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Head-to-head · Screenwriting Software

Final Draft vs OpenDraft

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Final Draft #1 in Screenwriting Software 5.6/10 From $8.33/mo (annual) · 5-day trial ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Final Draft
Higher score OpenDraft #6 in Screenwriting Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit OpenDraft

Final Draft leads on 0 checks, OpenDraft on 4, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOpenDraft · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly OpenDraft
  • Most featuresOpenDraft · 4 of 4

OpenDraft scores higher on our rubric for screenwriting software: 9.0 against 5.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #1.

OpenDraft offers free plan; Final Draft doesn't. OpenDraft offers real-time collaboration; Final Draft doesn't publish it. OpenDraft offers revision tracking; Final Draft doesn't publish it. OpenDraft offers production breakdown tools; Final Draft doesn't publish it.

Final Draft is the better fit for production professionals wanting a mature standard. OpenDraft is the better fit for free, full-platform collaborative screenwriting.

  • Final Draft fits best

    Production professionals wanting a mature standard

  • OpenDraft fits best

    Free, full-platform collaborative screenwriting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Final Draft 5.6/10 Visit ↗ OpenDraft 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 5.6 9.0
Ranking #1 in Screenwriting Software #6 in Screenwriting Software
Best for Production professionals wanting a mature standard Free, full-platform collaborative screenwriting
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Integrations 5 integrations 3 integrations
Features Final Draft 1/4 · OpenDraft 4/4
Real-time collaboration Not published ✓ (best)
Offline mode ✓ ✓
Revision tracking Not published ✓ (best)
Production breakdown tools Not published ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Not published macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, browser
Export formats extensive PDF, Microsoft Word (.docx), Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain (.fountain), Fade In (.fadein), Open Screenplay Format (.osf), OpenDraft (.odraft)
Our review
Pros
  • Automatic formatting, pagination, outlining, and revision tools
  • Cloud collaboration, sharing, version viewing, and restoration
  • Production reports, scheduling, budgeting, and breakdown features
  • Professional screenplay formatting with beat boards and index cards
  • Real-time collaboration, permissions, version history, and track changes
  • Broad platform support with imports, exports, and production tagging
Cons
  • No free plan; the free trial lasts 5 days
  • Cloud is excluded from the one-time desktop purchase
  • The full feature set may exceed the needs of casual writers
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple drafting
  • Production tagging is geared toward workflows beyond writing alone
  • Self-hosting requires managing the deployment environment
Our verdict

Final Draft is screenwriting software for professional and aspiring screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, playwrights, and production teams. It automatically formats and paginates scripts, while also covering outlining, story planning,…

Read the review →

OpenDraft is a free, open-source screenwriting application for writers, collaborators, and production-focused teams. It combines an industry-standard screenplay editor with beat boards, drag-and-drop index cards, character profiles,…

Read the review →
  1. Final DraftScreenwriting Software 5.6From $8.33/mo (annual) · 5-day trial
  2. OpenDraftScreenwriting Software 9.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Final Draft — where it wins

    • Automatic formatting, pagination, outlining, and revision tools
    • Cloud collaboration, sharing, version viewing, and restoration
    • Production reports, scheduling, budgeting, and breakdown features

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; the free trial lasts 5 days
    • Cloud is excluded from the one-time desktop purchase
    • The full feature set may exceed the needs of casual writers

  • OpenDraft — where it wins

    • Professional screenplay formatting with beat boards and index cards
    • Real-time collaboration, permissions, version history, and track changes
    • Broad platform support with imports, exports, and production tagging

    Where it doesn't

    • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple drafting
    • Production tagging is geared toward workflows beyond writing alone
    • Self-hosting requires managing the deployment environment
  • Final Draft5.6/10 · From $8.33/mo (annual) · 5-day trial

    A mature, full-scope screenwriting suite for writing through production.

    Visit Final DraftFull verdict →
  • OpenDraft9.0/10 · Free plan

    A broad, no-cost screenwriting suite for writing, collaboration, revisions, and production planning.

    Visit OpenDraftFull verdict →

More comparisons

All screenwriting software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on screenwriting software

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026