Comparison

HitCue vs Scriptmate

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

Head to head
About

HitCue

Features
Read full description

Stop reading the same pages over and over. HitCue is the script app theatre actors use to memorize lines and get off-book faster. Brute repetition is slow, stressful, and the first thing to collapse under stage lights. HitCue gives you a real method — script analysis, character focus, blackout drills, cue-line audio, and TTS playback — built around the way real productions actually rehearse. UPLOAD A SCRIPT, GET A REHEARSAL TOOL Drop in a PDF, Word file, or plain text. HitCue parses your script into acts, scenes, and dialogue automatically. Jump to any scene in a single tap — no more scrolling through 80 pages every time you need to work a moment. LEARN YOUR LINES, NOT THE WHOLE SCENE • Character focus — assign your role and isolate just your part • "My scenes only" filter — see only the scenes you actually appear in • Blackout mode — hide your lines and reveal them one at a time • Reveal hidden line — peek at a single line without leaving the drill • Bookmark — long-press a line to resume study from exactly where you stopped • Jump to scene — move anywhere in the play without breaking your flow DRILL CUES WITHOUT A PARTNER • Text-to-speech playback — your phone reads the other parts aloud, with separate male and female voices per character • Background audio — keep cue drills playing with the screen locked or another app open, and control lines from the Lock Screen or headphones • Scene Partner — speak your lines and HitCue listens, then delivers the next cue when you finish. Live word highlighting keeps the drill moving. • Cue-line audio recordings — record the lines before yours and run drills solo, any time • Cue beep — a soft tone right before your line so you always know when to come in • Adaptive pause — silence on your line matches the length of your recorded delivery • Manual pause mode — tap to advance after each line, on your own timing • End-of-scene behavior — loop the scene, advance to the next, or jump only between your scenes ORGANIZE EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE • Acts and scenes navigation • Per-scene and per-character notes • Character sheet — age, type, relationships, objectives, emotional arc • Per-scene character statistics — see exactly which scenes you have cracked and which still need work • Rehearsal schedule and reminders — keep calls, deadlines and repeat rehearsals visible • Dialogue styles — classic script format or modern bubble layout • Script update — re-import a new version without losing your study progress REHEARSE WITH YOUR CAST (Pro) • Share your script with the cast via one invite link — no email chains • Shared notes attached to the scene — direction, blocking, and changes stay in one place • Cast recordings — share audio inside the script, in context • Member access management — keep ownership of your shared script WHO IT IS FOR Theatre actors preparing a role. Drama students with off-book deadlines, monologue auditions, and scene study assignments. Community theatre casts juggling rehearsals around day jobs. Understudies and swings tracking multiple parts in the same production. Acting teachers and directors who want their cast on the same page. PRICING Free — 1 active script, 1 personal character, standard AI parsing, all core study tools. Pro Monthly / Pro Annual — unlimited scripts, unlimited characters, advanced AI parsing, shared notes, cast recordings, advanced per-scene progress, modern dialogue styles, priority support. There is no Team tier. Collaboration is part of Pro. Upload your first script and start learning lines today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Scriptmate

Rehearse lines and record self-tapes without a reader. Import scripts, mark your lines, and practice with natural-sounding voices. Focus mode blocks distractions for uninterrupted rehearsal.

Highlights
  • PDF script import
  • Speech-tracking reader
  • Headphone-only reader audio
  • Customizable character voices
  • Landscape recording
  • Distraction-blocking focus mode
Features
Read full description

Rehearse your lines. Record your self-tape. No reader needed. Import a PDF, mark your lines, and start rehearsing in seconds. IMPORT YOUR SIDES IN SECONDS Stop typing sides by hand. Import a PDF, pick your scene, tap your character, and you're ready to run lines. A READER THAT ACTUALLY HEARS YOU Scriptmate tracks your speech word-by-word through the entire line, not just the final word, whether you're off book or doing a cold read. Your reader responds the moment you finish your cue. CLEAN SELF-TAPE AUDIO Reader lines play only in your headphones: silence in the camera mic, reader in your ears. PROFESSIONAL DEFAULTS Landscape recording is enforced, so casting directors never see a vertical tape. Your own lines are hidden while recording, so you stay present instead of reading. FOCUS MODE Scriptmate blocks distracting apps the moment you start rehearsing and lifts the block when you stop. HOW IT WORKS 1.Import your script. PDF in, parsed scene out. 2.Tap your character. Your lines are marked automatically. 3.Rehearse, memorize, get off book, then record your tape. TRY IT FREE Run a full demo scene the moment you open the app. No account, no sign-up. Then rehearse your own scripts free for 7 days. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Scriptmate Pro: $9.99/month or $69.99/year after a 7-day free trial. Full access, no restrictions. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings anytime. Any unused portion of the free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Support: https://incredible-wizard-c55.notion.site/Sciptmate-Support-33efa747149580a798cdf2c619e5d711?pvs=74 Privacy Policy: https://incredible-wizard-c55.notion.site/Sciptmate-Privacy-Policy-33efa747149580769629e846d575a2db?pvs=74 Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HitCue4 screens
Scriptmate4 screens

Verdict

The call

HitCue and Scriptmate are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. HitCue sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Scriptmate sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HitCue ships an update every 5 days, Scriptmate every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
HitCue versus Scriptmate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHitCueScriptmate
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.2 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.416 — better
Further details — not scored
Size84 MB31 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDavide DepontiPeter Lavskiy

In-app purchases

2 purchases

HitCue

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Plan7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Pro Plan7 Days trial$59.991 Year
4 purchases

Scriptmate

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Annual subscription1 Month trial$69.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual subscription7 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is HitCue free?
HitCue is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scriptmate free?
Scriptmate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HitCue or Scriptmate have ads?
Neither HitCue nor Scriptmate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HitCue or Scriptmate?
HitCue ships an update every 5 days, and Scriptmate every 4 days. Most recently, HitCue was updated on October 7, 2026 and Scriptmate on October 14, 2026.

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