Top 10 Best Playwriting Software of 2026

Final Draft is the industry-standard scriptwriting software used by professionals in film, TV, and theater, with dedicated templates for stageplays that ensure precise formatting for characters, dialogue, action, and scene headings. It streamlines the playwriting process with tools like the Navigator for rearranging scenes, Beat Board for plotting structure, and automatic pagination to meet theater submission standards. Additional features include collaboration via Final Draft Cloud, comprehensive reports on characters and locations, and export options for PDF and Fountain formats.

Celtx is a cloud-based scriptwriting and pre-production platform that includes dedicated templates for stageplays and playwriting, automating industry-standard formatting for character names, dialogue, parentheticals, and stage directions. It enables writers to structure plays with index cards, beat boards, and scene breakdowns, while supporting real-time collaboration for teams. Beyond writing, it offers production tools like scheduling, reports, and breakdowns tailored for theater workflows.

Fade In is a professional-grade scriptwriting software that provides industry-standard formatting for screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, and more, with dedicated templates for playwriting. It features tools like auto-completion for character names and scenes, index cards for outlining, scene navigation, and robust revision tracking. Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, Linux) and support for importing/exporting Final Draft files make it a reliable choice for playwrights.

WriterDuet is a cloud-based collaborative writing platform that supports stageplay formatting alongside screenplays, allowing real-time co-editing for playwrights. It features automatic script formatting for character names, dialogue, action lines, and scene headings, with tools like revision tracking and beat boards. The software is accessible across web, desktop, and mobile devices, making it versatile for solo or team playwriting workflows.

Scrivener is a powerful, all-purpose writing studio designed for long-form projects, offering robust organizational tools like binders, corkboards, and outliners to structure plays into acts, scenes, and characters. It includes a scriptwriting mode supporting Fountain markup for stage plays, allowing writers to format dialogue, stage directions, and character cues efficiently. The software excels in compiling projects into professional PDF scripts with customizable formatting, making it suitable for playwrights handling complex narratives.

Arc Studio Pro is a modern, cloud-based screenwriting software primarily designed for film and TV scripts, featuring professional formatting, outlining tools, and collaboration capabilities. For playwriting, it offers adaptable auto-formatting and robust story development features like beat boards and character arcs, though it lacks dedicated theater-specific templates. It supports Fountain import/export and custom elements, making it viable for playwrights seeking a sleek alternative to traditional tools.

KIT Scenarist is a free, open-source screenwriting software that includes dedicated support for stage play formatting, making it suitable for playwrights. It provides tools for script structuring, character and location management, scene navigation, and exporting to various formats like PDF and FDX. Cross-platform availability on Windows, macOS, and Linux enhances its accessibility for writers worldwide.

Trelby is a free, open-source screenwriting program that also supports stageplays and teleplays, offering a minimalist interface for script creation. It uses tab-based navigation to automatically format elements like scene headings, character names, dialogue, and stage directions according to industry standards. With a built-in scene navigator and export options to PDF, HTML, or Fountain, it's geared toward distraction-free writing without unnecessary features.

Slugline is a minimalist writing app primarily designed for screenwriters, utilizing Fountain markup language—a Markdown-like syntax—to automatically format screenplays as users type. It provides a distraction-free environment on macOS and iOS, emphasizing plain-text workflows with PDF exports and Fountain compatibility. For playwriting, it falls short due to its exclusive focus on screenplay formats, lacking native support for theater-specific elements like centered character names, act/scene divisions, or stage directions typical in play scripts.

Storyist is a versatile writing application tailored for novelists, screenwriters, and playwrights, offering robust outlining, organization, and formatting tools. It features index cards for scene planning, customizable sheets for characters and settings, and templates that support stage play formatting with acts, scenes, and dialogue structures. Available on Mac, iOS, and Windows, it enables writers to develop and refine play scripts from outline to export-ready PDF.