Alternatives · Writing
Fade In alternatives
Fade In compared with 9 alternatives: Final Draft, WriterDuet, Highland Pro, Arc Studio, Trelby and 4 more.
Fade In is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $79.95 one-time. 7 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
9 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fade InThis tool | Free trial · from $79.95 one-time | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Final Draft | Free trial · from $99.99/yr | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| WriterDuet | Free plan · from $7.49/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Highland Pro | Free trial · from $4.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Arc Studio | Free plan · from $69/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Trelby | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Beat | Free plan · from $11.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Celtx | Free plan · from $11.24/mo | Yes | Web, Windows, Android |
| Slugline | Free plan · from $19.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Story Architect | Free plan · from $4.17/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Fade In
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Final Draft
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting
- Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Only Final Draft lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a Linux app.
Suits: Screenwriters who need scripts in industry-standard format
- Free plan · from $7.49/mo
WriterDuet
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing
- WriterDuet starts at $7.49 per month, billed annually ($89.88); $9.99 billed monthly (Plus). Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- WriterDuet has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WriterDuet lists iOS and Android apps.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writing partners and writers' rooms working on one script at the same time
- Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Highland Pro
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
- Highland Pro starts at $4.99 per month, billed $59.99 annually. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Only Highland Pro lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Only Fade In lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Screenwriters on Apple devices who like writing in plain text
- Free plan · from $69/yr
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
- Arc Studio starts at $69 per year (Essentials). Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Arc Studio lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a Linux app.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: New screenwriters who want to draft a first script on a free plan
- Free
Trelby
Free, open-source screenwriting program for desktop
- Trelby is free. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Trelby has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Trelby is open source, according to its own site.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Screenwriters who want free software with standard script formatting
- Free plan · from $11.99 one-time
Beat
Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS
- Beat starts at $11.99 one-time for the iOS app. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Beat has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Beat lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Only Fade In lists Windows and Linux apps.
Suits: Mac users who want a free screenwriting app
- Free plan · from $11.24/mo
Celtx
Online scriptwriting with pre-production planning tools
- Celtx starts at $11.24 per month, billed yearly ($134.88); $14.99 billed monthly (Writer). Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Celtx has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Celtx lists an Android app.
- Only Fade In lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Filmmakers who want the script and pre-production planning in one tool
- Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Slugline
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Slugline starts at $19.99 one-time for the iPhone and iPad app; $49.99 one-time on Mac. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Slugline has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Slugline lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Only Fade In lists Windows and Linux apps.
Suits: Screenwriters on Mac, iPhone and iPad who like writing in plain text
- Free plan · from $4.17/mo
Story Architect
Writing app for screenplays, novels, comics and stage plays
- Story Architect starts at $4.17 per month, billed annually. Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time.
- Story Architect has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Story Architect lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- Fade In can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Screenwriters who want standard script formatting on a free plan
Limits worth knowing in Fade In
- Cloud saving and browser editing need Fade In Access, a separate subscription whose price is not shown on the purchase page.
- The Fade In Mobile apps for iOS and Android have been discontinued; phones and tablets use Fade In Access in a browser.
- The demo shows a registration reminder after 10 pages, watermarks printed scripts and leaves out online realtime collaboration.
- The price covers one individual user; site and multiuser licenses are arranged by email.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Fade In?
The alternatives to Fade In in this directory are Final Draft, WriterDuet, Highland Pro, Arc Studio, Trelby, Beat, Celtx, Slugline and Story Architect. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Fade In.
Is there a free alternative to Fade In?
Yes. Trelby is free to use. WriterDuet, Arc Studio, Beat, Celtx, Slugline and Story Architect have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Fade In alternatives work on Android?
The Fade In listing does not include an Android app. WriterDuet, Celtx and Story Architect list one.
Which Fade In alternatives work on iOS?
The Fade In listing does not include an iOS app. Final Draft, WriterDuet, Highland Pro, Arc Studio, Beat, Slugline and Story Architect list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Fade In?
Trelby and Beat are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.