Free Screenwriting Software: What You Actually Get
By Muhammad Wisal and Muhammad Ali / 6 min read
Free screenwriting software falls into three groups: tools that are free with no project limit (Trelby, STARC), free tiers of paid cloud tools that cap how many scripts you can keep or watermark your PDF (WriterDuet, Arc Studio, Celtx), and demos or trials of paid apps (Fade In, Final Draft). For a single short film, almost any of them works. For a feature you will rewrite for a year, the limits matter, so check them before you start.
What does "free" usually leave out?
Free screenwriting software almost always formats a script correctly. What it leaves out tends to be one of these six things, and each one hurts at a different point in a project.
| Limit | What it looks like | When it hurts |
|---|---|---|
| Project cap | One to three scripts on the free plan | When you start your second or fourth idea and have to delete or archive one |
| Watermarked PDF | The vendor's mark on every exported page | When you send the script to a contest, producer or actor |
| No collaborators | You can join others' scripts but cannot invite anyone to yours | When you take on a co-writer |
| No revision tools | No drafts, history or colored revision pages | When the script goes into production and pages change |
| Trial expiry | Full features for a set number of days | When the trial ends in the middle of a draft |
| No support or updates | Community or none | When an operating system update breaks the app |
Which free screenwriting software is actually free?
Here is what each option gives you at no cost, as of 2026. Plans change, so confirm on each vendor's site.
| Software | Type of free | Main limit | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trelby | Free and open source | No collaboration or cloud; older interface | Windows, Linux |
| STARC (Story Architect) | Free plan, unlimited projects | Real-time collaboration and sync are paid | Desktop and mobile |
| WriterDuet | Free plan | Three projects; collaborators are read-only; desktop app is paid | Browser |
| Arc Studio | Free plan | Two scripts; PDF export is watermarked; no collaborators | Browser |
| Celtx | Free plan | One project, one seat; read-only script history | Browser |
| Fade In | Unlimited demo | Watermark on printed and PDF pages; no real-time collaboration | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Final Draft | Free trial | Time-limited, then a paid license or subscription | macOS, Windows |
| Google Docs or Word template | Free if you already have it | No automatic formatting or correct dialogue page breaks | Any |
Arc Studio's free plan does let you export Fountain and Final Draft files without a watermark, so you can still move your work out. Fade In's demo has the full feature set, which makes it a good way to test before paying for its one-time license.
Which free option should you pick?
Pick by the project in front of you.
- A first short film you will shoot yourself: any free cloud tier is enough. One script fits inside every limit. Make sure you can export a PDF your crew can read.
- A feature spec for contests: you need a clean PDF without a watermark. Trelby, STARC or WriterDuet's free plan all export without one.
- Several projects at once: Trelby or STARC, since neither caps projects.
- A co-writer from day one: free tiers are weak here. Expect to pay for one seat, or use a tool where only the owner needs a paid plan.
- A Linux or older Windows machine: Trelby runs offline with no account.
If you outgrow free tools, our guide to the best screenwriting software in 2026 compares the paid options.
Can you write a screenplay for free in Google Docs or a text editor?
Yes, in two ways. The first is a Google Docs or Word template with screenplay margins and indents saved as styles. It works for short scripts but needs care at page breaks. We give the exact settings in our screenplay template for Google Docs and Word.
The second is Fountain, a plain-text syntax for screenplays. You write in any text editor with simple rules: a line starting with INT. or EXT. becomes a scene heading, a line in capitals followed by text becomes a character and dialogue, and a line ending in TO: becomes a transition. Many screenwriting apps import Fountain files, so you can draft for free anywhere and format later. A short example:
EXT. FERRY DOCK - DAWN
Fog. TOMASZ (60s) coils a rope, watching the empty water.
TOMASZ
She said six o'clock.CUT TO:
Whichever route you take, learn the format rules first. Our guide on how to format a screenplay covers margins, elements and the title page.
What should you check before committing to a free tool?
- Export a test PDF. Write two pages and export. Check for watermarks and that dialogue does not split badly across pages.
- Export a structured file. Fountain or .fdx. If you can only get a PDF out, moving later is harder.
- Read the project limit. Count the scripts you already have, including old drafts you keep as separate files.
- Check where files live. Cloud tools keep scripts on their servers. Desktop tools keep them on your machine, so back them up.
- Check what happens if you stop paying later. If you upgrade and then downgrade, find out what happens to scripts above the free limit.
Is Lowerated free?
Lowerated has a free Basic plan at $0. Paid plans as of 2026 are Scriptwriter at $10 a month, Producer at $30 a month (storyboards, shot lists, casting and self-tapes, location scouting, budgeting and scheduling, mood boards), and both together at $40 a month. The pricing page lists what each plan includes.
Lowerated is an all-in-one platform for independent filmmakers. The Scriptwriter formats to industry standard as you type, imports Final Draft, Fountain, Celtx and PDF, and exports a clean PDF. The same project then carries into pre-production: breakdown, stripboard schedule, call sheets and casting. It does not edit video or handle color, sound or VFX.
The clip shows the path from writing a script to planning and sharing the film in Lowerated.
A scene typed in the Lowerated editor, with formatting applied as you write.
You can sign up for the Basic plan and try the editor on a short scene.
FAQ
What is the best completely free screenwriting software?
Trelby and STARC are free with no project limit. Trelby is offline on Windows and Linux; STARC adds outlining and character tools.
Do contests accept scripts from free software?
Contests accept a correctly formatted PDF. They do not care which software made it, but a vendor watermark looks unprofessional, so avoid tools that add one.
Is the Final Draft trial enough to write a script?
It is time-limited, so it suits testing more than writing a full draft. If you want a long free test of a paid desktop app, Fade In's demo has no time limit but watermarks output.
Can I move my script from a free tool to a paid one later?
Usually yes, through Fountain, Final Draft (.fdx) or PDF export. Test an export early so you know it works.
Key takeaways
- Free tools format correctly; the limits are project caps, watermarks, collaboration and revisions.
- Trelby and STARC have no project limit. WriterDuet, Arc Studio and Celtx cap scripts on free plans.
- Fade In's demo is full-featured but watermarks output; Final Draft's trial is time-limited.
- Fountain lets you write in any text editor for free and import later.
- Export a test PDF and a structured file before you commit to any tool.
