Comparison

Open Draft Screenwriting vs Script Lab

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

Head to head
About

Open Draft Screenwriting

This free, open-source application offers professional screenplay formatting, real-time collaboration, and visual planning tools. It supports multiple export formats and is available across all major operating systems, providing a privacy-first writing experience.

Highlights
  • Professional screenplay formatting
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Beat boards and index cards
  • Version history tracking
  • Character profiles and production tools
  • Export to PDF, FDX, Fountain, and TXT
  • Cross-platform availability
Features
Read full description

OpenDraft is a free, open-source screenwriting application — a modern alternative to Final Draft. PROFESSIONAL SCREENPLAY FORMATTING Write in industry-standard format with automatic element formatting for scene headings, action, character names, dialogue, and parentheticals. What you see is what you export. REAL-TIME COLLABORATION Co-write with your writing partner in real time with live cursors, just like Google Docs. No account required — just share a link and start writing together. BEAT BOARDS & INDEX CARDS Plan your story visually. Drag and drop scene cards, color-code acts, and restructure your screenplay without losing a single word. VERSION HISTORY Every save is tracked with Git-based version control. Compare drafts side by side, see exactly what changed, and restore any previous version instantly. CHARACTER PROFILES & PRODUCTION TOOLS Build character bibles, track dialogue stats, tag scenes for production, and manage your entire project from one place. EXPORT ANYWHERE Export to PDF, Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, and plain text. Your work is never locked into a proprietary format. WORKS EVERYWHERE Available on macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. Run it as a desktop app or self-host in your browser. WHY OPENDRAFT? - 100% free and open source (MIT license) - No subscription, no cloud lock-in - Works fully offline — no internet required - Privacy-first: no tracking, no analytics - Import from Final Draft, Fountain, and PDF

About

Script Lab

Features
Read full description

Script Lab is an AI-powered screenwriting app and professional tool built for the modern screenwriter. Use this AI screenplay writer to develop a complete script for film and movie stories, learn how to write a screenplay, strengthen story structure, and improve your writing with a disciplined screenwriting workflow. Script Lab – AI Screenwriter AI-assisted screenplay writing for professional film and movie stories. Script Lab is a professional AI-assisted screenplay writing app built for serious screenwriters who care about structure, story logic, and creative control. This is not a “generate a script” shortcut tool. Script Lab is a disciplined screenwriting system designed to help you build professional screenplays for film and movie stories — step by step — without losing story, structure, or soul. Whether you’re learning how to write a screenplay, developing your next feature film, or refining your screenwriting process, Script Lab works as a true co-writer, not a replacement. Built for Screenwriters, Not Prompt Gamblers Great screenplays aren’t typed — they’re designed. Script Lab treats screenwriting as a craft, not a trick. Every feature is built to support real creative thinking, strong narrative foundations, and professional rewriting standards. You remain the storyteller. AI assists with clarity, structure, and execution. What Makes Script Lab Different Unlike generic AI scriptwriting tools, Script Lab uses a locked, step-by-step workflow that mirrors real industry screenwriting practice. Each stage of your screenplay becomes the foundation for the next, helping you avoid incoherent drafts, broken characters, and structural collapse. This makes Script Lab a powerful screenwriting tool, not just an AI screenwriter. Core Screenwriting Features AI-Assisted Screenplay Writing Write professional screenplays for film and movie stories with structured AI guidance. Idea & Story Foundation Tools Refine your core concept before writing pages. Build strong narrative intent from the start. Character Engine Develop consistent, motivated characters that hold together across the entire script. Structured Draft Generation Create first-draft screenplay material designed for real rewrites — not disposable output. Editable AI Responses Edit everything. Improve every step. Then regenerate based on your thinking. Rewrite-Friendly Output Every screenplay draft is built to be revised, polished, and strengthened. Integrated Screenwriting Course Learn the ins and outs of professional screenwriting craft inside the app. Learn While You Write Script Lab includes a full screenwriting course in the Learn tab — written at a professional, industry-aware level. Topics include: • How to write a screenplay • Story structure and narrative discipline • Character design and motivation • First drafts vs real rewrites • Thinking like a professional screenwriter This makes Script Lab both a screenplay writer and a learning environment for long-term growth. Why “Script Lab”? A lab is where ideas are tested, refined, and strengthened. Script Lab is where: • Raw ideas become disciplined screenplays • First drafts are treated as starting points • Screenwriting is approached with patience and humility • AI supports the process without taking control This is AI-assisted screenplay writing for professional film and movie stories, not automation for shortcuts. Who Script Lab Is For - Aspiring screenwriters learning how to write a screenplay - Serious writers developing film or movie scripts - Writers who want a professional screenwriting software experience - Creators who value structure, discipline, and rewrites - Anyone looking for a reliable AI screenwriting tool that respects craft An AI-assisted professional screenplay writer that respects storytelling craft. Script Lab – AI Screenwriter Write screenplays with structure. Build stories with intention. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Open Draft Screenwriting4 screens
Script Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Open Draft Screenwriting at none against Script Lab's 2. Script Lab's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads 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. Script Lab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.00 per 7 days. Open Draft Screenwriting asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Open Draft Screenwriting versus Script Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpen Draft ScreenwritingScript Lab
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB95 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperBase Information Management Pvt. Ltd.VERSELINGO COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

In-app purchases

None

Open Draft Screenwriting

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Script Lab

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly$19.007 Days
  • Monthly$59.001 Month

Questions

Is Open Draft Screenwriting free?
Open Draft Screenwriting is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Script Lab free?
Script Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Open Draft Screenwriting or Script Lab have ads?
Neither Open Draft Screenwriting nor Script Lab shows ads.

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