What are the best free screenwriting software options in 2020?

This isn’t a list of “free” screenwriting software, halfway through which you realize most of them actually require payment.

It isn’t a list of “paid and free” screenwriting software either.

Below you’ll find 10 completely 100 percent FREE screenwriting software options for the modern screenwriter, but here’s some…

Screenwriting software you won’t find on the list.

• Any program that requires you to open your wallet. Is there a free version of Final Draft? No. What about Movie Magic Screenwriter? No. Hence, they’re not on the list.

• Any program that we can’t personally vouch for. In order to make the list, each program has been used and tested by our team.

• Any program that’s no longer available. Adobe Story and Amazon Storywriter, for example, are now sadly defunct and so haven’t made the list.

• Any program that might or might not be free. Is Celtx free? According to this page on their website, it is. And on this one, it isn’t. That’s enough confusion for us to leave it off the list.

So what free screenwriting software has made it onto our list? Check out these 10 absolutely free scriptwriting software gems below and get writing.

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Free Screenwriting Software #1: Fade In.

This is one of the best screenwriting software programs out there. Is Fade In free? Yes, there’s a demo version of the paid version and the functionality is exactly the same.

As they say on the site, “The free downloadable demo offers the same functionality as the full version, although it will pop up an occasional purchase reminder after 10 pages, and includes a watermark on print/PDF output.”

Some of its best features are real-time collaboration, and the fact you’re not restricted just to using scenes and index cards to organize your script. You can also color-code it and mark significant plot points, characters and other elements as you like, giving you a personalized, clear overview of the story.

Available for Mac, Windows and Linux users and the only drawback with the free version we can see is that your script will include a watermark once you print it out or convert to a PDF.

Check out Fade In >>

Free Screenwriting Software #2: WriterDuet.

Another great free screenwriting software option is WriterDuet which allows real-time collaborative work in which you and your writing partner will immediately see all edits made. And you can both filter any changes made by who made them, the date and line.

WriterDuet backs up your work locally when offline, and automatically syncs it once you reconnect. Its compatibility with other screenwriting software is equally impressive, allowing you to import and export Final Draft, Fountain, Celtx, PDF and Word files.

While the free version won’t watermark your script when you print or export it, bear in mind this software is online only. As such, you’re only able to upload three scripts with one account, but all are without page limits, time limits or export/import quotas.

To work with more than three screenplays and access the more feature-rich version, you have to pay, but you can get 10 percent off by adding this code at checkout: SCRIPTREADERPRO.

Check out Writer Duet >>

Free Screenwriting Software #3: Trelby.

Is Trelby free? Yes! It’s a great open-source screenplay software that’s downloaded and recommended by many aspiring screenwriters. No locked features, no watermarks, no script limits. And if you know how to code you can even modify the software yourself to suit your needs.

Using Trelby is fast and simple and it’s able to import Final Draft, Celtx, Fountain and Fade In Pro. Likewise, it can export to PDF, Final Draft and Fountain, as well as HTML and RTF. Not only that, but the software generates the exact same output, meaning it behaves identically across all platforms.

The main drawback with Trelby is that it’s currently only available for Microsoft Windows and Linux, although a Mac version is said to be on the way… And is it still being supported and updated? Hard to tell but does the job.

Check out Trelby >>

Free Screenwriting Software #4: Kit Scenarist.

What makes Kit Scenarist one of the best free screenwriting software options out there is the fact that it’s not just a word processor. The program is also a one-stop research, planning and statistical hub.

Kit Scenarist enables you to collect all your research for a script in one place—characters, locations, descriptions, photos, etc.— alongside the actual script itself. Plus, track statistics such as how many dialogue lines each character has.

If you’re a fan of visualizing your story on index cards Save the Cat-style, the program also contains a card module that allows you to see your story laid out on a board.

The word processor itself is pretty standard and does a good job of formatting a script to industry standards and you’re even able to configure the program’s algorithm to suit your writing needs. Kit Scenarist is available for Mac, Windows and Linux users and is able to import/export to Final Draft.

Check out Kit Scenarist >>

Free Screenwriting Software #5: Causality.

This free screenwriting app is different from most on this list in that it works by laying out the beats of your screenplay visually, rather than in a conventional movie script format.

In other words, Causality is a new kind of screenwriting app that helps you develop the story on a macro level, rather than get caught up “in the weeds” of each scene on a micro-level.

It doesn’t matter how complex the story is, Causality will be able to give you an overview of the events using its Story Sequencing Engine to analyze your story’s events. It can even unearth plot problems you may not have considered and suggest more logical sequences.

