This article provides a look at the best script writing software (both free and paid) available to screenwriters in 2020. A screenwriter creates the storyline, characters, and dialogue that will be made into a movie. The script they write becomes the blueprint of the film — without it, production cannot begin. Download Script Writing Software Mac Software Advertisement Check Writing Software v.2.0 Onlinecheckwriter.com is a Cloud based Check Printing Software, which is one of the best Check writing software available in Market using by many leading companies, organizations, government agencies, Many Non Profit Organizations.
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Screenwriting software is a rapidly growing market that’s expected to reach $235.8 million by 2026. As a screenwriter or scriptwriter, you need a specialized tool to help you in writing killer screenplays efficiently.
If you are a screenwriter, having access to the right screenwriting software should be your top priority. Why?
Because it has now become an industry norm. When all the other screenwriters are using tools and software to write better scripts, you have to use the best screenwriting software to be at the top.
This article covers everything you need to know about screenwriting software, what features to look for when choosing one, and a list of the best screenwriting software to help you choose the right one.
Let’s get cracking.
What is Screenwriting Software?
Screenwriting software is a writing tool (like word processors) designed specifically for writing screenplays and scripts. Normal word processors (e.g. Microsoft Word) can’t handle the special needs of screenwriters.
For example, screenwriters deal with several characters and they need quick shortcuts to type character names. Similarly, screenwriters have to take notes, collaborate with other writers, and need access to outline quickly.
Microsoft Word has macros that make it easier for screenwriters to use these features but it’s a painful process. Dedicated screenwriting software provides you with all the features and benefits that you need to produce awesome scripts quickly yet comfortably.
Most importantly, screenwriting software comes with templates that is a huge plus. Templates make writing super-easy. Select a template based on the script type, make the edits, and you are done. Having the best screenwriting software will help you stay organized, save time, write quickly, and focus on what’s essential instead of dealing with the technicalities of the tool.
Features & Benefits of Screenwriting Software
Screenwriting software offers you with several features and benefits that make them essential for writing screenplays and scripts. Here is an over of the major benefits that you should expect to see in the best screenwriting tool:
- Easy-to-use interface that requires minimal or no training
- Ready-to-use templates
- Outlines and mind mapping assistance
- Story maps
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Real-time collaboration with other writers and stakeholders
- Distraction-free writing
- On-screen sidebar to quickly access characters and scenes
- Note-taking tool
- Auto-correct, spell check, and grammar recommendation
- Quick draft import and export
- Sync and integration with third-party apps (e.g. cloud services)
- Multiple device support
Here are the top three features that you must consider before choosing any screenwriting software:
1. Templates
Screenplay templates help you plot your story quickly. Templates provide you with the basic elements of a screenplay that you can tweak as per requirement. For instance, you'll find headline, action, character names, dialogue, transition, shot, and other elements in the template. This saves a lot of time and makes your job easier.
2. Ease of Use
If it requires training and you have to spend a lot of time learning how to use a screenwriting tool, it isn’t worth it. The interface and layout should be simple and easy-to-use. This is one of the core features that you should look for in a screenwriting program.
The user interface should be self-explanatory with icons and buttons clearly visible. A graphical interface is ideal with a drag-and-drop tool.
3. Collaboration
Real-time collaboration is an essential feature that you shouldn’t miss. You have to collaborate with fellow writers, editors, and several other stakeholders during the writing process. Collaboration feature helps you collaborate with peers within the screenwriting software, you don’t have to use another tool. This keeps everything streamlined and organized within a single platform.
You also have to take notes (private and shared) related to characters, story, outline, and writing projects. The easier it is to take notes while writing, the better.
What screenwriting software features you prefer is more of a personal choice, but these three features should be your top priority as it will prove handy in the long run. So always look for these three features when evaluating software options.
The Best Screenwriting Software 2020
Here is an overview and review of the best screenwriting software available in the market to choose from in 2020.
These include both free screenwriting software and paid ones. Let’s dig in.
1. Squibler
Squibler is the #1 and top-rated screenwriting software that has a powerful yet easy-to-use text editor for screenwriters. It comes loaded with 30+ screenplay templates that help you in getting started hassle-free. The drag-and-drop user interface makes it extremely easy to add headings, beat boards, and other elements. With its collaboration feature, multiple writers can work on a single story simultaneously. This saves you from the hassle of sending story to multiple peers and then waiting for them to add their section.
