Comparison

Screenplay vs Decode

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

Head to head
About

Screenplay

This app offers a streamlined approach to writing screenplays on Apple devices, featuring automatic industry formatting and powerful navigation tools. It supports seamless syncing across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with optional AI assistance for enhanced writing speed and quality.

Highlights
  • Automatic industry formatting
  • Seamless iCloud sync across devices
  • Scene and character indexing
  • Beat board and index card planning
  • Import and export various script formats
  • Optional AI writing assistance
Features
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SCREENPLAY – WRITE AND CREATE YOUR SCRIPT ANYWHERE Screenplay has been featured by Apple in the Apps We Love collection on the App Store. Screenplay is the fast, modern way to write screenplays on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Designed for both new writers and working creators, Screenplay gives you automatic industry formatting, powerful navigation tools, and optional AI assistance to help you write better and faster. Whether you’re drafting a short film, pilot, or feature, Screenplay keeps everything simple, clean, and focused on your story. FEATURES • AUTOMATIC FORMATTING that follows real screenplay standards as you type • WRITE ANYWHERE across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with seamless iCloud sync • SCENE INDEX for fast navigation and instant access to any scene • CHARACTER INDEX with appearance attributes and complete dialog view • MINI-MAP VIEW for a full structural overview (iPad and Mac) • BEAT BOARD MANAGER with visual scene images and beat lists • INDEX CARDS for notes, ideas, and planning • SMART IMPORT for FDX, Fountain, TXT, and PDF with automatic PDF conversion • EASY EXPORT to FDX, Fountain, TXT, and PDF AI ASSISTANT (SUBSCRIPTION) • SCRIPT STARTER generates a 1–10 page screenplay draft from a short idea • ELEMENT PROOFING offers optional rewrites for Action and Dialog lines • SCENE PROOFING reviews an entire scene with suggestions you control • AI BEAT BOARDS create a visual collage and beat summary for any scene Perfect for beginners who need guidance and professionals who want a faster scriptwriting workflow. WHY SCREENPLAY A beautifully simple, writer-first screenwriting app designed to reduce clutter and remove friction. Screenplay adapts to your process, not the other way around. SCREENPLAY IS BACK One of the first screenwriting apps on the App Store returns — fully reimagined for today’s writers. Start your screenplay now. SUBSCRIPTIONS SCREENPLAY offers auto-renewal subscription. Please read the following about the auto-renewable nature of subscriptions: • Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews at the end of your current subscription period unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours prior to end of the current period. • You can manage or turn off auto-renewal in your Apple ID Account Settings any time after purchase. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. • Privacy policy - https://www.blackmanastudios.com/screenplay-privacy-policy/ • Terms of use - https://www.blackmanastudios.com/screenplay-terms-and-conditions/

About

Decode

Features
Read full description

Don't sign what you don't understand. Decode turns dense, high-stakes paperwork into plain English. Snap a photo, import a PDF, or paste the text — and in seconds you get a clear summary, a 0–10 risk score, and every risky clause explained: what it means, what could go wrong, and what to do about it. WHAT YOU CAN DECODE • Job offers & employment contracts — total comp, equity, non-competes, IP and clawback clauses, and exactly what to negotiate • Leases & rental agreements • Medical bills — catch duplicate charges and billing errors • Insurance policies & denial letters • IRS & tax notices — what it says, the deadline, and what to do next • Contracts & terms of service • Immigration & visa documents • "Did I get scammed?" — paste a suspicious email, text, or offer for an instant risk verdict EVERY CLAUSE, EXPLAINED Decode doesn't just summarize. It surfaces the clauses that matter, in the document's own words, with the worst-case outcome, what to do, and which kind of professional to call. A SCORE, NOT A GUESS A simple 0–10 risk score tells you how worried to be — before you sign, pay, or accept. TAKE ACTION • Draft letters — generate a ready-to-send dispute, appeal, or counter-offer • Compare two offers side by side — risk, pay, and red flags, head to head • Export a clean PDF or share your results PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your paperwork never has to leave your phone. Decode reads and redacts your personal details on-device with Apple Intelligence. Optional, faster cloud analysis is available on paid plans — and only after your sensitive information has been stripped out first. PLANS • Free — 3 documents a month, fully on-device • Private — unlimited documents, on-device only • Pro & Power — add cloud-powered analysis, draft letters, and offer comparison Decode is informational and not legal, medical, or financial advice. When the stakes are high, talk to a professional — Decode helps you walk in knowing what to ask.

Screenshots

Screenplay4 screens
Decode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Decode at none against Screenplay's shown. Screenplay's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. Screenplay sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Decode sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 3, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Screenplay versus Decode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenplayDecode
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (18 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings18 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB6 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperBlack Mana Studios Group LLCMohan Agoramoorthy

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Screenplay

Subscriptions6
  • Standard Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • AI Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • AI Plus Monthly Subscription$24.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Standard Annual Subscription$29.991 Year
  • AI Annual Subscription$129.991 Year
  • AI Plus Annual Subscription$249.991 Year
6 purchases

Decode

Subscriptions6
  • Decode Private$4.991 Month
  • Decode Pro$9.991 Month
  • Decode Power$19.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Decode Private (Annual)$39.991 Year
  • Decode Pro (Annual)$59.991 Year
  • Decode Power (Annual)$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Screenplay free?
Screenplay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Decode free?
Decode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Screenplay or Decode have ads?
Screenplay shows ads; Decode does not.
Which is updated more often, Screenplay or Decode?
Screenplay ships an update every 2 months, and Decode every 2 months. Most recently, Screenplay was updated on August 3, 2026 and Decode on September 17, 2026.

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