Beat vs Celtx

Beat is a screenwriting app for structuring stories and writing in a distraction-free interface. It saves scripts as plain-text Fountain files, which the maker describes as portable and compatible with other editors. Beat imports Final Draft, Highland, Fade In, and Celtx files, then exports to Final Draft and PDF. Outline view and scene cards let writers add sections and synopses and rearrange scenes by dragging. The app recognizes screenplay elements, offers autocomplete, tracks revisions, and highlights changes in exported PDFs. The macOS version supports JavaScript plugins, including official options from a Plugin Library. Beat stores documents on the device, works offline, and says it collects no data. Files can be synchronized between iOS and macOS through iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive, although the maker cautions against opening one file on both devices. Beat is free on macOS; the iOS companion costs €12.99 a month with lifetime ownership after purchase.

Celtx is cloud-based software for writing, planning and managing media-production projects, including film, television, commercials, documentaries and interactive media. Script editors cover film and television screenplays, stageplays, multi-column audiovisual scripts and game scripts. Story development includes Beat Sheet, Storyboard and Script Goals & Insights; production planning tools cover breakdowns, catalogs, shot lists, scheduling, cast and crew, sides, budgets, call sheets and reports. Users can collaborate in real time with comments, presence awareness, permissions and shareable read-only links. Script revisions, feedback and approvals have a history. The cloud product runs in a browser, while Celtx Screenplay is listed for Windows computers and Android devices; mobile browsers include iPhone Safari support. The free plan allows one project, and the Writer plan supports up to three. Paid Writer billing is $11.24 a month when billed yearly, and a seven-day trial is listed. The maker is based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and was founded in 2000.