Comparison

Screenplay vs Screenplay Writer

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
Read full description

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

Screenplay Writer

This app provides a distraction-free environment for writing screenplays with automatic industry-standard formatting. It offers features like a scene navigator, character lists, and script statistics, with options to import and export in various formats. Pro features unlock unlimited scripts, dark themes, and edit history.

Highlights
  • Automatic screenplay formatting
  • Distraction-free editor
  • Scene navigator
  • Character list generation
  • Import/export PDF, FDX, Fountain
  • Offline functionality
  • Edit history (Pro)
Features
Read full description

Zen Writer is the distraction-free screenwriting studio that fits in your pocket. Write properly formatted screenplays anywhere inspiration strikes — on the couch, on set, or on the train — with automatic industry-standard formatting that stays out of your way. STAY IN THE STORY • Automatic screenplay formatting as you type — scene headings, action, characters, dialogue, parentheticals and transitions • A clean, minimal editor built for focus • Typewriter mode keeps your writing centered on screen (Pro) • Beautiful light and dark themes (dark theme with Pro) BUILT FOR REAL SCRIPTS • Smooth performance on feature-length screenplays — 150+ pages, thousands of lines • Scene navigator: jump to any scene in an instant • Character list, collected automatically as you write • Script statistics: scenes, page count and more at a glance IMPORT & EXPORT LIKE A PRO • Export industry-standard PDF, Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain and plain text • Import .fdx, .fountain, .txt and PDF screenplays • Share drafts to any app in one tap NEVER LOSE A WORD • Everything autosaves to your device as you type • Edit history: browse and restore earlier versions of your script (Pro) • Inline comments for notes on your next pass • Works fully offline — no account required, your scripts stay on your device ZEN WRITER PRO Start free with one script and watermarked exports. Upgrade to Pro to unlock: • Unlimited screenplays • Watermark-free PDF, FDX and Fountain exports • Dark theme and typewriter mode • Full edit history Flexible plans: weekly, yearly, or pay once for lifetime access. Whether you are outlining your first short film or polishing your tenth feature, Zen Writer keeps the craft simple: open the app and write. Privacy Policy: https://screenplaywriter.app/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Screenplay4 screens
Screenplay Writer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Screenplay Writer at 100% against Screenplay's 56%. Screenplay Writer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months). Screenplay's advantage is ratings volume (25 vs 7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Screenplay Writer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screenplay Writer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Screenplay's written reviews are positive against 100% of Screenplay Writer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Screenplay ships an update every 2 months, Screenplay Writer every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Screenplay versus Screenplay Writer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScreenplayScreenplay Writer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (25 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews56.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size469 MB52 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBlack Mana Studios Group LLCAshish Rattan

Customer experience

Screenplay

All ratings25 ratings
Positive76.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive56.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative24.0%

Screenplay Writer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
3 purchases

Screenplay Writer

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Pro Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Screenplay free?
Screenplay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Screenplay Writer free?
Screenplay Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Screenplay or Screenplay Writer?
Screenplay Writer is rated higher. Screenplay averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Screenplay Writer averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Screenplay or Screenplay Writer have ads?
Neither Screenplay nor Screenplay Writer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Screenplay or Screenplay Writer?
Screenplay ships an update every 2 months, and Screenplay Writer every 8 days. Most recently, Screenplay was updated on October 23, 2026 and Screenplay Writer on October 24, 2026.

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