OpenDraft vs TalkingDraft

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.

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.