Beat vs Final Draft

Beat

• Mac users who want a free screenwriting app
• Screenwriters who work in the plain-text Fountain format
• Writers who outline with index cards and a timeline

Final Draft

• Screenwriters who need scripts in industry-standard format
• Productions that rely on tracked revisions and production reports
• Writers who would rather buy a desktop license once than subscribe

Beat

• Apple devices only: there is no Windows, Linux, Android or web version.
• The iOS app is a paid companion ($11.99) that supports a limited set of the Mac app's features.
• The iOS app requires iOS 18.0 or later.
• The Mac App Store listing says a paid "pro" version may come later, with the core app staying free.

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.

Beat

Automatic screenplay formatting

Formats the script as it is typed, with autocompletion for character names and scene headings, automatic scene numbering and an option to hide Fountain markup.

Story structure views

Several outline views with filtering, sections and synopses, including a collapsing list, index cards and a timeline. Scenes can be colour-coded.

Fountain and Final Draft files

Scripts are plain-text Fountain files that other apps can open. Beat also imports and exports Final Draft files, including revisions and outline items, and exports PDF.

Revisions and version control

Tracks revisions across generations, keeps version control inside the file's metadata and stores copies in a backup vault.

Statistics

A statistics view reports line counts per character, inclusivity by gender and scene locations.

Plugin API

A JavaScript plugin API lets users write their own extensions for the Mac app. Plugin support is not part of the iOS version.

Final Draft

Automatic script formatting

Paginates and formats a script to entertainment-industry standards for film, TV, theater and other media, so layout does not have to be set by hand.

Story planning tools

The Beat Board, Outline Editor and Structure Lines are used to brainstorm and outline a story inside the script file, alone or with writing partners in real time.

Revisions and production reports

Tracked revisions, built-in commenting and automatic version saving support rewrites, and production reports can be run from the script.

Final Draft Cloud

Part of the Suite: an online editor called Final Draft Writer, a Vault for storing and sharing files, ScriptNotes comments and asynchronous collaboration.

Reader Mode

People invited to a script in Final Draft Cloud can view and comment on it free of charge, with no credit card, but cannot edit it.

Writing goals and focus modes

Final Draft 13 includes Writing Goals and Productivity Stats along with Midnight and Typewriter modes.

Beat

• Beat for macOS$0

  The full desktop app, free on the Mac App Store. Requires macOS 10.13 or later.

• Beat for iOS$11.99

  one-time purchase on the App Store

  Companion app for iPhone and iPad with a more limited feature set and no plugin support. Requires iOS 18.0 or later.

Final Draft

• Final Draft Go$3.99

  per month, or $19.99 per year, in the App Store

  A separate subscription app for writing, editing and reading Final Draft scripts on iPhone and iPad.

• Final Draft Suite$99.99

  per year, or $16.99 per month

  Final Draft 13 for desktop plus Final Draft Cloud, the online workspace with cloud storage, sharing and collaboration.

• Final Draft 13 Educational$129.99

  one-time purchase

  All the features of Final Draft 13 for students and teachers. Verification is required to buy.

• Final Draft 13 Upgrade$129.99

  one-time purchase

  For owners of any previous desktop version, who must give a registered customer number or email.

• Final Draft 13$249.99

  one-time purchase

  The desktop app for Mac and Windows, with activation on two computers. Does not include Final Draft Cloud.

• Volume licensingCustom

  Multi-user licenses for studios, production companies, schools and nonprofits, arranged with the sales team.

Beat

No public discounts listed.

Final Draft

• Other savings

  Sale price of $199.99 on Final Draft 13

  The US store listed Final Draft 13 at $199.99 against its regular $249.99 when the page was captured on 2026-09-29.

• Annual discount

  Annual Suite plan costs about half of monthly

  Final Draft Suite is $99.99 a year, against $203.88 for twelve payments on the $16.99 monthly plan.

• Education

  Educational edition for students and teachers

  Final Draft 13 Educational has a regular price of $129.99, against $249.99 for the standard license, and was on sale at $99.99 on 2026-08-30. Verification is required.

• Other savings

  Military and first responder price of $129.99

  Members of the military, veterans and first responders can buy Final Draft 13 for $129.99 instead of the regular $249.99.

• Other savings

  Upgrade pricing for existing owners

  Owners of any earlier desktop version can move to Final Draft 13 for a regular price of $129.99; the upgrade was on sale at $99.99 on 2026-09-22.