Made by the Feldar team. Feldar is our writing app for novelists. It is not screenwriting software, so it is not ranked here. Facts about each app come from its own pages.
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Updated 8 November 2026

Best screenwriting software in 2026

For working in film and TV, Final Draft 13 is still the standard. For professional features at a one-time price, Fade In. For writing with a partner, WriterDuet. And if your budget is zero, WriterDuet, Arc Studio, Story Architect and Trelby all have free options.

By the Feldar team · 9 apps compared · prices checked 8 November 2026

The 9 best screenwriting apps, by what each does best

The order is our preference for a writer who wants to finish a script and send it out. We make Feldar, a writing app for novelists; it is not screenwriting software, so it is not ranked here.

  1. 01Final Draft 13The file format and production tools the industry expects$249.99 once, or $99.99/yr
  2. 02Fade InProfessional features for a one-time price, on every desktop$79.95 once
  3. 03WriterDuetWriting with a partner in real timeFree for 3 scripts
  4. 04Arc StudioA clean modern editor with a free planFree, from $69/yr
  5. 05Highland ProFast, focused writing on Mac, iPad and iPhone$59.99/yr
  6. 06CeltxScripts plus story development and production planningFree account, paid plans
  7. 07Story Architect (STARC)Screenplays, plays, comics and novels in one projectFree, Pro $150 lifetime
  8. 08TrelbyFree, open source screenplay formattingFree
  9. 09ScrivenerScript mode inside a full writing studio$59.99 once

Side by side

Price, the free option, and where each one runs.

AppPriceFree optionRuns onBest for
Final Draft 13$249.99 once (on sale for $199.99 when we checked); Final Draft Suite $99.99/yr or $16.99/moFree trialmacOS 12+, Windows 11+Industry standard files, production
Fade In$79.95 once (list $99.95), free updatesFree demoWindows, macOS, Linux; mobile appPro features without a subscription
WriterDuetPaid plans from $9.99/mo (Plus)3 projects, no watermarks or page limitsBrowserReal-time co-writing
Arc StudioEssentials $69/yr, Pro $99/yrFree plan; 7-day Pro trialDesktop, mobile, browserClean writing, story development
Highland Pro$59.99/yr or $9.99/mo30-day trialMac, iPad, iPhoneSpeed and focus
CeltxWriter, Writer Pro and Team plansFree account after a 7-day trialBrowserDevelopment and production planning
Story ArchitectPro $4.17/mo billed yearly or $150 lifetimeFree forever planMac, Windows, iPhone and moreMany formats in one project
TrelbyFreeFree and open sourceWindows, LinuxFormatting on a budget
Scrivener$59.99 once (macOS); Windows sold separately30-day trialmacOS, Windows, iOSResearch-heavy projects

Prices in US dollars from each app's official pages, checked 8 November 2026. Several apps were running Black Friday sales.

How to choose

  • Sending scripts to studios or producers? Final Draft's .fdx is the format most people will ask for. Fade In, WriterDuet, Arc Studio and Trelby can all import or export it, so you do not need Final Draft itself to deliver one.
  • Writing with a partner? WriterDuet is built for real-time co-writing in the browser.
  • Hate subscriptions? Fade In and Final Draft 13 are one-time purchases; Story Architect has a lifetime license; Trelby is free.
  • On a Mac and want speed? Highland Pro is fast and minimal, with sprints, goals and iCloud sync to iPad and iPhone.
  • Budget of zero? WriterDuet's free plan (3 projects), Arc Studio's free plan, Story Architect's free plan or Trelby.

The screenwriting apps, one by one

01Final Draft 13

Best for the file format and production tools the industry expects

Final Draft has been the default in film and television for decades, and its .fdx file is what many producers, agencies and productions expect to receive. Final Draft says 95% of film and television professionals use it. Version 13 runs on Mac and Windows; you can install it on as many computers as you want and be signed in on two at once.

Good
The format everyone accepts. Mature revision and production tools. Buy once, or subscribe to Final Draft Suite, which adds Final Draft Cloud.
Watch out
The most expensive option here. Not available on Chromebook. Needs macOS 12 or Windows 11 or newer.
Price
$249.99 once, on sale for $199.99 when we checked. Final Draft Suite $99.99 a year (on sale for $69.99) or $16.99 a month, each with a free 5-day trial.

Official site: finaldraft.com

02Fade In

Best for professional features at a one-time price, on every desktop

Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is a full professional tool for film, television, games, stage and radio, with outlining and navigation tools, extensive formatting and robust revision management. One license covers your own computers on Windows, Mac and Linux, and updates have always been free. Its site lists writers such as Rian Johnson and Craig Mazin among its users.

Good
A one-time price with free updates. Windows, Mac and Linux on one license. A mobile companion, Fade In Access. Multiple languages.
Watch out
Desktop first; cloud collaboration is not its focus.
Price
$79.95 once, shown against a list price of $99.95.

Official site: fadeinpro.com

03WriterDuet

Best for writing with a partner in real time

WriterDuet is a browser-based screenwriting app built around collaboration: two or more writers in the same script at once, with comments and sharing for readers. It imports and exports the common formats, including Final Draft, Fountain, Celtx, PDF and Word.

Good
A free plan with 3 projects, no watermarks and no page limits. Real-time co-writing. Wide format support.
Watch out
More than 3 projects and revision tracking need a paid plan.
Price
Free for 3 projects. Paid plans from $9.99 a month (Plus), with Pro and Premium above it.

