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Free screenwriting software · Mac

The best free screenwriting software for Mac

For a full editor that costs nothing on a Mac, use Inkwell (macOS 15+) or Beat (older Macs too). Both are free in full and open Final Draft files. Story Architect, WriterDuet, and Arc Studio have useful but limited free plans.

Last checked: November 2026 · every fact from the vendor’s own site

We make Inkwell, so weigh our takes accordingly. The facts are checked against each vendor's own site; the takes are our opinion.

Quick picks

Fully free
No project cap, no watermark, no time limit.
Free tier
A free plan you can keep, with caps.
Paid
A trial or a watermarking demo only.

At a glance

AppFree?MacWindowsiPhone / iPadFinal Draft .fdxFountainLive co-writing
InkwellYesYesNoYesReader appYesYesNo
Beatvs Inkwell →YesYesNoPaidYesYesNo
Story ArchitectFree tierYesYesYesYesYesPaid
WriterDuetvs Inkwell →Free tier3 projectsIn a web browserIn a web browserYesYesYesPaid
Arc Studiovs Inkwell →Free tier2 scriptsIn a web browserIn a web browserIn a web browserYesExportYesExportPaidJoin free
Highland Provs Inkwell →No30-day trialYesNoYesYesYesNo
Fade Invs Inkwell →NoDemoYesYesNot checkedYesYesPaid
Final Draftvs Inkwell →No5-day trialYesYesNot checkedYesNot checkedNot checked

✓ yes · ✗ no · Tier = free plan with limits · Paid = paid plans only · Web = in a browser · ? = not checked for this list. Scroll sideways on a phone.

The free apps

01 Inkwell

Fully freeOfficial site (Inkwell, opens in a new tab)

A native Mac screenplay editor, free in full, with an optional paid AI partner. (Our app, held to the same standard.)

What’s free
The whole editor, forever: unlimited scripts, outline, beat board, revisions, import and export. No account, no watermark, works offline.
Limits
Quill AI is free for one week (500 credits), then packs from $4.99 or Quill Pro at $10/mo. No live co-writing.
Platforms
  • Mac · macOS 15+
  • iPhone/iPad reader (free)
Formats
  • FDX in/out
  • Fountain in/out
  • PDF in/out
  • Best for: Mac writers who want a full free editor that opens Final Draft files, with AI on hand but never in the way.
  • Downside: Mac-only and needs macOS 15 or later.

Checked against: Inkwell pricing · Inkwell features · Inkwell Reader on the App Store

02 Beat

Fully freeOfficial site (Beat, opens in a new tab)

A free, open-source (GPL) Fountain editor for Mac, made by a screenwriter.

What’s free
The full Mac app: index cards, timeline, revisions, scene numbering, statistics, and JavaScript plugins.
Limits
The iOS app is a paid one-time purchase and a lighter companion.
Platforms
  • Mac · macOS 10.13+
  • iOS (paid)
Formats
  • Fountain (native)
  • FDX in/out
  • PDF export
  • Best for: Fountain fans, open-source fans, and anyone on an older Mac.
  • Downside: No live co-writing or AI, and the iOS app costs extra.

Checked against: beat-app.fi · Mac App Store · GitHub

Inkwell vs Beat

03 Story Architect

formerly KIT Scenarist
Free tierOfficial site (Story Architect, opens in a new tab)

KIT Scenarist's successor: a cross-platform studio for scripts, plays, comics, and novels.

What’s free
Unlimited projects, the screenplay editor, title page, treatment, basic character and location info, and import/export.
Limits
Corkboard, timeline, cloud sync, live collaboration, and AI tools are paid. KIT Scenarist itself is no longer updated.
Platforms
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • iOS
  • Android
Formats
  • FDX in/out
  • Fountain in/out
  • PDF export
  • DOCX
  • Celtx import
  • Best for: Writers who switch between Mac, Windows, and Linux.
  • Downside: The corkboard and timeline are behind the paid plan.

Checked against: starc.app pricing · starc.app download · Export help · kitscenarist.ru

04 WriterDuet

Free tierOfficial site (WriterDuet, opens in a new tab)

A cloud screenwriting app built around collaboration.

What’s free
Three projects, industry-standard formatting, writing on computer or phone, and Google Drive or Dropbox backups.
Limits
More projects, live collaboration, the desktop app, and offline writing need the paid Plus plan.
Platforms
  • Web browser
  • Mobile
  • Desktop app (paid)
Formats
  • FDX
  • Fountain
  • PDF
  • Celtx
  • DOCX
  • Best for: Trying a cloud workflow with one to three projects.
  • Downside: The collaboration it's known for is paid.

Checked against: WriterDuet pricing

Inkwell vs WriterDuet

05 Arc Studio

Free tierOfficial site (Arc Studio, opens in a new tab)

A clean, modern cloud screenwriting app.

