6 Amazing Open Source Screenwriting Software Of 2021(Free)
Tags: Screenwriting Software, Screenwriting

Are you a filmmaker or educating someone who is still using the regular Microsoft Word or Google Docs for the scriptwriting? But you can’t outline or screenplay properly with this software. That’s why some open source screenwriting software comes to solve this problem.

Screenwriting software comes with different elements like — autocomplete, pagination, spelling check, multiple view, correct script formats, autosave and more. It can manage the formatting, and editing of the script that no regular software can handle. If you are a writer, You only have to focus on the story, not on the technical things to save your time.

If you are really interested in screenwriting, I have picked my favorite open source screenwriting software according to its benefits, features, and platforms.

So, let’s get started.

What is the Best Open Source Screenwriting Software?

1. Highland 2

Highland 2 is open-source screenwriting software that can handle formatting automatically. This is feature-rich and beautifully designed software where you only focus on the writing, not need to hit the tab key, just return.

It can organize your screenplay by sequences and acts. When you are writing, Highland suggests character and location names automatically. This free screenwriting software automatically recognizes scene headers like INT and EXT.

Highland is the best free screenwriting software that can convert your words into a properly-formatted and professional script. It always delivers the writing in a PDF format. Many professional screenwriters produced screenplays in Highland.

Highland can automatically produce dialogue and character cues. You can also drag and drop the scenes & sections to reorder a snap. You will be able to analyze male and female characters in your script. After writing, see the preview by tapping the preview button.

Available For:

macOS

Key Features:

Templates: Multiple templates available including screenplay, multi cam, and manuscript

Multiple templates available including screenplay, multi cam, and manuscript Revision Mode: Track your changes with different colors and complete with stars in the margin

Track your changes with different colors and complete with stars in the margin The Bin: Magical shelf to hold the text you want to keep

Magical shelf to hold the text you want to keep Scratchpad: Great place to store information and instruction for writing

Great place to store information and instruction for writing Themes: 10 unique themes available or build your own with their theme builder

10 unique themes available or build your own with their theme builder Full-Screen Mode: Use full-screen mode and write without any distraction

Use full-screen mode and write without any distraction Word Analysis: Analyze word to see which word you are using most frequently and which not

Analyze word to see which word you are using most frequently and which not Navigator: See the overview of your writing

2. Kit Scenarist

Kit Scenarist is a free and open-source screenwriting software that most of the users recommend. Kit Scenarist allows you to collect all of your research for scriptwriting in one place and you can manage characters, locations, rename, photos, add descriptions, and organize them. Explore more powerful software as well.

Kit Scenarist is an open-source scriptwriting software that is oriented in international film production. It allows you to save basic information about a script like — logline, synopsis, name, etc. More than 10,000 screenwriters use this software and the updates come out every month.

The card module allows you to build a better structure of your story and arrange the cards of the board in rows or in column. Only focus on your story by using a script editor and you can also write in your native language & save it.

Writing time you can see how many characters, words, pages of your story including duration of the story. The Statistic module of this software provides you with detailed reports and activity of the script. After completing the script, you can save the report and send it to the producer or any production company.

Kit Scenarist is a very simple and powerful application that can export script in different formats like — PDF, FDX, DOCX, and Fountain. This app automaticallydetermines the formatting of each block, and you can use dark or light themes according to your choice.

Available For:

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android

Key Features:

Research module are designed to collect all the necessary materials

Update version comes out every month

Build an ideal story with better structure

Speed up your productivity with just two buttons — Tab and Enter

and Get detailed information about screenplay using Statistics Module

Use dark or light theme according to your choice

Exports scripts in different formats — PDF, FDX, DOCX and Fountain

and Use Full Screen Mode without any distraction

READ MORE:

10 Best Whiteboard Animation Software(Ultimate Guide)

3. Trelby

Trelby is another open source screenwriting software which is simple, fast and infinitely configurable. This screenplay software allows you to write your story quickly and it follows the screenplay formatting guidelines automatically. Also check animation software for beginners.

Trelby is free screenplay writing software which provides multiple writing mode and fullscreen mode that you can write your story without any distraction. You will get all the features for writing a screenplay and check for screenplay formatting errors in the script.

This software allows you to control every program like — font, color and everything is configurable. It provides you the detailed report of character, dialog, action and overall statistics of your script. Trelby can export to PDF, TXT, HTML, RTF and Final Draft.

Available For:

Windows, Linux

Key Features:

Free Software: This is free software which comes with GPL license

This is free software which comes with license Screenplay Editor: It includes pagination, auto-completion, spell checking and correct script formats.

