Best Screenwriting Software Programs Of 2023

Scrivener

Familiar Text Editing
Import
Templates and icons
Full-screen writing

$19.99 Visit Site

Scrivener is more than just a word processor or a screenwriting program. In fact, it combines all the functionality of word processors such as Microsoft Word and Pages with that of screenwriting software such as Final Draft. It allows you to easily create complex scripts and storyboards, as well as work on several files with ease.

Scrivener is especially great for writers who are looking to work on several projects at once, for it allows you to organize all your files within an adaptive outline which can be changed and accessed in real-time. The program also comes with a built-in dictionary editor, note cards, customizable format options, and advanced export formats such as XML or HTML.
You can even import your old screenplays from other software and export them in a different format.

Scrivener is the go-to app for writers of all kinds, used every day by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators, and more. It is the best screenwriting software for macOS, and simply provides everything you need to start writing and keep writing.

Plus Scrivener works your way as it hammers out every last detail before typing a word, or carve out a draft and restructure later, And you can write a description based on a photograph, transcribe an interview, take notes about a PDF file or web page, and it will compile everything into a single document for printing, self-publishing, or exporting to popular formats such as Word, PDF, Final Draft or plain text.

Scrivener Features:

• Familiar Text Editing: If you’ve ever used a word processor, you’ll feel right at home in Scrivener’s editor. Plus, you add bold, italics and all the other formatting you’d expect or highlight phrases that need work, add comments and annotations. You can make lists, or insert images and tables and by switching to page view, you can see the pages fill up as you type.
• Import: With this screenwriting tool, you can import all sorts of files into your Scrivener projects, including Word documents, plain text files, Final Draft scripts, images, PDF documents, movies, sound files and web pages.
• Templates and icons: It allows you to create templates that can be used as the basis for new sections in your project, such as character or location sheets for planning a novel. Plus you can assign custom icons to your templates (or to any section) to make them easier to pick out in the outline.
• Full-screen writing: It allows you to blank out the rest of the screen while you write. With one click, everything else fade in screenwriting software. Scrivener’s full-screen composition mode is fully customizable where its entire look depends up to you and make your writing space comfortable to get typing.
• Auto-save and backups: Scrivener automatically saves while you work, which means you don’t have to worry about to hit the save button. Plus, it can automatically back up your projects whenever they are opened or closed.
• Collections: With the collections feature, you can create lists of related documents from anywhere in your project. Plus, you can build smart lists that automatically show you documents that need more work, or scenes written from a particular point of view.

Scrivener Pricing:

Scrivener comes in 3 different pricing for macOS, Windows, and iOS:

• Scrivener macOS version costs $49
• Scrivener Windows version costs $49
• Scrivener for iOS version(iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch) costs $ 19.99

Final Draft

Enhanced beat board
New outline elements
Scriptnotes
Revision Mode

$99.99 Visit Site

Final Draft is first launched in 1987 by Dan Siegal and is one of the most popular screenwriting software on the market. The program allows you to create and review scripts while offering a wide range of tools that can help writers structure characters or scenes, as well as readjust line breaks for optimal viewing pleasure.

Final Draft is especially good at creating and exporting manuscripts in industry-standard formats such as XML, PDF, or HTML5 markup language. It also allows you to import scripts from other formats and export them in a variety of formats. It is the best screenwriting software programs for professional screenwriters and filmmakers around the world and offers exclusive content to help guide you on your screenwriting journey.

It is very simple and user-friendly, and it offers invaluable tools that can help improve your screenwriting skills, such as character formatting, transition tools, or storyboarding. It comes with an easy-to-use interface that does not bog the user down with too many cluttered buttons or windows. The program has been designed specifically for writers, so you can count on a smooth writing experience without crashes or bugs that could interfere with your creative flow.

So if you are looking for the best screenwriting software on the market, Final Draft might be exactly what you need to create professional-looking scripts. It has recently been released a new version of this software called Final Draft 10, which comes with better support for retina displays and improved spell checkers.

