Final Draft vs Novlr
Final Draft
finaldraft.com
Novlr
novlr.orgSide by side
| Figure | Final Draft | Novlr |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.69/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 12 | 5 |
| Spec score · Text App | 9.1 (#1) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Spec score · Writing Apps | 9.2 (#6) | 8.8 (#24) |
| Collaboration | Final Draft supports real-time collaboration on the script and Beat Board, while Final Draft Cloud provides asynchronous collaboration. | Yes |
| Export formats | extensive | extensive |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Yes | No |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes |
| Publishing tools | Yes | Yes |
| Security | Final Draft says encrypted cloud storage protects scripts from AI scraping and describes its collaboration and sharing as enterprise-secure. | The privacy policy says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with database row-level security and secure session management. |
| Story planning | The software includes Beat Board, Outline Editor, and Structure Lines for brainstorming, outlining, and navigating drafts. | Its planning grid helps writers track story arcs and plot threads across a project, with planning notes alongside the manuscript. |
| Support | Final Draft provides a knowledge base, self-service activation, installers and manuals, and registered-customer support resources. | Novlr offers in-app support chat, email support, and a writer community on Discord. |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| Writing tools | SmartType auto-completes locations and character names, and the software can store multiple dialogue versions simultaneously. | Features include focus mode, typewriter mode, writing sprints, goals, streaks, analytics, notes, and a planning grid. |
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
Novlr
- FreeFree
- Starter$8 a month
- Studio$16 a month
- Lifetime Studio Member$499 a month
- Lifetime Studio Member$499, paid once
In their own words
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.
Novlr
Novlr is a creative writing workspace for planning, drafting, and publishing projects. Its tools include focus and typewriter modes, writing sprints, goals, streaks, analytics, notes, and a planning grid for following story arcs and plot threads alongside a manuscript. Writing and notes can be exported as DOCX, PDF, ODT, EPUB, or RTF. The Free plan costs nothing and includes two projects, online syncing, notes and planning, focus mode, writing sprints, and analytics. Starter costs $8 a month, billed yearly, with up to 10 projects, 30-day version history, goals, streaks, Academy courses, and community access. Studio costs $16 a month, billed yearly, and adds unlimited projects and version history, Novlr Sites, proofing tools, backups to Google Drive or Dropbox, and priority support. Novlr Sites offers themes and custom domains. Novlr works through current major browsers, including Safari on iOS and Chrome or Firefox on Android, but requires an active internet connection even when saved to a phone or tablet home screen. It has no mobile apps. The company says it does not use writing for AI processing or training.