Main Features
- Easy-to-use scriptwriting software
- Drag and drop interface
- Distraction-free mode
- More than 30 templates to choose from
- Powerful built-in collaboration feature
- Comes with several handy tools for writers such as plot generator
- Works on web, pc, Ipad, IPhone, and Android
- Integrates seamlessly with Google Drive and Dropbox
- 30-days free trial
Best For
Squibler screenwriting software is an all-purpose platform that is suitable for all types of scriptwriters, authors, and fiction and non-fiction writers. It is perfect for screenwriters who need easy-to-use and reliable software to produce quality content with peace of mind.
Key Takeaways
Squibler is multi-purpose feature-rich screenwriting software that’s a perfect choice for any writer. It has all the features that you need in the best screenwriting tool. It has templates, easy-to-use, and has amazing collaboration and note-taking features.
Importantly, you can try it free.
Squibler Pricing
Squibler offers the following plans:
- Free Trial – enjoy the 14-day trial period providing basic features (creating drafts, customizing templates, sharing options, etc) for free.
- Squibler Pro (monthly plan) – use its advanced features by upgrading to Squibler Pro for $9.99 per month (billed monthly).
Claim your free trial today.
2. Fade In
Fade In screenwriting software that’s specifically made for motion picture screenplays and is perfect for writers who are associated with the film industry, television, and gaming. It comes with a lot of handy features that make it suitable for scriptwriters of all genres. It is a cross-device software that works on Mac, Windows, mobile, and Linux.
Main Features
- Simple user interface
- Supports multiple languages
- Real-time collaboration
- Autocomplete tool
- Distraction-free typing
- Support multiple file formats including images and PDF
- Works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and mobile
- Support for cloud services
- Comes with a free demo
Best For
Fade In is suitable for screenwriters who are working with film, TV, or gaming industry. The tools and features support motion picture screenplays.
Key Takeaways
Fade In screenwriting software is the best choice for people who work within the film industry. The real-time collaboration and its rewrite and revision tools help several people work on a single story simultaneously.
You can grab its free demo and check it out, but you won’t be able to download or use any content developed with the demo version.
Fade In Pricing
Fade In offers the following plans:
- Free Demo Version – download Fade In’s fully functional demo version (3.0.636) for free and check out all the features it has to offer.
- Full Version – if you like the software, get registered as a permanent user by purchasing the full version. You can purchase the full version for $75.
Registered users can download Fade In using the personalized download link sent via email or by checking for updates from the application.
3. Final Draft
Final Draft screenwriting software is best in the game. It is extensively used in the entertainment industry and it has won several awards over the years. It has more than 300 templates to choose from that make your work easier than ever. You can use Final Draft on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices making it a perfect multi-device software.
Main Features
- More than 300 templates
- Story mapping tool
- Beat boards that let you visually organize ideas
- Distraction-free writing
- Speech to script tool
- Real-time collaboration
- Easy-to-use interface
- Powerful formatting options with revision mode
- Auto-backup
- 30-day free trial
Best For
Final Draft is best for the motion picture market. It is widely used by leading TV shows for screenwriting so if you are planning to write stage plays following industry standard for a television show or a Hollywood movie, Final Draft is your best bet.
Key Takeaways
Final Draft screenwriting software is professional and reliable that is used by some of the leading companies like Netflix, Pixar, and BBC. If you are working in the motion pictures industry, it is a great option. However, it is expensive than most of the other software in this list.
Good news: You can try it free for 30-days and see how it goes for you.
Final Draft Pricing
Final Draft offers the following plans:
- Free Trial – download and install the trial version and use and enjoy a 30-day free trial.
- Full Version – purchase the full version for $99.99.
Final Draft has a special upgrade pricing for its current customers who can purchase it for only $79.99.
4. Trelby
Looking for a free screenwriting software? Trelby is one of the best free open source programs for screenwriters. Being an open-source scriptwriting software, Trelby is updated and improved quite often by developers. Based on input from screenwriters, the software gets regular updates. It is multiplatform that works on Windows and Linux.
