Scriptation vs Storyist 4
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Scriptation
This Emmy-winning app revolutionizes script annotation for film and TV professionals. It intelligently transfers your notes and markups to new script revisions, saving significant time. Organize all your production documents digitally and enhance your rehearsal process with advanced features.
- Intelligent note transfer to new revisions
- Comprehensive annotation tools
- Digital production binder organization
- Annotation layers for note separation
- Page Maker for custom inserts
- Auto-highlight for character lines
- Read/rehearse/record modes
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Scriptation is the Emmy®-winning script annotation app trusted by directors, script supervisors, actors, development executives, and production teams on film and television sets worldwide, from prep through production. "When I mark up my script, I use Scriptation now." (Kathy Bates) "Scriptation changed my life. Every time you get a new draft, it transfers all your notes." (Sophia Bush) The script changes. Your work stays with it. FOR DIRECTORS & WRITERS Organize your entire prep in one digital production binder. • Annotate scripts with highlights, notes, photos, Apple Pencil drawings, and audio • Transfer markups to new revisions automatically in seconds • Use layers to separate personal, department, and meeting notes • Insert facing pages, shot lists, set plans, and reference images • Create and share daily sides directly from the app • Listen to your script read aloud with customizable character voices • Keep scripts, call sheets, schedules, and production documents in one place No more 3-ring binders. No more rewriting notes when revisions land. FOR PRODUCTION & DEPARTMENTS Break down scripts, tag elements, and generate reports. • Tag props, wardrobe, locations, VFX, SFX, and more with custom categories • Generate formatted breakdown reports as PDF or CSV • Include photos, reference notes, and scene details • Integrate with planning apps like Cinapse, SetHero, Shamel Studio, Shot Lister, and Think Crew • Transfer tags to new revisions so breakdowns stay current Perfect for assistant directors, department heads, producers, and anyone else on set who interacts with a script. FOR SCRIPT SUPERVISORS Professional lining and continuity tools built for production. • Generate instant scene coverage tramlines • Add facing page reports and mark takes directly in the script • Maintain continuity notes across scenes and revisions • Transfer lining and notes when new drafts arrive. Nothing lost. Built for how modern script supervisors actually work on set. FOR ACTORS Prepare for auditions and rehearse scenes, no scene partner needed. • Highlight your character's lines in one tap • Rehearse with customizable character voices and scene looping • Use Record Mode as a self-tape teleprompter with slate delays • Transfer your annotations when new drafts arrive. No rewriting. Whether you're prepping sides, running lines, or recording a self-tape, Scriptation turns your script into a rehearsal studio. FOR DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES Evaluate scripts faster. Listen to them, mark them up, and share notes. • Listen to scripts with distinct character voices to hear dialogue, pacing, and tone • Use it as a table read on the go between meetings or during a commute • Annotate scripts as you read or listen • Share note layers with creative teams while keeping personal notes separate Whether you're reading for a greenlight or giving notes on a draft, Scriptation lets you experience the script, not just read it. SCRIPTATION INDUSTRY PRO Unlock the full production toolkit across all your devices. Industry Pro includes advanced Note Transfer, multi-layer transfer, collate pages, compare scripts, breakdown tagging and reports, facing pages, daily sides, script supervisor lining tools, advanced layers, collaboration, and rehearsal tools for actors. Premium AI features and AI voice access may require a separate AI subscription. Scriptation offers optional auto-renewing subscriptions, including Industry Pro and AI access, with monthly and/or annual options where available. A free 14-day trial may be available for eligible offers. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Renewal is charged within 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in Apple Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://scriptation.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://scriptation.com/privacy
Storyist 4
This app provides a robust writing environment for authors and screenwriters. It allows for detailed story outlining, manuscript creation with rich text editing, and seamless revision on any device. Organize all your writing projects in one place for easy access and collaboration.