As far as drawbacks go, the actual writing is limited within this free version of Causality. You have to unlock the paid version for unlimited writing, and a few other features, such as exporting and printing.

Check out Causality >>

Free Screenwriting Software #6: Highland 2.

This is a Mac-only free scriptwriting software program developed by professional screenwriter, John August. Its tagline is “More Power. Less Distraction,” and that’s exactly what it’s like to write using this program.

Beautifully designed and feature abundant, the software handles formatting automatically, so you can focus on writing, rather than worrying about menu commands.

Highland 2 is able to indent characters, parentheticals and dialogue as you type, organize your screenplay by acts and sequences instead of sluglines, and much more. A new feature that’s been added recently is Revision Mode in which you can track all your changes in different colors.

This free screenwriting software is also adept at moving files between Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF formats. The only two downsides are that it’s only available for Mac OS, and PDFs you create will be watermarked.

Check out Highland 2 >>

Free Scriptwriting Software #7: Arc Studio Pro.

Arc Studio Pro has a clear and distraction-free interface that lets you focus on your story while making formatting to industry-standard a piece of cake.

Improved collaboration features and smooth feedback management are also made to keep your workflow straightforward and efficient while it keeps track of all your edits so that nothing gets lost. On top of that, an intuitive drag-and-drop and color-coding system lets you organize or rearrange your story in no time.

The app is available on desktop for Windows and Mac but also has a web version. Their basic free plan includes two scripts for free without any limit on the number of pages. They have however made the full Premium version completely free since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Check out Arc Studio Pro >>

Free Screenwriting Software #8: Prewrite.

Prewrite is another visual outlining tool rather than traditional free screenwriting software to write your script on. It comes with an emphasis on perfecting story structure.

Compared to other programs, it’s uniquely positioned as the first step in the writing process, with multiple layouts to view and analyze your work before exporting out to Final Draft (or any programs that opens .fdx) to finish the job.)

Bring your scenes and characters to life with inspiring commercial-free images from Unsplash and The Movie Database, all searchable right from within the app.

The Story Stats view breaks down INT. vs. EXT., location time of day, overall tone, and which scenes specific characters appear in together. If you’ve already started from the blank page, you can import an existing script to analyze and refine its structure.

Check out Prewrite >>

Free Screenwriting Software #9: DramaQueen.

DramaQueen is a free screenwriting software program that’s compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems. It’s also very compatible with Final Draft, so if you want to import, export and format using that platform, DramaQueen is a good choice.

The software has a range of handy features including structuring a story into “steps,” auto-formatting, an ideas panel and drag-and-drop navigator. The ideas panel is particularly useful, allowing you to collect and edit all of your research and ideas in one place.

DramaQueen is completely free of charge with no limits on the number of scripts you can upload or length of usage.

Check out Drama Queen >>

Free Screenwriting Software #10: DubScript.

This is a mobile-based free scriptwriting software reader which enables you to hear your script read out loud.

DubScript can import from scripts written in Final Draft and Fountain, export to PDF and Final Draft and keep your screenplays on your own device or in the cloud on storage systems such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Overall, the functionality is pretty basic—writers can add dual-dialogue, auto-complete, spell-check, undo/redo, find/replace, etc.—but it’s still a pretty decent free screenwriting option.

Two downsides are that PDF exports come with a watermark and the program is only available for Windows operating systems and Google Chromebooks.

Check out DubScript >>

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Top 10 best free screenwriting software: conclusion.

What is the best software for screenwriting? What screenwriting software do professionals use?

We generally advise writers to follow in the footsteps of professional screenwriters and purchase one of these five best screenwriting software programs. If they’re taking it seriously, that is.

However, for the less serious writers out there, the free software market has made some big gains in recent years.

There are some great free screenwriting software programs out there that are virtually identical to their paid counterparts, such as Fade In and WriterDuet.

Overall, give a few free programs a test drive and go for the one that feels best for your writing needs. There is no right or wrong answer here.

Finally, one last point…

Can you write a script on Microsoft Word?

Technically, yes. But we really don’t recommend it. Even if you’re not taking screenwriting super seriously or can’t afford a paid program, there’s no need to struggle along in Word.

Check out our best free screenwriting software above and let them do the heavy lifting of formatting for you.

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below with any free screenwriting software or screenwriting apps you think we’ve missed out. What’s the best free screenwriting software out there in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below.

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[© Photo credits: Pixabay, Unsplash, Flickr]