Final Draft AlternativesTop Novel Authoring & Story Writing Tools like Final Draft

Final Draft is described as 'Use your creative energy to focus on the content; let Final Draft take care of the style. Final Draft is the number-one selling word processor specifically designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics and stage plays' and is a Novel Authoring tool in the news & books category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Final Draft for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Final Draft alternative is Scrivener. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Manuskript or Story Architect (STARC). Other great apps like Final Draft are Fade In, Hemingway Editor, Untold Novel and yWriter.

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Alternatives list

  1. Scrivener icon

    Scrivener

     262 likes
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    Tailored for extensive writing, this tool offers flexible structure and organization, integrates project outlines, supports various formats, and allows reorganization through drag and drop, ensuring research materials are within reach for efficient work.

    121 Scrivener alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • PlayOnLinux - PlayOnMac
    • Wine
    Scrivener screenshot 1
     
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    10

    • Most users think Scrivener is a great Final Draft alternative.

    • Scrivener is the most popular Windows, Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to Final Draft.

    • Scrivener is the most popular commercial alternative to Final Draft.

    • Scrivener is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
  2. Manuskript icon

    Manuskript

     168 likes
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    Open-source software offering a hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot tools, Snowflake method support, section multi-organization, customizable writing workflows, cross-platform availability, and export to standard formats.

    119 Manuskript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
     
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    5
    Comments about Manuskript as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Top Positive Comment
    José Relland
    1

    Manuskript is more for "quite complex" novels. Not really for screenplays.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    9

    Manuskript is not a scriptwriting program.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    M is for novels, FD is for Screenwriting

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Final Draft Icon
    Manuskript icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Manuskript is a legitimate Final Draft alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Linux alternative to Final Draft.

    • Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Final Draft.

    • Manuskript is Free and Open SourceFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Fade In icon

    Fade In

     5 likes
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    Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software is a complete application for writing motion picture screenplays, including tools for outlining, organizing, and navigating, plus extensive screenplay formatting and robust tools for managing rewrites and revisions.

    17 Fade In alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Wellcome on Windows
     
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    3
    18
    Comments about Fade In as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    Does everything Final Draft does and more for a much lower price, plus they don't charge for updates.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Less expensive than Final Draft with all of the same features, fully compatible with the .fdx format, and full Linux support.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Supports every major format. Distraction free screenwriting.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Final Draft Icon
    Fade In icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Fade In is a great Final Draft alternative.

    • Fade In is the most popular Android alternative to Final Draft.

    • Fade In is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Arc Studio Pro icon
    Arc Studio Pro

    Distraction-free screenwriting software featuring real-time collaboration, automated versioning, data backup, comprehensive import and export options including Final Draft, PDF, Word, and Fountain formats, and tools for outlining...

    https://www.arcstudiopro.com
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  6. Story Architect (STARC) icon

    Story Architect (STARC)

     14 likes
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    A smooth yet powerful writing experience for devoted authors. With only wanted features and native workflow it runs faster than all your previous apps combined.

    42 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android
    Story Architect (STARC) screenshot 1
     
  7. Hemingway Editor icon

    Hemingway Editor

     57 likes
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    Hemingway App makes your writing bold and clear.

    140 Hemingway Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    Hemingway Editor screenshot 1
     

    • Hemingway Editor is the most popular Web-based alternative to Final Draft.

    • Hemingway Editor is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
  8. Untold Novel icon

    Untold Novel

     2 likes
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    Untold Novel is a fresh new approach to planning your next bestseller. It helps you keep all your notes, ideas, characters, locations, and much more organized in one convenient place.

    53 Untold Novel alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Untold Novel screenshot 1
    Untold Novel screenshot 2
    Untold Novel screenshot 3
     
  10. yWriter icon

    yWriter

     68 likes
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    yWriter is a writing tool that uses "scenes" as a unit of text and allows you to associate that text with all manner of story elements (characters, locations, items) as well as place it and rearrange it within the context of chapters.

    74 yWriter alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Main screen on Windows XP
     
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    2
    Comments about yWriter as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Negative
    5

    yWriter is for novels. Final Draft is for screenplays.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    3

    Not screenplay or script writing software

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Final Draft Icon
    yWriter icon

    • This alternative is disputed. yWriter is a legitimate Final Draft alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • yWriter is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Final Draft.

    • yWriter is Freemium and ProprietaryFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
    • yWriter is LightweightFinal Draft is not according to our users
  12. Trelby icon

    Trelby

     32 likes
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    Trelby is simple, fast and elegantly laid out to make screenwriting simple. It is infinitely configurable.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Trelby
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about Trelby as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's faster and easier than Fianl Draft and has converting options to many formats.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Final Draft Icon
    Trelby icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Trelby is a great Final Draft alternative.

    • Trelby is Free and Open SourceFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
    • Trelby is CustomizableFinal Draft is not according to our users
  13. Celtx icon

    Celtx

     42 likes
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    Based on the Firefox engine, supports standards, visual storyboarding, production scheduling, publication & international languages MUI support. Free tutorials, videos & wiki are available from the site. There is a very helpful community too.

    42 Celtx alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Celtx screenshot 1
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about Celtx as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Free version for writers to get started.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Final Draft Icon
    Celtx icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Celtx is a great Final Draft alternative.

    • Celtx is Freemium and ProprietaryFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
  15. Campfire Write icon

    Campfire Write

     7 likes
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    Campfire provides a one-stop-shop for novelists: organizational and writing tools (Campfire Write), a hub of writing resources (Campfire Learn), & a writing and reading platform for building an audience and sharing your work (Campfire Explore).

    69 Campfire Write alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    Campfire Write screenshot 1
     

    • Campfire Write is the most popular SaaS alternative to Final Draft.

    • Campfire Write is Freemium and ProprietaryFinal Draft is Paid and Proprietary
12 of 50 Final Draft alternatives