# Slugline: Simply Screenwriting — user reviews

> 79 indexed App Store user reviews of Slugline by Act Focused Media LLC, rated 2.60/5 from 14 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slugline-simply-screenwriting/id1217359226/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/slugline-simply-screenwriting/id1217359226.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 4 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 6

## Newest reviews (15 of 79)

### 2/5 — This *was* the best screenwriting

*2026-01-04, version 1.7.1*

Why couldn’t you guys just kept it the way it was before with all the updates? Now it’s just a buggy mess overload.

### 4/5 — Keyboard toolbar disappears

*2025-06-12, version 1.7.1*

This is a great app and has proved invaluable for scripting a graphic novel I’m producing. However, there is one niggle I must mention—that is, the keyboard toolbar just randomly disappears for no apparent reason, meaning I have to close and reopen the app or go into the settings and switch it off and on again to get it back. I use the shortcuts on the toolbar often so it’s a bit of a pain having to go through this process several times a session. Maybe a bug fix is needed. Otherwise, I’m loving it.

### 2/5 — Writing

*2025-04-09*

When I try to write than the letters get separated from the word like letter - let ter and it continues to write with an overflow and the whole screenplay is messed up. I pay for this app to get a good platform but instead it wants to drive me nuts

### 3/5 — Best Screenwriting App To Date!!

*2025-03-08, version 1.7.1*

Great screenwriting app over the years, but now there seems to be a problem with the keyboard tool. It would disappear which would force the screen not to move with what you’re typing. Other than that, still great.

### 4/5 — Beautiful simplicity

*2024-05-30*

I love Slugline more than other fountain apps, because of its very well designed interface. For 5 stars I‘d need A4 support on the iPad and those nice marker colors from the mac app.

### 2/5 — Limited access to write a new script

*2024-03-25, version 1.6.0*

I purchased Slugline for $19.99 and downloaded for IPad and used it to write my project. When I wanted to work on a new screenplay, it restricts me to open a new page. I then redownloaded the app only to lose my current work, it happens. But I do not understand that after purchasing the screenplay app that it’s now limiting. It makes no mention of upgrading to a bundle pack, I know that for the iMac you pay almost $50.00 for the software

### 3/5 — File management could be better

*2024-03-22*

I noticed the app sometimes does not sync your changes to the original file, and instead creates a separate copy of it. This then causes multiple versions of the same script to pile up in the recents section, while I really just need to maintain one version of it. 

Overall, the app is better than most I’ve seen for screenwriting on phone, just hope this one aspect can also be improved.

### 2/5 — Crashing several times an hour

*2023-12-26*

I enjoy the app’s simplicity and functionality. What I don’t enjoy is how the app crashes four to five times every hour. It autosaves frequently, so a crash only deletes the latest piece (either one chunk of dialogue or description) but it’s still annoying.

### 1/5 — Keeps crashing

*2023-11-05, version 1.5.5*

I was really looking forward to using this app but since purchasing a week ago, I can’t use it for more than 2 minutes without it crashing. I’ve tried reaching out through email and twitter for assistance but have gotten no response. I’d really like the chance to rate this higher but as it stands, I’ve spent $25 on a broken app.

### 1/5 — Mangles your scripts into garbage

*2023-10-23, version 1.5.5*

Not sure if this is an issue with the new version of iOS but Slugline has begun overwriting words with garbage at random. This is an example of a line before and after saving

“has his feet up on the table. He looks asleep”. 

“fatga at ars with his fe T up. He looks asleep.”

The app is completely unusable and has a big chunk of writing this morning which I’m obviously quite unhappy about.

### 1/5 — Completely Unreliable

*2023-10-04, version 1.5.5*

As great as this app is, I can’t be bothered to use it anymore. There’s a major bug that turns everything I just edited into a garbled mess. Words get rearranged and I can barely decipher what I just wrote. I can’t even undo when it does this, and all the work I just did since the last save is useless. The app used to be great, and it’s the only way I know to easily open files from the Highland desktop app on my iPad. I would gladly change my review if the app becomes usable again.

