# Trelby

> Free, open-source screenwriting program for desktop

Trelby is a free screenwriting program licensed under the GPL and maintained by volunteers. Its editor enforces screenplay format and pagination, and it adds reports, script comparison, a character name database and a configurable PDF generator. It began as a commercial program called Blyte, was open sourced in 2006 and took its current name after development resumed in 2011.

- **Category:** Writing Tools
- **Made by:** Trelby developers
- **Website:** https://trelby.org
- **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

Trelby is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **Free plan:** The whole program is free software licensed under the GPL. There is no paid edition.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. |

Read from https://trelby.org/ on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Trelby before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## Works with

Final Draft, Fountain, Celtx, Fade In, Adobe Story

**Tags:** Open source, Long-form writing

## Alternatives

- [Fade In](https://toolgpa.com/tools/fade-in): One-time-purchase screenwriting software for Windows, Mac and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/fade-in-vs-trelby)
- [Story Architect](https://toolgpa.com/tools/story-architect): Writing app for screenplays, novels, comics and stage plays. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/story-architect-vs-trelby)
- [Final Draft](https://toolgpa.com/tools/final-draft): Screenwriting software with automatic script formatting. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/final-draft-vs-trelby)
- [Beat](https://toolgpa.com/tools/beat): Free, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/beat-vs-trelby)
- [WriterDuet](https://toolgpa.com/tools/writerduet): Screenwriting software built for real-time co-writing. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/trelby-vs-writerduet)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://trelby.org/
- https://trelby.org/download/
- https://trelby.org/about/
- https://trelby.org/changes/

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/trelby
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).