Write professional screenplays
for free

No subscription. No cloud lock-in. Own your scripts forever.

Try OpenDraft Now

No account needed. Opens in your browser in seconds.

Free forever  ·  Works 100% offline  ·  Your scripts never leave your machine  ·  Import from Final Draft in seconds

Download Free View Source
Why OpenDraft?

Your intellectual property stays yours

Cloud-based screenwriting tools store your work on corporate servers — where it can be mined, leaked, or used to train AI. OpenDraft keeps every word on your machine.

Never Pay for Your Own Words

Free forever under the MIT license. No trial, no subscription, no feature gating.

Switch Without Starting Over

Import from Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, or PDF. Export anytime. Your scripts are never locked in.

Write Anywhere, Even Offline

Desktop apps for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Mobile apps for iOS and Android. No internet required.

Collaborate When You Want To

Invite co-writers with a link. Real-time cursors and permissions. When the session ends, nothing stays on any server.

Other tools store your scripts on their servers. They can change terms, scan for AI training, or shut down. With OpenDraft, your screenplay exists only on your computer, under your control.

In Action

See it for yourself

Visual Story Planning

Organize your narrative with the Beat Board. Drag and drop scenes, color-code story beats, and see the big picture.

Beat Board

Write Together, Live

Invite co-writers with a link. See their cursors in real-time, choose edit or view-only permissions.

Real-time Collaboration

Character Profiles

Build detailed character profiles with images, backstory, and attributes. Keep your characters consistent throughout your screenplay.

Character Profiles

Never Lose a Draft

Check in versions as you write. Compare drafts side by side and restore previous versions instantly.

Version History
Features

Everything you need to write

All the tools professional screenwriters expect, built into one free application.

Industry-Standard Editor

Scene headings, action, character, dialogue, parenthetical, transitions, and shots with proper formatting.

Beat Board & Index Cards

Visual story planning with drag-and-drop scene organization. Structure your story before you write.

Real-Time Collaboration

Write together with live cursors, presence indicators, and granular permissions.

Version History

Built-in version control with check-in, side-by-side diff, and instant restore of any draft.

Character Profiles

Track characters with descriptions, role types, and color-coded highlighting throughout your script.

Project Management

Organize multiple screenplays with metadata, assets, and research notes.

Search & Replace

Find and replace across your screenplay. Jump between scenes with the navigator.

Import & Export

Work with PDF, Final Draft FDX, and Fountain. Your scripts are never locked in.

iOS & Android Apps

Full-featured mobile apps with 100% of the desktop functionality. Write, edit, and manage scripts on the go.

Distraction-Free Mode

Hide the menu and toolbar for a clean, full-screen writing experience. Just you and your screenplay.

Privacy-First

Zero tracking, zero analytics, zero data collection. Works 100% offline.

Plugin Architecture

Extend OpenDraft with plugins. Add custom features without modifying the core application.

Compare

How OpenDraft stacks up

Everything the paid tools offer, without the price tag.

Feature OpenDraft Final Draft WriterDuet Fade In
PriceFree$250Free / $12/mo$80
Open Source✓✕✕✕
Offline Desktop App✓✓limited✓
Real-Time Collaboration✓✓✓✓
Beat Board / Index Cards✓✓✓✓
Version History with Diff✓limitedlimitedlimited
Self-Hostable✓✕✕✕
Linux Support✓✕✓✓
iOS App✓✓✓✓
Android App✓✕✓✓
No Account Required✓✕✕✓
No Tracking✓✕✕✕
Character Profiles✓limited✕✕
Casting / Reference Images✓✕✕✕
Production Tags✓limited✓✓
Fountain Import/Export✓✕✓✓
Web Browser Access✓✕✓limited
Plugin Architecture✓✕✕✕

Comparison based on publicly available product information as of April 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, please open an issue.

Download

Get OpenDraft

Available on every major platform. Free, no account needed. Most users are writing in under 2 minutes.

macOS

Apple Silicon .dmg

Windows

64-bit installer

Linux

.deb / .AppImage / .rpm
More download options

macOS (Intel)

For Intel Macs running macOS 12 Monterey or newer

macOS (Older Intel)

For Intel Macs running macOS 10.13 High Sierra through 11 Big Sur

Windows (MSI)

64-bit MSI installer

Linux (AppImage)

Portable, no install needed

Android (APK)

Sideload .apk
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

All versions on the Releases page

Getting Started

New to OpenDraft?

Everything you need to get writing.

Try the Demo

No account, no install

Download the App

Mac, Windows, Linux, mobile

User Manual

Step-by-step walkthrough

Community

Ask questions, get help

Report an Issue

Found a bug? Tell us

Open Source, Open Future

MIT licensed. Fork it, extend it, build on it. Your screenwriting tool should belong to you.

Star on GitHub Join the Community