Beat vs DubScript

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.

DubScript is an Android screenplay editor for film, television, and online shorts. It reads Final Draft .fdx, Fountain, and Trelby scripts, then exports to PDF, .fdx, HTML, or print. Writers can edit plain text while the app formats screenplay indentation, page breaks, and numbering, and it also supports Markdown files. Tools include character and slugline suggestions, spell-check, keyboard shortcuts, scene numbering, notes, and dual dialogue. A Wellness Exam identifies possible Fountain or screenplay formatting issues. Review features include speech playback, statistics, scene and character reports, a dialogue browser, and draft comparison. Scripts can stay on the device for offline work or be saved to Drive and other cloud services. The free plan includes unlimited scripts and scenes, with ads in write mode and some screens.