Celtx vs TalkingDraft

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.

TalkingDraft is screenwriting dictation software for writers creating a first draft by speaking dialogue and action. During dictation, number keys 1–9 label dialogue speakers and 0 marks action lines. Its free outliner provides story structure guides and a beatsheet calculator, and users can export outlines or transcripts as text files for import into screenwriting software. The maker lists compatibility with Final Draft, Fade In, WriterDuet, Highland, Trelby, ArcStudio, StudioBinder, Squibler, Storyist, and other screenwriting apps. Speech transcription is listed in 21 languages. Standard transcription runs in the user’s browser without sending audio to an external service; premium transcription is handled by a vendor under a contractual data processing opt-out. The maker says writing and audio are not used to train AI, and that data is encrypted in transit and stored in separate isolated systems. The free tier allows up to three stories before a referral link is needed to unlock more. Premium transcription is described as 99% accurate; transitions and parentheticals are left for users to add in another screenwriting or polishing app. A desktop version with local speech-to-text is in development, with a waitlist available.