Final Draft Alternatives

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 an app in the news & books category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Final Draft for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, iPad and Linux 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 Hemingway Editor, yWriter, Celtx and DocxManager.

Final Draft alternatives are mainly Novel Authoring Tools but may also be Note-taking Tools or Text Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Final Draft.

Final Draft alternatives page was last updated

Final Draft

Paid • Proprietary

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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Scrivener
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Note-taking Tool
Project Management Tool
Mac
Windows
iPhone
iPad
PlayOnLinux (PlayOnMac)
Wine
97 Scrivener alternatives
Typewriter. Ring-binder. Scrapbook. Scrivener combines everything you need to craft your first draft, from nascent notion to final full stop.
- - Scrivener is the most popular Windows, Mac, iPhone & iPad alternative to Final Draft.
- - Scrivener is the most popular commercial alternative to Final Draft.
Suggest and vote on features
Scrivener Features
1. Support for scriptingScrivener supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
2. Support for LaTeXScrivener supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
Corkboard
Integrated Search
Document compiler
Multi-document View
Split files into sections
Visual Organization
Scene Management
Character database
Folders
Export to PDF
Opinions about Scrivener as a Alternative to Final Draft
Most users think Scrivener is a great Final Draft alternative.
Manuskript
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
100 Manuskript alternatives
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Linux alternative to Final Draft.
- - Manuskript is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Final Draft.
Suggest and vote on features
Manuskript Features
1. Works OfflineManuskript can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeManuskript doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeManuskript supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownManuskript supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. File VersioningManuskript has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Outliner
Tree structure
Tracking of plots
Distraction-free Writing
Tracking of characters
Plot visualisation
Track Characters
Visual timeline
Tracking of locations
Visual Organization
Comments about Manuskript as a Alternative to Final Draft
This alternative is disputed. Manuskript is still a legitimate Final Draft alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
José Relland
Manuskript is more for "quite complex" novels. Not really for screenplays.
Positive comment•
1

Guest
Manuskript is for novels. Final Draft is for screenplays.
Negative comment•
11

Guest
Manuskript is not a scriptwriting program.
Negative comment•
7

Guest
Manuskript is for writing novels.
Negative comment•
5
Hemingway Editor
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Text Editor
Grammar Checker
Mac
Windows
Online
117 Hemingway Editor alternatives
Hemingway App makes your writing bold and clear.
- - Hemingway Editor is the most popular Web-based alternative to Final Draft.
Suggest and vote on features
Hemingway Editor Features
1. Spell CheckingHemingway Editor can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
2. Distraction-freeHemingway Editor has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
3. Works OfflineHemingway Editor can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Writing assistance
Collaborative writing
Ebook writer
Readability integration
Distraction-free Writing
Automated proofreading
Writing suggestions
Story Architect (STARC)
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Text Editor
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
AppImageHub
Flathub
30 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Story Architect (STARC) Features
1. LightweightStory Architect (STARC) consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Spell CheckingStory Architect (STARC) can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
3. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Story Architect (STARC) simultaneously.
4. PortableStory Architect (STARC) can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. AutocompletionStory Architect (STARC) can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Story Architect (STARC).
7. Distraction-freeStory Architect (STARC) has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
8. Dark ModeStory Architect (STARC) supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
9. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Story Architect (STARC).
Outliner
Screenwriting
Writing assistance
Collaborative writing
Export to PDF
Visual Novel
Tracking of plots
No Coding Required
Tree structure
Works Offline
yWriter
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Android
Android Tablet
56 yWriter alternatives
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.
- - yWriter is the most popular Android & Android Tablet alternative to Final Draft.
Suggest and vote on features
yWriter Features
1. LightweightyWriter consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableyWriter can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Outline mode
Project Organization
Comments about yWriter as a Alternative to Final Draft
This alternative is disputed. yWriter is still a legitimate Final Draft alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
yWriter is for novels. Final Draft is for screenplays.
Negative comment•
4

Guest
Not screenplay or script writing software
Negative comment•
2
Celtx
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Mac
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
30 Celtx alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Celtx Features
1. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Celtx simultaneously.
Text formatting
Screenwriting
Comments about Celtx as a Alternative to Final Draft
Almost everyone thinks Celtx is a great Final Draft alternative.
Guest
Free version for writers to get started.
Positive comment•
0
DocxManager
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
118 DocxManager alternatives
A document manager and site builder/generator for Word users. You can open Word documents in tabs, manage documents on a project basis, full-text search documents across multiple project folders, attach tags, notes, stars, and so on to the documents.
DocxManager has no features, suggest some!
Wavemaker Novel Writing
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Online
62 Wavemaker Novel Writing alternatives
Looking for a suite of tools for writing your book? This is not just a text editor it does so much more. Organise your story using timelines, planning boards and the snowflake tool, all integrated to make writing intuitive and fun.
Suggest and vote on features
Wavemaker Novel Writing Features
1. Works OfflineWavemaker Novel Writing can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Wavemaker Novel Writing.
3. Distraction-freeWavemaker Novel Writing has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
4. Ad-freeWavemaker Novel Writing doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Dark ModeWavemaker Novel Writing supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. LightweightWavemaker Novel Writing consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
7. Spell CheckingWavemaker Novel Writing can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
User story mapping
Planning
Timeline
Writing assistance
Multiplatform
Mobile friendly
Export to Word
SmartEdit Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Windows
35 SmartEdit Writer alternatives
SmartEdit Writer (formerly Atomic Scribbler) is a project management and writing environment for novelists and short story writers working on Windows PCs. Writers use the software to plan their novels, prepare and maintain research material, and then write that novel chapter by...
Suggest and vote on features
SmartEdit Writer Features
1. Dark ModeSmartEdit Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Nested Notes
Tree structure
Writer's Cafè
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
43 Writer's Cafè alternatives
A powerful but fun writers environment that includes the StoryLines structuring tool, a notebook, journal, writing quotations, scrapbook organiser, a 60-page e-book and more.
Suggest and vote on features
Writer's Cafè Features
Storyline