I remember when I first dove my toes into screenwriting. I was working in retail at the time and going to school full-time. At the time, I was lucky that the software I had recently purchased for writing my novels also allowed me to format screenplays.

Shortly after that, there was a project I was working on collaboratively with another writer. They introduced me to a second program because it allowed for more open collaboration. Over the years, I’ve played with different pieces of software and for one reason or another moved to another.

You’ll hear people consistently say that Final Draft is the industry standard software and it has been for years. This article isn’t here to dispute that fact. But at $250 it carries a hefty price tag that people cannot frequently afford.

Until recently, I was in that boat. Final Draft is the industry standard. But until you are writing at an industry level for an industry audience, it's okay to hone your craft on another program until you can afford it.

Hopefully, you can benefit from my experience as I explore some of the software I’ve tried over the years.

Scrivener

Price: $59.99 - One Time

I discovered Scrivener years ago and wrote my first two books in it. When I started getting into screenwriting, as I mentioned earlier, I started learning here.

There are seven different screenwriting templates inside Scrivener: BBC Radio Play, BBC Taped Drama, Comic Script, Documentary Script, Screenplay, Stage Play (UK), and Stage Play (US).

Scrivener helps navigate the industry standard rules for each template and gives you a starting point for each. In addition, the program still gives you the outlining tools you would have for a novel (it also gives you over a dozen additional templates for other types of writing - including academic).

I think this is a truly great piece of software and it has amazing versatility. If you’re like me and you don’t stay in a single medium, this is a one-size-fits-all option.

It’s available for Mac, PC, and an iOS version. The Mac and PC versions come with a 30-day trial. And that’s 30 days not 30 consecutive days. As they mention on their site, if you only use it twice a week, you will have it for 15 weeks.

WriterDuet

Price: Plans from Free to $13.99 - Monthly Subscription

This was the second screenwriting software I tried. A former writing partner suggested it so that we could utilize the real-time collaboration features.

That is one of the biggest appeals of WriterDuet - the real-time collaboration. You can be in the document together working.

Another feature is that they mark your drafts and your history in case you want to go back and use something from an earlier draft.

Something to keep in mind with this is your are paying a monthly fee. Different features are behind different levels of subscription.

Celtx

Pricing: Plans from $14.99 - Monthly Subscription

In the spirit of open honesty, I’m going to kick off this segment by saying that the reason I stopped using Celtx was that they raised the monthly price to above what I was willing to pay. That being said, there is a discount if you pay yearly instead of by the month.

Celtx has a crisp and clean interface. It stores your scripts in the cloud and allows you to export projects as needed. However, you have limited projects on the lowest tier before you have to upgrade to the middle tier.

It is a valid option if you’re looking for something like Final Draft but aren’t ready to make that investment. Though with the prices of their subscription plan, you may be better off saving the money and purchasing Final Draft.

Fade In

Pricing: $79.99 - One Time

This is what I’ve been using for a few years now and have written a couple of pilots and shorts on it. What’s more, unlike Final Draft, there isn’t a limit to how many computers I can have it on.

Like WriterDuet, there are real-time collaboration features programmed in if the other user also has Fade In. In addition, there is a mode where you can take your script full screen to eliminate any distractions.

The Navigation bar on the right is great for moving around scenes. I’ve found this feature to be my favorite way to navigate a script and the most intuitive. Fade In produces a detailed breakdown on scenes, giving s feel for the overall pacing.

There is a free trial mode. I remember that I got some mileage out of it before I decided to purchase the program.

Final Thoughts

As I’ve played with five different screenwriting programs, I see minimal differences between them. Some have better functionality than others. Some have length limits to not have watermarks on your projects. Others limit how many projects you can store before needing to go to a higher plan.

Some have the option where it saves your work to the cloud. Others only save to your local device or hard drive.

In my opinion, there isn’t a right program to use, especially when you are at the beginning stages of your writing career. To me, it’s more important that you take the time to learn the craft and the medium. Take advantage of one of these cheaper options before laying down $250 for Final Draft.

It is important to invest in your career. But what you need at the start is a program that supports you as learn how to tell stories, and how to format them correctly.

Will Final Draft continue to be the industry standard?

To quote ScriptNotes, “the Industry Standard is PDF.” How you get there is between you and your collaborators. In the early days, your collaborators may be open to a different and cheaper option.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments! What are you using? Did you make the jump from something cheaper to Final Draft? What are your thoughts?

I’d love to erase the stigma newer writers face when they are entering screenwriting. There are so many obstacles we all face, let’s not make this a big one.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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