Rank 1: Trelby
Best for drafting scripts in an open-source editor
License: Open source
- Windows
- Linux
Status: Slow
Free GPL editor with Fountain import and export, scene numbers and script comparison. Windows and Linux builds only.
Partial free options for Final Draft
No free tool fully replaces Final Draft yet. Best free option: Trelby (Situational).
About Final Draft
- Final Draft, Final Draft Suite, annual
$99.99 USDa year
≈$142.56 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
- Runs on
- Windows
- macOS
- Key file formats
- Not listed
No free tool ranks Strong for Final Draft yet, so the tools below each cover only part of the job. What a free alternative to Final Draft would need
Filter alternatives
1 alternative
Situational
1 toolRight for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.
Feature parity
How each alternative covers what people use Final Draft for. Numbers link to editor notes.
| Feature | Trelby |
|---|---|
| Writing | |
| Industry script formatting | Yes |
| Exchange | |
| Final Draft file import and export | PartialNote 1Imports and exports Final Draft XML; how well notes and revisions survive is untested |
| Production | |
| Colored revision pages | NoNote 2Its manual describes script comparison but no colored revision pages |
| Page and scene locking | NoNote 3Its manual describes scene numbers in output but no page locking |
| Script reports | PartialNote 4Includes a character report; no production reports |
| Parity score | 40% |
- Trelby, Final Draft file import and export: Imports and exports Final Draft XML; how well notes and revisions survive is untested
- Trelby, Colored revision pages: Its manual describes script comparison but no colored revision pages
- Trelby, Page and scene locking: Its manual describes scene numbers in output but no page locking
- Trelby, Script reports: Includes a character report; no production reports
About this page
Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.
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Final Draft is a product of Final Draft, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Final Draft: Windows, macOS.