Final Draft vs Celtx

Final Draft9.4Visit Celtx9.2Visit

Higher score Final Draft #1 in Writing Apps 9.4/10 5-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Final Draft

vs

Celtx #3 in Writing Apps 9.2/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Celtx

• Final Draft fits best

  Professional screenwriters and production teams

• Celtx fits best

  Production-oriented screenwriters

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Side by side

Feature	Final Draft 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Celtx 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.2
Ranking	#1 in Writing Apps	#3 in Writing Apps
Best for	Professional screenwriters and production teams	Production-oriented screenwriters
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$99.99/yr	$11.24/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	5 days	7 days
Free trial length	5 days	7 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS	Web, macOS, Android
Features Final Draft 5/5 · Celtx 5/5
Publishing tools	✓	✓
Real-time collaboration	✓	✓
Version history	✓	✓
Offline mode	✓	✓
Mobile apps	✓	✓
Specs
Export formats	Extensive	Standard
Our review
Pros	Automatically formats and paginates screenplays to industry standards. Combines beat planning, outlining, tracked revisions, and commenting. Adds production reports, collaboration, and cloud version restoration.	Automatic formatting for screenplay, stageplay, and multi-column scripts Real-time co-writing, comments, permissions, and approvals Production tools include breakdowns, schedules, budgets, and call sheets
Cons	The one-time Final Draft 13 purchase does not include Final Draft Cloud. Suite Monthly costs more per month than the annual Suite plan. Desktop sign-in requires internet access initially.	Free plan is limited to one project Version preview and restore are for subscribers Platform coverage and export breadth are limited
Our verdict	Final Draft is screenwriting software for professional and aspiring screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, playwrights, and production teams. Its core purpose is to handle screenplay conventions while supporting story planning and the work… Read the review →	Celtx brings scriptwriting and media production planning into a cloud-based workspace for screenwriters, stage writers, filmmakers, educators, and production teams. Its editors automatically format screenplay, stageplay, and multi-column… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Final Draft — where it wins

  • Automatically formats and paginates screenplays to industry standards.
  • Combines beat planning, outlining, tracked revisions, and commenting.
  • Adds production reports, collaboration, and cloud version restoration.

  Where it doesn't

  • The one-time Final Draft 13 purchase does not include Final Draft Cloud.
  • Suite Monthly costs more per month than the annual Suite plan.
  • Desktop sign-in requires internet access initially.

• Celtx — where it wins

  • Automatic formatting for screenplay, stageplay, and multi-column scripts
  • Real-time co-writing, comments, permissions, and approvals
  • Production tools include breakdowns, schedules, budgets, and call sheets

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan is limited to one project
  • Version preview and restore are for subscribers
  • Platform coverage and export breadth are limited

• Final Draft9.4/10 · 5-day trial

  A screenplay-focused toolkit with deep planning, production, revision, and collaboration features.

  Visit Final DraftFull verdict →
• Celtx9.2/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  Scriptwriting and production planning for screenwriters working with collaborators.

  Visit CeltxFull verdict →