Main Features
- Easy-to-use interface that’s like any text editor
- The interface is configurable and can be customized as per need
- Multiple view options
- A comprehensive database of character names
- Supports multiple file formats including PDF
- Import and export files in a wide range of formats
- Free for life
Best For
Trelby screenwriting software is flexible, customizable, and free making it a perfect choice for writers who are on a budget. It is suitable for new screenwriters who are just getting started and don’t want to spend money on screenwriting software.
Key Takeaways
Trelby is open source free software that’s exceptionally easy-to-use. It doesn’t have any learning curve. You can find scripts and codes free of cost on Github. However, it doesn’t offer you features that you'll find with some of the other screenwriting programs on this list.
If you are a newbie screenwriter, using Trelby should be your preference as it will give you a good idea of what your requirements are and will help you find a better paid screenwriting software in the future.
Trelby Pricing
Trelby is a feature-rich screenwriting tool that you can download for free. You can download the current version (2.2) on your Windows and Linux systems.
5. Celtx
Celtx is a multi-purpose scriptwriting and production tool that is designed specifically for large teams and companies that want to plan, write, and shoot with from a single platform. The interface is user-friendly and straightforward making is easy for screenwriters to get started. It offers several tools that help with writing, script format, production, cost management, reporting, collaboration, and more.
Main Features
- Simple and intuitive user interface
- Real-time team collaboration
- Supports storyboard and index cards for story development
- Works offline
- Revision tracking
- Multi-purpose software that also supports production and budgeting
- Supports team and multiple members
- 30-days free trial
Best For
Celtx screenwriting software is suitable for screenwriters who work within a team. It is mostly used for pre-production by companies that wish to handle everything from scriptwriting to production management.
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Key Takeaways
Celtx is a powerful and feature-rich screenwriting platform that comes with an easy-to-use interface. It is a multi-purpose program that is focused on both screenwriting and production management. As a screenwriter who is working alone on a single project, it doesn’t turn out to be a great option.
If you are working with a team that is interested in production management too, Celtx will work great. You can use its free trial to explore features and interface.
Celtx Pricing
Celtx offers the following pricing plans:
- Scriptwriting Plan – $7.50 / month for the first year (billed annually) and $10 / month for the first three months (billed monthly).
- Celtx Pro – enjoy Celtx Pro’s 30-day free trial. Contact the sales team for purchasing this version.
- Education – request a quote from the sales team to get the pricing.
You can also combine plans based on your production needs.
6. WriterDuet
WriterDuet is simple yet effective screenwriting app that is focused on real-time collaboration. It was developed in 2013 as a collaboration tool for writers. It has now transformed into a full-fledged screenwriting software. It comes with templates, outlining tool, and tagging features. It is a cloud-based software so you can access it from anywhere in the world.
Main Features
- Real-time collaboration
- Easy-to-use interface
- Customizable software that comes with plugins and scripts
- Comes with templates
- Ability to create your own templates and workflows
- Tagging and outlining feature
- Can be used from any device including mobile and offline desktop app
- Comes with a free plan
Best For
WriterDuet screenwriting software is best for professional screenwriters who work with writing partners. If you have a team of multiple writers and you want to write and edit script simultaneously without ruining other’s work, this is the software you must use. Real-time collaboration is its real strength.
Key Takeaways
It is a simple and easy-to-use screenwriting tool for teams. It offers almost all the essential features that you need to write great scripts. However, it is most suitable for real-time collaboration for scriptwriting and sluglines. You can use it for collaboration and simultaneous writing, editing, and revision.
You can try WriterDuet free and see how it works for you. However, the free version comes with limited features, so you'll have to switch to a paid plan to fully explore all the features.
WriterDuet Pricing
WriterDuet offers the following three plans:
- Plus – $7.99 / month (billed monthly) and $5.00 / month (billed annually)
- Pro – $11.99 / month (billed monthly) and $7.42 / month (billed annually)
- Premium – $15.99 / month (billed monthly) and $9.992 / month (billed annually)
Switch to yearly plans and you can save 38%.
