The Slugline Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Slugline 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.
Slugline
The Insider’s Guide
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Slugline’s own pages.
Made by Act Focused Media LLC · checked Oct 9, 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 Slugline’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Slugline’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
Slugline is a screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad that works from plain text in the open Fountain format and applies screenplay formatting automatically as you type. Slugline 2 for Mac adds a drag-and-drop outline, a timeline of the script's structure and change tracking by comparing two documents. The Mac app is free for the first six pages and then needs a one-time upgrade; the iOS app is a separate purchase.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Slugline, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go on the listing: there are no element menus and no Tab key to press, you type and it formats.
- 1
Best for plain-text screenwriting on Apple devices
Slugline is a screenwriting app where you type plain text and it works out the formatting, with a draggable outline and a pacing timeline.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time for the iPhone and iPad app; $49.99 one-time on Mac.
- 3
There is a free plan
Slugline 2 for Mac is a free download that works without watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six. Longer scripts and Final Draft export need the paid upgrade.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
Automatic formatting
Screenplay formatting is worked out from the words as they are typed, so there are no element menus to pick from and no need to press Tab.
- 6
Drag-and-drop Outline Navigator
Anything shown in the outline can be dragged into a new order, and the matching parts of the screenplay move with it.
- 7
Timeline
Shows the outline elements spaced according to page count, giving an overview of a script's structure and pacing.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 43 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Slugline at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $19.99 one-time for the iPhone and iPad app; $49.99 one-time on Mac
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Act Focused Media LLC
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for plain-text screenwriting on Apple devices
Slugline is a screenwriting app where you type plain text and it works out the formatting, with a draggable outline and a pacing timeline. The Mac app is free only up to page six, then $49.99 once, and Final Draft export needs that upgrade too. It's Apple only, the iPhone and iPad app is another $19.99, and it needs macOS 10.14 or iOS 14 or later.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $49.99 once on the Mac for unlimited writing and Final Draft export, plus $19.99 once for the iPhone and iPad app. Both together is still under a year of this category's $8.33-a-month middle, paid once, and the Mac app is free up to page six. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The Mac app is a free download with no watermarks and no limitations until a screenplay passes page six. Write short films and you may never pay; write a feature and you meet that cap on day one. Final Draft export needs the upgrade too. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole job of writing a screenplay: formatting worked out as you type, an outline you drag to reorder the script, a timeline showing pacing by page count, Live Compare marking what changed between drafts, Fountain files throughout, and Final Draft in and out. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go on the listing: there are no element menus and no Tab key to press, you type and it formats. The Mac app is a free download, so finding out whether it suits you costs nothing. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, iPhone and iPad, sharing scripts over iCloud or Dropbox, and it trades files with Final Draft. That's one family of devices, though: no Windows, Linux, Android or web version. |
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 Slugline is for
- Fits if you write scripts on a Mac and like working in plain text
- Works for short films, since scripts up to six pages are free on the Mac
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you write on Windows, Linux, Android or the web, as it's Apple devices only
- Tight if you're staying free on a feature script, because the free version stops at page six
- Not for you if you expect one purchase to cover Mac and iPhone, as the iOS app is a separate $19.99
- Watch out: Final Draft export on the Mac needs the $49.99 upgrade
- Watch out: it needs macOS 10.14 or later, or iOS and iPadOS 14 or later
Good to know
Good for
- Screenwriters on Mac, iPhone and iPad who like writing in plain text
- Short-film writers: scripts of up to six pages are free on Mac
- Writers who want to pay once instead of subscribing
Worth knowing
- Apple platforms only: there is no Windows, Linux, Android or web version.
- On Mac, writing past page six and exporting Final Draft files require the $49.99 Unlimited Writing upgrade.
- The iPhone and iPad app is sold separately for $19.99.
- Slugline 2 requires macOS 10.14 or later, and the iOS app requires iOS or iPadOS 14 or later.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$19.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Slugline has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.99 one-time for the iPhone and iPad app; $49.99 one-time on Mac.
The Mac app is a free download with no watermarks and no limitations until a screenplay passes page six.
Slugline 2 for Mac
$0
Free download from the Mac App Store, with no watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six.
