Celtx is a popular pre-production software for scripting films, screenplays, videos, documentaries, stageplays, podcasts, and games. It has been used by creative writers since 2000.
The best bit about Celtx is that it’s lightweight and doesn’t strain your computer. Additionally, it has native apps for Android, macOS, and Windows and which makes it flexible. Writers can switch between devices at will through centralized cloud storage.
Fade In, WriterDuet, Manuskript are similar tools to Celtx but the best Celtx alternative is Final Draft because of its feature-rich side. It works for both beginners, and professionals in the game.
Why explore alternatives to Celtx?
Celtx isn’t free and is beyond the affordable range of most new creators looking to get into the scripting industry.
The cheapest Celtx plan, Writer, will cost you $14.99 monthly, and you can only create a maximum of three projects. You can’t create episodic scripts or do episodic planning either. This package doesn’t have production planning or development tools; all these can limit the writer’s range.
To unlock more features on Celtx, you’ll have to subscribe to the Writer Pro package ($24.99/month), Team package ($59.99), or Education package (Custom).
Furthermore, the free Celtx version has limited features like the inability to export final scripts to formats of your choice or work offline. Therefore, if you’re a scriptwriter needing a tool that handles massive projects, Celtx may not be a good fit for you.
Fortunately, several scriptwriting alternatives are cheaper with richer features. Here are the ten best Celtx Alternatives.
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Best Premium Celtx Alternatives
1. Final Draft
If you enjoyed movies like The Intern or Star Wars: The Force Awakens, know they were scripted on Final Draft. It’s oriented more toward professional creators with more writing experience.
At the same time, Final Draft has an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate, even for first-time writers. I have to mention here that the interface may be a little more complex than Celtx, but the learning curve isn’t steep at all.
Some standout features include a Night & Focus Mode that inverts the screen to cut out the white glare that may cause eye strain. A writer can also keep an organized record of all the edits they make as they write along using the Track Changes feature.
You can import a PDF document using the Import PDF feature into a fully editable Final Draft file, which is convenient and time-saving. Furthermore, like Celtx, you can collaborate with other writers through the Real-Time Collaboration feature.
Final Draft also allows you to insert images into title pages for visualization purposes as well as the ability to manage two dialogues at the same time through the Enhanced Dual Dialogue feature.
However, unlike Celtx, Final Draft doesn’t support Android mobile phones. But you can install it on iPhone, iPad, and as many computers as you want.
Plus, you only need internet access when running the program for the first time: everything can be done offline afterward.
Final Draft is also a little costly, but it is one of the few Celtx alternatives that offer a lifetime license purchase. All packages come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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2. Fade In
Fade In was created by screenwriter, Kent Tessman, in 2011, and has become one of the leading screenwriting tools in the global movie industry. Popular movies like Glass Onion and Venom were created using Fade In.
But how does it compare to Celtx as a potential alternative?
First, Fade In is compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, meaning writers can work on their projects on the go, just like Celtx.
Second, you get extensive formatting options like automatic transitions, scene headings, and switching into dialogue as you type. You can also choose between built-in default styles and customizable options for your project.
Like Celtx and most other alternatives on this list, Fade In allows real-time writer collaboration. Multiple collaborators can work on the same document from anywhere worldwide, with the changes reflected on the document as they write.
You can also insert images on the title page and within the script for a better visual effect. At the same time, you can color code the scenes in your screenplay for better organization and a clear overview of your work’s progression.
Furthermore, Fade In supports multiple file formats like HTML and Open Screenplay Format XML, and you can save and export your project in Rich Text Format. This allows you to use other writing tools like Final Draft and Celtx without needing file conversion.
The finished work can be exported as a PDF with secure watermarks. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about storage because Fade In has cloud storage, which you can access anywhere, on any device.
As for pricing, Fade In offers a one-time license purchase of $79.95, which is significantly cheaper than Final Draft. Users can start with the free trial version and only buy if they’re satisfied with how it works.
Fade In offers a student-friendly educational package at $59.99.
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3. WriterDuet
WriterDuet is laden with many features despite having some of the most affordable price plans in the industry.
Like Celtx, it has easy-to-use templates like comics, stageplay, and even a podcast option. All you need to do is to begin typing. A custom formatting option allows you to create your template from scratch, giving you more control over your work.
Furthermore, you can customize your workspace on WriterDuet, with options to adjust the screen colors or activate Dark Mode to protect your eyes from the screen glare. This is ideal if you love writing in a dimly lit room at night.
