Storytellers rule the world.
Be it a book, a film, or a TV show, it’s the story that sells. The greatest actors and directors know the power of a good script like the one you have brewing in your brain. But they’ll never see it unless you get it out of your brain and into one of the script-writing software programs I’ve detailed in this article.
Script writing or screenwriting software solutions are commonly used by playwrights, filmmakers, and producers. These tools offer smart features, such as auto-formatting page layouts, character and production notes, story outlines, and scene order, that help simplify the scriptwriting process.
*The software list is arranged alphabetically. These tools offer free trials, free forever options, or freemium models.
With so many free script-writing software to explore, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This comparison table breaks down the key features to simplify your decision.
| Best free script writing software | G2 Rating | Free plan | Paid plan |
| Arc Studio Pro | 4.7/5 ⭐️ | 7-day free trial available | $69/year |
| Celtx | 4.2/5 ⭐️ | 7-day free trial available | $14.99/month |
| Final Draft | 4.5/5 ⭐️ | 30-day free trial available | $9.85/month |
| Plottr | 4.8/5 ⭐️ | 30-day free trial available | $9.99/month |
| Scrivener | 4.5/5 ⭐️ | Free trial available | Pricing available on request |
| Subscribr | 4.8/5 ⭐️ | Free trial available | $49/month |
| Tinkerlist | 4.6/5 ⭐️ | 14-day free trial available | Pricing available on request |
| WriterDuet | 4.6/5 ⭐️ | Free plan available | $9.99/month |
*All pricing details mentioned in the article are based on publicly available data at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Scriptwriting tools are becoming increasingly important for screenwriters, content creators, and production teams looking to streamline their writing process and collaborate more effectively. As storytelling expands across film, television, and digital platforms, demand for dedicated script-writing software continues to grow. The screen and script writing software market is projected to grow from $0.1804 billion in 2025 to $0.64 billion by 2035, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period.
What stood out to me while reviewing this category is how these tools go beyond basic text editing. Modern script writing software supports industry-standard formatting, scene organization, collaboration, version control, and export options, helping writers focus more on storytelling and less on structure.
In this list, I’ve rounded up the 8 script-writing software options I recommend based on real user feedback, ease of use, feature depth, and how well each tool supports different writing workflows. I’ll highlight what each tool does best, its limitations, and the types of writers or teams it’s best suited for, so you can choose a script writing solution that fits your creative process.
To build this list, I started with G2 Data, shortlisting top-rated tools based on their G2 Grid Report and consistent performance in the script writing software category.
From there, I reviewed product features and recent, verified user feedback to confirm that these tools deliver real value and to understand where each one stands out, whether that’s industry-standard script formatting, collaboration capabilities, scene and character management, or export options.
The goal was simple: to see whether these script-writing tools live up to their claims, what each one is best suited for, and how accessible they are for different types of writers. I paid close attention to whether tools offer a free plan or trial, how usable the core writing features are without paying, and what limitations, such as project caps, collaboration restrictions, or export limits, might influence an upgrade.
The screenshots featured in this article may be a mix of those taken from the vendor’s G2 page or from publicly available materials.
Whether this is your first or fifteenth screenplay, testing the power of digital tools never hurts. Especially when you have so many free options available! Let’s deep dive into our list of the best free screenwriting software for 2025.
The list below contains real user reviews. To be included on this list, a software solution must:
*This data was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity and accuracy.
Arc Studio Pro is the perfect professional script writing tool, equally useful for individual contributors and large teams of writers. The software automatically formats your scripts per Hollywood standards and saves your data on the cloud, so you never have to worry about losing your work.
Arc Studio Pro comes with a free plan and upgrades. While the free version's drafts are watermarked, it supports Fountain and Final Draft exports for easy collaboration and sharing.
| Pros of Arc Studio Pro | Cons of Arc Studio Pro |
| Clean, intuitive interface for focused writing | iPad app lacks key editing features |
| Helpful story structuring and whiteboard tools | Performance issues on Mac, including slowness and crashes |
| Makes organizing and adjusting story structure easy | Stability and reliability need improvement for desktop users |
“Quite easy to collaborate, share ideas, and communicate for creating more useful content.”
