Storytellers rule the world.

Be it a e-book, a movie, or a TV present, it’s the story that sells. The best actors and administrators know the facility of an excellent script – just like the one you could have brewing in your mind. However they’ll by no means see it except you get it out of your mind and into one of many script writing software program we’ve detailed on this article.  

Script writing or screenwriting software program options are generally utilized by playwrights, filmmakers, and producers. These instruments supply sensible options like auto-formatting web page layouts, character and manufacturing notes, story outlines, and scene order that assist simplify the script writing course of.

Writing for the stage and display screen isn’t simple, however utilizing the precise instruments can assist. Script writing software program integrates with video modifying options to make the manufacturing course of extra environment friendly. 

Greatest free script writing software program

Whether or not that is your first or fifteenth screenplay, testing the facility of digital instruments by no means hurts. Particularly when you could have so many free choices obtainable! Let’s deep dive into our checklist of one of the best free screenwriting software program for 2024.

The checklist under accommodates actual consumer critiques. To be included on this checklist, a software program answer should:

• Supply a free trial, free subscription plan, or a free obtain
• Present auto-formatting for traditional screenplay buildings.
• Embrace extra script writing functionalities akin to scene ordering, character notes, and workforce collaboration.

* This knowledge was pulled from G2 in February 2024. Some critiques might have been edited for readability.

Celtx is an all-in-one on-line answer for media manufacturing. You are able to do every thing from script writing and story improvement to creating name sheets and shot lists. Celtx is ideal for executing collaborative manufacturing workflows because it supplies a whole historical past of script revisions, suggestions, and approvals.

New customers are eligible for a 7-day free trial, after which they’ll both improve to a paid plan or stick with the free plan. 

What customers like greatest:

“Celtx makes script writing pretty intuitive with the flexibility to checklist your character names, choose actions, and format a correct movie script. There’s little or no that this program can’t do to assist a budding author get their first script off the bottom. Additionally, it permits you to take a look at the software program totally free earlier than buy.”

– Celtx Evaluate, Misha W.

What customers dislike:

“I miss having Celtx as an installable program, because the format that I used prior is not obtainable. Whereas there are numerous benefits to having a cloud-based design, it’s restricted by getting access to the web, which you didn’t must have when it was a free downloadable program. Whereas there may be an “offline mode” for Celtx, it’s restricted to customers utilizing their free trial or paid subscription. Anybody utilizing a free account may have issue working with out web entry.”

– Celtx Evaluate, Nuu G.

Closing Draft has set the {industry} requirements as one of many market leaders for script writing software program. It helps a number of languages, imports from Microsoft Phrase, and has a sensible kind function that auto-completes sentences, easing the writing course of considerably. 

New customers can join a 30-day free trial to discover all these options and every thing else Closing Draft provides. 

What customers like greatest:

“Closing Draft is one of the best utility we have tried for screenwriting due to its shrewd gadgets for designing your work to proficient particulars. It moreover provides areas to help you with creating tales, just like the story information and beat board. It lets you merely begin composing if you open it with out us agonizing over the configuration. Additionally, taking notes and dealing with varied drafts of comparable content material is extremely easy. Extraordinarily simple to grasp programming.” 

–  Closing Draft Evaluate, Khalid R.

What customers dislike:

“Some small manufacturing firms don’t work with Closing Draft, and it is inconceivable to jot down in Closing Draft after which save the screenplay formatting right into a Phrase doc. It might be good so as to add this function. It’s virtually inconceivable (and an excellent waste of time) to format a script in a Phrase doc. This risk (to transform from Closing Draft to Phrase) will surely facilitate my work as a author and the manufacturing work of smaller firms.”

– Closing Draft Evaluate, Charles Henri M.

Scrivener is a free app for script writing, obtainable for Mac, Home windows, and iOS customers. It’s the proper instrument for any writing undertaking, not only for scripts. It’s utilized by everybody from screenwriters and novelists to journalists and lecturers. 

The free obtain will begin a 30-day trial mode that’s topic to make use of. As an example, in case your utilization is proscribed to 2 days every week, the free trial will final fifteen weeks.

