Beat
Beat is a screenwriting app for writers who want to structure stories and draft in a distraction-free interface.
What Beat is
Beat is a screenwriting app for writers who want to structure stories and draft in a distraction-free interface. It saves scripts as plain-text Fountain files, which the maker describes as portable and compatible with other editors. Beat can import Final Draft, Highland, Fade In, and Celtx files, and export to Final Draft and PDF. Its Outline view and scene cards let writers add sections and synopses, then rearrange scenes by dragging them. The app recognizes screenplay elements, offers autocomplete, and can track revisions and mark changes in exported PDFs. The macOS version supports JavaScript plugins, including official options in the Plugin Library. Beat works offline and stores documents on the user's device; the maker says it collects no data. Writers can sync between iOS and macOS through services such as iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive, though the maker advises against leaving one file open on both devices. The macOS app is free; the iOS companion costs €12.99 per month and includes lifetime ownership after purchase.
Good
- Free macOS plan.
- Works offline and stores documents on-device.
- Imports four named screenplay formats.
- Outlining includes draggable scene cards.
- Exports to Final Draft and PDF.
Watch out
- No Windows or Linux version.
- Plugins are available only on macOS.
- iOS plan costs €12.99 per month.
Who it suits
Beat suits screenwriters who want outlining, screenplay formatting, revision tracking, and offline drafting on macOS or iOS. Its iOS companion is for writers willing to pay €12.99 per month for core features.
Verdict
Beat combines screenplay drafting, outlining, and revision tools with plain-text Fountain files. Its free macOS app and paid iOS companion make platform and price the key choices.
Plans and prices
From Beat's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Free | Desktop app · Free |
| iOS | €12.99, paid once | iOS companion app · 12,99€ single-time fee |
The facts
Each one read from Beat's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Cloud syncing
- Writers can sync files between iOS and macOS using services such as iCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive; the maker cautions against keeping a file open on both devices at once.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- standardchecked 19 Sep 2026
- File format
- Beat saves screenplays as plain-text Fountain files, which the maker describes as portable and compatible with other editors.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- Beat can import Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx files, and export to Final Draft and PDF.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Notable limits
- The maker says there will be no Windows or Linux version, and plugins are available on macOS only.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Offline mode
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Open source
- Beat's source code is released under GPL v3 and is available on GitHub.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Organizations
- The maker says a specialized release is available for schools and organizations, with licensing and update costs; interested organizations are asked to contact the developer.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Outlining
- Outline view and scene cards let writers add sections and synopses and rearrange scenes by dragging and dropping.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The macOS app supports plugins written in JavaScript, and its Plugin Library offers official plugins with optional automatic updates.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Beat collects no data and stores documents on the user's device; the app can work offline.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Publishing tools
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Support
- Users can report bugs through the maker's bug-report page and contact the developer by email or Discord.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Version history
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- What it does
- Beat is a screenwriting app made for writers, with a distraction-free interface and tools for structuring stories.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Writing tools
- Beat automatically recognizes screenplay elements, supports autocomplete, and can track revisions and highlight changes in exported PDFs.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Helsinki, Finlandchecked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Mobile apps
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
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