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Head-to-head · Writing Apps

Final Draft vs LivingWriter

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Final Draft #1 in Writing Apps 9.4/10 5-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Final Draft
LivingWriter #51 in Writing Apps 4.4/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit LivingWriter

Final Draft leads on 1 check, LivingWriter on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreFinal Draft · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly LivingWriter
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresFinal Draft · 5 of 5

Final Draft scores higher on our rubric for writing apps: 9.4 against 4.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #51.

LivingWriter offers free plan; Final Draft doesn't. Final Draft offers offline mode; LivingWriter doesn't.

Final Draft is the better fit for professional screenwriters and production teams. LivingWriter is the better fit for authors wanting AI-assisted drafting.

  • Final Draft fits best

    Professional screenwriters and production teams

  • LivingWriter fits best

    Authors wanting AI-assisted drafting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Final Draft 9.4/10 Visit ↗ LivingWriter 4.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 4.4
Ranking #1 in Writing Apps #51 in Writing Apps
Best for Professional screenwriters and production teams Authors wanting AI-assisted drafting
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $99.99/yr —
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, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Integrations 5 integrations 2 integrations
Features Final Draft 5/5 · LivingWriter 4/5
Publishing tools ✓ ✓
Real-time collaboration ✓ ✓
Version history ✓ ✓
Offline mode ✓ (best) —
Mobile apps ✓ ✓
Specs
Export formats Extensive Extensive
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.
  • Organizes chapters, scenes, research, notes, and story elements in boards
  • Revision history supports comparison and restoration of earlier drafts
  • Exports manuscripts to DOCX, PDF, EPUB, and Amazon KDP
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.
  • The Free plan is limited to one manuscript and 25,000 words
  • Free and Pro plans limit AI requests to 3 and 25 per month, respectively
  • No offline mode limits writing when an internet connection is unavailable
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 →

LivingWriter is a cloud-based writing application for authors, screenwriters, novelists, students, and professionals who want a single place to plan and draft longer work. Its chapter, scene, and section organization supports drag-and-drop…

Read the review →
  1. Final DraftWriting Apps 9.45-day trial
  2. LivingWriterWriting Apps 4.4Free plan · 7-day trial

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.

  • LivingWriter — where it wins

    • Organizes chapters, scenes, research, notes, and story elements in boards
    • Revision history supports comparison and restoration of earlier drafts
    • Exports manuscripts to DOCX, PDF, EPUB, and Amazon KDP

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free plan is limited to one manuscript and 25,000 words
    • Free and Pro plans limit AI requests to 3 and 25 per month, respectively
    • No offline mode limits writing when an internet connection is unavailable
  • Final Draft9.4/10 · 5-day trial

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

    Visit Final DraftFull verdict →
  • LivingWriter4.4/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A cloud-based writing workspace with manuscript planning, revision history, exports, and AI tools.

    Visit LivingWriterFull verdict →

More comparisons

All writing apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update