Beat vs Final Draft
Beat
beat-app.fi
Final Draft
finaldraft.comSide by side
| Figure | Beat | Final Draft |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €12.99/mo | $0.69/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 12 |
| Spec score · Screenwriting Software | 8.8 (#5) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Spec score · Script Writing Software | 8.8 (#5) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Spec score · Writing Apps | 8.2 (#54) | 9.2 (#6) |
| Export formats | standard | extensive |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland | Burbank, California |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes |
| Publishing tools | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Users can report bugs through the maker's bug-report page and contact the developer by email or Discord. | Final Draft provides a knowledge base, self-service activation, installers and manuals, and registered-customer support resources. |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| What it does | Beat is a screenwriting app made for writers, with a distraction-free interface and tools for structuring stories. | Final Draft is screenwriting software that automatically formats scripts to Hollywood’s industry standards. |
| Writing tools | Beat automatically recognizes screenplay elements, supports autocomplete, and can track revisions and highlight changes in exported PDFs. | SmartType auto-completes locations and character names, and the software can store multiple dialogue versions simultaneously. |
Plans
Final Draft
- Final Draft Suite Annual$99.99 a year
- Final Draft Suite Monthly$16.99 a month
- Final Draft 13$249.99 a month
- Final Draft Suite annual$8.33 a year
- Final Draft Suite$16.99 a month
- Upgrade to Final Draft 13$79.99, paid once
- Educational Edition$99.99, paid once
- Final Draft 13 Student$99.99, paid once
- Final Draft 13 Personal$199.99, paid once
- Final Draft 13 Educators & Non-profitsPriced on request
In their own words
Beat
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.
Final Draft
Final Draft is screenwriting software that automatically formats scripts and supports planning, drafting and production workflows. Beat Board, Outline Editor and Structure Lines help writers brainstorm, outline and navigate drafts. SmartType completes common character names and locations, and writers can store multiple dialogue versions. The software includes templates, customizable workflows, autosave, sprint timers and writing statistics. Production tools cover revision, location tracking, casting, scheduling, budgeting, production tagging and reporting. Real-time collaboration works on scripts and the Beat Board; Final Draft Cloud adds asynchronous collaboration, Vault storage, project folders, ScriptNotes, sharing and optional desktop-to-cloud syncing. Final Draft is available for macOS, Windows, web and iOS, but the numbered desktop versions do not run on iPad or iPhone; Final Draft Go is separate. Desktop requirements are macOS 12 Monterey or later, or Windows 10 or later with an Intel or AMD processor; Chromebook is not supported. Suite plans include Final Draft 13 and Cloud: $99.99 a year or $16.99 a month, each with a 5-day trial.