It includes pagination, auto-completion, spell checking and correct script formats. Multiplatform: Used for all platforms and generate same output

Used for all platforms and generate same output Name Database: The character name database contains over 200,000 names from different countries

The character name database contains over 200,000 names from different countries Multiple view: Multiple view, draft view, full screen mode, WYSIWYG mode

Multiple view, draft view, full screen mode, WYSIWYG mode Reporting: Get detailed report of scene, dialogue, location and characters

Get detailed report of scene, dialogue, location and characters Compare: Compare scripts to see the changes between the versions

Compare scripts to see the changes between the versions Import & Export: Import screenplay formatted text, Final Draft XML and export PDF, formatted text, HTML, RTF and Final Draft XML

Import screenplay formatted text, Final Draft XML and export PDF, formatted text, HTML, RTF and Final Draft XML PDF: Built in and highly configurable PDF generator

4. Causality

Causality is another open source screenwriting software where you can create your story visually and get an incredible overview of any complex story. Causality is the best free screenwriting software that easily understands the causes and effects in your story and alerts you when you break your rules.

This free screenplay software works in snippets which are little pieces of text that express the character. You can easily write screenplays, novels and create plots and characters visually. You can track all the ideas in research areas and it makes your story more clear, so you can expect more from it.

When you are writing a screenplay or a novel, Causality gives you a new level of control for your story. This software supports writing in over 100 different languages and checks spelling on all platforms. It also tracks the character’s emotional and mental states including audience experience.

You can overview your writing across three monitors with Script, Whiteboard and timeline. Causality is well designed to run anything from laptop to multi monitor setups. May be you are interested in video editing software for better YouTube video.

Available For:

Windows, Mac, Linux

Key Features:

Characters: Develop characters, relationships, and track the emotions, knowledge, outlook of the characters.

Develop characters, relationships, and track the emotions, knowledge, outlook of the characters. Color Coding: All color coding starts with the color of Beats and scheme is selected in whiteboard menu

All color coding starts with the color of Beats and scheme is selected in whiteboard menu Night Mode: You can enable night mode from script option menu

You can enable night mode from script option menu Auto Save: It has multiple autosave features to keep you safe

5. Arc Studio Pro

Arc Studio Pro is one of the most popular open source screenwriting software which is designed for professional and better story writing. You can do formatting as well as collaborate, craft beautiful stories and stay focused on your writing.

If you are struggling with outline, drag and drop your beats, organize them in acts, tag storylines and create better structured stories. Using this screenwriting software, any writer and co-writer can work together on the same script in real-time.

Arc Studio Pro is good looking and very useful software where you can work with thousand scripts very easily, no matter if you are a beginner or expert. This powerful software is fully automatic including industry standard page layout and text formatting.

You can rearrange your story with drag and drop functionality. It allows you to highlight storylines and characters to see their arcs at a glance. You can directly comment on the script and review your scripting. This software allows you to import and export PDF, Final Draft and Fountain.

Whiteboard animation software is booming now for your business.

Available For:

Windows, macOS

Key Features:

Create better story and handle thousands of script in one place

Automatically formats your screenplay to industry standard

Character names and slug lines automatically completed for you

Intuitive interface including auto-save and automatic backups for your writing

Use night mode and stay focused on your story, not the page margins

Create your story with basic elements like — characters, plots and locations

Add Beats and organize them in sequences

Real time collaboration at the same time

Invite collaborators with one click

Track your changes and recover the whole scene

6. Quoll Writer

Quoll Writer is free and open source screenwriting software that allows you to convert your ideas into words and manage all of your projects in one place. This free screenwriting program provides an easy chapter management tool, and you can move chapters, link them, record goals, and descriptions.

This software allows you to create characters, and locations easily and quickly. You can customize your assets to record all the information and be able to track your assets. If you want to show your drawing creativity, try this free drawing software.

You will be able to add scenes, plot outline items to give your text better structure. The notes remind you what to do next. Quoll Writer is highly configurable software that provides Full screen mode to write without any distraction.

Problem finder tool helps you to identify any issue of your writing. Easily send projects to the other people or invite people to edit for you. You can chat with your editor any time and your editor makes comments on your work.

This open source screenwriting software is used by professionals that allows you to check word count, readability, session charts and see the progress of your project. The chart helps you to quickly identify the problem chapter.

Available For:

Windows

Key Features:

Manage your characters and assets very easily

Add scenes and plot outline items to give better structure of text

Use Full screen mode for distraction free writing

Identify the issues of your writing using problem finder tool

Share your work with other editors and chat with them

Track your project performance and targets

Record and manage your ideas easily

Import project from Microsoft Docx files and export project to Doc & HTML

Spelling checker and synonyms finder tool included

Automatic chapter save and configurable backup

Configurable interface and tagging object to group them together

Open Source Screenwriting Software — Conclusion

I have listed my top favorite open source screenwriting softwares which are used by most of the professional writers. The best part is that all these software are free. If you are a beginner, you can test it for your project to save lots of time that an ordinary software can not provide these features and tools. These open source screenwriting software will change your scripting journey.

Write in the comment section which software you want to use for your project.