Unlocking Your Story: The Best Montage Alternatives for Screenwriters
Montage is a popular screenwriting software designed for aspiring and seasoned writers alike. It provides a user-friendly interface combined with powerful features to help you create, edit, and manage screenplays on your Mac. From importing and exporting Final Draft documents to offering custom, pre-formatted templates for various formats, Montage guides you from concept to completion. It even assists with industry outreach by integrating with Apple's Address Book for submitting queries and scripts. However, if you're exploring other options or seeking a specific feature, finding a strong Montage alternative is crucial. This guide will help you discover top-tier software that can meet your screenwriting needs.
Top Montage Alternatives
Whether you're looking for free, open-source, cross-platform, or feature-rich solutions, there's a screenwriting tool out there for you. Let's dive into some of the best alternatives to Montage that can help bring your cinematic visions to life.
Celtx
Celtx is a robust screenwriting and pre-production suite based on the Firefox engine. It supports industry standards, offers visual storyboarding, and includes production scheduling tools. With real-time collaboration and text formatting features, Celtx is a fantastic Montage alternative for teams or individuals seeking a comprehensive solution. It's available as a Freemium model and runs on Mac, Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, and iPad, making it highly versatile.
Trelby
Trelby is a simple, fast, and elegantly laid out screenwriting program designed to make the writing process easy. It enforces correct script format and is infinitely configurable, offering a customizable and distraction-free writing tool. As a free and open-source Montage alternative for Windows and Linux, Trelby is an excellent choice for writers on a budget who prioritize simplicity and functionality.
Final Draft
Final Draft is the industry-standard screenwriting software, widely regarded as the number-one selling word processor specifically designed for screenwriters. It handles formatting, allowing you to focus on content. Features like Scriptwriting Assistant, Brainstorming, Collaborative writing, Export to PDF, and Text to Speech make it a powerful Montage alternative. Final Draft is a commercial product available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and iPad.
Storyist
Storyist offers a powerful writing environment for both novelists and screenwriters, helping you track your plot, characters, and settings. It provides excellent organizational tools and features like Sync with iCloud and Export to PDF. As a commercial Montage alternative available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Storyist is ideal for writers who appreciate robust project management alongside their scriptwriting tools.
Slugline
Slugline is highly-rated for its minimal, distraction-free environment, focusing on the most important part of screenwriting: the writing itself. It supports Fullscreen and offers a truly distraction-free UI. This commercial Montage alternative, available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, is perfect for writers who prefer a clean, uncluttered interface to concentrate solely on their script.
StoryMill
StoryMill is a creative writing tool primarily geared towards book writers, but it's equally effective for other large creative writing projects like scripts. It features distraction-free writing, scene management, and a visual timeline, making it a strong Montage alternative for those who need extensive organizational capabilities. StoryMill is a commercial application available for Mac.
Practical Scriptwriter
Practical Scriptwriter offers assisted writing with powerful auto-formatting, supporting various script formats including UK and US Screenplay, Stage Play, TV Show Episode, and more. Its Outliner feature helps organize your thoughts. As a Freemium Montage alternative for Windows, it's a solid choice for writers seeking strong formatting support and organizational tools.
Page 2 Stage
Page 2 Stage is screenwriting software specifically designed for writing screenplays, scripts, and plays. It provides numerous features tailored to screenwriters. As a free and open-source Montage alternative for Windows, it's an accessible option for those new to screenwriting or looking for a cost-effective solution.
Scriptware
Scriptware is known for helping writers create scripts faster and easier. It's a professional-grade screenplay software chosen by many scriptwriters. As a commercial Montage alternative available on Mac and Windows, Scriptware is a reliable option for those seeking a dedicated, efficient screenwriting experience.
Script it!
Script it! provides story outlining and script formatting software for both Mac and PC. It helps you plan your story and organize your script, whether for a novel, stage play, TV show, or Hollywood blockbuster. This commercial Montage alternative is suitable for writers who need comprehensive tools for both outlining and formatting their creative projects.
Choosing the right screenwriting software depends on your individual needs, budget, and preferred workflow. Whether you prioritize collaboration, a distraction-free environment, robust outlining, or specific platform compatibility, there's a fantastic Montage alternative waiting to help you write your next masterpiece. Explore these options to find the best fit for your unique screenwriting journey!