Write professional screenplays for free
No subscription. No cloud lock-in. Own your scripts forever.
No account needed. Opens in your browser in seconds.
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Professional screenplay formatting, planning, collaboration, and version history — all in one app.
Free forever • Works 100% offline • Your scripts never leave your machine • Import from Final Draft in seconds
Your script is your intellectual property. Cloud-based screenwriting tools store your work on corporate servers — where it can be mined, leaked, or used to train AI. OpenDraft keeps every word on your machine.
- Never pay for your own words — Free forever under the MIT license. No trial, no subscription, no feature gating.
- Switch without starting over — Import from Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, or PDF. Export anytime. Your scripts are never locked in.
- Write anywhere, even offline — Desktop apps for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Mobile apps for iOS and Android. No internet required.
- Collaborate when you want to — Invite co-writers with a link. Real-time cursors and permissions. When the session ends, nothing stays on any server.
Industry-standard screenplay formatting with scene navigator
Visual story planning with drag-and-drop index cards
Real-time collaboration — multiple writers editing simultaneously
Built-in version history with check-in, diff, and restore
Screenplay Editor Industry-standard formatting with autocomplete for character names, scene headings, and transitions.
Beat Board Plan your story visually with drag-and-drop index cards before you write a single page.
Real-Time Collaboration Write with your partner simultaneously — live cursors, presence indicators, and edit/view permissions.
Version History Check in drafts, compare versions side-by-side, and restore any previous draft instantly.
Character Profiles Track characters with descriptions, role types, and color-coded highlighting in your script.
Import & Export Move freely between Final Draft (.fdx), Fountain, and PDF — never locked into one tool.
iOS & Android Apps Full-featured mobile apps with 100% of the desktop functionality — write, edit, and manage scripts on the go.
See the full feature list for scene navigator, spell check, search & replace, script notes, asset management, and more.
How does OpenDraft stack up against commercial screenwriting software?
| Feature | OpenDraft | Final Draft | WriterDuet | Fade In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $250 | Free / $12/mo | $80 |
| Open Source | Yes (MIT) | No | No | No |
| Offline Desktop App | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Real-time Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Beat Board / Index Cards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Version History with Diff | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Self-Hostable | Yes | No | No | No |
| Linux Support | Yes | No | Yes (paid) | Yes |
| No Account Required | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Privacy-First (No Tracking) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Character Profiles | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Casting / Reference Images | Yes | No | No | No |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Production Tags | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Fountain Import/Export | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Web Browser Access | Yes | No | Yes | Limited |
| Plugin Architecture | Yes | No | No | No |
Comparison based on publicly available product information as of April 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, please open an issue.
Get the latest version — no account required, just install and start writing. Most users are writing in under 2 minutes.
| Platform | Download |
|---|---|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | Download .dmg |
| macOS (Intel) | Download .dmg |
| Windows (64-bit) | Download .exe |
| Windows (MSI) | Download .msi |
| Linux (Debian/Ubuntu) | Download .deb |
| Linux (AppImage) | Download .AppImage |
| Linux (RPM/Fedora) | Download .rpm |
The app is fully standalone — everything you need is bundled inside. No account, no setup.
For all versions and platforms, visit the Releases page.
New to OpenDraft? Here's everything you need:
- Just want to try it? Open the demo — no account, no install, opens in seconds.
- Ready to install? Grab the latest download for your platform.
- Need a walkthrough? Read the User Manual.
- Want to learn more? Visit the OpenDraft website.
- Have a question? Start a Discussion — the community is happy to help.
We welcome contributions from everyone! Whether you're fixing a typo, reporting a bug, or building a new feature — every contribution matters.
- New here? Check out issues labeled
good first issue. - Have a question? Start a Discussion.
- Found a bug? Open an issue.
- Want to contribute code? See docs/CONTRIBUTING.md.
Tech Stack, Project Structure, and Development Setup
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React 19, TypeScript, Vite, TipTap editor |
| Backend | Python 3.12, FastAPI, Uvicorn |
| Desktop | Tauri 2 (Rust) with bundled Python backend |
| Collaboration | Hocuspocus WebSocket server, Yjs CRDT |
| State Management | Zustand |
| Version Control | Git (per-project, built-in) |
OpenDraft/
├── frontend/ # React + TypeScript web UI
├── backend/ # FastAPI Python API server
├── collab-server/ # Real-time collaboration server (Node.js)
├── src-tauri/ # Tauri 2 desktop app shell (Rust)
├── docs/ # Documentation
├── images/ # Logos and assets
├── setup.sh # One-click browser setup script
├── build.sh # Web build script
└── build-desktop.sh # Desktop app build script
# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/Proteus-Technologies-Private-Limited/OpenDraft.git
cd OpenDraft
# Backend
python3.12 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
# Frontend
cd frontend && npm install && cd ..
# Start development servers (in separate terminals)
./start_backend.sh # API server on http://localhost:8000
./start_frontend.sh # Dev server on http://localhost:5173./build-desktop.sh
# Output: src-tauri/target/release/bundle/See docs/desktop-build.md for detailed desktop build instructions.
To run your own instance of OpenDraft in a browser:
git clone https://github.com/Proteus-Technologies-Private-Limited/OpenDraft.git
cd OpenDraft
./setup.shInstalls dependencies, builds the app, and opens it at http://localhost:8000.
Requires Python 3.12+, Node.js 18+, and Git. See docs/INSTALLATION.md for details.
Note: This is for developers who want to self-host or contribute. If you just want to use OpenDraft, download the desktop app or try the demo.
OpenDraft is open-source software licensed under the MIT License. Free to use, modify, and distribute.
Built by screenwriters and engineers at Proteus Technologies
Write screenplays, not subscriptions.
If OpenDraft helps your writing, a star on GitHub helps others discover it.