-Arc Studio Pro review, Amit K.
“I think the UI of the software could be made more user-friendly and attractive.”
-Arc Studio Pro review, Danish A.
Celtx is an all-in-one online solution for media production. You can do everything from script writing and story development to creating call sheets and shot lists. Celtx is perfect for executing collaborative production workflows as it provides a complete history of script revisions, feedback, and approvals.
New users are eligible for a 7-day free trial, after which they can either upgrade to a paid plan or stay with the free plan. According to G2 Data, Celtx ranks #1 for ease of use among script-writing software tools.
| Pros of Celtx | Cons of Celtx |
| Easy-to-use interface for scriptwriting and project management | Missing advanced features like shot lists and budgeting tools |
| Intuitive workflows from script development to production | Navigation can feel unintuitive in certain areas |
| Accessible and flexible for collaborative projects | Switching between projects can be cumbersome |
“Celtx makes script writing fairly intuitive with the ability to list your character names, select actions, and format a proper film script. There is very little that this program cannot do to help a budding writer get their first script off the ground. Also, it allows you to test the software for free before purchase.”
- Celtx review, Misha W.
“I miss having Celtx as an installable program, as the format that I used prior is no longer available. While there are many advantages to having a cloud-based design, it’s limited by having access to the internet, which you didn’t need to have when it was a free downloadable program. While there is an "offline mode" for Celtx, it’s limited to users using their free trial or paid subscription. Anyone using a free account will have difficulty working without internet access.”
- Celtx review, Nuu G.
Final Draft has set the industry standards as one of the market leaders for script-writing software. It supports multiple languages, imports from Microsoft Word, and has a smart type feature that auto-completes sentences, easing the writing process significantly.
New users can sign up for a 30-day free trial to explore all these features and everything else Final Draft offers.
| Pros of Final Draft | Cons of Final Draft |
| Industry-standard screenwriting software used by professionals | High upfront cost with paid upgrades for new versions |
| Supports real-time collaboration between writers | Collaboration is less seamless than cloud-based alternatives |
| Intuitive interface with smart-type assistance | The feature set may feel overwhelming for beginners |
“Final Draft is the best application we've tried for screenwriting because of its shrewd devices for designing your work to professional particulars. It additionally offers spaces to assist you with creating stories, such to the story guide and beat board. It permits you to simply start composing when you open it without us agonizing over the configuration. Also, taking notes and working with various drafts of similar content is incredibly simple. Extremely easy to understand programming.”
- Final Draft review, Khalid R.
“Some small production companies don’t work with Final Draft, and it's impossible to write in Final Draft and then save the screenplay formatting into a Word document. It would be good to add this feature. It’s almost impossible (and a great waste of time) to format a script in a Word document. This possibility (to convert from Final Draft to Word) would certainly facilitate my work as a writer and the production work of smaller companies.”
- Final Draft review, Charles Henri M.
Plottr is the go-to platform for envisioning your stories and plot points with graphics and color-coded story cards. And if you don’t know how to work with story cards, Plottr has over a dozen pre-built templates to try out.
You can sign up with your email as a new user to get a 14-day free trial. The platform also offers documentation, live training, and video tutorials to ensure you make the most of it.
| Pros of Plottr | Cons of Plottr |
| Visual, drag-and-drop timeline for organizing scenes and acts | Not a screenwriting tool for writing formatted scripts |
| Strong series bible management for TV shows and franchises | Requires exporting to dedicated scriptwriting software |
| Powerful filtering to track characters, subplots, and arcs | Limited customization in exported outlines |
“Plottr has been super helpful in plotting out my novels. I love that there is a way to organize every kind of idea I have, from character development to plot points. The templates they provide are also super helpful.”
