Writing your story should not have to be difficult. That is why Screenwriting Apps are available to help scriptwriters meet the strict format guidelines of the industry without having to manually format your script to industry standards.
There are many screenwriting programs available on the market today and most of them fail at the lack of stability or overwhelming learning curve due to an excess of options. To help you go from the dreaded blank page to a full script, I ranked and reviewed the best free and easy-to-use screenwriting software we have used at the Mobile Film Academy.
Each app offers keyboard shortcuts to add action, dialogue, slug lines, scene headings, transitions, parentheticals, character names, and more. They will help you compose, edit, format, and print your script to meet the minimal requirements for film, television, or even video games.
Fade In
It is one of the few highly praised screenwriting software tools available today and is widely used in the film industry. Fade In is compatible with multiple platforms like Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS.
Fade In is one of the most affordable screenwriting apps on the market offering pro features such as support for multiple languages, an action-to-dialogue calculator, collaboration, and a well-rounded functionality for rewrites and revisions. In fact, it is one of the direct rivals of the number one paid app, Final Draft.
The demo version is free and offers basic viewing and editing functionality for reading and writing unlimited pages on the go, but doesn’t provide the full range of features available in the paid version and has a watermark on .pdf exports plus printed scripts. As of now, Fade In has the most reasonable rate on the market and a distinct advantage being that all its software updates in the future are free.
Best for
Seamless integration between your thoughts and the writing program. Professional, reliable, and used by major motion picture screenwriters in the film industry.
Pros
Universal, state-of-the-art application interface.
Automatic script formatting.
Autocomplete typing feature (suggest words as you type).
Page-only, no distractions, full-screen mode available.
Support multiple file formats (text, HTML, and more).
Provides complete image support (allows you to insert images directly into the document).
Offers cloud storage service* (easy access from any location).
Offers real-time collaboration* (you can work on projects with multiple collaborators from remote locations).
Free software updates.
Cons
Some compatibility issues with import/export into and from other apps.
The free version comes with the company watermark.
Price: Free/*$79.95
Compatibility: Apple, Windows, iOS, and Android
Website: https://www.fadeinpro.com/
KIT Scenarist
Many users claim that KIT Scenarist is one of the best screenwriting software tools currently available in the market. It offers one of the most exceptional fully packed scriptwriting experiences from its research module to its statistics chart.
The best part is that it is free and open-source software that provides a very high degree of customizing. It is used by more than 3,000 authors worldwide and keeps up with the latest technology by providing updates nearly every month.
If you want to use cloud services, you will need to subscribe to a paid plan. The first 30-day free trial is free, so you can test the cloud services with its collaboration, as well as seamless synchronization of projects between all devices.
Best for
High-level scriptwriting workflows such as features, series, and video games. Many levels of organized structure and statistical analysis.
Pros
Compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac (free). Android and iOS (subscription)
All-in-one research module (collecting information, managing lists of characters, and storing a variety of materials including images)
Card module (build story development and provide visualizations to work with)
Rich formatting tool with script editor so that you can concentrate only on writing
Many language options
Export scripts in multiple formats (.Pdf, Final Draft, Fountain, and .Docx)
Multiple themes (dark or light)
A variety of statistical tools
Fully integrated character and set management
Cons
Online collaboration with multiple users is possible but at a subscription fee.
Cloud service use is a paid feature, after an initial 30-day free use
Android and iOS compatibility only via paid subscription.
Price: Free / **$3.99 to *$4.99 a month for cloud/collaboration service
Compatibility: Apple, Windows, (iOS** & Android** with one time purchase $3.99)
Website: https://kitscenarist.ru/en/index.html
beat
This is a 100% free open-source screenwriting app for macOS only. It’s simple, elegant, and minimalistic. In many ways, it’s similar to Slugline. Beat was created by a Finnish screenwriter who designed it to let writers concentrate strictly on writing. Beat has a minimalist, distraction-free user interface, and automatically formats your script without special commands.
Best for
Run and gun scriptwriters who want to just write. Free flow ideas from thought to script with ease.
Pros
Outline view and scene cards to reorganize your scenes with dragging & dropping.
Elements such as scene headings and dialogue are automatically recognized, full with autocomplete based on previously entered material.
Automatic scene numbering, lock, and edit. Scene numbering is started from any number.
A timeline that allows you to keep track of where you are in your story (sections, synopses, and scene colors).
Scene filtering by location, color, or name. Highlight scenes that feature a certain character.
Highlight Changes. When printing or exporting a new version of your screenplay, you can easily include markers to track changes since the last version.
Script analysis tool gives insight into who has the most lines, number of interior/exterior scenes, and also calculates the distribution of lines within genders.
Read files created by Final Draft, Highland, Fade In, and older versions of Celtx.
Export and import Final Draft files. Fountain files can be opened in apps such as Slugline, Logline, Storyboarder, and Highland. Some writers have already collaborated using Beat and Final Draft.
Cons
No Collaboration
No Cloud Service
Only available for macOS
Price: Free (open source) Compatibility: Apple Website: https://kapitan.fi/beat/
Tip: Remember to always check your spelling, grammar, and always keep a couple of back-ups of your documents just in case.
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