Final Draft Features:

• Enhanced beat board: It includes limitless space to organize your ideas in a customizable, visual way. Plus you can plan set pieces, store character research, and much more. Rather, your Beats can be anything such as plot points, character arcs, research, or location ideas, and connect beats using Flow Lines and send Beats directly to your script for easy access.
• New outline elements & outline editor: It easily transfer your Beat Board to the outline editor for high-level outlining. Plus you can send your outline to script using outline elements.And also use multiple lanes to organize your screenplay’s structure or show the Outline in your script for easy access.
• Scriptnotes: With this feature, you can add comments to your scripts as ideas or add ScriptNotes that appear as flags on the page for easy reference or click the flag to open and edit notes in a popover and new flags show how many notes per paragraph.
• Revision Mode: Final Draft is used by 95% of film, television and multimedia productions to get from page to screen. Plus you can mark and review all changes to take a script through production. Final Draft makes it easy to set your revision colors, lock pages, and omit scenes. It also protects your script with customizable watermarks on PDFs and printed pages.
• Tags Mode: Final Draft helps you to create custom reports on any element of your script plus dig into your script by tracking customizable story elements and character traits and also break your script down for budgeting and scheduling.

Final Draft Pricing:

Final Draft offers a 30-day free trial and most used screenwriting software programs.

• Final Draft costs $249.99 and right for Screenwriters, Filmmakers, Producers
• Final Draft Upgrade 12 costs $99.99
• Final Draft Educational License costs $129.99 is right for students, college-level educators

Celtx

Built for collaboration
Scriptwriting
Scheduling
Call sheets

$10 Visit Site

Celtx is among the most popular open-source screenwriting software available on the market. Some call it “open source Final Draft”, and this might be partially true, given that it offers many of the same features as Final Draft. However, Celtx has managed to distinguish itself from other similar programs by improving some features and adding some extra ones, like character charts, color coding, and the option to import images.

Another advantage of Celtx is that it can be used on a variety of platforms, including Windows 7 or 8, Windows XP, Vista, or Linux. You just need to download the program from their website for free. So if you are looking for an open-source alternative to Final Draft, Celtx might be exactly what you are looking for. But keep in mind that it is still in the process of being developed and updated regularly by a young team, so bugs or other unexpected problems could occur.

From concept to the camera, the Celtx Studio’s connected workflow ensures that every member of the production team stays engaged, organized, and informed. Celtx is completely a cloud-based software that helps you to create better content quickly and turn simple ideas into innovative plans.

It is the best screenwriting software programs for playwrights as novelists to stay organized and accelerate their creativity. Celtx Screenwriting integrates with other pre-production tools such as call sheets, storyboards, shot lists, and a scheduling solution and also allows collaboration and an affordable alternative to Final Draft.

Celtx Features:

• Built for collaboration: It allows multiple users to work simultaneously in multiple documents, including real-time collaborative script editing.
• Scriptwriting: Celtex is one of the best screenwriting software programs with industry-standard script editors for film & TV, short-form video, theatre, and interactive narratives backed up by a plethora of story development tools.
• Scheduling: With this feature, you can create shooting schedules using auto-populated stripboards. Plus, you can organize shooting dates and locations to make the most of each minute on set.
• Call sheets: Celtx allows you to craft and distribute industry-standard call sheets. The automatic data population lets you quickly and easily apply changes and re-distribute to cast and crew.
• Budget: Now you can easily manage production expenses, generate cost reports, and track actuals against estimates using industry-standard or specialized AICP budget templates.
•  Provides shortcuts: It provides you shortcuts without cutiing corners. From the first idea to the final call sheet, our fully-featured modules will guide your team through the production process with the most comprehensive and flexible toolset available.

Celtx Pricing:

Celtx comes with 3 pricing plans which include 2 video plans and 1 game plan:

• Scriptwriting plan costs $10/mo payable annually
• Video Production plan costs $15 payable annually
• Game Production plan costs $15/mo payable annually

Plus, you can get 50% off for your first 3 months

Movie Magic

Full-featured outlining
Customizable document windows
Ease of use
Production script feature set

$69.95 Visit Site

Movie Magic Screenwriter is another excellent option if you are looking for user-friendly, fully-featured screenwriting software. It has been developed by Avid, which is an industry leader when it comes to audio and video production, so you can expect the quality of this screenwriting program to be outstanding. Movie Magic Screenwriter offers many of the same features as other top-rated screenwriting software, such as multiple revisions or spell checker tools, and also offers some extra features, like script notes or an integrated media player.

