The Final Draft Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Final Draft 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.
Final Draft
The Insider’s Guide
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Final Draft’s own pages.
Made by Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company · checked Oct 5, 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 Final Draft’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Final Draft’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 11 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Final Draft is screenwriting software that paginates and formats scripts to film and television industry standards as you type. The desktop app, Final Draft 13, adds planning tools such as the Beat Board and Outline Editor along with tracked revisions and production reports. It can be bought once or through the Final Draft Suite subscription, which adds Final Draft Cloud for writing, storing and sharing scripts online.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Final Draft, taken from its own pages and our grades.
That one belongs to Final Draft Go, the iPhone and iPad app.
- 1
Best for screenplays in industry-standard format
Final Draft is screenwriting software that formats and paginates a script to film and TV standards as you type.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
- 3
You can try it first
Free 5-day trial of Final Draft Suite on one computer. It turns into a paid subscription automatically after 5 days.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, Web and iOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
Revisions and production reports
Tracked revisions, built-in commenting and automatic version saving support rewrites, and production reports can be run from the script.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 11 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 Final Draft you could make: long-form writing and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Final Draft at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free 5-day trial of Final Draft Suite on one computer. It turns into a paid subscription automatically after 5 days.
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS
- Made by
- Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company, since 1990
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.0 on the App Store, 1,691 ratings
The report card
Best for screenplays in industry-standard format
Final Draft is screenwriting software that formats and paginates a script to film and TV standards as you type. It costs $249.99 to buy or $99.99 a year for the Suite, and the bought copy leaves out Final Draft Cloud. The iPhone and iPad app is a separate subscription, there's no Android, and the 5-day trial turns into a paid plan by itself, so it's a hard pick for anyone just starting out.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The Suite is $99.99 a year, which is $8.33 a month, exactly the middle of this category, and $16.99 if you pay monthly. Buying Final Draft 13 outright is $249.99 and leaves out Cloud, and the iPhone and iPad app is another $19.99 a year. Fade In, on its own list of rivals, is $79.95 once. |
| Free plan and trial | D | No free plan, and the trial is 5 days on one computer, which is shorter than a week, and it turns into a paid subscription by itself when the days run out. Reader Mode is free but only lets invited people read and comment. |
| Features | B | Scripts formatted and paginated to industry standards as you type, with the Beat Board, Outline Editor and Structure Lines for planning, writing partners in real time, tracked revisions, comments, automatic version saving and production reports. The screenwriting job covered, though Cloud only comes with the Suite. |
| Ease of use | C | 3.98 on the App Store from 1,691 ratings, which is the middle of our ladder and not a happy score. That one belongs to Final Draft Go, the iPhone and iPad app. On the desktop the formatting is automatic, so layout is never yours to fix. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac and Windows on the desktop, a browser editor in Final Draft Cloud and Final Draft Go on iPhone and iPad, with Dropbox, iCloud and Grammarly tie-ins. No Android at all, which is what keeps it off an A, and Cloud and Go are each paid for separately. |
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 Final Draft is for
- Fits if you write screenplays that have to be in industry-standard format
- Works for productions that run on tracked revisions and production reports
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you're starting out: $249.99 to buy, or $99.99 a year or $16.99 a month for the Suite
- Watch out: the trial is 5 days on one computer and turns into a paid subscription by itself
- Skip it if you want Cloud with a bought copy, as Final Draft Cloud comes only with the Suite
- Not for you if you're on Android or a Chromebook, and the iPhone and iPad app, Final Draft Go, is $19.99 a year extra
- Watch out: it needs macOS 12 or Windows 11 or later, and one license signs in on two computers at a time
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.33
A month to start, paid by the year
Final Draft is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99.99 per year or $16.99 per month (Suite); $249.99 one-time for Final Draft 13.
Reader Mode is free but only lets invited people read and comment.
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 licensing
Custom
Multi-user licenses for studios, production companies, schools and nonprofits, arranged with the sales team.
Trying it first
Free 5-day trial of Final Draft Suite on one computer. It turns into a paid subscription automatically after 5 days.
Read from web.archive.org on Oct 5, 2026, where its own pages could not be read.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on web.archive.orgAnnual 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.
Stated on web.archive.orgEducation
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.
Stated on web.archive.orgOther 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.
Stated on web.archive.orgOther 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.
