Comparison

Slugline vs Paper

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

Paper

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Gorgeous writing space
  • Silky-smooth typing
  • Deep personalization (Pro)
  • Markdown or Plain Text support
  • iCloud sync
  • Publish to Medium, WordPress, Ghost
  • Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, ePub
Features
Read full description

“This is a super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.” App Store Review 2020 # STORY Read it here → paper.pro/story # HIGHLIGHTS · Gorgeous writing space · Silky-smooth typing · Deep personalization (Pro) · Markdown or Plain Text · Syncs with iCloud · Integrates with TextExpander · Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.blog · Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, image, or clipboard · Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac # PRO FEATURES Basic adjustments like text size are free in Paper. More advanced personalization can be purchased with Pro Features. You will not be buying anything blindly, though. The trial period for Pro Features is untimed, so you can take your time to decide if they are a worthy investment. While trialing Pro Features, you might occasionally see a popup. Simply press Reset in the popup to get rid of it completely. Pro Features are either a subscription or a one-time purchase. Both the subscription and the one-time purchase unlock Pro Features on all your iPhones and iPads that share the same Apple ID. This subscription (or one-time purchase) applies only to iPhones and iPads. Macs require a separate subscription (or one-time purchase). The one-time purchase is hidden by default. To enable it, go to the Settings app → Apps → Paper → Purchases → toggle "Show Lifetime Option". If you want to upgrade from a Monthly subscription to a Yearly one (or to a Lifetime license), go to Paper’s page in the App Store and press the rounded button with the price next to the Yearly subscription option (or next to the Lifetime in-app purchase). # BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS Businesses, schools, and organizations can use one of the following methods to purchase the Pro version of the app: · Apple Business Manager · Apple School Manager · Volume Purchasing The Pro version of the app can be accessed from this link → paper.pro/get # MARKDOWN FORMATTING SYNTAX # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 **Bold** __Bold__ *Italic* _Italic_ ~Underline~ ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== ::Highlight:: `Inline Code` ``` Code Block ``` [Link Text](http://paper.pro) ![Alt Text](http://image.jpeg) - Bulleted List - Bulleted List - Nested Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Nested Bulleted List 1. Numbered List 2. Numbered List 3. Numbered List 1. Nested Numbered List - [ ] Task List - [x] Task List > Blockquote >> Nested Blockquote >>> 2x Nested Blockquote Text that needs a footnote[^Footnote description] ++ Inline comment ++ /* Inline comment */ %% Comment block | Col 1 | Col 2 | | ------ | ------ | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | | Cell 3 | Cell 4 | --- ← Horizontal Rule \_ ← Markdown Escape ° ← HTML Escape # FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## How do I share my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Share" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar, then tap the round "Share" button in the popup. ## How do I print my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Print" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar. Select "Print" from the menu. ## Can I draw in the app? No. Paper is purely a plain-text editor. ## Can I add pictures? You can only link to public images on the Web. ## Can I password-protect my notes? No. ## Paper changes the font when I switch between alphabetic and non-alphabetic keyboards. How do I prevent it? · Change the keyboard to a non-alphabetic one (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). · Tap the "Settings" button in the top right corner. · Under the "Font" submenu, toggle "Keep for ABC Keyboards". ## Need more help? You can reach me via the in-app chat → "Settings" button in the corner → "Chat with the Maker" # TERMS OF USE paper.pro/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Slugline4 screens
Paper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Paper at Free against Slugline's $19.99. Paper also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (72% vs 40%). Slugline's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Paper is free to download; Slugline costs $19.99 up front. Paper sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Slugline asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper has 1.8K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Slugline's written reviews are positive against 72% of Paper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Slugline ships an update every 2 months, Paper monthly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Slugline versus Paper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSluglinePaper
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating2.6 (14 ratings)4.6 (1.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews71.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings141.8K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAct Focused Media LLCMihhail Lapushkin

Customer experience

Slugline

All ratings14 ratings
Positive35.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews80 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral13.8%
Negative46.3%

Paper

All ratings1,729 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews232 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative19.0%

Bugs and requests

Slugline

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Paper

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files randomly disappearing
  • Cursor issues causing freezes
  • Syncing and iCloud integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add image support
  • Improve file management and recovery
  • Expand font and customization options
  • Implement team/collaborative writing features
  • Add text formatting options like italics and bold

In-app purchases

None

Slugline

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Features — Discounted$14.991 Month
  • Pro Features$29.991 Month
  • Pro Features — Discounted$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Features$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features — Discounted$99.99
  • Pro Features$199.99

Questions

Is Slugline free?
Slugline costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Slugline or Paper?
Paper is rated higher. Slugline averages 2.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Paper averages 4.6 from 1.8K ratings.
Do Slugline or Paper have ads?
Neither Slugline nor Paper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Slugline or Paper?
Slugline ships an update every 2 months, and Paper monthly. Most recently, Slugline was updated on October 29, 2026 and Paper on October 29, 2026.

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