The software has an elegant interface and is easy to use even for people who have never created scripts before. It also comes with a variety of templates that can help you get started quickly. So if you are looking for a tried and tested screenwriting program that can help you write your script professionally, Movie Magic Screenwriter might be exactly what you need.

With a massive set of features designed to make the writing process simple, you can get from fade in to fade out quickly and easily. With the integrated outlining, it has the ability to compare drafts of screenplays and the most comprehensive production features of any screenwriting software with a clear choice for getting your stories from concept to screen. It is one of the best screenwriting software programs for stage plays, and used by many Hollywood movies and also for the education sector for various research paper writing.

Movie Magic Screenwriter Features:

• Full-featured outlining: Movie Magic Screenwriter’s outlining feature is completely customizable, including font and color controls. Plus, you can create multi-depth outlines and customize them on the fly, or you may show or hide the outline elements in the NaviDoc , show or hide outline types by group or individual topics.
• Customizable document windows: This screenwriter has lots of tools available for writers to use, the view is completely designable. The document view can be anything from a blank window without any icons or rulers all the way to having a full set of toolbars, icons, and other tools designed to make a writer’s life easier.
• Ease of use: Movie Magic Screenwriter is very simple, straight-forward, and lacks some of the annoying stylist design issues. For example, Final Draft always assumes dialog is between the same two characters. Screenwriter let’s you do the same thing by pressing SHIFT-TAB instead of the default TAB for character names.
• Note Categories: Movie Magic Screenwriting let you lets you create multiple note categories, each with its on text and background color. This allows writers to create different types of notes for different purposes and also allows a reader or consultant to create their own note type, e.g. Chris’ Rewrite Suggestions, and then drop them directly in place in the script for the author to review later.
• Complete production script feature set: This software program is specially designed by a working script supervisor and has the most comprehensive and flexible set of features available in any script word processor, for both film and television. And includes tagging, kept pages and scenes, breakdown sheets, revision controls, production lists, one-liners, and more, plus these features are built in to the software itself.
• NaviDoc: With the NaviDoc lets you navigate through your document by using four different methods such as Outline, Scenes, Notes, and Bookmarks. Plus, it also lets you see as many lines of an element as you want, not just the first line or scene heading of a scene for example, this gives you the option to use the NaviDoc like index cards if they prefer, while still viewing the script.

Movie Magic Screenwriter Pricing:

Movie Magic Screenwriter comes with multiple pricing plans:

• Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 starts at $149.95
• Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 Upgrade starts at $89.95
• Movie Magic Screenwriter 6.5 Upgrade starts at $69.95

(All of these have 3 activation options per purchase)

• Movie Magic Screenwriter 6 Academic starts at $49

(The academic version has 2 activation options per purchase)

WriterDuet

Production tools
Outlining feature
Cloud-based software
Real-time co-writing

$5.99 Visit Site

WriterDuet is an amazing screenwriting app for remote writing and is an excellent software that offers seamless real-time collaboration. It is a full-featured writing platform with robust outlining and production features and allows multiple users to work at the same time. WriterDuet is a cloud-based program that helps you to write from anywhere and any device with auto-sync, mobile apps, and also an online-offline desktop app. Plus WriterDuet also offers intuitive commenting features and in-app text and video chat to streamline feedback and co-writing.

With WriterDuet, you can format effortlessly, customize your workflow, create custom templates, and lock pages or save revision drafts with one click so that you can spend more time writing. It is the best screenwriting software for professional writers and is also used for education purposes.

