Screenwriting App Reviews
Reviews of the Best Screenwriting Apps.
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Best Screenwriting Apps for iPad
Best Screenwriting Apps for iPad
The iPad has been taking over Hollywood ever since Apple debuted the device in 2010. For example, Star Trek’s writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman pitched their ideas for Star Trek Into Darkness using an iPad in their presentation. Many actors, including Julianna Margulies have publicly praised the “Rehearsal” app for helping them memorize lines for their roles. Gone are the days where productions had large paper shooting scripts to lug around. Want to make a last minute change to the script? You’ll need to print out 30 more copies.
The iPad has also become a screenwriter’s dream. Have an idea when you’re on the go? You can easily capture it on your iPad. Did the Director order some last minute changes? You can fire them off at a coffee shop and have the revised scenes sent to the Director instantly.
As a screenwriter who has owned an iPad since 2010, it really is a great writing device. I’ve tested nearly every screenwriting and movie-making app there is. These reviews are from my own personal experiences with each app.
The one major drawback to the iPad (and iPad mini) is the lack of a good keyboard. The onscreen version is not meant for long time writing sessions. I use Apple’s bluetooth keyboard for long writing sessions. Another great idea is to get an iPad keyboard case. You can check here for all the latest keyboard cases that you can pair with your iPad.
1. Final Draft Writer for iPad
Price: $49.99
I really wanted to hate this app. Final Draft announced they were developing this app when the iPad came out, and it took them over two years to release it. On top of that? It’s expensive. It normally costs $50, although there are periodic sales that bring the price down to $30. That’s a lot for an app.
But you know what? It’s the best screenwriting app, by far. In fact, it’s one of the best apps ever made for the iPad.
Here’s why: other screenwriting apps assume that you use a desktop application for your main writing, and the app is only there for when you want to make a few notes. With Final Draft Writer, the whole functionality of Final Draft is built into the app. This is the first app that makes you feel like you could write an entire screenplay on your iPad.
What it Does Have:
Scriptnotes – this is the big feature that the other screenwriting apps don’t have. It’s a feature that–if your screenplay is being developed–you will want to have. This enables different people: producers, directors, etc. to make notes on your screenplay. It also lets you keeps track of different revisions of your screenplay, so if you want to find a scene from your 15th revision, it will be there waiting for you.
Character Highlighting – handy for keeping track of a single character in your sc