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Final Draft alternatives

Screenwriting guide

Final Draft Alternatives That Open FDX Files

Final Draft is the screenwriting software most studios and TV shows use, and its FDX file is the format productions trade. It is worth paying for once a job or a writers room asks for it. Before then, an alternative that opens and saves FDX, like ScriptLix Studio, lets you switch without losing a page of formatting.

Written and reviewed by ScriptLix Editorial

Final Draft and the alternatives

Plans and prices change, so treat these as notes at time of writing, October 2026, and check each site before you buy. ScriptLix is not affiliated with any of these apps.

  • ScriptLix StudioOurs

    Runs on
    Any browser, desktop or phone. Works offline once loaded
    Cost
    Free to write, import and export. No account needed. Optional AI runs on credits
    Files
    Opens Fountain, FDX, TXT and Markdown. Saves Fountain, FDX and PDF
    Good to know
    Share links with comments. No real time co editing or dual dialogue yet
    Best for
    Writing anywhere without installing anything

  • Trelby

    Runs on
    Desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux
    Cost
    Free and open source
    Files
    Exports PDF
    Good to know
    A classic offline editor with no account and no cloud
    Best for
    A no cost desktop app on any computer

  • Fade In

    Runs on
    Desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux
    Cost
    Paid licence, with a free demo
    Files
    Opens and saves FDX and Fountain, exports PDF
    Good to know
    A full professional feature set for a one off price
    Best for
    A desktop app close to Final Draft for less

  • WriterDuet

    Runs on
    Browser, plus desktop and mobile apps
    Cost
    Free tier with limits, paid plans for more
    Files
    Imports and exports FDX, Fountain and PDF
    Good to know
    Built around real time co writing
    Best for
    Writing partners on different machines

  • Final Draft

    Runs on
    Desktop app for Windows and Mac
    Cost
    Paid licence, with a free trial
    Files
    FDX is its native format, exports PDF
    Good to know
    The industry standard, deep on revisions and production
    Best for
    Working on shows and productions that require it

Got an FDX and no Final Draft? Convert FDX to PDF free or see every free screenwriting option.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Ask what you need to deliver. A PDF for readers, or an FDX for a production that works in Final Draft.

  2. 2

    If it is a PDF or FDX, write in any app that exports them cleanly, free or paid.

  3. 3

    Buy Final Draft when a job, a show or a co writer needs its production features day to day.

Which apps open and save Final Draft FDX files?

AppOpens FDXSaves FDXCost
ScriptLix StudioYesYesFree, no account to start
Final DraftYes (native)Yes (native)From $16.99 a month, or a one time licence
Fade InYesYesPaid licence, free demo
WriterDuetYesYesFree tier with limits, paid plans

What is Final Draft good at?

It is the common language. Producers, agencies, studios and shows open FDX files every day, and many writers rooms expect everyone to work in Final Draft. Sending a file that opens perfectly on their side is a quiet professional courtesy.

It is also deep on production. Revision tracking with coloured pages, locked pages and scene numbers, and reports for scheduling are the features a script needs once it is being made. Those matter far more on a shoot than on a spec.

When is Final Draft worth buying?

When someone you work with asks for it, when you are staffed on a show that uses it, or when your script is heading into production and needs revision pages. At that point the cost is part of the job.

If you are writing specs, entering contests or sending queries, nobody can tell which app made your PDF. A clean PDF from a free app reads the same as one from Final Draft. Check current pricing and trial terms on the Final Draft site, since they change.

Which Final Draft alternatives open and save FDX?

ScriptLix Studio runs in the browser, needs no account to start, and imports and exports FDX for free, along with Fountain. It formats as you type and saves a PDF through the print dialog. It does not do real time co editing, so a writing team that needs that should look at apps built around it.

Fade In and WriterDuet also open and save FDX. Test a round trip before you switch: open an FDX, save it, and reopen it in Final Draft to check scene numbers and revisions survive. For a wider comparison of free apps, see the free screenwriting software guide.

How much does Final Draft cost?

On finaldraft.com in October 2026, Final Draft 13 was listed at $249.99 for a one time licence, on sale at $199.99, or $99.99 a year and $16.99 a month as a subscription, with a 5 day free trial on the subscriptions. Students, teachers and upgrading users get separate pricing on the same site. Prices change, so check there before you buy.

Someone sent me an FDX and I do not own Final Draft. Now what?

Use our free FDX to PDF converter. Drop the file in and get a correctly formatted PDF in your browser, without installing anything. If you need to edit the script, import the FDX into ScriptLix Studio and export a new FDX when you are done.

Questions writers ask

What is the best Final Draft alternative?

One that opens and saves FDX cleanly, so files move both ways. ScriptLix Studio does this free in the browser; Fade In and WriterDuet do it too.

Do I need Final Draft to be a professional screenwriter?

Not to write or sell a spec. Readers see a PDF. You may need it once you are working on a show or production that uses it.

Can I open an FDX file without Final Draft?

Yes. Convert it to PDF with our free FDX to PDF tool, or import it into ScriptLix Studio to edit and save it again as FDX.

Is ScriptLix connected to Final Draft?

No. ScriptLix is independent and not affiliated with Final Draft. Final Draft is a trademark of its owner. We read and write the FDX file format so your scripts can move between apps.

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