Official site: writerduet.com

04Arc Studio

Best for a clean modern editor with a free plan

Arc Studio is a newer screenwriting app with distraction-free writing, industry-standard formatting, draft history, cloud sync and story development tools: a built-in notes app, visual outlining and color-coded characters, storylines and locations. It imports and exports Final Draft files and exports PDF.

Good
A free plan. Clean, fast interface. Cloud sync and automatic backups on every plan. Every account starts with a 7-day Pro trial.
Watch out
Desktop and mobile apps and unlimited scripts start at Essentials; the free plan has limits listed on the pricing page.
Price
Free. Essentials $69 a year. Pro $99 a year.

Official site: arcstudiopro.com

05Highland Pro

Best for fast, plain text screenwriting on a Mac

Highland Pro was developed by screenwriter John August and his team. It is a fast, minimal writing app for screenplays and prose, with a navigator for sections and scenes, a title page builder, cast and location lists, goals, sprints, comments, gender analysis of speaking parts, and a revision mode that marks changes in color.

Good
Very fast. Native on Mac, iPad and iPhone with iCloud sync. Sprints, goals and revision mode.
Watch out
Apple devices only. A subscription.
Price
$59.99 a year or $9.99 a month, with a 30-day trial.

Official site: highland2.app

06Celtx

Best for scripts plus story development and production planning

Celtx is a cloud platform that combines script writing with beat sheets, storyboards and production planning tools such as breakdowns and call sheets, and it has plans for classrooms and film schools.

Good
Writing, development and production in one place. A free account after the trial. Student and education plans.
Watch out
The best tools are on paid plans, and collaborators on some plans cost extra.
Price
Free account after a 7-day trial of paid features. Writer, Writer Pro and Team plans, monthly or yearly (yearly saves 25%).

Official site: celtx.com

07Story Architect (STARC)

Best for screenplays, plays, comics and novels in one project

Story Architect keeps screenplays, stage plays, audio dramas, comics and novels in one project, sharing a bible of characters, locations and worlds. The free plan has no limit on projects, and an optional AI assistant runs on credits.

Good
A generous free forever plan. A lifetime license. Many script formats in one place.
Watch out
Mind maps, the character relations editor and other advanced tools are in Pro. Device sync is in the Creator plan.
Price
Free. Pro $4.17 a month billed yearly, or $150 lifetime. Creator $8.34 a month billed yearly. 30-day trial.

Official site: starc.app

08Trelby

Best for free, open source screenplay formatting

Trelby is a free, open source screenplay editor that enforces correct format and pagination, with auto-completion, spell checking, a database of over 200,000 character names, script comparison and reports. It imports Final Draft, Celtx, Fountain and Fade In files and exports PDF, Final Draft and Fountain.

Good
Free, licensed under the GPL. Correct formatting. Good import and export. A built-in PDF generator with watermarks.
Watch out
A small volunteer project with a dated look. No cloud or collaboration.
Price
Free.

Official site: trelby.org

09Scrivener

Best for script mode inside a full writing studio

Scrivener is a writing studio for long projects, and its script mode handles screenplay formatting. Its strength is everything around the script: research, notes, index cards and a binder for a big project. Compile can export a Final Draft file when you are done.

Good
One-time price. Research and notes beside the script. Works offline.
Watch out
Not a dedicated screenwriting app, so production features are thin. Each platform is a separate license.
Price
$59.99 once for macOS; Windows sold separately; iOS $23.99. 30-day trial.

Official site: literatureandlatte.com

Before the script: developing the story

Many screenwriters work out the story in prose first: a treatment, character notes, a scene list. That part does not need screenwriting software. We make Feldar, a writing app for novelists, and some writers use it for exactly this stage: scenes you plan and reorder, a Canvas of characters, places and plot beats linked together, and reader personas such as a Critic and an Editor who comment on a draft. It has a free plan.

To be clear: Feldar does not format screenplays and does not export Final Draft or Fountain files. When the story is ready, move to one of the apps above.

Questions

What is the best screenwriting software?

For working in the industry, Final Draft 13. For professional features at a one-time price, Fade In. For writing with a partner, WriterDuet. For a free start, WriterDuet, Arc Studio, Story Architect or Trelby.

What is the best free screenwriting software?

WriterDuet's free plan (3 projects with no watermarks or page limits), Arc Studio's free plan, Story Architect's free forever plan, and Trelby, which is free and open source.

Do I need Final Draft to send a script?

Usually not. Most people ask for a PDF, and when someone needs an .fdx file, Fade In, WriterDuet, Arc Studio and Trelby can export one.

Is Final Draft a one-time purchase?

Final Draft 13 can be bought once ($249.99, on sale for $199.99 when we checked), or used through the Final Draft Suite subscription.

Can I write a screenplay in Word or Google Docs?

You can, but keeping screenplay format by hand is slow and error prone. A free option like Trelby or WriterDuet's free plan does the formatting for you.

Sources

Final Draft
finaldraft.com/products/final-draft, 8 November 2026.
Fade In
fadeinpro.com home, purchase and support pages, checked November 2026.
WriterDuet
writerduet.com pricing and knowledge base, checked November 2026.
Arc Studio
arcstudiopro.com/pricing, 8 November 2026.
Highland Pro
highland2.app, 8 November 2026.
Celtx
celtx.com/pricing, 8 November 2026.
Story Architect
starc.app and starc.app/pricing, 8 November 2026.
Trelby
trelby.org, 8 November 2026.
Scrivener
literatureandlatte.com, checked 5 November 2026.