Comparison

Slugline vs ScriptBuilder

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Slugline

This app offers a minimalist, distraction-free writing environment for screenplays. It automatically formats your plain text into a proper screenplay, supports outlining, and includes helpful structure templates. Your work can be synced via cloud services or stored locally.

Highlights
  • Automatic screenplay formatting
  • Integrated outlining
  • Cloud sync (iCloud, Dropbox)
  • Structure templates (Save the Cat!)
  • Plain text (Fountain format) support
  • Notes and scene synopses
Read full description

The highest-rated screenwiting app on the Mac App Store comes to iOS! Slugline is a minimal, distraction-free environment for the most important part of screenwriting—the writing part. Slugline works with plain text. It automatically turns your writing into a properly formatted screenplay, without you ever needing to press the Tab key. FEATURES ⋮ Automatic formatting ⋮ Sync files with iCloud and Dropbox, or work locally ⋮ Printed on paper or PDF, your screenplay is indistinguishable from one made with apps costing much more ⋮ Helpful structure templates, including the famous beat sheet from Save the Cat!® ⋮ Slugline’s famous Integrated outlining ⋮ Notes, Scene Synopses, and Omitted text help keep you organized ⋮ Includes Courier Prime, a beautiful typeface designed for screenplays • THE POWER OF PLAIN Slugline uses the free and open Fountain screenplay format, which is nothing more than plain text.​ You can work on your screenplay anywhere, using any writing app. When you open it in Slugline again, everything will be there, properly formatted.​ • INTEGRATED OUTLINING​ Start with an outline, then seamlessly transition to writing scenes. Or jot down a placeholder for your third-act twist while you’re still crafting your opening pages. Slugline allows you to be as structured as you like, even if that means not at all.​ • WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Slugline keeps getting better, and that's thanks to you! Slug us a line at http://slugline.co/contact with any questions or feedback you have, and follow us on Twitter at @SluglineApp.

About

ScriptBuilder

Capture and develop screenplay ideas on the go. This app guides you through clarifying your movie concept, structuring your story arc with act builders, and fleshing out characters and scenes with targeted questions. Prepare to write compelling stories with a solid foundation.

Highlights
  • Idea clarification questions
  • Story arc structure (Act 1, 2, 3)
  • Character development prompts
  • Scene building guidance
  • On-the-go idea capture
Features
Read full description

Welcome to ScriptBuilder! ScriptBuilder was made to capture and build screenplay ideas on the go. Before you face the dreaded blank page, build up your screenplay idea with ScriptBuilder! Features: • The Idea section helps you clarify your movie idea by answering specific questions, getting to the heart of your story • Structure your story arc with Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3 builders. All three act sections contain Act Beat questions to facilitate new ideas and notes which will prepare you when you're ready to build scenes • The "Character Builder" feature prompts you to answer questions about your characters to help you get to know your characters better and to discover their arcs. Getting to know your characters will make writing your scenes with these characters smoother. (Access through in-app purchase) • The "Scene Builder" feature provides useful questions that when answered help bring clarity to what the scene does to move your story and characters forward. (Access through in-app purchase) Unlimited Access: All Access (1 Month) $5.99 All Access (1 Year) $49.99 -------------------------------- I originally built this app because I found myself coming up with ideas for screenplays but didn't have a dedicated place to capture them. I also wanted a tool that would help me flesh out the story, characters, and scenes before I sat down in front of my computer to write. I want to continue to iterate on ScriptBuilder with new features to make it even better. If you have any feature requests, questions or comments, please go to the support url and send me an email :) I hope ScriptBuilder helps you along your path in creating compelling stories in both feature films and television. If it does help, please share ScriptBuilder with your family and friends. Thank you! -------------------------------- Privacy Policy: https://www.scriptbuilderapp.com/_files/ugd/b622d0_f5722cd213394590bbd181559a0af540.pdf Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Slugline4 screens
ScriptBuilder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ScriptBuilder at Free against Slugline's $19.99. ScriptBuilder also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Slugline's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and device support (4 vs 2). On review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

ScriptBuilder is free to download; Slugline costs $19.99 up front. ScriptBuilder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Slugline asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScriptBuilder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Slugline's written reviews are positive against 36% of ScriptBuilder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Slugline ships an update every 2 months, ScriptBuilder every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Slugline versus ScriptBuilder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSluglineScriptBuilder
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (14 ratings)4.6 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.5% of reviews — better35.7% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAct Focused Media LLCpatrick ridd

Customer experience

Slugline

All ratings14 ratings
Positive35.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive41.5%
Neutral13.4%
Negative45.1%

ScriptBuilder

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral23.2%
Negative41.1%

Bugs and requests

Slugline

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ScriptBuilder

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Save function not working
  • App crashes frequently
  • App freezes
  • Data loss after crashes
  • Content deleted after saving
Show 11 more
  • Export functionality is poor
  • Poor translation of terms
  • Ads persist after payment
  • App closes by itself frequently
  • Information lost even after saving
  • Last box in Act 2 never saves
  • Cursor moves unexpectedly while typing
  • In-app purchases are greyed out
  • Auto-loads name, no author identification
  • Setup is not helpful
  • Loading screen for purchases

Requested features

12 requests
  • Fix bugs
  • Improve save functionality
  • Add autosave system
  • Add dark mode
  • Add notepad for drafts
Show 7 more
  • Add templates for TV scripts
  • Allow author identification
  • Offer a global price for all add-ons
  • Improve export options (Markdown, OPML)
  • Fix translation issues
  • Allow multiple acts, prologue, epilogue
  • Make characters and scenes free

In-app purchases

None

Slugline

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ScriptBuilder

Subscriptions2
  • All Access (1 Month)7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • All Access (1 year)7 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Slugline free?
Slugline costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ScriptBuilder free?
ScriptBuilder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Slugline or ScriptBuilder?
ScriptBuilder is rated higher. Slugline averages 2.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while ScriptBuilder averages 4.6 from 7 ratings.
Do Slugline or ScriptBuilder have ads?
Neither Slugline nor ScriptBuilder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Slugline or ScriptBuilder?
Slugline ships an update every 2 months, and ScriptBuilder every 3 weeks. Most recently, Slugline was updated on November 2, 2026 and ScriptBuilder on November 2, 2026.

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