub, and PDF. $59 one-time on Mac; free trial.
- CausalityMac, Windows, Linux
Story development software that shows your script as a causal timeline, with a screenplay editor inside. Free for outlining and short scripts; the paid version unlocks unlimited writing and export. Free version; paid tier, check current pricing.
Not software so much as a habit. Write in Fountain, the plain-text screenplay markup, in any editor with collaboration you already have, then open it in Highland, Slugline, Fade In, or Arc Studio for pagination and .fdx. Free Docs add-ons will export PDF and .fdx. Free.
If you write for video rather than the screen, this is a different job
One column: scene heading, action, dialogue. Built so a reader can time a feature at a page a minute.
Two columns: audio on one side, visual on the other, one row per shot, so a producer, a voice artist, and an editor can all read the same page.
Runtime is a page count. Nobody times a voiceover in Final Draft.
Runtime is the voiceover word count at a reading speed. You need to know the 30 is a 30 before the record, not after.
Notes come from a producer or a reader who has the software and knows the format.
Notes come from a client who has neither. They need one link, no login, and a way to comment on the exact line.
The next step is a shooting script and a schedule, months later.
The next step is a storyboard, usually next week, and it has to match the script the client approved.
Boords: for the scripts that become storyboards
How to choose scriptwriting software
Start with the format you have to deliver. If it is a screenplay that a producer, a reader, or a production office will open, you need proper pagination and .fdx or Fountain in and out, and the choice is between Final Draft (the default), Fade In (the same job for a one-time fee), WriterDuet or Arc Studio (if you write with a partner or in the browser), and Highland 2 or Slugline (if you are on a Mac and want the writing to feel like writing). If it is a commercial, an explainer, a brand film, or anything a client signs off before a shoot, you need the two-column AV format and a review loop, and the screenplay tools stop being the right list. See how to write a script for the screenplay basics, how to write a video script for the AV method from brief to sign-off, and the guide to writing a TV commercial script for ads specifically.
Then do the price maths over three years, not one. A one-time licence looks expensive next to a monthly plan until month twenty. Subscriptions earn their keep when the tool is genuinely collaborative or hosted, because that is what you are paying for.
Try before you commit. Almost every tool here has a free tier or a demo, and the free tiers are more usable than they were five years ago. Write a real scene in two or three of them. The one you stop noticing is the right one.
Finally, decide where the script goes next. A screenplay goes into a schedule and a breakdown, and Celtx or StudioBinder can carry it there. A video script goes into a storyboard, usually within the week, and the storyboard has to match the version the client approved. That is the gap Boords Scripts is built for: the script, the client review, the versions, and the storyboard in the same project. It is not screenwriting software, and it does not pretend to be. For everything else in this guide, the tools above will serve you well.
Frequently asked questions
Writing for video, not the screen?
Two-column AV scripts, voiceover runtime, client review with no login, and one click to a storyboard. Scripts are included on every Boords plan, including the free one.
Project Activity
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Tom shared Explainer Script v3 with sarah@beacon.co, dev@beacon.co
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5 JulProject Activity
Sarah changed the status of Explainer Script v3 to Approved
8 JulDev commented on Explainer Script v3
8 JulTom shared Explainer Script v3 with sarah@beacon.co, dev@beacon.co
7 JulTom created Explainer Script v3, a new version of Explainer Script v2
7 JulSarah changed the status of Explainer Video v2 to Approved
6 JulTom created Explainer Video v2 from Explainer Script v2
6 JulAmara marked a comment on Explainer Script v2 as complete
5 Jul