WriterDuel is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS (including the M1 versions). You can also get the Android and iOS versions that allow writing on the move – on your smartphone or tablet.
In addition to this, WriterDuet supports offline writing, with automatic syncing to Google Drive or Dropbox the moment you connect to the internet.
This writing tool also offers real-time collaboration, but it incorporates a text and video chat feature within the app for instant communication.
There’s also a helpful feedback feature where a writer can share a read-only link with anyone. The guests can listen, read, or comment in one place.
Writers can also organize their scenes and sequences using cards and color codes through Mind Map. It’s pretty efficient at setting up dates and times, locations, and characters to avoid confusion.
WriterDuet supports more file import and export formats than Celtx. They include PDF, WriterDuet, Final Draft, Celtx, Fountain, Docx, HTML, RTF, CSV, and JSON.
On the price front, WriterDuet offers four price plans. The free version allows a maximum of three projects and cloud storage. The Plus package costs $9.99/month and comes with unlimited projects, real-time collaboration, and offline writing.
The Pro package costs $11.99/month and includes everything in the Plus package, including dialogue and character filters. Finally, the Premium package costs $13.99, with everything offered in the Pro package on top of multiple language translations and script narrations.
All the price tiers come with a free trial option.
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4. StudioBinder
StudioBinder is one of the most aesthetically pleasing writing tools you’ll come across, ideal for beginners. Whether you’re looking for screenwriting, directing, producing, or a post-production planning tool, StudioBinder’s got you covered.
You can easily break down all the script elements on StudioBinder, from tagging props, gear, and the wardrobe. There’s even an option to import shooting scripts and add scene breakdown notes, making writing and planning easier.
Like Celtx, StudioBinder allows writers to visualize their shots by uploading images directly into their titles and scenes.
There’s even space for writers to specify the shot sizes, the lens needed for each scene, and the types of movements required to execute the shots. The best part is that this information can be shared with other collaborators.
Another area where StudioBinder edges out most of the premium alternatives on this list is its shooting scheduling capabilities. It has a version tracking feature that allows users to drag and drop scenes and setups, add day breaks, reorder them, and direct talents.
StudioBinder has a free plan along with three paid plans. They have separate plans for small teams and organizations. Click here for the latest on pricing.
5. Squibler
Squibler is a well-rounded writing platform that caters to all creative projects, not just scripting.
It has a simple and easy-to-use interface ideal for innovative writers who get those random creative thoughts. It features book writing, novel writing, screenwriting, technical writing, content writing, and online journaling.
The platform, founded in 2018, allows you to split the screen and have pages of what you’re working on side by side. You can either split the screen vertically or horizontally.
Book writers will be happy to know they can preview their work exactly how it would appear in its published form, just like in Celtx. This allows you to make the necessary changes as you write.
Squibler allows elements to be added to the pages with one click. Whether you’re writing a film scene or a long novel, tap a corresponding button on the page to add a chapter, dialogue, or sequence to get started.
Once you finish your project, it can be exported in different formats, including PDF, Text File, Microsoft Word, or Kindle. However, you can only import DOCX files on Squibler at the moment, which can limit most creators.
Other notable features offered by the premium version include project management, goal tracking, dark mode, collaboration, and tons of templates to choose from. The platform also allows Grammarly integration.
Squibler offers a free plan and a pro plan at $16/month.
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Best Free Celtx Alternatives
1. Trelby
Of all the free Celtx alternatives, Trelby boasts of the most diverse features that are more than enough to kickstart the career of any budding professional writer.
The platform was founded in 2003 under the name Blyter and later open-sourced in 2006, undergoing many improvements afterward.
Trelby offers features like a Screenplay Editor that automates standard script formats, pagination, spell-checking, and auto-completion for seamless writing. This feature works across all platforms, generating the exact output you need.
You can also choose the type of view you want when writing or proofreading your work. There are multiple views, draft view, the WYSIWYG mode, and full-screen mode to eliminate distractions.
Furthermore, Trelby has a 200,000-strong name database from different countries to create characters quickly. The Compare feature lets you check other versions of the scripts you’re working on to see the changes.
Trelby supports importing most screenplay-formatted texts like Final Draft XML, Celtx, Fountain, Fade In Pro, and Adobe Story. Additionally, you can export your work as PDF, HTML, Fountain, and Final Draft XML.
For writers worried about their work getting stolen, Trelby supports a configurable PDF generator that creates custom watermarks that help you track all shared files.
However, unlike Celtx, the current version of Trelby is only compatible with Windows and Linux (Ubuntu/Debian).
