Why The Scriptwriter?
100% Free, No Catches
No subscriptions, no watermarks on exports, no feature gates. Every tool is available from day one.
Real Files You Can See
Scripts save as files on your computer that you can find in Finder or Explorer. Not hidden in a browser database — actual files you own and control.
No Cloud, No Accounts
Nothing leaves your machine. No sign-ups, no servers, no one else seeing your work. Export to Fountain or Final Draft format any time — your scripts are never locked in.
Install as a Desktop App
Install from your browser to get a standalone window with no tabs, no distractions, and full offline support. Works without internet after the first visit.
How we compare
| App | Price | Platform | No Account | PDF Export | Collaboration | Offline | Open Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Scriptwriter | Free | Browser (any) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Final Draft | $249.99 | Mac, Windows | ✓ | ✓ | Limited | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arc Studio Pro | $69+/yr Free tier watermarks |
Browser, Mac, Win | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Desktop only | ✗ |
| WriterDuet | Free tier Pro from $11.99/mo |
Browser, apps | ✗ | Pro only | ✓ | Pro only | ✗ |
| Fade In | $79.95 | Mac, Win, Linux | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Highland | $49.99 | Mac, iPad, iPhone | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| WriterSolo | Pay what you want | Browser | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | Limited | ✗ |
Common questions
Is The Scriptwriter really free?
Yes — completely. It's open source under a permissive license, with no accounts, no premium tier, no ads, and no tracking. Every feature is available from the first visit. If you want to fund development, future-you starring the GitHub repo is the most useful thing.
Does The Scriptwriter work offline?
Yes. After your first visit (or after you install it as a desktop app), the entire app is cached locally by the service worker and runs fully offline. You can write, edit, save, and export PDF/Fountain/FDX without an internet connection.
Where are my scripts saved?
On your computer. Your script auto-saves to your browser's localStorage and — if you use File → Save — directly to a real file on your disk via the File System Access API. Nothing is uploaded anywhere. For cross-device sync, save into a folder that's already synced by iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. See the Sync across devices section of the guide for details.
Can I import a script from Final Draft (.fdx) or Fountain?
Yes. File → Import from Final Draft (.fdx) handles both screenplay and stage play FDX files. File → Import from Fountain handles .fountain files. Export works the same way in reverse, and round-trip fidelity is preserved: an FDX-out then FDX-in produces the same script.
Is The Scriptwriter only for stage plays, or can I write screenplays too?
It's stage-play-first — the line types (Cue, Dialogue, Stage Direction), character entrance/exit tracking, and rehearsal sides export are built around stage plays specifically. You can write screenplays in it, but tools like Highland, Fade In, or Final Draft are more specialized for that format. The Fountain and FDX export support means you can always move a script out to a more screenplay-focused editor later.
What happens to my scripts if The Scriptwriter shuts down?
Nothing happens to your scripts — they live on your disk, not in a vendor database. Even if the website goes offline, you still have your .json save files, plus any Fountain or FDX exports you made. The app itself is open source on GitHub, so you (or anyone) can run it locally forever by downloading the single HTML file.
Do you collect any analytics or telemetry?
No user-action tracking, no script-content telemetry, no third-party scripts beyond the service worker. The hosting provider sees standard web request logs (which any web server collects), but the app itself sends nothing about what you write.
How do I install it as a desktop app?
In Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Arc: click the install icon in the address bar, or use the one-click Install button on the start screen. In Safari (macOS 14+): File → Add to Dock. On iPhone/iPad: Share menu → Add to Home Screen. Once installed it runs in its own standalone window, registers itself as a handler for .json/.fountain/.fdx files, and works fully offline.