Arc Studio vs Fade In
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Arc Studio
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
Fade In
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux
Where they differ
- 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.
At a glance
| Arc Studio | Fade In | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $69 per year (Essentials) | $79.95 one-time |
| Free plan | 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. | None |
| Free trial | Free 7-day Pro trial with every account, no credit card required | Free demo with no stated time limit: registration reminder after 10 pages and a watermark on printed and PDF output |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | Arc Studio Labs, Inc. | GCC Productions Inc. |
| Price read from | arcstudiopro.com | fadeinpro.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Arc Studio
- New screenwriters who want to draft a first script on a free plan
- Writing partners and writers' rooms working on episodic scripts
- Writers moving from Final Draft who need to import and export its files
Fade In
- Screenwriters who would rather buy once than subscribe
- Writers who work on Linux as well as Windows or Mac
- Productions that need revision colors, locked pages and breakdown reports
Worth knowing
Arc Studio
- Free accounts are limited to 2 scripts, get watermarked PDF exports and cannot use the desktop, iPhone or iPad apps.
- Inviting collaborators, outlining tools, draft history and revision management are Pro-only.
- There is no Android app; Arc Studio runs in Chrome on Android without long-term offline support.
- Table Read, Character Images and Research Assistant are not part of the subscription price and need separately bought credits.
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.
Key features
Arc Studio
- Script editor
- Formats sluglines and margins to industry standards as you write, with a Focus mode and timed writing sprints. Scripts export to PDF, Final Draft and Fountain.
- Plot board and outlining
- Drag-and-drop story beat cards, color-coded tags for storylines and characters, and outlining templates. The outline can sit beside the script. Pro only.
- Real-time co-writing
- Co-writers edit the same script live, leave comments with custom tags and @mentions, and chat beside the script. Inviting collaborators needs Pro; those invited can be on Free.
- Draft history and revisions
- An automatic draft history keeps deleted text so it can be brought back. History and revision management are both listed under the Pro plan.
- Sync and offline writing
- Writing continues without a connection and syncs when back online. One subscription covers unlimited devices across Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and any browser.
- Credit-based add-ons
- Table Read voices a script aloud, Character Images generates pictures from descriptions, and Research Assistant answers questions beside the script. Each is paid for with credits.
Fade In
- Automatic script formatting
- Moves from scene heading to action to dialogue as you type, with standard screenplay styles that can be customized and autocomplete for character names and locations.
- Navigator and organization
- The Navigator reorders scenes and builds nested sequences. Scenes can be color-coded by plot point, theme or character, and bookmarks and links jump around the script.
- Revisions and production tools
- Manages revisions, page and scene locking and omitted scenes, shows changed pages in standard revision colors, and generates breakdowns and scene, cast and location reports.
- File format support
- Opens, edits and saves Final Draft .fdx files, imports and exports Word .docx and RTF, and works with Fountain, Scrivener, Celtx and StudioBinder files. Its own format is the XML-based Open Screenplay Format.
- Rewriting tools
- The Dialogue Tuner gathers one character's dialogue in one place for editing, and other tools check word-use frequency and compare versions of a script.
- Fade In Access
- An optional monthly or annual subscription for cloud storage, backup, version history, online editing in a browser, collaboration, sharing and publishing.
Plans
Arc Studio
Free$0
2 scripts, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export; PDF export carries a watermark.
Essentials$69
per year
Unlimited scripts, PDF export without a watermark, and the desktop, iPhone and iPad apps.
Pro$99
per year
Adds inviting collaborators, outlining tools, custom formats, draft history, revision management, feedback links and The Stash.
Fade In
Fade In$79.95
one-time purchase, individual license
The full desktop version for Windows, Mac and Linux with free updates. Shown against a crossed-out regular price of $99.95.
Ways to pay less
Arc Studio
- Education
$70 off Pro for students
The pricing page offers students $70 off the Pro plan with an .edu address, and advertises a separate classroom discount for educators.
Fade In
- Education
Student price of $59.95
Current students of accredited post-secondary institutions can buy the full desktop version for $59.95 after emailing proof of student status from a school address.
