You have in mind a cinematic project with multiple locations with explicit narrative descriptions, circuitous characters with unique dialogue, and a whole lot of film editing instructions. Is there a way to accurately portray all of that in ane certificate? Yes, yes, there is! Is chosen a screenplay, which follows a unique "Hollywood standard" formatting. Is there a dedicated software to assist you? Is there one for the low toll of free? Of form, they are, and here nosotros volition give you v gratuitous screenwriting software options for yous to try.

Why apply screenwriting software?

The screenplay follows strict formatting rules. If you are brave, you tin can try recreating this format on a Discussion document or be smart nearly it and use screenwriting software that automatically formats your screenplay. Do note, however, that although the screenwriting software does a few nifty things, it does not create good scripts.

Check out "vii Script Editing Tips that Volition Take Your Screenplay from Skilful to Great" for more information on how to improve your original script into something better.

This handy screenplay case created by Writers Store volition requite y'all a rough idea of how a screenplay looks. Yous can use this to become upward to speed on screenwriting fundamentals.

Free screenwriting software options

Now that you lot have the fundamentals of making a screenplay, let'southward see which gratuitous software you can use to write it in the correct format.

Celtx

Celtx is a cloud-based pre-production suite that has a free scriptwriting module. Celtx is an excellent selection to start learning how to format a script. Additionally, Celtx offers a variety of packages which includes unlike tools and features (for a monthly fee) that will allow you to handle virtually of the task involved in video product. Tools such as Breakdown, Scheduling, Budgeting, Cost Reports, Shot List, and among others. If you lot don't demand all those tools and simply demand screenwriting, make sure to use the "Basic Scriptwriting" parcel which is entirely gratuitous.

Pros:

  • Like shooting fish in a barrel to employ scriptwriting software with the right tools to go your screenplay done
  • Cloud-based platform – access anywhere
  • Available for complimentary as long as you downgrade to a limited free plan.

Cons:

  • A maximum of 3 projects (including items in the Trash)
  • Discontinued desktop software.
  • "Created using Celtx" footer watermark.

Download Celtx

YouMeScript

YouMeScript is a free collaborative screenplay, script, and screenwriting extension for Google Drive. YouMeScript correctly formats the screenplay including auto-formatting pasted text (e.g., paste a PDF screenplay to YouMeScript by but copy-paste). It as well has shortcuts for full speed screenwriting (tab key) and car-completes elements in your script such as grapheme names, scene heading, and much more than.

Pros:

  • Google Drive integrations allow y'all to use all Google Drive tools such as calendar, tasks, notes, etc.
  • Full real-time collaboration with comments in the script
  • Fast, like shooting fish in a barrel to use, and straightforward.
  • Unlimited scripts
  • Import FDX, FOUNTAIN, and apparently text.
  • Upgrading to Pro version is affordable and includes useful features such as offline writing.

Cons:

  • Only for writing screenplay. No options for breakdown, scheduling, budgeting, cost reports, etc.
  • It is designed and coded past one person (Jake Lyall). Still, the developer keeps it afloat (come across YouMeScript Forum) and offers electronic mail back up to answer whatever questions.
  • You may encounter some bugs using the extension.

Download YouMeScript

Writer Duet

WriterDuet is professional person screenwriting software that allows you to collaborate with a partner or multiple writers. You log in to the program on a browser and write together in real-time. Information technology formats your script according to industry standards and includes windows for scene cards. Since Writer Duet focuses on collaboration, y'all tin watch changes other writers made at another figurer in real-time. Then you lot tin use the comments functionality and the chat to articulate upward any concerns with your collaborator.

Pros:

  • Real-time collaborative work
  • Analyzes a PDF and changes the text into an editable script.
  • Export in a wide diversity of formats (PDF, Concluding Draft, Celtx, others).
  • Available in a web browser and mobile app

Cons:

  • Free version express to iii scripts
  • Loading time might exist a bit slow

Download Writer Duet

Trelby

Trelby is an open-source screenwriting software for Windows and Linux. It is gratis and is laid out to make screenwriting simple (enforces right script format and pagination). Trelby has multiple views, including a draft view, WYSIWYG mode, fullscreen and a graphic symbol name database containing over 200,000 names from various countries. Additionally, information technology allows y'all to create scene/location/character/dialogue reports and a "compare scripts" feature and so you tin can know what changed between versions.

Pros:

  • Easy to learn and utilise
  • Free with options to contribute to the development
  • Import and export a wide variety of formats

Cons:

  • Only bachelor on Windows and Linux. No Mac version as of the writing of this postal service.

Download Trelby

Highland 2

Highland 2 is a Mac app designed to make navigating through a script a simple job. Highland handles formatting automatically allowing yous to focus on words, not format. When you want to see the layout, toggle betwixt your text and a preview of the finished document. Some other cool feature is that y'all can motility files between Fountain, Final Draft, and PDF formats.

Pros:

  • Distraction-free design
  • PDF templates (screenplay, manuscript, stage play)
  • Customizable layout with unlike colors

Cons:

  • Only bachelor on Mac
  • Doesn't let to import or copy-paste from a PDF
  • Does not use "Tab" key to switch between script options (action, character, parenthesis, etc.) Can be confusing if you previously use the "Tab" key in other software.

Download Highland 2

Next steps with your screenplay

After you have a properly formatted script, the adjacent step is to practice a script breakdown to assist in your scheduling and budgeting. Notation that some of the software mentioned higher up have tools for this. Later on knowing past center the multiple ways you lot want a scene to play out, y'all'll exist able to handle whatsoever questions your actors may have during filming. And so you can produce it independently or see if yous tin sell it and make a moving picture.

RIP fallen heroes

Here I'm going to mention ii discontinued scriptwriting software Adobe Story and Amazon Scripwritter. Both of them were splendid, but they lack some features in comparison to other screenwriting software. I especially loved Adobe Story integration with Premiere Pro that allowed to access scripts and see script updates in existent-time with Adobe Story in Premiere Pro.