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Head-to-head · Writing Apps

Scrivener vs Arc Studio Pro

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Scrivener #2 in Writing Apps 9.3/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Scrivener
Arc Studio Pro #39 in Writing Apps 5.6/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Arc Studio Pro

Scrivener leads on 0 checks, Arc Studio Pro on 2, 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 scoreScrivener · 9.3/10
  • Free planonly Arc Studio Pro
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresArc Studio Pro · 5 of 5

Scrivener scores higher on our rubric for writing apps: 9.3 against 5.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #39.

Arc Studio Pro offers free plan; Scrivener doesn't. Arc Studio Pro offers real-time collaboration; Scrivener doesn't. On export formats, Scrivener gives you Extensive where Arc Studio Pro offers Standard.

Scrivener is the better fit for novelists and other long-form authors. Arc Studio Pro is the better fit for collaborative screenplay beginners.

  • Scrivener fits best

    Novelists and other long-form authors

  • Arc Studio Pro fits best

    Collaborative screenplay beginners

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Side by side

Feature Scrivener 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Arc Studio Pro 5.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 5.6
Ranking #2 in Writing Apps #39 in Writing Apps
Best for Novelists and other long-form authors Collaborative screenplay beginners
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $23.99 one-time $69/user/yr
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 30 days 7 days
Free trial length 30 days 7 days
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS Web, Windows, macOS, iOS
Features Scrivener 4/5 · Arc Studio Pro 5/5
Publishing tools ✓ ✓
Real-time collaboration — ✓ (best)
Version history ✓ ✓
Offline mode ✓ ✓
Mobile apps ✓ ✓
Specs
Export formats Extensive Standard
Our review
Pros
  • Organizes drafts and research in a binder-style project structure
  • Snapshots, targets, and progress tracking support revision
  • Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks for export
  • Industry-standard screenplay formatting is available on the Free plan.
  • Visual beat cards support drag-and-drop story outlining.
  • Offline writing, backups, and standard export formats support a flexible workflow.
Cons
  • Separate perpetual licences are required for each platform
  • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration
  • Its extensive project structure may be unnecessary for short-form writing
  • The Free plan limits writers to two scripts and watermarks PDF exports.
  • Paid plans start at $69 per user per year with annual billing.
  • There is no Android app; Android users can access the web app in Chrome.
Our verdict

Scrivener is a writing application for novelists, screenwriters, academics, journalists, and other long-form writers. Its binder-style structure lets authors divide a project into sections, rearrange them, and keep research alongside the…

Read the review →

Arc Studio Pro is screenwriting software for solo writers, writing partners, writers’ rooms, educators, and filmmakers. It combines industry-standard screenplay formatting with visual outlining, notes, real-time co-writing, comments, draft…

Read the review →
  1. ScrivenerWriting Apps 9.330-day trial
  2. Arc Studio ProWriting Apps 5.6Free plan · 7-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Scrivener — where it wins

    • Organizes drafts and research in a binder-style project structure
    • Snapshots, targets, and progress tracking support revision
    • Compiles manuscripts, screenplays, and ebooks for export

    Where it doesn't

    • Separate perpetual licences are required for each platform
    • No Google Docs-style real-time collaboration
    • Its extensive project structure may be unnecessary for short-form writing

  • Arc Studio Pro — where it wins

    • Industry-standard screenplay formatting is available on the Free plan.
    • Visual beat cards support drag-and-drop story outlining.
    • Offline writing, backups, and standard export formats support a flexible workflow.

    Where it doesn't

    • The Free plan limits writers to two scripts and watermarks PDF exports.
    • Paid plans start at $69 per user per year with annual billing.
    • There is no Android app; Android users can access the web app in Chrome.

More comparisons

All writing apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update