What customers like greatest:

“The flexibleness to prepare, tag, re-organize, and print. I can create sub-documents with the tag/label system and print particular person course content material. The flexibleness to repeat/paste between paperwork is terrific. Collaboration in actual time can be a giant plus, in addition to Scrivener’s platform pricing and affordable updates pricing.”

– Scrivener Evaluate, Kim S.

What customers dislike:

“It’s extra advanced than you’d assume, and it is smart to learn by means of the how-to information earlier than beginning a undertaking. Finally, all of it is smart, however it’s a little overwhelming when first making an attempt it.”

– Scrivener Evaluate, Martin O. 

Trelby is a free multiplatform screenwriting program with wealthy options like screenplay editor, identify database, import-export for all file codecs and phrase processors, reporting, and comparability. 

You’ll be able to obtain Trelby to Home windows and Linux gadgets totally free. Mac, iPhone, or iPad help is just not obtainable but. 

What customers like greatest:

“I likeTrelby Software program loads. Since I write loads, I attempted this program, and it turned out to be very useful. It’s elegantly laid out and easy to make use of on the similar time.”

–Trelby Evaluate, Ignacio M.

What customers dislike:

“Primarily for freshmen. Extra refined instruments like Closing Draft’s storyboard and timeline options are absent. Additionally, copying and pasting are a bit trickier. Not designed for collaboration, however saving your script format on a shared drive (like Google or One-Drive) would in all probability get you there.”

– Trelby Evaluate, David R.

WriterDuet is among the greatest screenwriting instruments.  Utilized by hundreds of thousands of individuals, its easy but customizable design permits real-time collaboration with options like entry to modifying historical past, templates, and customized formatting. 

The free model of this software program program permits three free initiatives with no watermark or web page limits. For offline modifying and different premium filters, paid variations are additionally obtainable.

What customers like greatest:

“WriterDuet makes it simple to collaborate with different writers. Now we have used it for movie, TV, and podcast scripts. The workforce is notified when updates and notes are made, streamlining the collaboration course of.”

– WriterDuet Evaluate, Alanna G.

What customers dislike:

“Stacking could be a bit on the reasonable facet. It is gotten faster than it was at any level, but there’s a chance to enhance there.”

– WriterDuet Evaluate, Anita L.

StudioBinder brings customizable options for manufacturing administration in an inclusive platform. The software program supplies a seamless workflow for managing every thing – from name sheets and capturing schedules to script breakdowns and storyboards with automated industry-standard colour coding. 

The free model of StudioBinder is obtainable for all writers indefinitely and provides an excellent introduction to what the platform can do for you.

What customers like greatest:

“I like the structure of StudoBinder. All the pieces is self-explanatory however not so easy that it does not work for extra advanced productions. Principally, it’s each user-friendly and efficient. I wanted one thing that helped the workforce make our manufacturing organized {and professional} with out having to be within the {industry} for years. This program laid all of it out for me and helped information what I wanted to get organized.”

–StudioBinder Evaluate, Angela B.

What customers dislike:

“I might like to see a budgeting function added to the platform. It might make a lot sense and add one other priceless instrument to the service. It might even be nice in the event that they added a function to the storyboard module so I may draw storyboards instantly into this system, however possibly that is simply me being lazy.”

–StudioBinder Evaluate, Brent D.

Boords empowers writers to show any textual content right into a scripted storyboard so you possibly can visualize concepts in seconds. You’ll be able to neglect about scene numbering, exporting, and collaboration challenges as Broods simplifies every thing and ensures your script is actor-ready if you obtain it. 

Join a free trial of Broods immediately to discover every thing this script writing and modifying software program brings to the desk. 

What customers like greatest:

“Because the proprietor of Keystone Media, I can confidently say that Boords is an indispensable instrument for our animation studio. Boords supplies a whole set of pre-production software program instruments that make it simple for us to create top-notch storyboards and animatics.”

– Boords Evaluate, Seni S.

What customers dislike:

“Typically the drawing function could be a bit buggy.”

– Boords Evaluate, Angela R.

Tinkerlist is a cloud-based platform for tv manufacturing groups. You’ll be able to collaborate, play and edit media on the go, write auto-formatting scripts, and simply arrange your schedules.

Begin with a free 14-day trial by signing up as a brand new consumer. It’s also possible to study from a free two-hour coaching module, good for understanding this platform’s performance.

