Comparison

Save the Cat! vs SHADOU

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

Head to head
About

Save the Cat!

This app helps writers structure stories for screenplays, novels, and TV episodes using a proven methodology. It guides you through developing loglines, genres, beat sheets, and scene organization with features for emotional arcs and character development.

Highlights
  • Develop logline and title
  • Choose from 10 story genres
  • Complete Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2)
  • Organize scenes with 'the Board'
  • Track character arcs
  • Create emotional changes per scene
  • Sync files across devices
Features
Read full description

All new version, built from the ground up using Apple's standard, master-detail style for full compatibility with iOS functionality including Dark Mode. Even if you don't own the desktop version of Save the Cat!®, you can still use this amazing tool, touted as the "secret weapon" of the working writer, to help build better, more powerful stories, with greater resonance and emotional impact. Whenever your creative juices start flowing you'll have this revolutionary app, which is based on Blake Snyder's best-selling books and software, at your fingertips. You'll delight in the ability to structure your screenplay, teleplay, stageplay or novel the Save the Cat!® way. By incorporating the methods, tips and tactics found in the Save the Cat!® series of books on story structure, this application will help you to: * Develop a powerful Logline and Title * Choose one of the 10 unique Save the Cat!® Genres * Complete a Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (BS2) with variations for screenplays, novels, and 1/2 hour and 1 hour tv episodes. * Use “the Board” to create cards for each scene and arrange them in the perfect order and to track character arcs and other important aspects of your story. Just long-press on a scene or other element in the Board then pick what you want to insert at that point. * Add sequences to combine multiple scenes. * Add labels to the Board to keep track of important points. * Create Emotional Changes for each and every scene * Create Set-ups and Payoffs as your protagonist progresses through the story Sync your files across devices. This is a manual process so you're in complete control as to when you post and download your changes. Just create an account and login on all your devices. If you had a Save the Cat! account for the website or for when you purchased STC, that will not work here. You'll need to create a new account. You can even add one or more writing partners to your project and sync your changes with them if you have the Premium or Pro level. Enter the username for their new STC account. The free version allows you to add projects and work on your title, logline, genre, and the beat sheet. Many of the features listed below require an in-app purchase. Essentials has all the basic functionality you need to develop a screenplay, novel, or tv episode with characters, locations set-ups, and pay-offs. Premium adds the ability to track things or objects, and relationships. You'll also be able to develop a novel by chapters instead of using a beat sheet. Pro adds the ability to develop an entire series of movies or novels that use all the same characters, locations, things, and relationships and to track their stories across the entire series. You can also develop an entire tv series with multiple seasons. Other cool updates include the ability to have multiple versions of your beat sheet and multiple versions of your board for each beat sheet. Much improved script typing. And, if you're working on a novel, just type in your manuscript with proper formatting. All new facts section keeping track of important facts ("Bible" for tv writers) for characters, locations and other entities. Add important elements for characters, locations and other entities that you need to track through the story. Add the character or entity to the Board and track those items through the story. As always you can add attachments such as photos, pdf's, and other important research documents so you have everything at your fingertips.

About

SHADOU

This app offers a membership-based community for aspiring film and TV professionals to gain hands-on production experience. Access exclusive content, treatments, and event tickets. Members are selected monthly to learn from industry experts on set.

Highlights
  • Hands-on production experience
  • Exclusive content access
  • Real treatments provided
  • Tickets to live events
  • Monthly on-set learning opportunities
  • Industry professional mentorship
Features
Read full description

SHADOU is a membership-based self-actualization community where those aspiring for a career in the FILM/TV industry can get hands-on experience on real productions. Access exclusive content, and real treatments, and get tickets to live events. Members are selected monthly to come on set and learn from industry professionals. ▷ Already a Member? Sign-In to access your subscription. ▷ New? Subscribe in the app to get instant access. SHADOU offers auto-renewing subscriptions. You'll receive unlimited access to content on all your devices. Payment is charged to your Account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing varies by location and is confirmed prior to purchase. Subscription automatically renews each month unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period, or the trial period (when offered). Cancel anytime in Account Settings. For more information see our: -Terms of Service: https://shadou.co/pages/terms-of-service -Privacy Policy: https://shadou.co/pages/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Save the Cat!4 screens
SHADOU3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SHADOU at 100% against Save the Cat!'s 39%. Save the Cat!'s advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Save the Cat! sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SHADOU sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Save the Cat! holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Save the Cat! has 440 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of Save the Cat!'s written reviews are positive against 100% of SHADOU's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Save the Cat! versus SHADOU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSave the Cat!SHADOU
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (440 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews38.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings440 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlake Snyder EnterprisesAUDIO VIDEO TECHNOLOGY LLC

Customer experience

Save the Cat!

All ratings440 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive38.6%
Neutral15.9%
Negative45.5%

SHADOU

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Save the Cat!

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes when opening Board feature
  • Beat selection stuck in window mode
  • Login credentials rejected on website
  • Crashes every 10-15 minutes
  • Unable to upload attachments
Show 7 more
  • Text field entrapment - unable to exit beat field
  • Work disappears without explanation
  • iPad version won't sync to desktop version
  • App not available in certain countries/regions
  • Glitchy and unresponsive desktop version
  • Manual save required - no auto-save on crash
  • UI labels cut off in both orientations

Requested features

11 requests
  • Monthly subscription or free trial option
  • Spanish language support
  • Downloadable desktop app with same login credentials
  • Printable outline/board export
  • Scrivener export functionality
Show 6 more
  • Larger font size adjustment
  • Actual board layout with pinch-to-zoom on mobile
  • Auto-save functionality like Google Docs
  • Automatic app access with book purchase
  • Desktop version for Mac with full feature parity
  • Genre description snapshots in selection

SHADOU

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Save the Cat!

Subscriptions6
  • Essentials Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Essentials Subscription$21.991 Year
  • Premium Subscription$29.991 Year
  • Pro Subscription$39.991 Year
One-time4
  • Upgrade Premium to Pro$9.99
  • Unlock Essentials$21.99
  • Unlock Premium$29.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Pro$39.99
2 purchases

SHADOU

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Membership$29.991 Month
  • Annual Membership$199.991 Year

Questions

Is Save the Cat! free?
Save the Cat! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SHADOU free?
SHADOU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Save the Cat! or SHADOU?
Save the Cat! is rated higher. Save the Cat! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 440 ratings, while SHADOU averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Save the Cat! or SHADOU have ads?
Neither Save the Cat! nor SHADOU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Save the Cat! or SHADOU?
Save the Cat! ships an update every 2 months, and SHADOU every 2 months. Most recently, Save the Cat! was updated on September 21, 2026 and SHADOU on September 20, 2026.

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