# ScriptBuilder vs Storyist 4

The clearest difference is update cadence: ScriptBuilder at every 2 weeks against Storyist 4's every 4 months. ScriptBuilder also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3). Storyist 4's advantage is ratings volume (384 vs 7) and review sentiment (44% vs 36%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ScriptBuilder sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Storyist 4 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScriptBuilder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Storyist 4 has 384 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 36% of ScriptBuilder's written reviews are positive against 44% of Storyist 4's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ScriptBuilder ships an update every 2 weeks, Storyist 4 every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScriptBuilder | Storyist 4 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scriptbuilder/id1358448790/reviews)** | [4.3 (384 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyist-4/id1423912340/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **384** |
| Positive reviews | 35.7% of reviews | **44.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [patrick ridd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1139632147) | [Storyist Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/438008297) |

## What reviewers say

### ScriptBuilder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scriptbuilder/id1358448790)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access (1 Month) | $5.99 | per month |
| All Access (1 year) | $49.99 | per year |
| Character Builder | $0.99 | one-time |
| Scene Builder | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Access (Lifetime) | $69.99 | one-time |


### Storyist 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyist-4/id1423912340)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Storyist 4 Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |
| Storyist 4 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScriptBuilder free?

ScriptBuilder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Storyist 4 free?

Storyist 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ScriptBuilder or Storyist 4?

ScriptBuilder is rated higher. ScriptBuilder averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Storyist 4 averages 4.3 from 384 ratings.

### Do ScriptBuilder or Storyist 4 have ads?

Neither ScriptBuilder nor Storyist 4 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScriptBuilder or Storyist 4?

ScriptBuilder ships an update every 2 weeks, and Storyist 4 every 4 months. Most recently, ScriptBuilder was updated on September 29, 2026 and Storyist 4 on September 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*