WriterDuet Features:

• WriterDuet allows you to write with standard formats, production tools, backups, and import/export other filetypes
• With the outlining feature, you can brainstorm, organize and create mind maps and index cards within your project
• WriterDuet is a cloud-based software on any device with online-offline web, mobile, and desktop apps
• Easily allow you to back-up copies to cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud and supports mobile devices and multiple browsers
• WriterDuet is an intuitive and user-friendly software that allows you to track all your edits
• Other features include features like real-time co-writing, intuitive commenting, in-app text and video chat, sketch groups, and anybody who has a process built around co-writing and feedback

WriterDuet Pricing:

WriterDuet offers 3 subscription plans:

• Plus Plan costs $5.99/mo billed annually
• Pro Plan costs $7.99/mo billed annually
• Premium Plan costs $9.99/mo billed annually

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Trelby

Multiplatform
Screenplay editor
Choice of view
Name database

Free Visit Site

Trelby is a free open-source screenwriting software program and was previously named Blyte in 2003. It is the best screenwriting software for beginners and comes with a user-friendly and customizable interface and automatic formatting and absolutely free to use. With this screenplay editor, you can automatically format all typed text into the correct script format and offers auto-complete and spell-check functions.

Trelby includes various extra features which include an international character name generator, reports (scene, location, character, dialogue, etc.), version tracking, and screenplay importing options from Final Draft, Celtx, Fountain, Adobe Story, and Fade In. Plus, this screenwriter comes with a built-in highly configurable PDF generator and allows you to export in various file formats. The best part is, it is free to use and easily operates on both Windows and Mac platforms. Trelby is entirely free of cost and best suited for demonstrations or any kind of educational purposes.

Trelby Features:

• Multiplatform: This software behaves identically on all platforms, generating the exact same output.
• Screenplay editor: Trelby enforces correct script format and pagination, auto-completion, and spell checking.
• Choice of view: It includes multiple views, including draft view, WYSIWYG mode, and fullscreen to suit your writing style.
• Name database: The character name database contains over 200.000 names from various countries.
• Import: It includes Screenplay formatted text, Final Draft XML (.fdx), Celtx (.celtx), Fountain (.fountain), Adobe Story (.astx) and Fade In Pro (.fadein).
• PDF: Trelby includes built-in highly configurable PDF generator which supports embedding your chosen font and also supports generating PDFs with custom watermarks to help track shared files.
• Free software: Trelby is licensed under the GPL and welcomes developers and screenwriters to contribute in making it more useful.

Trelby Pricing:

Trelby is a free open-source screenwriting app and it is entirely free to use and is currently available on Github

Fade In

Fully featured application interface
Extensive formatting capabilities
Collaboration
Image support

$79.95 Visit Site

Fade In is the most advanced software used by professionals writing for motion pictures, television, video games, the stage, radio, and more. It helps to educate students and teachers about the craft of screenwriting. Moreover, it features support for multiple languages, tools for outlining, organizing, and navigating, plus extensive screenplay formatting and robust functionality for managing rewrites and revisions.

Fade In is highly compatible with multiple platforms like Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS. To write a screenplay or teleplay or a stage play you need proper screenwriting software and Fade In provides all the features for everything your screenplay needs, from start to finish. Plus, it can import a variety of popular screenwriting software formats, including Final Draft, Movie Magic Screenwriter, Scrivener, Adobe Story, and Celtx documents, as well as Rich Text Format and Open Screenplay Format XML. Fade In is used by top writers and directors such as Rian Johnson, Kelly Marcel, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Gary Whitta, and many more.

Fade In Features:

