Final Draft vs OpenDraft
Final Draft
finaldraft.com
OpenDraft
proteus-technologies-private-limited.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Final Draft | OpenDraft |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.69/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 12 | 1 |
| Spec score · Screenwriting Software | 9.0 (#3) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Collaboration | Final Draft supports real-time collaboration on the script and Beat Board, while Final Draft Cloud provides asynchronous collaboration. | Multiple writers can edit a screenplay simultaneously through an invite link, with changes synchronized instantly. |
| Story planning | The software includes Beat Board, Outline Editor, and Structure Lines for brainstorming, outlining, and navigating drafts. | Story-planning tools include a Beat Board, Index Cards, Scene Navigator, and color-coded Script Notes. |
| Support | Final Draft provides a knowledge base, self-service activation, installers and manuals, and registered-customer support resources. | Users can report bugs or request features through the project's GitHub Issues page and community discussions. |
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
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.
OpenDraft
OpenDraft is a free, MIT-licensed screenwriting application for screenplay formatting, story planning, collaboration, revision tracking and production tagging. Planning tools include a Beat Board, Index Cards, Scene Navigator and color-coded Script Notes, alongside character management. Writers can edit together through an invite link, with changes synchronized during collaboration. Built-in Git-based version control supports named check-ins, side-by-side comparisons and restoring earlier versions. OpenDraft imports and exports Final Draft FDX, Fountain and Fade In files; it also imports OSF and plain text, and exports PDF and DOCX. Production tags can be reused for categories such as cast, extras, stunts, vehicles, props, costumes and VFX. Projects remain as local files, with no cloud servers, accounts or data collection. The desktop app works offline; collaboration and update checks require internet access. It supports macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android and browser use. Browser self-hosting requires Python 3.12 or newer, Node.js 18 or newer, and Git. The plan costs nothing, with no account, subscription or feature gating.