Final Draft alternatives · Writing
Free alternatives to Final Draft
Final Draft has no free plan. 45 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory are free or have a free plan.
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. 8 of them have no paid plan at all; the rest pair a free plan with paid ones.
45 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
The 12 closest to Final Draft
- Free plan · from $7.49/mo
WriterDuet
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing
What is free: Free plan with no time limit: three projects of one document each, industry-standard formatting, read-only collaborators, Google Drive and Dropbox backups, and import and export in common formats.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $11.24/mo
Celtx
Online scriptwriting with pre-production planning tools
What is free: 1 project with the screenplay, stageplay and multi-column AV editors, script goals and read-through. Script history is read-only and there is no commenting or collaboration.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $69/yr
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
What is free: 2 scripts with industry-standard formatting, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export. PDF export is watermarked, and the desktop and iOS apps are not included.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $11.99 one-time
Beat
Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS
What is free: Beat for macOS is free on the Mac App Store, and its listing says the core app will always be free of charge.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Slugline
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad
What is free: Slugline 2 for Mac is a free download that works without watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six. Longer scripts and Final Draft export need the paid upgrade.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $4.17/mo
Story Architect
Writing app for screenplays, novels, comics and stage plays
What is free: Unlimited projects and documents, editors for screenplays, comics, audio dramas, stage plays and novels, import and export, and basic character, location and world profiles. No AI credits are included.
- 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.
- Free
Trelby
Free, open-source screenwriting program for desktop
What is free: Everything. There is no paid plan.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $16.75/mo
Overleaf
Collaborative online LaTeX editor for papers and theses
What is free: Unlimited projects, 1 collaborator per project, a basic compile timeout, 5 AI uses a day and document history for the previous 24 hours only.
- Overleaf starts at $16.75 per month, billed yearly at $199 (Standard); students from $8.25. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Overleaf has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Overleaf is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Reedsy Studio
Browser-based book writing app with free EPUB and PDF typesetting
What is free: Standard: the manuscript editor, unlimited books and devices, import, PDF and EPUB export, one manuscript goal, 30-day writing history, basic stats and 1 Board limited to card view.
- Reedsy Studio starts at $4.99 per month, or $52.99 billed annually (Craft add-on). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Reedsy Studio has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists macOS, Windows and iOS apps.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $0.50/mo
Campfire
Modular novel writing and worldbuilding app with per-module pricing
What is free: Free account with limited use of all 18 modules: 25,000 manuscript words, 10 characters, 20 timeline events, 2 maps, 5 encyclopedia articles and similar caps on the rest. No credit card required.
- Campfire starts at $0.50 per month for one module; $12 per month for all modules (Standard). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Campfire has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Campfire lists an Android app.
- Free plan · from $15/mo
LivingWriter
Cloud writing app for books and screenplays with planning boards
What is free: One manuscript with a limited word count, outlines and templates, notes and to-dos, a basic Elements board, a small AI allowance and basic PDF export.
- LivingWriter starts at $15 per month, billed monthly (Pro). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- LivingWriter has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LivingWriter lists an Android app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
What is free: Free web app plan: create, share and co-edit projects, community packages and templates, and file conversion, with 200 MB of storage and up to 100 files per project. The compiler itself is free.
- Typst starts at $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly). Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Typst has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Typst lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists an iOS app.
33 more that are free or have a free plan
- JotterPad
- 4thewords
- Microsoft Word
- LibreOffice Writer
- WPS Writer
- World Anvil
- bibisco
- Ellipsus
- ProWritingAid
- Hemingway Editor
- Lex
- Rytr
- Novlr
- Jenni AI
- Zettlr
- Calmly Writer
- AutoCrit
- Manuskript
- yWriter
- novelWriter
- Cold Turkey Writer
- Grammarly
- QuillBot
- LanguageTool
- Wordtune
- DeepL Write
- Paperpal
- Writefull
- FocusWriter
- ghostwriter
- HyperWrite
- Trinka
- MarkText
Common questions
Is there a free alternative to Final Draft?
Yes. WriterDuet, Celtx, Arc Studio, Beat, Slugline, Story Architect, Trelby, Overleaf and 37 more are free or have a free plan.
Does Final Draft have a free plan?
Final Draft has no free plan. 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.
When was this checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to Final Draft: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.