What’s free
Two scripts, cloud sync, comments, and Fountain and Final Draft export. You can co-write free when a paid user invites you.
Limits
PDFs are watermarked, there's no desktop app, and inviting collaborators is paid ($69 or $99 a year).
Platforms
  • Web browser
  • Desktop app (paid)
Formats
  • FDX export
  • Fountain export
  • PDF (watermarked)
  • Best for: A short or first feature, especially if a co-writer already pays.
  • Downside: Two-script cap and watermarked PDFs.

Checked against: Arc Studio pricing

Inkwell vs Arc Studio Pro

Not free, but often listed as free

06 Highland Pro

replaced Highland 2
PaidOfficial site (Highland Pro, opens in a new tab)

Highland 2 and its free version are no longer sold. Highland Pro replaced it in 2025.

What’s free
A 30-day free trial.
Limits
Then $9.99/month or $59.99/year. If it lapses, it still opens, prints, and exports.
Platforms
  • Mac · macOS 13+
  • iPad
  • iPhone
Formats
  • Fountain in/out
  • FDX in/out
  • PDF in/out
  • Best for: Fountain writers who want one app on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
  • Downside: No longer free.

Checked against: App Store · johnaugust.com

Inkwell vs Highland

07 Fade In

PaidOfficial site (Fade In, opens in a new tab)

A full-featured desktop app sold as a one-time license.

What’s free
A demo with all key features except online collaboration.
Limits
The demo watermarks PDFs and printouts. The full app is $79.95 once.
Platforms
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
Formats
  • FDX
  • Fountain
  • DOCX
  • PDF export
  • Best for: Writers who want a full desktop app and no subscription.
  • Downside: Not free once you need clean PDFs.

Checked against: Download · Features · Purchase

Inkwell vs Fade In

08 Final Draft

PaidOfficial site (Final Draft, opens in a new tab)

The industry standard, with a short free trial.

What’s free
A 5-day trial of Final Draft Suite on one computer.
Limits
The trial turns into a paid subscription automatically on day 5.
Platforms
  • Mac
  • Windows
Formats
  • FDX (native)
  • Best for: Writers whose studio or production requires Final Draft.
  • Downside: Not free; cancel before day 5 if you don't want to pay.

Checked against: Final Draft trial

Inkwell vs Final Draft

Which should you pick?

A full, free editor on a current Mac that opens Final Draft files
Inkwell or Beat. Both are free in full, and both read and write .fdx.
An older Mac (before macOS 15)
Beat, which runs on macOS 10.13 and later.
Open source
Beat (GPL). Story Architect's core is open source too, with paid extras.
Mac plus Windows or Linux
Story Architect's free plan. If you'd rather pay once, Fade In.
Co-writing in real time
Paid everywhere on this list. Arc Studio's free plan lets you join when a paid co-writer invites you.
AI help that never writes into your script without asking
Inkwell. Quill's suggestions arrive as changes you accept or reject. Free for a week, then paid.
A PDF script you need to edit
Inkwell turns a PDF back into an editable screenplay for free.

Common questions

Is there a free Final Draft alternative for Mac?

Yes. Inkwell and Beat are both free on the Mac in full, with no project limits or watermarks, and both open and save Final Draft (.fdx) files. Inkwell needs macOS 15 or later; Beat runs on macOS 10.13 and later. Story Architect's free plan also imports Final Draft files and exports .fdx.

Can I open Final Draft files for free?

Yes. Inkwell (Mac) and Beat (Mac) both import and export .fdx at no cost, and Story Architect's free plan imports Final Draft files on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Inkwell can also turn a PDF of a script back into an editable screenplay.

Is Highland 2 still free?

No. Highland 2, including its free version, is no longer sold. Its replacement, Highland Pro, has a 30-day free trial and then costs $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.

What's the catch with Inkwell being free?

The editor is free forever: unlimited scripts, import and export, no watermark, no account needed. What costs money is Quill, the optional AI writing partner. Every new account gets one free week of Quill Pro (500 credits, no card); after that, credit packs start at $4.99, or Quill Pro is $10 a month or $100 a year. Inkwell is Mac-only and needs macOS 15 or later.

Can I write and export a screenplay on a Mac without paying anything?

Yes. Inkwell and Beat both let you write, format, and export a finished PDF, Fountain, or Final Draft file without paying. Free tiers of cloud apps like WriterDuet and Arc Studio also work for a few scripts, though Arc Studio's free plan watermarks PDFs.

Try it free

Bring a script over and see.

Inkwell’s full editor is free on macOS 15 and later. Open a Final Draft, Fountain, or PDF script and keep writing.

Download Inkwell for MacAll comparisons

App names and icons are trademarks of their respective owners. Prices in USD, checked November 2026; confirm on each vendor’s site before you buy.