Beat vs Trelby

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

Trelby

• Screenwriters who want free software with standard script formatting
• Linux users looking for a desktop screenwriting program
• Writers moving scripts between Final Draft and Fountain files

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.

Trelby

• Version 2.4 is installed on Windows and macOS through Python's pip; the Windows installer on the download page is for version 2.2.
• Version 2.4 added no new features: it moved the program to Python 3 and updated its packaging.
• Celtx, Adobe Story and Fade In Pro files can be imported but not exported.
• It is a desktop program only; no web or mobile version is listed.

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.

Trelby

Screenplay editor

Enforces correct script format and pagination as you type, with auto-completion and spell checking.

Choice of views

Offers several views of the script, including a draft view, a WYSIWYG mode and fullscreen.

Reports and script comparison

Produces scene, location, character and dialogue reports, and compares two scripts to show what changed between versions.

Import and export

Imports formatted text, Final Draft XML, Celtx, Fountain, Adobe Story and Fade In Pro files. Exports PDF, formatted text, HTML, RTF, Final Draft XML and Fountain.

PDF generator

A built-in, configurable PDF generator can embed a chosen font and add custom watermarks to help track copies of a shared script.

Name database

Includes a character name database with over 200,000 names from various countries.

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.

Trelby

• Free$0

  The complete program. Version 2.4 installs from PyPI on Windows and macOS, and from Fedora, Debian/Ubuntu or Flatpak packages on Linux.