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 25 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, yWriter, Hemingway Editor and Trelby.

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Use your creative energy to focus on the content; let Final Draft take care of the style. Final Draft is the number-one...

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Final Draft alternatives page was last updated Feb 14, 2025
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  1. Scrivener icon

    Scrivener

     257 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.

    108 Scrivener alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

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

    Top Scrivener Features

    1.  Corkboard
    2.  Document compiler
    3.  Character database
    4.  Scene Management
    5.  Visual Organization
    6.  Split files into sections
    7.  Support for scripting
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Multi-document View
    10.  Integrated Search
    11.  Folders
    12.  Word counter

    Scrivener VS Final Draft

     

    • 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

     162 likes
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    Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.

    109 Manuskript alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1

    Top Manuskript Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Distraction-free Writing
    5.  Tracking of characters
    6.  Track Characters
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Support for MarkDown

    Manuskript VS Final Draft

     
    Comments about Manuskript as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Top Positive Comment
    José Relland
    Dec 18, 2021
    1

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

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Sep 10, 2017
    9

    Manuskript is not a scriptwriting program.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Feb 14, 2025
    0

    M is for novels, FD is for Screenwriting

    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

     3 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.

    15 Fade In alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Wellcome on Windows

    Fade In Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  Screenwriting
    4.  Compatible with Final Draft
    5.  Lifetime licence

    Fade In VS Final Draft

     
    Comments about Fade In as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Jun 12, 2021
    1

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

    Guest
    Positive Mar 18, 2019
    2

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

    Guest
    Positive Jul 20, 2018
    1

    Supports every major format. Distraction free screenwriting.

    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
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  6. Story Architect (STARC) icon

    Story Architect (STARC)

     13 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.

    39 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android
    Story Architect (STARC) screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Outliner
    2.  Screenwriting
    3.  Writing assistance
    4.  Tracking of plots
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Spell Checking
    8.  Real time collaboration
    9.  Portable
    10.  Autocompletion
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  No Coding Required

    Story Architect (STARC) VS Final Draft

     
  7. yWriter icon

    yWriter

     67 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.

    68 yWriter alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AU flagAustralia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Main screen on Windows XP

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Outline mode
    3.  Tracking of plots
    4.  Project Organization
    5.  Track Characters
    6.  Scene Management
    7.  Plot visualisation
    8.  Character database

    yWriter VS Final Draft

     
    Comments about yWriter as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Negative Aug 19, 2016
    5

    yWriter is for novels. Final Draft is for screenplays.

    Guest
    Negative Nov 3, 2017
    3

    Not screenplay or script writing software

    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
  8. Hemingway Editor icon

    Hemingway Editor

     55 likes
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    Hemingway App makes your writing bold and clear.

    132 Hemingway Editor alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    Hemingway Editor screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Spell Checking
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Writing assistance
    4.  Collaborative writing
    5.  Ebook writer
    6. Readability icon  Readability integration
    7.  Distraction-free Writing
    8.  Automated proofreading
    9.  Writing suggestions

    Hemingway Editor VS Final Draft

     

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

    • Hemingway Editor is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
  10. Trelby icon

    Trelby

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

    26 Trelby alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Trelby

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  WYSIWYG Support

    Trelby VS Final Draft

     
    Comments about Trelby as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive Apr 29, 2016
    0

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

    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
  11. Celtx icon

    Celtx

     40 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.

    38 Celtx alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Celtx screenshot 1

    Celtx Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Screenwriting
    3.  Text formatting

    Celtx VS Final Draft

     
    Comments about Celtx as an Alternative to Final Draft
    Guest
    Positive Mar 26, 2018
    0

    Free version for writers to get started.

    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
  12. Bookwiz icon

    Bookwiz

     2 likes
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    Got a story in mind, but not sure how to write it? Bookwiz's AI creates your entire book, step-by-step, from synopsis to chapters. We lay out the roadmap; you steer the course.

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Bookwiz screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Text to Image Generation
    3.  Autocompletion
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No Coding Required
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Live Preview
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Ebook writer

    Bookwiz VS Final Draft

     

    • Bookwiz is the most popular SaaS alternative to Final Draft.

    • Bookwiz is Paid and ProprietaryFinal Draft is also Paid and Proprietary
    • Bookwiz is LightweightFinal Draft is not according to our users
  13. 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).

    63 Campfire Write alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

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

    Campfire Write Features

    1.  Goal Tracking
    2.  Storyboard
    3.  Distraction-free Writing
    4.  Collaborative writing
    5.  Reading
    6.  Sci-fi

    Campfire Write VS Final Draft

     
10 of 48 Final Draft alternatives