### 2/5 — Caution with this

*2023-10-01*

So I liked Slugline for while now, but lately it’s having issues and scrambling my screenplay. When I go back to what I was writing, it’s all saved out of sorts causing a lot of work to rewrite and unscramble text. It’s very frustrating. If they fix this, then great, I highly recommend. If they don’t fix this - It’s not worth it having to rewrite things and re-edit 5 different times because it’s not saving properly. Writing a screenplay is hard enough with out application issues that scramble you’re writing causing unnecessary re-writes. I really hope they fix this or else I’m going to have to go somewhere else for a writing app. NOTE: I did like this for a while and used it and it was very clean, easy to use and still is. HOWEVER, it is not saving properly now and is causing a lot of stress and extra work to fix all the jumbled text.

### 2/5 — Nice feature set, Backup is unreliable.

*2023-07-04*

I was recommended this app on a screenwriting forum because I’m a fan of fountain markup. This app seemed perfect and would give me an accurate page count since I could see more accurately how much space my dialogue was taking up. Until Highland comes to iPad, this is a great iOS alternative except…

When I’d start editing, particularly if I was deleting a block of text, it would crash. I’d have to reopen and start the edit over again. I’m guessing it had something to do with the auto backup as I’d have my last backup saved.

Along with the constant crashing, I’d have other issues with editing. If I tried to select text with a bluetooth mouse, the scrolling features wouldn’t allow me to scroll the page. Even if I did with my finger, I still had trouble cutting and pasting scenes larger than the screen size. Writing was a breeze. Editing was infuriating. About 65 pages into my script, after numerous crashes, I got what so many other reviewers were upset by.

My file was no longer found on iCloud or on the iPad. Completely gone when it crashed during a backup. It’s like it wiped the file to replace it, but then glitched in the middle of saving. All that work was gone, I thought.

I was lucky enough to search my Files app for what I titled my script and found a backup I could restore. It didn’t have my most current saves, but I was able to keep working even though it continues to crash over and over again. Almost all are while I’m editing - deleting text - and the app decides to backup. It seems to crash every time.

I’m playing with fire continuing to write in Slugline. I now cut and paste my work into a Pages file as backup. I can’t rely on it at all, but the ability to accurately see my page count and work in fountain syntax is so good. I hope they fix this editing backup bug because I’d happily recommend this app to others despite the high price tag. As is, don’t spend your money on this or you’ll be disappointed when all your work goes away.

### 2/5 — Crashing

*2023-06-01, version 1.5.5*

I really like this app when it’s working so I just want to urge the developers to find a solution to the crashing. I suddenly lose a half page of dialogue at least once per session.

### 1/5 — Awful it's a rip NO DONT DO IT

*2023-02-14, version 1.5.3*

absolutely horrible doesn’t even do a spellcheck not lining the script up properly you might as well just write it yourself

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — App is near worthless

*2025-11-05*

I read the negative reviews from 5 to 7 years ago and just assumed that the bugs and crashes were fixed. To my dismay, they were not. In my first script, a good chunk of my outline disappeared. Then lines of my script began to disappear. This makes the app near worthless for writing.

### 1/5 — Completely broken

*2024-12-31, version 1.7.0*

I have no idea if I am just inept or this app is completely broken, and there is no way to tell as the slug line web page doesn’t exist any more. Do not waste your money

### 1/5 — Don’t pay for this…1/2 a star.

*2024-12-13, version 1.7.0*

Doesn’t sync btw devices. Won’t let you open a New Screenplay you’ve been working on. Thank god I didn’t cut & paste my script into it. This app is terrible. Badly done devs.

### 1/5 — Beyond useless

*2024-09-02, version 1.7.0*

It would be easier to scrawl on a wet piece of glass with cooked spaghetti

### 1/5 — Unreliable

*2024-08-12*

The app crashes every time I try to start a new project.

### 1/5 — Crashes every time I create a new screenplay

*2024-06-25*

As others have reported, Slugline is currently broken. Whenever I try to create a new screenplay, whether local or in iCloud, the app immediately crashes. I used to adore this app, but now I’m just disappointed.

### 1/5 — Confused

*2024-06-13, version 1.7.0*

I’m really confused as to how to use this. I’ve tried reading everything and YouTube tutorials still can’t understand

### 1/5 — And I thought FD Mobile was a pain

*2024-05-31*

Read raving reviews. Tried it for $19+ and it’s terrible. Not intuitive. Trying to hit return to get into the next correctly formatted section required backtracking. Not a seamless writing experience and I’ve been writing screenplays for a long time and have used almost all the mainstream software.

### 1/5 — Love the app but it’s broken for me

*2024-05-09*

For whatever reason the app crashes whenever I try to make a new file and is therefore unusable. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling to no avail and switching between local/cloud storage.
So far nothing works, but if the issue is resolved I’ll happily change my review to 5 stars.