Stated on web.archive.org
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for the app, against $199.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 10.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $249.99 | $175.72 | 12% less |
| Turkey | ₺9.999,99 | $203.36 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 12,990.00 | $206.78 | about the same |
| Australia | $299.99 | $209.42 | about the same |
| South Africa | R3,999.99 | $241.94 | 21% more |
| Germany | 229,99 € | $257.73 | 29% more |
| Brazil | R$ 1.299,90 | $259.72 | 30% more |
| United Kingdom | £199.99 | $264.39 | 32% 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 software with automatic script formatting. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, real-time collaboration, templates, long-form writing.
The screenwriting job covered, though Cloud only comes with the Suite.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
What it works with
- Dropbox
- iCloud
- Grammarly
Final Draft is made by Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company, and has been around since 1990.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Final Draft's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 11 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on features (B, above 36 of 69) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 4).
Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 23 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Final Draft’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 69
- DFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 69
- BFeaturesAbove 36 of 69
- CEase of useAbove 1 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. Final Draft 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 Final Draft you could make: long-form writing and templates. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 50 of the 69 other writing tools grade higher. It costs $99.99 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.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Final Draft’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
WriterDuet, Fade In, Celtx, Arc Studio and Highland Pro
The 5 tools Final Draft is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
WriterDuet
Free plan · from $7.49/mo
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing.
- WriterDuet has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only WriterDuet lists Linux and Android apps.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Fade In
Free trial · from $79.95 one-time
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Only Final Draft lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a Linux app.
- 2.4GPA
Celtx
Free plan · from $11.24/mo
Online scriptwriting with pre-production planning tools.
- Celtx has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Only Celtx lists an Android app.
- 2.6GPA
Arc Studio
Free plan · from $69/yr
Screenwriting app with outlining and real-time co-writing.
- 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.
- 2.6GPA
Highland Pro
Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- Final Draft can be bought with a one-time purchase.
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 Final Draft free?
No, Final Draft is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free 5-day trial of Final Draft Suite on one computer.
How much does Final Draft cost?
Final Draft lists 6 plans. Final Draft Go: $3.99 per month, or $19.99 per year, in the App Store.
What platforms does Final Draft work on?
Final Draft is available on macOS, Windows, Web and iOS.
Does Final Draft offer any discounts?
Final Draft publicly lists the following: Sale price of $199.99 on Final Draft 13; Annual Suite plan costs about half of monthly; Educational edition for students and teachers; Military and first responder price of $129.99; Upgrade pricing for existing owners.
How is Final Draft rated?
Final Draft's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1,691 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Final Draft have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Final Draft is listed for macOS, Windows, Web and iOS.
Does Final Draft have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Final Draft is listed for macOS, Windows, Web and iOS.
Is Final Draft open source?
Final Draft is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Final Draft integrate with?
Final Draft's listing names Dropbox, iCloud and Grammarly. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Final Draft have a student discount?
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.
Who makes Final Draft?
Final Draft is made by Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company. It dates from 1990.
What are the alternatives to Final Draft?
The closest alternatives to Final Draft in our directory are WriterDuet, Fade In, Celtx, Arc Studio and Highland Pro.
How does Final Draft compare with other writing tools?
Final Draft's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 11 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 8.
Is Final Draft good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Final Draft C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $8 for the category: 23 of the 44 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Final Draft?
The plain part of Final Draft you could make: long-form writing and templates.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Final Draft’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from archived copies of Final Draft's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-03.
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 Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company. Prices change, so check finaldraft.com before you buy.
- web.archive.org/web/20260929120755/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-13
- web.archive.org/web/20260830142702/https://www.finaldraft.com/pricing/
- web.archive.org/web/20260929232828/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-cloud
- web.archive.org/web/20260822071021/https://www.finaldraft.com/trial/
- web.archive.org/web/20260830142702/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-edu
- web.archive.org/web/20260906151752/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-13-mil
- web.archive.org/web/20260913200440/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-13-fr
- web.archive.org/web/20260922192610/https://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft-upgrade
- web.archive.org/web/20260906151750/https://www.finaldraft.com/reader-mode/
- web.archive.org/web/20260929232828/https://www.finaldraft.com/company/
- web.archive.org/web/20260929232828/https://www.finaldraft.com/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/final-draft-go/id1614876398
- india.finaldraft.com/all-products
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
- Final Draft, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/final-draft
- 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, "Final Draft: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/final-draft
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/final-draft/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Final Draft, 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 Final Draft’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. Final Draft is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company. Prices and plans change: check finaldraft.com before you buy.