WHAT'S THE BEST SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE?ANSWER:
Final Draft (pros) &/or Fade In (newbies) |
THE WORST?ANSWER:
Word & WriterDuet |
|
FREE CELTX DESKTOP (discontinued) DOWNLOADS
The simplest unencumbered software for FREE was discontinued in 2015 - but you can download it here!Note: There is no official support for these apps anymore, but Proofreader@ProofMySpec.com can answer most questions (See these helpful tips to get started) |
COMPARE FOR YOURSELF:
| SOFTWARE | Mac & PC? |
trial/ demo ? |
COST | online &
desktop? devices? |
.fdx (.fdr, .fcf) |
.rtf (.rtfd) |
.txt | .fountain | .celtx (.cxscript) |
.mmsw (.scw, .mmx) |
.doc (.docx) |
other file types | PROs | CONs | notes | 2017 client use thru 9/24 |
|
| Final Draft finaldraft.com (shop around) |
√ | √ | $130
(sale) – $250 (full) + Tagger |
desktop (+ sharing) + devices |
export only | √ | quirky
import & export |
quirky
import & export |
X | X | X | X | .xml, .sex | many | few | PRO: intuitive, reports, templates, navigator, speech control, element handling, format ass't; CON: upgrades | 73% |
| FadeIn fadeinpro.com |
√ | √ | $80 | desktop +devices |
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | import only .celtx | X | X | .fadein, .astx, .scriv, .xml, .html, .epub | many | few | PRO: reports, compatibility, revisions, other bells & whistles; CON: sometimes sluggish, default 1" margin | 0% |
| MovieMagic write-bros.com screenplay.com |
√ | √ | $170
(sale) – $250 (full) + add-ons |
desktop | export only | NEW √ (v6.5 only) |
√ | quirky
import & export |
X | X | √ | X | .dsw, .sex | some | some | PRO: bells & whistles, streamline add-on, revisions; CON: updates cost, default page cheats, clunky customizing | 3% |
| Celtx Classic proofmyspec.com/software-guide.html |
√ | √ | FREE (defunct) | discontinued desktop w/cloud access | export only + import via cloud | √ via cloud |
√ via cloud |
√ via cloud |
√ via cloud |
√ (.cxscript via cloud) |
X | X | n/a | many | some | PRO: reports, storyboard, comic book, notes, connect to cloud, revisions; CON: non-customizable, no support | 5% |
| Celtx celtx.com celtx.en.softonic.com |
√ | basic | $180
– $480/yr (no lifetime) |
online
(w/sharing) (various apps) |
√ | √ | quirky
import & export |
quirky
import & export |
quirky
import & export |
√ | X | X | n/a | some | many | PRO: notes; CON: confusing interface | 4% |
| Scrivener literatureandlatte.com |
√ | √ | $45 | desktop | export only | √ | quirky
import & export |
quirky
import & export |
√ | X | X | quirky
import & export |
.scriv, .scrivx, .odt, .html | some | many | PRO: file management; CON: not intuitive | 1% |
| Fountain / Slugline fountain.io slugline.co |
√ (Mac app) |
√ | FREE
language ($40 app) |
desktop | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | X | X | n/a | few | many | PRO: simplicity, accurate imports; CON: manual codes, requires software/app | 0% |
| Word microsoft.com |
√ | √ | $150 | desktop | export only | X | √ | √ | X | X | X | √ | .htm(l), .xml | few | many | CON: too many to list + all edits will ruin layout, this is NOT SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE | 7% |
| WriterDuet writerduet.com |
√ | √ | $200 | online
(w/sharing) & desktop (free ltd online) |
fails | √ | quirky
import & export |
quirky
import & export |
quirky import & export | √ | X | quirky import only | .odt | few | many | CON: too many offerings that make it sluggish, very slow (online & desktop), confusing interface | 1% |
| Adobe Story story.adobe.com |
√ | √ | $120/yr (no lifetime) |
combo | import
online & export any |
√ | import online | import online & export any | X | X | quirky import | import online | .astx, .stdoc, .sex | few | many | CON: no page numbers, bad defaults, non-customizable | 1% |
| Amazon StoryWriter storywriter.amazon.com offline app discontinued |
√ | √ | FREE (defunct) | online
(w/sharing) (offline app discontinued 2018) |
√ | √ | import only | import + export as Fountain .txt | √ | X | X | X | .xml | few | many | CON: non-customizable, bad defaults | 2% |
| other APPS & software MovieDraft (defunct) Pages Script It Screenwriting Pro Movie Outline Trelby (PC only) DramaQueen (German) StoryTouch xScreenplay Montage (defunct) Storyboard Fountain Storyist Writer |
often one or the other | some | $0 – $350 | mostly desktop & devices | mostly export only | most | most | some | some | X | X | few | .mdx, .pages, .sip, .swp, .mvo, .trelby, .dq, .stx, .xscreenplay, .xhtml | few | many | CON: unsupported &/or discontinued, non-customizable | 3% |
Click to set custom HTML