Choose the Right Screenwriting Software
The above list is not, by no means, exhaustive. There are several other best screenwriting software such as Scrivener, Movie Magic Screenwriter, Highland, Fountain, KIT Scenarist, and others.
It isn’t impossible to write scripts and screenplays without a tool, but it will be one heck of a task if you try doing it without the help of appropriate screenwriting software. That’s how the industry works.
Selecting the right screenwriting software will get easier if you know your project requirements and your personal interests. Here are a few basic questions that you should ask yourself before choosing a screenwriting program:
Do you want to get started quickly and need assistance with templates?
Are you a newbie screenwriter?
Are you working on a script with multiple other writers?
Are you working alone?
Do you want yourself involved in production management?
Your answers will help you select the best screenwriting software from the list above.
As a screenwriter, you want to spend most of your time writing and less time worrying about typeface and line spacing.
And in TV, where every line counts, and people are waiting on your pages to shoot, you want to be able to type away without worrying about if you’re maximizing every last space and margin.
As a script coordinator on award-winning television shows, I’m responsible for tracking revisions, editing for continuity and helping find trims and cuts to make that page count — so I’ve come across many different screenwriting software tools that can take your script from the writers room, to set, to post.
Lights, camera, write! 6 screenwriting software options for filmmakers
Many scriptwriting software options can meet your screenwriting needs, and it can feel overwhelming to pick one — especially with so many varying price tags.
But don’t worry: We’ve rounded up the most popular screenwriting options for every budget to help you write your next Oscar (or Emmy!) winner. Or at least finally finish that script you’ve been working on.
1. Final Draft
Final Draft has been on the market since 1991, and has long since been considered the industry standard. Final Draft is used by heavy-hitters like James Cameron, J.J. Abrams and Matthew Weiner. It’s the number-one selling screenwriting software in the world, available for Windows, Mac, and iPad. Natalie Bounassar, television writer and blogger, is quick to recommend this above all other options: “Final Draft is my screenwriting software of choice. It’s an intuitive program that takes the work out of the technical process of crafting a script and allows you to focus instead on your creative process.”
And she’s right: using one of their 100 templates, you can create screenplays, stage plays, teleplays to help whatever project you’re working on. The software even provides glimpses into how Emmy-winning dramas like “Game of Thrones” or “Better Call Saul” are formatted, making your spec writing a breeze. If you’re working on a comedy sample, there’s also templates available for this too — including the formats for “Veep” and “Silicon Valley.”
Final Draft hasn’t just become the industry standard for personal writing, but for use in TV writers rooms across the business. Because of its ease in tracking revision pages, many of your favorite TV shows require all of its staff to be using this program as scripts are brought to the screen. Final Draft has an excellent customer service support line to support these writers for any bumps along the way.
But it’s also the most expensive screenwriting software available, and has been slow to adapt to some of the new tools that programs like Scrivener and WriterDuet offer. Final Draft 11 has been particularly challenging for many writers, as these Amazon reviews point out (including issues opening documents made in Final Draft 11 with any earlier versions).However, Final Draft 11 offers a live chat function that allows you to write and edit with your partner in real time — in order to compete with WriterDuet – and you can save your files using Dropbox and iCloud. Both of these options aren’t as effortless as other programs make it, so this in conjunction with the high price may not make it the right tool for you and what you’re hoping to accomplish!
Cost: $249.99
2. Movie Magic Screenwriter
Movie Magic is almost as respected as Final Draft, but not quite. It is, however, the official screenwriting software of the Writers Guild of America East.
Like almost every tool available, Movie Magic will automatically format your script to industry standards, and offers many of the same perks that Final Draft does. But you can quickly change the layout of the interface so you have as many or few distractions as you want. It’s also one of the only softwares that offers, in addition to TV and Screenplay templates, novel, comic book writing, and radio play (ie, podcast!) formats, making it a “one-stop shop” for whatever kind of writing you want!
Unlike Final Draft, you can collaborate with other writers online in real time using iPartner. And, the price includes 3 activations, instead of Final Draft’s one-per-purchase policy. That being said, Movie Magic, while once the industry standard, has lessened in popularity. It doesn’t offer a direct import for Final Draft documents, so if you’re working in a television writers room with Final Draft users, or a partner who uses another product, Movie Magic might not be right for you.
