Arc Studio vs Story Architect

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

Story Architect

• Screenwriters who want standard script formatting on a free plan
• Writers keeping every episode of a series in one project
• Authors who work across screenplays, comics, plays and novels

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.

Story Architect

• The pricing page shows prices on annual billing only; 1-, 3- and 6-month terms exist, but their prices are not listed there.
• Sync covers desktop apps for now: the pricing page lists mobile sync as in development.
• Corkboard, timeline, mind maps and extended statistics need Pro; collaboration and script breakdown need Creator.
• The software is pre-1.0: the desktop apps are at version 0.8.3 and the mobile apps at 0.2.0, with several features still planned.

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.

Story Architect

Editors for several story formats

Separate editors for screenplays, comics, audio dramas, stage plays and novels apply industry-standard formatting, with Tab and Enter switching between paragraph types.

Shared project bible

Characters, locations and worlds are described once and shared by every story in a project, including all episodes of a series. Pro adds relationship editors, maps and extended profiles.

Corkboard and timeline

On Pro, screenplays and novels get a card board and a timeline. Cards can be colour-tagged and grouped by act, and changes show up in the script text and the reverse.

Mind maps

A mind map tool for brainstorming and planning is part of the Pro plan, alongside an image gallery and presentations.

AI Assistant

Paraphrases, shortens, expands, summarizes, translates and generates text using credits; one credit covers 1,000 words or 10 images. Extra credits start at $10 for 50.

Sync and collaboration

Creator adds 5 GB of cloud storage, sync and real-time co-writing. Co-authors can join on any plan, with editing limited to the modules their own plan includes.

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.

Story Architect

• Free$0

  Unlimited projects and documents, every script and novel editor, import and export, basic statistics and basic character, location and world info.

• Pro$4.17

  per month, billed annually; or $150 lifetime

  Adds mind maps, image gallery, presentations, corkboard, timeline, character relations, location and world maps, extended statistics and 5 AI credits a month.

• Creator$8.34

  per month, billed annually

  Everything in Pro plus sync between desktop devices, real-time collaboration, 5 GB of cloud storage, script breakdown, showrunner tools and 10 AI credits a month.

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.

Story Architect

• Lifetime license

  Pro lifetime license for $150

  Pro can be bought with a single $150 payment instead of a subscription, and comes with 120 AI credits. Creator has no lifetime option.

• Education

  50% off any plan for students and professors

  University students and professors get 50% off the base price of any subscription plan after proving their status by institutional email or an ID card.