Fade In vs WriterDuet

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

WriterDuet

• Writing partners and writers' rooms working on one script at the same time
• Screenwriters who move between a browser, a desktop app and a phone
• Students and teachers, who can get half off a subscription

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.

WriterDuet

• The Free plan is limited to three projects of one document each, and free users can add only read-only collaborators.
• The desktop app and offline writing with auto-sync are listed from the Plus plan up.
• Revision tracking and production tools start at Pro, and full line and document history is Premium-only.
• Cards cannot be edited or rearranged in the mobile app or in phone and tablet browsers; WriterDuet recommends a computer for them.

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.

WriterDuet

Real-time co-writing

Paid subscribers can invite any number of WriterDuet users, free or paid, to edit a script live, with comments, mentions and text and video chat.

Script formats and templates

Keyboard-driven formatting follows industry conventions for screenplays, stage plays, sitcoms and A/V scripts. Pro adds custom margins, line types and title pages.

Cards, outlining and mind map

Each scene can be viewed as a card and dragged into a new order, and a mind map view lets cards be placed freely and linked.

Revisions and production tools

Pro tracks revisions with accept and reject, shows deleted text, and adds colored revisions, locked pages and scene omission for scripts in production.

Saving, history and backups

Work saves to the cloud as it is typed, with automatic backups to a computer, email, Dropbox, Google Drive or iCloud. Premium can rewind a document or a line to any earlier point.

Import, export and narration

Imports and exports PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Celtx, docx and other formats. Premium's ReadAloud voices each character, and AutoTranslate covers more than 80 languages.

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.

WriterDuet

• Free$0

  Three projects, industry-standard templates, writing from computer and mobile, and Google Drive and Dropbox backups.

• Plus$7.49

  per month, billed annually ($89.88); $9.99 billed monthly

  Unlimited projects, real-time collaboration, the desktop app and offline writing with auto-sync.

• Pro$8.99

  per month, billed annually ($107.88); $11.99 billed monthly

  Custom formatting, dialogue and character filters, document statistics, a format checker, revision tracking and production tools.

• Premium$10.49

  per month, billed annually ($125.88); $13.99 billed monthly

  Full line and document history, ReadAloud narration with distinct voices, AutoTranslate and MultiColumn tools.

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.

WriterDuet

• Annual discount

  About 25% less with yearly billing

  Yearly plans cost $89.88 (Plus), $107.88 (Pro) and $125.88 (Premium), against $119.88, $143.88 and $167.88 for twelve monthly payments.

• Education

  50% off for students and educators

  Individual students and teachers get 50% off any monthly or yearly subscription, or the Premium Lifetime license, after verifying by email. Bundled class licenses are priced separately.