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2. Manuskript
Free writing tools are synonymous with low quality and bugs, but that’s not the case with Manuskript. The level of features it offers gives most premium alternatives a run for their money.
First, you get a simple outliner that allows you to check the status of your project with one glance. For instance, completed chapters are automatically marked green, while unfinished ones are marked red to avoid confusion when handling long projects.
Plus, you can even see the exact moment a particular character is introduced into the story.
Secondly, like Celtx, there’s the customizable distraction-free mode, where you can change the screen color to stop eye strain.
But Manuskript goes a step further by incorporating a writing target option where you can lock yourself in until you hit the set word count. This could be fun and good for overall productivity.
Another notable feature includes the Novel Assistant, which helps flesh out any idea you have, turning it into a coherent plot with full characters and plot twists.
The only drawback is that Manuskript is still in early development, so bugs are frequent. Therefore, users are highly advised to keep creating backups of their work as they proceed.
Additionally, you need third-party applications like Pandoc to export your final drafts to formats like ePub, DOCX, or OpenDocument. You’ll also need to install the spell and grammar tool, which can slow loading times.
The good news is that the app is getting better with new updates, and so far, you can use it on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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3. Kit Scenarist
This is another open-source and free writing tool for screenwriters that have had over 70 versions released since its inception.
Although it’s free, there are some premium features you have to pay for. The cheapest cloud storage, for example, will cost you $4.99 per month, rising steadily to $52.99 per month.
Long-term subscriptions come with discounts ranging from 6% for six months to 12% for 12 months, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.
According to a statement by Kit Scenarist, the fees charged are used to support the infrastructure upon which the platform operates, most specifically, cloud storage servers.
But creators collaborating on third-party projects without a need for cloud storage aren’t obligated to purchase a subscription.
The paid version also comes with the ability to collaborate with other writers online, like Celtx. At the same time, you can access your work on the mobile versions of the platform even when you’re traveling far from your writing desk.
Moreover, file formats that can be imported into Kit Scenarist include FDX, DOCX, Fountain, Trelby, and Celtx. The program also supports export formats like DOCX, PDF, and Fountain.
Kit Scenarist is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. iOS users must have iOS 8 and above, while Android users need Android 4.4 KitKat and above for it to work.
Users can donate any amount they feel like to support the platform.
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4. Story Architect
Popularly known as STARC, this is another open-source program with some features still in development. However, what’s already available has served writers of all genres well.
There’s no limit to the number of projects you can run or store simultaneously on Story Architect. Users can even create several versions of the same story, be it a comic, a screenplay, or a novel.
Story Architect is also among the most advanced Celtx alternatives as it incorporates ChatGPT assistant for those moments when you hit writer’s block. That’s something Celtx is yet to integrate.
The app is also lightweight and lightning-fast. Everything you create is saved as you write without affecting your device’s performance.
Like Celtx, Story Architect handles the formatting, so the writer only focuses on churning out content. It even allows users to configure command shortcuts to suit their writing speeds.
Some features in the development phase include a chat room, adding images, a mind map editor, and showrunner tools, among many others.
On its own, Story Architect provides the necessary features to create a project from start to finish. Besides the free plan, there are two paid plans as well. Click here to know more.
Some of the unique features included in this package are image galleries, location maps, and corkboards, alongside all the features from the free version.
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5. Scrite
Some writers love order whenever they’re working on a project, and of all of the free Celtx alternatives, Scrite takes the cake regarding ordering and structure.
Every aspect of your writing can be mapped using color-coded index cards for an aesthetic clarity that minimizes mixing up different parts of your writing.
Furthermore, the tool allows users to make personal annotations as they write to ensure they keep up with the flow of the story without getting lost in the plot. Like index cards, these annotations can be created using different colors.
The formatting process on Scrite uses industry-standard guidelines like Celtx, with most of them automated to give the writer room to focus on the content. You can also keep track of all the characters through the visual map, which is very helpful if you’re writing a complex story.
Additionally, Scrite has an in-built library of licensed scripts of popular movies that new and budding writers can read to understand how they’re written. All these can be accessed without paying a dime. This starkly contrasts Celtx, which offers about four short script samples.
You can also import and export formats like Adobe PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, HTML, Open Document Format, and Text File. The platform is also compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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Wrapping It Up: What Is the Best Celtx Alternative?
Final Draft is the best premium alternative for Celtx because it offers a wide range of features that can work for both beginners and seasoned professionals.
Trelby is the best free Celtx alternative, as it has all the essential elements needed to start a project from scratch to completion without denting your bank account.
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