- Plottr review, Kristin M.
“The inability to update existing files when importing from Scrivener. Though I know this is being worked on.”
- Plottr review, Travis C.
Scrivener is a writing and research application designed for long-form projects such as novels, screenplays, and academic work. It combines writing, outlining, and research tools in a single workspace, allowing writers to organize sections, rearrange content with drag-and-drop, and view research alongside drafts using split-screen mode. Available on Mac, Windows, and iPhone, Scrivener supports flexible writing workflows by letting users work in any order and compile their work into a finished document when ready.
According to G2 Data, Scrivener ranks as the 2nd highest-rated solution in its category.
| Pros of Scrivener | Cons of Scrivener |
| Powerful organization tools for managing complex writing projects | Steep learning curve for new users |
| Works across devices for continuous writing | Limited collaboration features for team projects |
| Flexible workflow that supports long-form writing | Not ideal for real-time co-authoring or short documents |
"I love how Scrivener helps me organize my manuscript, move things about, and keep track of important information, like script ideas, plot progress, characters, and their identity. Scrivener helps track my progress so I know how many words are in my manuscript, chapters, and so on. There is so much more, but these are the critical features for me as an author."
- Scrivener review, Jana S.
"The learning curve can be a bit steep, which is due to the many features that Scrivener has. However, I only use the features that are important to my needs, which lowers the learning curve quite a bit."
- Scrivener review, Paul T.
Subscribr is an AI-powered scriptwriting platform built specifically for YouTube creators. It helps users generate video ideas, titles, hooks, outlines, and full scripts faster by combining topic research with insights from high-performing content. Subscribr also supports remixing viral scripts, refining drafts with instant feedback, and collaborating with teammates, making it easier for creators to produce engaging, high-quality YouTube videos consistently.
| Pros of Subscribr | Cons of Subscribr |
| Built specifically for YouTube scriptwriting and audience retention | Steep learning curve for first-time users |
| Learns and adapts to your unique channel voice | Scripts still require human editing and fact-checking |
| Built-in research tools for faster content planning | Occasional inaccuracies in generated information |
"What I like most is how natural it feels to work with. It doesn’t just spit out scripts — it learns your tone, your pacing, even your humor. Once I trained it on my past work, it started sounding like me on a good writing day. I can drop an idea anytime and get thoughtful feedback or a full draft within minutes. It’s like having a creative partner that never burns out."
- Subscribr review, Yannick P.
"What I love most is how it breaks down the whole scriptwriting process into manageable steps. Instead of staring at a blank page, wondering where to start, it walks you through everything from coming up with titles to crafting hooks and endings. The AI suggestions at each stage are genuinely helpful - especially when I'm stuck and need a creative nudge.
The AI editor is probably my favorite feature. It doesn't just tell you something needs work; it actually shows you specific areas to improve and gives you alternative ways to phrase things. It's like having a writing partner who's always available to help polish your draft.
I also really appreciate the channel analysis tools. Being able to see what's working for competitors and identify those breakout videos that really took off gives me so much inspiration for my own content. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what resonates with audiences.
One thing that sets this apart from other tools I've tried is how you can feed it research materials - links, videos, documents, whatever you've got. The AI actually uses that information to make the script more relevant and well-informed, rather than just generating generic content.
There is also a simple Teleprompter you can use with your monitor and webcam to record the script.
- Subscribr review, Mark D.
Tinkerlist is a cloud-based platform for television production teams. You can collaborate, play, and edit media on the go, write auto-formatting scripts, and easily organize your schedules.
