Fountain · easy screenwriting vs The Scriptwriter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fountain · easy screenwriting
This app offers a streamlined approach to writing screenplays using a simple, Markdown-based language. It provides essential editing, viewing, and exporting tools for writers on Apple devices, focusing on speed and a clutter-free experience. Your scripts are saved as standard plaintext files, ensuring portability and ownership.
- Fountain screenwriting language support
- Native iOS, iPadOS, and macOS editor
- Fast and responsive performance
- Clutter-free writing interface
- Plaintext document export
- Outline and export tools
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Fountain is a fully native screenplay editor purpose-built for iOS, iPadOS and macOS, loaded with deceptively powerful editing, viewing, outlining and exporting tools. It uses the Fountain screenwriting language, a flavor of Markdown which lets you write naturally, without worrying about formatting. FAST · Fully native, from parser to editor. Translation? No slowdowns or hiccups. Just you and your script. FOCUSED · The tools you need to hit your flow without clutter. LEAN · Sips battery life thanks to a custom parser built on the latest macOS, iOS & iPadOS technologies. PORTABLE · Uses standard plaintext documents which you can read from (or write to!) with any text editor. Your data is yours. I'm an indie developer and fellow screenwriter, so your feedback is super important! Reach out to me at fountainappdev@gmail.com anytime with feedback, questions or ideas.
The Scriptwriter
This stage play writing application allows users to format, write, and export professional scripts directly on their iPhone. It offers features like automatic line type detection, revision tracking, and scene organization, all while keeping data local and accessible offline.
- Professional script formatting
- Offline data storage
- Import/export Fountain and Final Draft files
- Revision tracking
- Scene outlining with cards
- 50-step undo/redo
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The Scriptwriter is a stage play editor for iPhone. Write, format, and export professional scripts with no subscription, no account, and no internet connection required. FORMAT YOUR PLAY PROFESSIONALLY Three line types handle everything: Dialogue for characters speaking, Stage Directions for physical action, and Cues for tracking entrances and exits. Characters are tracked across every scene so you always know who is on stage. YOUR SCRIPTS STAY ON YOUR DEVICE Everything is saved locally. No cloud, no sign-in, no data leaving your phone. Link directly to files in the Files app and overwrite them with one tap. EXCHANGE FILES WITH ANY EDITOR Import and export Fountain and Final Draft (.fdx) files to collaborate with anyone using Highland, Fade In, or WriterDuet. Export a formatted PDF at any time. BUILT FOR PLAYWRIGHTS Smart mode detects line types as you type. Revision tracking with colored marks. Scene cards for outlining your structure. Notes and bookmarks on any line or scene. Find and replace across the full script. Drag and drop to reorder scenes and lines. 50-step undo and redo.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: The Scriptwriter at 5.0 against Fountain · easy screenwriting's 4.5. The Scriptwriter also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 74%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Fountain · easy screenwriting's advantage is ratings volume (35 vs 1). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
The Scriptwriter holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fountain · easy screenwriting has 35 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Fountain · easy screenwriting's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Scriptwriter's.
| Parameter | Fountain · easy screenwriting | The Scriptwriter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (35 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 73.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 35 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alex Walker | Yash Mahtani |
Customer experience
Fountain · easy screenwriting
The Scriptwriter
Bugs and requests
Fountain · easy screenwriting
Reported bugs
17 issues- Constantly changes file name back to Untitled
- Stopped saving
- Deleted work when changing document title
- No version history
- Text continues behind the keyboard and is inaccessible
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- Crashes frequently
- App closes unexpectedly while writing
- Loses progress after crashing
- Crashes when adding a period with double-tap space
- Formatting while writing not as pictured
- Boots user off the app
- Lyrics not handled well
- Last line on each page lost on PDF export
- Non-removable 'Made In Fountain' + QR Code watermark on exported PDFs
- No paginated view until PDF export
- Dialogue breaks lines unexpectedly in the middle of words
- Character names break lines unexpectedly
Requested features
13 requests- Autocomplete for commands (e.g., INT.)
- Light mode option
- See page breaks within the app
- Title page creation
- Option to change text size
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- Support for research notes
- Drag and drop for rearranging sections/beats
- Force a Slugline (e.g., with 'Intercut')
- Improve character name recognition
- Dual dialogue support (^)
- Custom default folder option
- Clarification on AI-generated icon
- Icon change
The Scriptwriter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Fountain · easy screenwriting
No in-app purchases
The Scriptwriter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Fountain · easy screenwriting free?
Is The Scriptwriter free?
Which has better reviews, Fountain · easy screenwriting or The Scriptwriter?
Do Fountain · easy screenwriting or The Scriptwriter have ads?
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