Cost: $249.95
3. Celtx
If you’re not ready to splurge on an expensive screenwriting software like Final Draft, Celtx is a popular option without the hefty price tag. Having started as a free scriptwriting software, Celtx has grown to be a budget friendly option with many of the same formatting features other programs offer.
Celtx features are pared down, sure, but their free version offers formatting for screenplays, storyboards, catalogs and more. The paid versions also work in tandem with its mobile apps so you can work offline and on-the-go.
Web-based Celtx Edge uses a collaborative model which allows an entire production team or scriptwriting class to collaborate on a project via browser. Celtx also includes the ability to change formats, so if you’re writing a stage play that you suddenly realize would be great as a short film, Celtx can easily convert between formats.
One thing to look out for when using Celtx is that it will often incorrectly format characters, parentheticals and stage directions. In a cutthroat industry where every punctuation counts, you’ll have to do a thorough job checking your script after it’s saved as a .pdf file before sending it to other professionals in the industry!
Cost: Free, with upgrades available for maximum of $19.99 per month
4. WriterDuet
WriterDuet’s motto is “You don’t need to spend $200 just to fit in” and the company’s features prove it values script content over formatting. It’s one of the first screenwriting programs on the market to offer simultaneous writing and editing options for you and your writing partner – and its this feature that users cite as the reason they prefer it over Final Draft or Movie Magic.
WriterDuet has a neat feature to help shorten your script by automatically searching for places where you can cut a few lines. Same thing for error-checking: The software finds incorrect formatting, typos, characters with similar names and more.
You can even analyze your script by reviewing statistics on action versus dialogue, density and how characters speak.
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WriterDuet has cloud storage with the ability to save to Dropbox, Drive and your hard drive with additional automatic backups.
Cost: Varies. Free version available with ability to upgrade to the $99 Pro version. Student pricing available.
5. Scrivener
If you’re not just a screenwriter and work on everything from novels to screenplays to articles to fiction, Scrivener’s your best bet.
The popular tool offers formatting options for all of the above, but with the added bonus of being able to visualize scenes that need to be grouped together. Novelists swear by its ease of use and enjoy the benefits of this highly-visual platform. Scrivener’s corkboard feature allows you to make sense of all your notes and scenes — almost like creating a storyboard.
If you plan to take your script through filming, Scrivener falls short for long-term use. Users indicate that collating pages into a pdf, a seamless process in Final Draft, is far more complicated when used here. While great for character development, research and structure, it’s not compatible with the software producers and directors use to actually turn a script into a movie. You’ll need to convert your screenplay into another format, making it sluggish for last-minute rewrites.
Be sure to check out Scrivener’s tutorials or consider investing in a course like Learn Scrivener Fast, which will teach you everything you need to know to become a master of the tool.
Cost: $45 for Mac, $40 for Windows
6. Fade In
Billed as “More than just your final draft,” Fade In offers the powerful tools screenwriters expect without a lot of the extra fluff that makes programs like Final Draft slow to learn and use.
Like the end credits of a movie, Fade In’s interface is primarily black and white, which is easier on our exhausted writer’s eyes. You can import and export files made with other programs, making it easy to collaborate with people using, say, Final Draft or MovieMagic. Reversely, Fade In allows you to save your own files in plain text so you can open using another program later on.
Fade In also offers robust organization (color-coding, index cards and marking significant sequences), a Dialogue Tuner (to see and edit a single character’s dialogue all in one place) and report downloads (scenes, cast, locations, and more).
Fade In is the most compatible and user-friendly of them all, and comes with all the bells and whistles an expensive program like Final Draft offers. While this program is great for personal use, it’s not used industry wide, and so you may have to move to using a more popular program for future projects.
Cost: $49.95
You never want to give someone a reason not to read your script, and when the difference between “consider” and “pass” could be just a few formatting issues, you want to make sure you have a program that takes care of that for you! This way, you can focus on the important thing – the writing!
So whether you’re a writer’s-room regular or a student working solo, find the tool that makes the most sense for you, learn it well, and stick with it!
Are you a screenwriter? Which tools do you find most useful?
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The original version of this story was written by Marian Schembari. We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers.
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