InkwellInkwell vs Fade In
Fade In Professional is a one-time-purchase screenwriting tool across Mac, Windows, and Linux. Inkwell is a Mac-native editor with a built-in AI assistant that suggests and never writes for you.
| Feature | Inkwell | Fade In |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The full editor is free. Pro ($10/month or $100/year) only adds more Quill credits. | One-time license at $79.95 (updates within major version included). |
| Built-in AI assistant | ✓Quill, with an approve/reject diff for every suggestion. | —No built-in AI assistant as of August 2026. |
| Platforms | Native macOS app. | macOS, Windows, and Linux (plus iOS and Android companion apps). |
| File formats | ✓Fountain and Final Draft (.fdx) import and export. | ✓Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, PDF, and other industry formats. |
| Offline writing | ✓Fully offline; internet only needed to ask Quill. | ✓Fully offline desktop application. |
| Revision tracking | —Not yet available. | ✓Full revision mode with colored revision pages. |
| Real-time collaboration | —Single-writer focused today. | —No built-in real-time collaboration. |
Fade In Professional is available as a one-time perpetual license at $79.95. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux (plus iOS and Android companion apps). No subscription required, and updates within the major version are included. Facts current as of August 2026; check fadeinpro.com for the latest.
Choose Fade In if
- You want a one-time purchase with no subscription at all.
- You need to write on Windows or Linux.
- You want full revision tracking with colored revision pages.
- You want a traditional tool with no AI involved.
Choose Inkwell if
- You want a built-in AI assistant that suggests but never auto-writes.
- You want the full editor for free, not $79.95 up front.
- You want brainstorming, dialogue suggestions, and scene restructuring in the editor.
- You prefer a native Mac app built for macOS.
Fade In Professional is a full-featured screenwriting application available for a one-time purchase. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and covers the fundamentals well: industry-standard formatting, revision tracking, index cards, reports, and both Fountain and Final Draft (.fdx) support. For writers who want a capable tool without a subscription, it's the value pick.
Inkwell is a native macOS screenplay editor with Quill, a built-in AI assistant. Quill brainstorms, suggests dialogue, and restructures scenes, and every suggestion is a diff you approve or reject. The Inkwell editor itself is free; you only pay for additional Quill credits.
If you want a one-time purchase that works on Mac, Windows, and Linux with no subscription and no AI, Fade In is a strong choice. If you want a free Mac editor with an AI assistant you control, try Inkwell.
Bring a script over and see.
The full editor, unlimited scripts, and Fountain and Final Draft import are free. Move a script over from Fade In and see how Quill works.