Slugline for iPhone & iPad
$19.99
one-time purchase on the App Store
Separate app for iOS and iPadOS that shares files with the Mac version over iCloud or Dropbox and also works on its own.
Unlimited Writing Upgrade
$49.99
one-time in-app purchase on Mac
Unlocks screenplays longer than six pages and Final Draft (FDX) export in Slugline 2 for Mac.
The free plan
Slugline 2 for Mac is a free download that works without watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six. Longer scripts and Final Draft export need the paid upgrade.
Read from slugline.co on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Unlimited Writing Upgrade”, against $49.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 2,990.00 | $47.60 | about the same |
| Canada | $69.99 | $49.20 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺2.499,99 | $50.84 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 4,999 | $51.68 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 299,90 | $59.92 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R999.99 | $60.48 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £49.99 | $66.09 | 32% more |
| Germany | 59,99 € | $67.22 | 34% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, long-form writing.
Mac, iPhone and iPad, sharing scripts over iCloud or Dropbox, and it trades files with Final Draft.
- Automatic formatting
- Screenplay formatting is worked out from the words as they are typed, so there are no element menus to pick from and no need to press Tab.
- Drag-and-drop Outline Navigator
- Anything shown in the outline can be dragged into a new order, and the matching parts of the screenplay move with it.
- Timeline
- Shows the outline elements spaced according to page count, giving an overview of a script's structure and pacing.
- Live Compare
- Tracks changes by comparing the current screenplay with another document. Asterisks mark modified text and can be clicked to inspect the differences.
- Fountain and Final Draft files
- Scripts are saved in Fountain, an open plain-text screenplay format. Slugline 2 also opens and exports Final Draft files, including dual dialogue and notes.
- Sync between Mac and iOS
- Slugline 2 for Mac and Slugline for iPhone and iPad share screenplays through iCloud or Dropbox.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud
- Dropbox
- Final Draft
- Fountain
Slugline is made by Act Focused Media LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
43/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Slugline's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 44 of 69) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 3).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Slugline’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 69
- BFeaturesAbove 36 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
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.
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
You could make the core of Slugline for yourself: long-form writing. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $19.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Long-form writing: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Slugline’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
Highland Pro, Beat, Final Draft, Fade In and WriterDuet
The 5 tools Slugline is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Highland Pro
Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Plain-text screenwriting app for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
- Slugline has a free plan. Highland Pro does not, though it has a free trial.
- Slugline can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Highland Pro also covers Markdown and templates.
- 3.2GPA
Beat
Free plan · from $11.99 one-time
Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS.
- Slugline can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Beat is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Final Draft
Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting.
- Slugline has a free plan. Final Draft does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Final Draft lists a web app.
- Only Final Draft lists a Windows app.
- 2.8GPA
Fade In
Free trial · from $79.95 one-time
One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Slugline has a free plan. Fade In does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Slugline lists an iOS app.
- Only Fade In lists a web app.
- 2.8GPA
WriterDuet
Free plan · from $7.49/mo
Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing.
- Only WriterDuet lists a web app.
- Only WriterDuet lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Slugline 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
11
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 Slugline free?
Slugline has a free plan. Slugline 2 for Mac is a free download that works without watermarks or limitations until a screenplay passes page six.
How much does Slugline cost?
Slugline lists 3 plans. Slugline 2 for Mac: $0.
What platforms does Slugline work on?
Slugline is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Slugline have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Slugline is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Slugline have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Slugline is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Slugline open source?
Slugline is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Slugline integrate with?
Slugline's listing names iCloud, Dropbox, Final Draft and Fountain. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Slugline?
Slugline is made by Act Focused Media LLC.
What are the alternatives to Slugline?
The closest alternatives to Slugline in our directory are Highland Pro, Beat, Final Draft, Fade In and WriterDuet.
How does Slugline compare with other writing tools?
Slugline's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 43 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 13.
Could I make my own version of Slugline?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. You could make the core of Slugline for yourself: long-form writing.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Slugline’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Slugline's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-07.
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 Act Focused Media LLC. Prices change, so check slugline.co 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
- Slugline, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/slugline
- 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, "Slugline: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/slugline
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/slugline/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Slugline, 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 Slugline’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. Slugline is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Act Focused Media LLC. Prices and plans change: check slugline.co before you buy.