- Rich text editor with comments and images
- Index card outlining and story sheets
- Manuscript and screenplay formatting
- Cloud storage and collaboration support
- Import/export text and images
- Support for various file formats
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Storyist is a powerful writing environment that lets you create, review, and revise your work wherever inspiration strikes. “If I could have only one screenwriting app on my iPad, Storyist would be it.” – Taz Goldstein, Hand Held Hollywood. “I'm currently traveling in Europe and am just now putting the finishing touches on the book that will be published in September. I'm using the Storyist app for my iPad Mini and it's sensational... a real godsend.” – Michael Brandman, Bestselling Author. With Storyist, you can: • Produce submission-ready manuscripts and screenplays. Storyist provides a rich text editor with support for comments, images, headers, footers, and style sheets so you can create properly formatted manuscripts and screenplays. And Storyist comes with manuscript and screenplay templates so you can focus on the writing, not the formatting. • Work with your story at a high level. Storyist lets you sketch out a story using index cards and then refine it with customizable plot, character, and setting sheets. When you're ready to put words on the page, Storyist can even display your index cards next to your manuscript as you write. • Review and revise on the go. Have a few minutes? Open Storyist and jot down a note, rewrite a few paragraphs, or annotate your manuscript with ideas for future changes. • Keep all your writing organized and accessible. Storyist organizes your novel manuscripts, screenplays, notes, and other project-related writing so you can access them with just a few taps. And the Files app support lets you store your projects where you want and edit them in place. Features at a Glance • Rich text editor with support for fonts, colors, comments, images, headers, footers, and style sheets. • Files interface with the ability to collaborate with other writers, browse version history, and sync with your favorite cloud storage service. • Automatic manuscript and screenplay formatting with familiar tab and return key shortcuts. • Color-coded index cards. • Customizable story sheets. • Easy import and export of text and images. • Support for Storyist for Mac, RTF, Plain Text, Fountain, and Final Draft FDX files. • Ability to export text files as PDF. • Wireless printing with AirPrint. • Courier Prime font for screenplays. Try Storyist 4 for free for 14 days. After the trial period ends, you can purchase Storyist 4 to continue using the editing features or use the app in reader mode for free. Upgrade pricing is available for customers who purchased Storyist 3 for iOS. No subscription required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Scriptation at 4.8 against Storyist 4's 4.3. Scriptation also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 44%) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Scriptation sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Storyist 4 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Scriptation holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scriptation has 3.6K ratings behind it against 394, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Scriptation's written reviews are positive against 44% of Storyist 4's.
Scriptation ships an update fortnightly, Storyist 4 every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Scriptation | Storyist 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (3.6K ratings) — better | 4.3 (394 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 76.2% of reviews — better | 44.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3.6K — better | 394 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 247 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Scriptation LLC | Storyist Software |
Customer experience
Scriptation
Storyist 4
User reviews
Scriptation
From 3.6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent for script prep and organization
- 🚀 Seamless transfer of notes between script versions
- 👍 Customizable and user-friendly
- 👍 Helpful for various departments (directors, actors, etc.)
- 👍 Reduces paper usage
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🐛 Issues with iCloud/Dropbox sync
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔧 Some features could be more intuitive
Storyist 4
From 394 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Clean, intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Fast iCloud synchronization across devices
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription fees
- 📝 Excellent for organizing long-form writing projects
- 🔄 Seamless Mac-iPad-iPhone sync
Room to improve
- 🐛 Data loss and file deletion issues
- 💔 Upgrade from v3 to v4 requires full repurchase
- 😤 Misleading free trial presentation
- 🔧 Clunky navigation requiring multiple taps
- ⚠️ Significant bugs in version 4 compared to v3
Bugs and requests
Scriptation
Reported bugs
3 issues- Annotations disappearing or shifting when transferring to new script versions
- Inability to open password-protected scripts
- Unreliable performance on certain devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to create new scripts
- Improved text editing and formatting tools
- Better integration with other production apps
- Handwriting recognition for notes
- More customization options for the toolbar and layout
Storyist 4
Reported bugs
13 issues- Files and projects mysteriously disappear
- App crashes when opening manuscripts
- Freezing during typing sessions
- Auto-capitalization in middle of sentences
- Spell-check suggestions showing duplicate words
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- Index cards losing color after updates
- Styles vanishing when edited on iOS
- Text disappearing from documents while outline remains
- Dropbox connection failures and blank file displays
- Split-screen zoom focusing on wrong area
- Font selection list not loading
- Restore Purchases prompt appearing repeatedly
- Export formatting issues with dark theme
Requested features
11 requests- Footnotes and endnotes support
- Word and Pages format export compatibility
- Better backup system with cloud storage
- Folder tree navigation on mobile
- Non-fiction templates with query tracking
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- Improved dark mode customization
- Cursor support for iPad
- Section-level export functionality
- German language localization
- Extended keyboard shortcuts preservation
- Better page number formatting options
In-app purchases
Scriptation
- Scriptation Industry Pro14 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Scriptation AI3 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Scriptation AI$39.991 Month
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Scriptation Industry Pro14 Days trial$39.993 Months
- Scriptation AI$59.991 Month
- Scriptation Industry Pro14 Days trial$69.996 Months
- Scriptation AI$79.991 Month
- Scriptation AI$99.991 Month
- Scriptation Industry Pro14 Days trial2 variants$99.991 Year
Storyist 4
- Free TrialFree
- Storyist 4 Upgrade$9.99
- Storyist 4$19.99
Questions
Is Scriptation free?
Is Storyist 4 free?
Which has better reviews, Scriptation or Storyist 4?
Do Scriptation or Storyist 4 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Scriptation or Storyist 4?
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