Final Draft alternatives · Writing
Open-source alternatives to Final Draft
Final Draft is not described as open source on its own site. 12 of the 67 other writing tools in this directory are open source, according to their own sites.
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. All of them are free or have a free plan.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
How each one differs from Final Draft
- 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.
- 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.
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
- 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.
- Free
LibreOffice Writer
Free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux
- LibreOffice Writer is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- LibreOffice Writer has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LibreOffice Writer lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free plan · from $3.49/mo
bibisco
Novel planning and writing software built around characters
- bibisco starts at $3.49 per month for Everywhere sync; desktop Supporters Edition is $69 one-time. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- bibisco has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only bibisco lists Linux and Android apps.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free
Zettlr
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing
- Zettlr is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Zettlr has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Zettlr lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free
Manuskript
Free, open-source novel planner with an outliner and index cards
- Manuskript is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- Manuskript has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Manuskript lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free
novelWriter
Free, open-source plain-text editor for writing novels
- novelWriter is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- novelWriter has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only novelWriter lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
LanguageTool
Grammar and style checker for more than 30 languages
- LanguageTool starts at $4.99 per month on a 2-year plan ($119.80); $69.90 billed annually. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- LanguageTool has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only LanguageTool lists a browser extension.
- LanguageTool is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Free
FocusWriter
Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux
- FocusWriter is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- FocusWriter has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only FocusWriter lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free
ghostwriter
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
- ghostwriter is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ghostwriter lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Free
MarkText
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering
- MarkText is free. Final Draft starts at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- MarkText has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only MarkText lists a Linux app.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
Common questions
Is there an open-source alternative to Final Draft?
Yes. Beat, Trelby, Typst, LibreOffice Writer, bibisco, Zettlr, Manuskript, novelWriter and 4 more are open source, according to their own sites.
Is Final Draft open source?
Final Draft is not described as open source on its own site. The listing was checked on Oct 5, 2026 against the pages it cites.
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.