Fade In alternative

The Fade In alternativewith nothing to buy.

Fade In is a fast desktop app at a one-time price. ScreenWeaver gives you professional formatting for $0 on Mac, Windows, Linux and iPad, with .fdx export. When you want to see the film, the storyboard is built from the same script.
Start writing for freeCompare the two
  • Free, no license to buy
  • Final Draft (.fdx) export
  • Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
The ScreenWeaver screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above a formatted scene from The Yellow Umbrella
Fade In · script.fdxScreenWeaver

Why writers try it

Three reasons to write here.

  1. The ScreenWeaver script editor with the outline above the page
    01

    Professional pages for $0

    Fade In lists at $99.95, and its demo watermarks printed and PDF pages. ScreenWeaver's writing plan is $0 and never expires, with PDF and Final Draft (.fdx) export.

  2. Storyboard of shot S3 in ScreenWeaver, with the character sheets and the script beside it
    02

    The storyboard comes from your script

    ScreenWeaver breaks your scenes into shots and draws the storyboard with your characters and locations. Storyboard Beta: $9.99 a month.

  3. The ScreenWeaver production canvas with shots S3 and S4 linked to their storyboard panels
    03

    One project, from page to production

    Shots, characters and references carry into production, tied to the same script. You write the film and prepare it in one place.

Side by side

ScreenWeaver vs Fade In

Plans and features as each company lists them. Fade In prices are list prices, before promotions.
ScreenWeaverFade In
Price$0 for writing$99.95, one-time
Free optionFree plan, no expiryDemo, watermarked output
PlatformsMac, Windows, Linux, iPadMac, Windows, Linux
Cloud and browserBuilt in, works offlineFade In Access, from $9.95/mo
Real-time collaborationFilmmaker planWith Fade In Access
Final Draft (.fdx)Export on the free planOpens, edits and saves
PDF export
StudentsFree plan$59.95, with verification
Storyboard from the scriptStoryboard Beta
AI previsualizationFilmmaker plan

Competitor information as of September 2026, from fadeinpro.com. Prices in US dollars, list prices before promotions. Check their site for the latest.

Fair is fair

What Fade In does well

Fade In is a fast, stable desktop app. You pay once and updates are free. Its site lists writers like Rian Johnson and Craig Mazin among its users.

  • One license for your own Mac, Windows and Linux computers
  • Revisions with page and scene locking, and colored pages
  • Breakdowns, reports and tagging for production
  • An open file format, plus Final Draft, Fountain and Celtx import

Fade In is still a good fit if you want a desktop app you buy once, with revisions and production reports built in. Fade In does that well.

Our verdict

Nothing to buy, and more in the box.

Fade In is a fast desktop app you buy once. ScreenWeaver gives you professional writing for free, with nothing to buy, on every device, and the storyboard and production in the same project when your script is ready.

  • Professional writing, free and unlimited, with PDF and Final Draft export
  • A storyboard generated from your screenplay, shot by shot
  • Production connected to the same project, characters kept consistent
Start writing for free

Switching

Bring your Fade In scripts over.

Save once, import once. Your formatting comes with you.
  1. 1

    Save as Final Draft (.fdx)

    Fade In opens, edits and saves Final Draft files. Save your script as .fdx to keep the formatting.

  2. 2

    Import into ScreenWeaver

    Attach the file to the ScreenWeaver assistant and ask it to import the script. It reads:

    • PDF
    • Final Draft (.fdx)
    • Plain text
  3. 3

    Keep writing, then storyboard

    Write on for free, and export back to .fdx whenever you need to. When you are ready, the storyboard is generated from your scenes.

The storyboard of The Yellow Umbrella in ScreenWeaver: shot S3 beside the character sheets and the script
Same project, storyboard view

Import runs through the assistant, which comes with a paid plan. Writing and PDF or Final Draft export stay free.

Read more

Guides and comparisons

FAQ

Questions Fade In users ask

How much does Fade In cost in 2026?
As of September 2026, fadeinpro.com lists Fade In at $99.95, one-time (shown at $79.95 that month), with free updates. Students pay $59.95 after verification. Fade In Access, the optional online service, costs $9.95 a month or $99.95 a year. Check their site for current prices.
Is there a free alternative to Fade In?
Yes. ScreenWeaver's Screenwriter plan costs $0 and never expires. You get unlimited projects and pages, industry-standard formatting, outline and beats, and PDF and Final Draft export.
Is the Fade In demo free?
Yes. The demo includes the key features except online real-time collaboration, and it puts a watermark on printed and PDF scripts. ScreenWeaver's writing plan has no trial version: it stays free.
Can I open my Fade In scripts in ScreenWeaver?
Yes. Save your script from Fade In as Final Draft (.fdx), attach the file to the ScreenWeaver assistant and ask it to import the script. It also reads PDF and plain text. The assistant comes with a paid plan.
Does ScreenWeaver work on iPad and Linux?
Yes. It runs in the browser on Mac, Windows, Linux and iPad. Install it like an app, write offline, and it syncs when you reconnect. Fade In runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, and Fade In Access opens your scripts in a browser.
Can I co-write in real time?
In ScreenWeaver, real-time collaboration comes with the Filmmaker plan, whose price is not announced yet. In Fade In, collaboration runs through Fade In Access, the optional subscription.
What does ScreenWeaver add after the script?
A storyboard generated from your screenplay, with manual control of each shot (Storyboard Beta, $9.99 a month during the beta). The Filmmaker plan adds production preparation tied to the same script.

Fade In is a trademark of its respective owner. ScreenWeaver is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Fade In. Product names are used only to identify the products compared.

Professional pages. Free, with .fdx export.

Write today on any computer or iPad, and send the .fdx whenever it is asked for. The storyboard is ready when your story is.
Start writing for freeHow the pipeline works