The Arc Studio Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Arc Studio in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Arc Studio
The Insider’s Guide
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Arc Studio’s own pages.
Made by Arc Studio Labs, Inc. · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Arc Studio’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Arc Studio’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Arc Studio is screenwriting software that handles industry-standard formatting and syncs scripts between a browser, Mac and Windows desktop apps, and iPhone and iPad apps. The free plan covers two scripts with watermarked PDF export. Paid plans add the apps and unlimited scripts, and Pro adds a plot board for outlining, draft history, revision management and the ability to invite co-writers.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Arc Studio, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: open a script and type, and it formats the sluglines and margins for you.
- 1
Best for screenwriting on web, desktop and iPad
Arc Studio is screenwriting software that formats your script as you type and syncs it across the web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5.75 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $69 per year (Essentials).
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows and iOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 32 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Arc Studio you could make: long-form writing and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Arc Studio at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $69 per year (Essentials)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free 7-day Pro trial with every account, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS
- Made by
- Arc Studio Labs, Inc.
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for screenwriting on web, desktop and iPad
Arc Studio is screenwriting software that formats your script as you type and syncs it across the web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad. Free covers 2 scripts with watermarked PDFs and no apps, and $69 a year lifts that. Co-writers, the plot board and draft history need Pro at $99 a year, Table Read and Character Images cost credits on top, and there's no Android app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Essentials is $69 a year, which is $5.75 a month, just past the cheaper quarter of this category at $5.00 and short of the dearer quarter at $12.00. So: middling. Pro, which is the one with the plot board, draft history and co-writers, is $99 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free covers 2 scripts with industry-standard formatting, cloud sync, comments and Fountain and Final Draft export. But 2 scripts is a cap you'll hit, every PDF comes out watermarked, and the desktop and iOS apps aren't included. There's a 7-day Pro trial with no card. |
| Features | B | Sluglines and margins formatted to industry standard as you type, a plot board of beat cards, live co-writing with comments and chat, draft history and revision management, and export to PDF, Final Draft and Fountain. The screenwriting job covered, with no gap in it the listing admits to. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: open a script and type, and it formats the sluglines and margins for you. The free plan runs in a browser with nothing to install, and every account gets a 7-day Pro trial without a card. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Browser, Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad, and one subscription covers unlimited devices. No Android app, just Chrome without long-term offline support, and the listing shows no integrations and no API, which is what keeps it off an A. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Arc Studio is for
- Fits if you're writing your first script and 2 scripts on the free plan will do
- Works for people leaving Final Draft, since it imports and exports those files
Who it is not for
- Tight if you're staying free, with 2 scripts, a watermark on every PDF and no desktop or iOS apps
- Skip it if you write on an Android phone or tablet, as there's no app and Chrome has no long-term offline support
- Pricey if you write with a partner, since inviting co-writers, outlining and draft history are Pro at $99 a year
- Watch out: Table Read, Character Images and Research Assistant need credits bought on top of your plan
- Not for you if you want integrations or an API, as none are listed
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5.75
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Arc Studio has a free plan. Paid plans start at $69 per year (Essentials).
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.
The 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.
Trying it first
Free 7-day Pro trial with every account, no credit card required
Read from arcstudiopro.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on arcstudiopro.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Pro”, against $99.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺749,99 | $15.25 | 85% less |
| Brazil | R$ 409,90 | $81.90 | 18% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 5,190.00 | $82.62 | 17% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 1,549juta | $86.63 | 13% less |
| Australia | $164.99 | $115.18 | 15% more |
| Germany | 110,99 € | $124.38 | 24% more |
| Mexico | $2,299.00 | $126.32 | 26% more |
| United Kingdom | £97.99 | $129.55 | 30% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows and iOS
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, AI features, real-time collaboration, templates, long-form writing.
The screenwriting job covered, with no gap in it the listing admits to.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Arc Studio is made by Arc Studio Labs, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
32/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Arc Studio's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on features (B, above 36 of 69) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 5).
Its paid plans start at $5.75 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 11 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Arc Studio’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- BFeaturesAbove 36 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 32 of 69
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 writing tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Arc Studio is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Arc Studio you could make: long-form writing and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $69 a year.
What you could make
- Long-form writing and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Arc Studio’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Final Draft, WriterDuet, Celtx, Fade In and Highland Pro
The 5 tools Arc Studio is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Final Draft
Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
WriterDuet
Free plan · from $7.49/mo
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing.
- Only WriterDuet lists Linux and Android apps.
- 2.4GPA
Celtx
Free plan · from $11.24/mo
Online scriptwriting with pre-production planning tools.
- Only Arc Studio lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Only Celtx lists an Android app.
- Arc Studio also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
Fade In
Free trial · from $79.95 one-time
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- 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.
- 2.6GPA
Highland Pro
Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Arc Studio has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Arc Studio lists a web app.
- Only Arc Studio lists a Windows app.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Arc Studio free?
Arc Studio has a free plan. 2 scripts with industry-standard formatting, cloud sync, automatic backups, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export.
How much does Arc Studio cost?
Arc Studio lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Arc Studio work on?
Arc Studio is available on Web, macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Arc Studio offer any discounts?
Arc Studio publicly lists the following: $70 off Pro for students.
Does Arc Studio have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Arc Studio is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and iOS.
Does Arc Studio have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Arc Studio is listed for Web, macOS, Windows and iOS.
Is Arc Studio open source?
Arc Studio is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Arc Studio work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Arc Studio have a student discount?
$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.
Does Arc Studio have a free trial?
Yes. Free 7-day Pro trial with every account, no credit card required.
Who makes Arc Studio?
Arc Studio is made by Arc Studio Labs, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Arc Studio?
The closest alternatives to Arc Studio in our directory are Final Draft, WriterDuet, Celtx, Fade In and Highland Pro.
How does Arc Studio compare with other writing tools?
Arc Studio's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 32 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 10.
Is Arc Studio good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Arc Studio C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5.75 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 11 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Arc Studio?
The plain part of Arc Studio you could make: long-form writing and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Arc Studio’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Arc Studio's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-14.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Arc Studio Labs, Inc. Prices change, so check arcstudiopro.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Arc Studio, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/arc-studio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Arc Studio: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/arc-studio
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/arc-studio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Arc Studio, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Arc Studio’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Arc Studio is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Arc Studio Labs, Inc. Prices and plans change: check arcstudiopro.com before you buy.