• Fully featured application interface: It features a universal, state-of-the-art application interface, and does everything professional screenwriters need and expect their software to do, and it does it on Mac, Windows, and Linux providing an optimal experience no matter what platform you use. Fade In Mobile is also available for iPhone, iPad, and Android.
• Extensive formatting capabilities: The software takes care of script formatting for you and automatically transitions from scene headings to action to dialogue as you type. It includes a full range of standard screenplay styles and you can use the built-in default styles, customize them, or create your own. Plus control all aspects of page layout and appearance, and even tweak individual line lengths with a single keypress.
• Collaboration: With Fade In’s real-time collaboration capabilities, you can work on the same screenplay at the same time with multiple collaborators, no matter where they are in the world. Unlike other software that only allows one person to actually work on a document at a time, Fade In allows collaborators to work independently, with changes being reflected in all collaborators.
• Image support: Fade In allows you to insert images directly into your document, whether on the title page or within a screenplay itself.
• Support for multiple file formats: In this screenwriting software, Importing and exporting multiple file formats is easy with support for everything from text to HTML to Open Screenplay Format XML. Plus opening, editing and saving Final Draft (.fdx) documents is a snap — as is importing (and exporting) Rich Text Format (.rtf) (such as from Movie Magic Screenwriter), opening older versions of Final Draft (.fdr), working with Fountain, and opening Scrivener, Adobe Story and Celtx files.
• Breakdowns, reports and tagging: It easily generate industry-standard script breakdowns and production reports. And the standard reports include scenes, cast, locations, and more. Plus, reports can be printed or saved as HTML or generic comma-separated values for import into other applications.

Fade In Pricing:

Fade In comes with a free version and the full, version costs $79.95. If there are any software updates that will be absolutely free.

StudioBinder

Pre-production planning solution
Industry-standard format
Convert scripts from other software
Create and organize screenplay version

$29 Visit Site

StudioBinder screenwriting software is a web-based application that allows you to easily manage your screenwriting projects and organize your screenplay by breaking it down into manageable tasks. Studio Binder works on multiple browsers so there is no need to download any extra applications. This can be very useful in the future when trying to access Studio Binder on your desktop computer at home or even on a laptop when traveling.

With StudioBinder there is no need to worry about the software is incompatible with your computer’s operating system. IStudio Binder works on Mac, Windows, and Linux. With this screenwriting web app you to create and manage your project notes, structure them on the tree, write your screenplay using Fountain syntax (or Multicam), then export it in Final Draft or Avid format. Plus, you can collaborate on a project with other writers or just keep your projects private.

With this tool, you can write and produce your scripts all in one place and totally free. Plus, you can create script breakdowns, sides, schedules, storyboards, call sheets, and more. StudioBinder is trusted by world-renowned studios and agencies such as CBS Interactive, BuzzFeed, ESPN, Shopify, Cartoon Network, and many others. It is greatly used by large-scale companies and expert levels use such as television projects. StudiioBinder is not affordable for small companies and you can go for the free plan for educational purposes.

StudioBinder Features:

• Pre-production planning solution: With StudioBinder screenwriting software, you can write your script natively within StudioBinder’s complete pre-production planning solution. From script to shooting schedules, shot lists, breakdown reports, and more all in one writing and production planning solution. Plus StudioBinder lets you start pre-production earlier so you can plan your shoot faster, and with total clarity.
• Industry-standard format: StudioBinder screenwriting software auto-formats margins, fonts, and screenplay elements to industry standards. Plus includes predictive features like auto-complete, keyboard shortcuts, and auto-save let you focus on what counts like storytelling, not formatting and software steps. With its clean interface and easy-to-use toolbar, it’s script writing software that stays out of the way so writers at every experience level can get the job done faster.
• Convert scripts from other software: StudioBinder screenwriting software takes the stress out of file format conversion. With this tool, you can script in Final Draft or Fountain, a PDF or Word doc, or any screenplay software file, and just import it into StudioBinder and continue writing.
• Create and organize screenplay version: You can easily organize revisions and drafts the right way and with maximum efficiency with automatic industry-standard color coding and a sidebar to access your versions.
• Lead with creativity: StudioBinder screenwriting software is completely free to everyone. It allows you to create as many projects as you like and write as many pages as you like without any limitations. It provides all-in-one production features and is considered the best screenwriting software period.

StudioBinder Pricing:

StudioBinder offers a free version and comes with 2 subscription plans for individuals and professionals:

Individual Plans:

• Indie plan costs $29/mo and includes 10 projects, 50GB file storage
• Professional plan costs $49/mo and includes 25 projects, 75GB filer storage
• Studio plan costs $99/mo and includes unlimited projects, 100GB file storage

Company Plans:

• Agency plan costs $249/mo
• Production Company costs $399/mo
• Enterprize Plan starts at $1499/mo

KIT Scenarist

Research module
Cards
Screenplay
Statistics

Free Visit Site

KIT Scenarist is a program for creating screenplays which oriented at international standards in the field of film production. It allows the user to write and edit their screenplay without ever having to leave their plain text editor of choice. The concept of KIT Scenarist was designed with comfort in mind, as the creation and editing process should be as painless as possible for the creator.

