Alternatives · Writing
Final Draft alternatives
Final Draft compared with 9 alternatives: WriterDuet, Fade In, Celtx, Arc Studio, Highland Pro and 4 more.
Final Draft is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final DraftThis tool | 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 |
| Fade In | Free trial · from $79.95 one-time | Trial only | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Celtx | Free plan · from $11.24/mo | Yes | Web, Windows, Android |
| Arc Studio | Free plan · from $69/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Highland Pro | Free trial · from $4.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Beat | Free plan · from $11.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| 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 |
| Trelby | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
How each one differs from Final Draft
- 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). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- WriterDuet has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WriterDuet lists Linux and Android apps.
- Final Draft 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 $79.95 one-time
Fade In
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux
- Fade In starts at $79.95 one-time. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Only Fade In lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists an iOS app.
Suits: Screenwriters who would rather buy once than subscribe
- 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). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Celtx has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Celtx lists an Android app.
- Only Final Draft lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Filmmakers who want the script and pre-production planning in one tool
- Free plan · from $69/yr
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
- Arc Studio starts at $69 per year (Essentials). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: New screenwriters who want to draft a first script on a free plan
- 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. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown.
Suits: Screenwriters on Apple devices who like writing in plain text
- 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. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Beat has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Beat is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Mac users who want a free screenwriting app
- 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. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Slugline has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Final Draft also covers templates.
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. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Story Architect has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Story Architect lists Linux and Android apps.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Screenwriters who want standard script formatting on a free plan
- Free
Trelby
Free, open-source screenwriting program for desktop
- Trelby is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Trelby has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Trelby lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists an iOS app.
Suits: Screenwriters who want free software with standard script formatting
Limits worth knowing in Final Draft
- The one-time Final Draft 13 license does not include Final Draft Cloud, which comes only with the Suite subscription.
- Final Draft 13 needs macOS 12 or later or Windows 11 or later, and is not available on Chromebook.
- The iPhone and iPad app, Final Draft Go, is a separate subscription at $3.99 a month or $19.99 a year.
- A license can be signed in on two computers at once; a third sign-in requires signing out of another.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Final Draft?
The alternatives to Final Draft in this directory are WriterDuet, Fade In, Celtx, Arc Studio, Highland Pro, Beat, Slugline, Story Architect and Trelby. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Final Draft.
Is there a free alternative to Final Draft?
Yes. Trelby is free to use. WriterDuet, Celtx, Arc Studio, Beat, Slugline and Story Architect have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Final Draft alternatives work on Linux?
The Final Draft listing does not include a Linux app. WriterDuet, Fade In, Story Architect and Trelby list one.
Which Final Draft alternatives work on Android?
The Final Draft listing does not include an Android app. WriterDuet, Celtx and Story Architect list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Final Draft?
Beat and Trelby 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.