Start with a free 14-day trial by signing up as a new user. You can also learn from a free two-hour training module, perfect for understanding this platform’s functionality.
| Pros of Tinkerlist | Cons of Tinkerlist |
| Real-time cloud collaboration for writers and production teams | Designed for broadcast and live TV, not narrative screenwriting |
| Modular, item-based scripting for easy rearrangement | Requires a stable internet connection to work smoothly |
| Live teleprompter sync with instant script updates | Not ideal for solo writers or spec scripts |
“Tinkerlist has complete control over the business communications streams, allowing firms to fully interrelate with clients and employees. Besides, Tinkerlist emphasizes innovation, which is the primary driver for extensive film development. Finally, Tinkerlist is the guide in matters of content publication.”
-Tinkerlist review, Jordin M.
“We did not find much information about the program on the internet.”
-Tinkerlist review, Verified User in Online Media
WriterDuet is a cloud-based screenwriting software built for real-time collaboration. It allows multiple writers to work on the same script simultaneously, with changes syncing instantly across devices. WriterDuet automatically applies industry-standard formatting and includes outlining tools like index cards and mind maps to support story planning. With cloud access, offline writing, and automatic backups with revision tracking, it helps writers collaborate smoothly and manage scripts from first draft to final version.
| Pros of WriterDuet | Cons of WriterDuet |
| Real-time collaboration with in-app chat and change tracking | Subscription-based pricing can get expensive over time |
| Cloud-based access across devices with autosave | Dependent on a stable internet connection |
| Unlimited revision history with version rollback | Customer support response times can vary |
"I write almost every day. After trying one of the software applications that some producers recommended, which was too complicated to use, I found WriterDuet, which is not complicated. I am so thankful I did, since I was about to give up on writing because I couldn't find an industry-accepted format that I could easily use. I have won several awards with my writing, and although it was my idea, WriterDuet made it an Industry Standard and easy to use. It does what needs to be done next while you are writing, and the Questions and Answers section is easy to follow if I do not understand something.
I have even received compliments on my formatting and additional options pages I use with WriteDuet."
- WriterDuet review, Julie C.
"The dashboard can seem a bit cluttered at times. PDF security only comes with Pro and Premium accounts. Accepting and rejecting revisions requires a Pro account as well."
- WriterDuet review, Alanna G.
Got more questions? Find more answers below.
While paid script writing tools often provide advanced features and premium support, free tools may also be suitable for most writers' needs. The key is to find free software that aligns with your specific requirements and preferences.
Essential features in free script writing software include intuitive formatting tools for screenplay, stage play, or other script types, collaboration capabilities for team projects, version control, and compatibility with industry standards.
Yes, many free script-writing software solutions are compatible with all operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it's always advisable to check the product features and offerings before downloading it to your system.
Both options exist. Some free script writing tools can be downloaded to your system directly, while others are web-based and can be accessed through any internet-connected device.
Free script writing tools usually come with limits, such as:
For instance, Celtx and WriterDuet are usable for drafting but reserve advanced features for paid plans. Planning tools like Plottr and Tinkerlist are complementary rather than full scriptwriting replacements.
Absolutely. Free script writing software is well suited for short films, skits, and indie projects.
Tools like WriterDuet, Celtx, and Arc Studio Pro handle short-form scripts easily, especially when you don’t need advanced production or collaboration features.
For YouTube scripts:
These tools focus more on speed and clarity than traditional film formatting.
Yes, as long as they support industry-standard formatting.
WriterDuet, Celtx, and Arc Studio Pro can all be used to draft film and TV scripts that meet formatting expectations. Many writers draft for free and only move to paid tools like Final Draft at later stages.
Some do, but often with limits.
Solo writers won’t feel restricted, but teams usually need paid plans.
I believe in the idea of “killing your darlings.” A first draft doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to exist. Once it’s written, there’s room to refine, revise, and turn it into something truly special.
I see script-writing software as a way to make that process more enjoyable and efficient. By handling everything from formatting to collaboration, it frees up space to focus on what matters most: the writing itself.
And before sending it to any Hollywood producers, explore the best proofreading software to make your script error-free.
This article was originally published in 2024. It has been updated with new information.
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