### 1/5 — abandoned?

*2023-11-09, version 1.5.5*

was by far the best screenwriting app on iPad, however recently a bug has caused my scripts to become jumbled nonsense , making this app completely unusable. I tried contacting their support with no response, and considering how long it's been since the last update, I don't know when it'll be fixed. truely sad, looking for a new screenwriting app has been miserable

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Right on cue.

*2025-03-20*

So happy for the update!  

My other “professional” screenwriting iOS/OS apps are falling apart, suffering from compatibility issues, and formatting errors. 

Slugline hits the mark as it’s stable, provides cross compatibility, and keeps to format. 

Thanks again. 

Fade Out

### 5/5 — Best Screenwriting App To Date!!

*2024-09-23*

And believe me, I literally tried every app on the Apple Store, including Final Draft GO and Arc Studio. Nothing beats this, no thinking about formatting or planning, just write your movie and get it out there!! 10/10 👍👍

### 5/5 — Love it

*2023-12-11*

I have been screenwriting on my iPad much more lately, and I've found this to be a really great app for distraction-free writing.  There's very little on the page, other than your own work.  It's also a very user-friendly, intuitive way to learn the ins and outs of writing in Fountain (which is simple on its own).  I also love that it doesn't require a subscription.

### 5/5 — Perfect for screenwriting on an iPad

*2023-11-24*

This app is simple and intuitive and perfect for screenwriting without any distractions.  It's helped me pick up writing in Fountain quite quickly.  I appreciate the few templates that come with it, too, more as an example of how to incorporate "hidden" text within your writing.

### 5/5 — Excellent app!

*2022-10-04, version 1.5.3*

Great app, it does everything I could wish for in a screenwriting app. I've tried all the apps available on iOS, and I think this is the best one, all the other ones are a buggy nightmare.

I see that this one has low ratings because people complain about bugs, but I think the developers might've fixed them in recent updates, because it's been working just fine for me.

So I figured this app deserves a good review and a good rating.

Thank you guys for building it! I really hope you keep improving and updating it, a good screenwriting app on an iPad would be extremely valuable, and you guys are quite a bit ahead of all the other alternatives.

### 5/5 — An underrated app - one of the best options right now

*2022-06-15, version 1.5.3*

This is my first app store review. I found this app to be the best option on iPad for me. I want to support the developers, so this app continues to grow. 

On desktop, I found both the Highland 2 app and Slugline 2 to be my favorite options. So my evaluation is centered around that conclusion. Slugline on iOS can read both the fountain format and highland format that these apps output respectively.

The outlining feature is great. I can’t reorder elements like I can on the desktop version, but it’s still good. It seems Final Draft iOS has no outlining at all. 

I can get everything super minimal looking where all I can see is just my script by just swiping away sections. Super great.

I can work directly with files in iCloud and pick up on my desktop with whatever fountain editor I want to use.

There is no subscription like Arc Studio and others. 

I have not used Final Draft iOS but it seems quite buggy and some YouTube reviews led me to believe that it’s sort neglected, and the number of reviews seems suspicious. Also that app can only export in FDX format which will make it a pain to edit with Highland 2 or Slugline 2 because you will have to constantly switch between formats. Maybe if you’re already a Final Draft desktop user that makes sense, but I wasn’t.

So with the limited number of good iOS screen writing options, I think this app deserves 5 stars—this coming from someone new to screenwriting apps and trying to evaluate the best options in terms of feel and flow.

### 5/5 — Fantastic

*2022-04-03, version 1.5.3*

Simple to use and formatting is spot on.

### 5/5 — You won’t be disappointed.

*2021-11-21, version 1.5.1*

Incredible value that can’t be beat! 🙌🏼
Has been my goto script app for years now.
Never disappoints!

### 5/5 — Works %100 as I needed it to.

*2021-09-27, version 1.4.0*

I wrote a bad review at first but that was because I was saving my files wrong. But Slugline is working perfectly for me now. I am able to write on my iMac and switch to my iPad or iPhone and write in perfect format then even back to my Mack book pro. I love this app it saved me

### 5/5 — Simply works

*2021-09-05*

I originally needed something to handle highland files but after using Slugline on iOS I started using on Mac too. Really like their outline handling and the general simplicity of Fountain. Only issue I have is note tag colors from Mac aren’t maintained on iOS and will actually reset if you update from iOS.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*