What customers like greatest:

“Tinkerlist has full management for the enterprise communications streams, permitting corporations to completely interrelate with purchasers and staff. Apart from, Tinkerlist emphasizes innovation, which is the first driver for intensive movie improvement. Lastly, Tinkerlist is the information in issues of content material publication.”

–Tinkerlist Evaluate, Jordin M.

What customers dislike:

“We didn’t discover a lot details about this system on the web.”

–Tinkerlist Evaluate, Verified Consumer in On-line Media

Storyline Creator is the proper instrument to share along with your writing companions. Draft and visualize concepts and improve your characters and scene descriptions with synthetic intelligence (AI).

The free plan of Storyline Creator is accessible on desktops, smartphones, and tablets. It additionally helps cloud backup. 

What customers like greatest:

“The visualization facet is among the best options of this software program. It tracks characters and scenes to construct up intuitively in our story. The AI-generated content material is legit.”

–Storyline Creator Evaluate , Will H.

What customers dislike:

“I believe it takes some time for customers to get used to this instrument. Additionally, I really feel the UI might be extra interesting with some instrument ideas for customers. One other function might be a neighborhood that might assist one another collaborate to get outcomes.”

–Storyline Creator Evaluate, Chaitanya A.

Arc Studio Professional is the proper skilled script writing instrument, equally helpful for particular person contributors and huge groups of writers. The software program routinely codecs your scripts per Hollywood requirements and saves your knowledge on a cloud, so that you by no means have to fret about shedding your work. 

Arc Studio Professional comes with a free plan and upgrades. Whereas the drafts within the free model are watermarked, it helps Fountain and Closing Draft exports for simple collaboration and sharing. 

What customers like greatest:

“Fairly simple to collaborate, share concepts, and talk for creating extra helpful content material.”

–Arc Studio Professional Evaluate, Amit Okay.

What customers dislike:

“I believe the UI of the software program might be made extra user-friendly and engaging.”

–Arc Studio Professional Evaluate, Danish A.

Fade In is among the greatest free screenwriting software program choices. It helps a number of languages and provides instruments for outlining, organizing, and navigating script writing. It additionally has an in depth screenplay format and manages rewrites and revisions seamlessly.  

The free downloadable demonstration model of Fade In is obtainable for Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It comes with all options besides real-time on-line collaboration.

What customers like greatest:

“I like the truth that every thing is definitely added, edited, and altered with ease.”

– Fade In Evaluate, Owerri Marrasha W.

What customers dislike:

“The software program often crashes, and finding backup recordsdata will be time-consuming.”

– Fade In Evaluate, Victoria L.

Highland 2 is made by writers for writers. Whether or not it’s a screenplay, novel, or college paper, Highland 2 has templates and codecs on your particular wants. 

It’s free to obtain by means of the app retailer on your Mac and comes with two in-built editor themes for a easy expertise. At the moment, there’s no Home windows model of this app.

What customers like greatest:

“I significantly like sprints and revision mode. Synapsis can be nice. It has one of many nicest trying themes I’ve ever seen, which makes it very engaging.”

– Highland 2 Evaluate, Fotios (Fotis) Okay.

What customers dislike:

“It is laborious to modify between Highland 2 and Closing Draft 10. Whereas Highland 2 is aesthetically pleasing in font and basic look, Closing Draft 10’s spacing is healthier.””

– Highland 2 Evaluate, Jude B.

Plottr is the go-to platform for envisioning your tales and plot factors with graphics and color-coded story playing cards. And in case you don’t know the right way to work with story playing cards, Plottr has over a dozen pre-built templates to check out.

You’ll be able to join along with your e-mail as a brand new consumer to get a 14-day free trial. The platform additionally provides documentation, dwell coaching, and video tutorials to make sure you profit from it. 

What customers like greatest:

“Plottr has been tremendous useful in plotting out my novels. I like that there’s a solution to arrange each sort of thought I’ve, from character improvement to plot factors. The templates they supply are additionally tremendous useful.”

– Plottr Evaluate, Kristin M.

What customers dislike:

“The lack to replace current recordsdata when importing from Scrivener. Although I do know that is being labored on.”

– Plottr Evaluate, Travis C.

And earlier than sending it to any Hollywood producers, discover one of the best proofreading software program to make your script error-free.