It is a free and open-source software and is used by 10000 authors, issued more than 70 versions of the program. Kit Scenarist is compatible with 5 platforms such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. Basically, this screenwriting software is great for high-level script writing and highly suitable for writers in multiple languages. KIT Scenarist version for desktop computers is free and open Source software, which means free distribution and the possibility of free use by users around the world.

KIT Scenarist Features:

• Research module: The research module of the program is designed so that you can collect all the necessary materials for the project in one place. Plus, you can save basic information about the script, such as its name, synopsis, and also fill in the title page of the script. You can also store a variety of materials such as text documents, images, links to web pages, and mind maps associated with your project, organizing them in a convenient manner.
• Cards: The card module allows you to look at the script in the form of cards spread out on the board, thus providing a visual way to work with the structure. Plus you can arrange the cards on the board in rows, or in columns. You can color them, make notes, group and lay out the acts, and all changes will instantly appear in the text of the script and vice versa.
• Screenplay: The script editor will allow you to think only about the story itself. The module also includes a navigator for the script, which greatly simplifies navigation through the text. You can easily write in your native language, save and load on it simply!
• Statistics: The statistics module provides an opportunity to get detailed reports on the script, as well as to see the graphs of the characters’ activity throughout the script and the dynamics of the scenes so that not a single trifle escapes from you. The program supports three chronometry systems such by pages, by symbols, and flexible one, so, you can set up its calculation in the way that suits you best. Plus you can save the reports and send them to the producer or to the production company.
• Friendly: The program can export scripts in the formats PDF, FDX, Fountain and even DOCX.It includes advanced export settings that allow you to automatically add the scenes, dialogues, or pages numbers, create a title page, and correct text on the page breaks. The app will automatically determine the formatting of each block, and in two minutes you will be able to work on it, without wasting time on debilitating formatting. Import supports the formats FDX, Fountain, DOCX, ODT, Trelby and Celtx.

KIT Scenarist Pricing:

KIT Scenarist is a free screenwriting software available around the world. Mobile versions of the program are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android.

Highland 2

The Navigator
The Bin
Live Margins
Revision Mode

Free Visit Site

Highland screenwriting software is another best screenwriting software program that allows you to convert your word into a properly-formatted professional script. Moreover, many produced screenplays are written in Highland. Highland is a formatting tool that takes in the Fountain file and exports it to Final Draft or PDF. Plus, it allows you to write one with formatting and allows you to write it anywhere such as GoogleDocs, and NotePad. Highland converts Final Draft and screenplay PDFs to editable text.

Highland 2 is an excellent screenwriting software for Mac users, bloggers, and individuals and provides shortcuts for screenwriters and blog editors who are new to this field.

Highland 2 Features:

• The Navigator: It allows you to drag and drop scenes and sections to re-order in a snap. Moreover, a road map of your sections, scenes, synopses, and notes.
• The Bin: It includes a magical shelf to hold bits of text you want to keep handy. Plus, if you have alternate versions of a scene, sentence, or section, cut or copy it to the Bin.
• Live Margins: Highland automatically indents dialogue and character cues. Plus, see the shape of your script right in the editor without getting lost in formatting.
• Revision Mode: With this best screenwriting software, you can track changes in different colors and stars in the margin. The colors and stars appear in the editor and can be added to your exported PDF.
• Gender Analysis: Highland 2 was the first screenwriting app to include Gender Analysis. It allows you to track the gender breakdown of speaking parts in your script. Plus, it also lets you explore what would happen if you flipped the gender of a given character.

Highland 2 Pricing:

Highland 2 offers a free version, but if you are looking for enhanced features go for the paid version costs $49.99. For more information, contact the vendor.

VISIT HIGHLAND 2