Beat

Name: Beat
Author: Beat

Free plan iPhoneMac

What Beat is

Beat is a screenwriting app for writers who want to draft scripts and shape their stories in a focused workspace. Its Outline view and scene cards let writers add sections and synopses, then reorder scenes by dragging and dropping. While drafting, Beat recognizes screenplay elements and offers autocomplete. Writers can track revisions and highlight changes in exported PDFs.

Scripts are saved as plain-text Fountain files, a format the maker describes as portable and compatible with other editors. Beat imports files from Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx, and exports to Final Draft and PDF. The macOS app supports JavaScript plugins, including official plugins from Beat's Plugin Library, with optional automatic updates.

Beat works offline and stores documents on the user's device; the maker says it collects no data. Files can be synced between iOS and macOS through services such as iCloud, Dropbox or Google Drive. Beat's maker cautions against keeping the same file open on both devices at once. The macOS app is free, while the iOS companion is listed at €12.99 per month and includes lifetime ownership after purchase. Beat is available for macOS and iOS, and its source code is released under GPL v3 on GitHub.

Who it suits

Beat suits screenwriters who want outlining, scene rearrangement and screenplay-aware drafting on macOS or iOS. It also fits writers who value plain-text Fountain files, offline work and device-side document storage.

What it does well

Outline view and scene cards support story organization.
Recognizes screenplay elements and provides autocomplete.
Imports Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx files.
Exports scripts to Final Draft and PDF.
Offline mode and device-side document storage.
Source code is released under GPL v3.

What to know first

The maker says there will be no Windows or Linux version.
Plugins are available only on macOS.
The iOS companion is listed at €12.99 per month.

Limits

The macOS plan is free. The iOS companion is listed at €12.99 per month and supports core Beat features; the plan facts also state lifetime ownership after purchase.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
macOS	Free · Desktop app	Free
iOS	12,99€ single-time fee · iOS companion app	€12.99, paid once

As beat-app.fi lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Beat website.
Choose the macOS app or the iOS companion for your device.
Use the free macOS plan or the iOS plan listed at €12.99 per month.
Import an existing script from Final Draft, Highland, Fade In or Celtx, if needed.
Use Outline view or scene cards to organize sections and scenes.

Verdict

Choose Beat if you want screenwriting tools with outlining, screenplay-aware drafting and Fountain files, especially on macOS. Look elsewhere if you need Windows or Linux, or if you need plugins on iOS.

Questions

What does Beat cost?

The macOS plan is free. The iOS companion is listed at €12.99 per month, with lifetime ownership after purchase.

Which platforms does Beat support?

Beat is available on macOS and iOS. The maker says it will not release a Windows or Linux version.

Can Beat work offline?

Yes. Beat can work offline, and the maker says documents are stored on the user's device.

What file formats can Beat import and export?

Beat imports Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx files. It exports to Final Draft and PDF, and saves scripts as plain-text Fountain files.

Is Beat open source?

Yes. Its source code is released under GPL v3 and is available on GitHub.

Facts from Beat's own pages

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. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Export formats: standard · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
File format: Beat saves screenplays as plain-text Fountain files, which the maker describes as portable and compatible with other editors. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland · beat-app.fi, 28 Sept 2026
Import and export: Beat can import Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx files, and export to Final Draft and PDF. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Mobile apps: Yes · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
Notable limits: The maker says there will be no Windows or Linux version, and plugins are available on macOS only. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Offline mode: Yes · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
Open source: Beat's source code is released under GPL v3 and is available on GitHub. · beat-app.fi, 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. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Outlining: Outline view and scene cards let writers add sections and synopses and rearrange scenes by dragging and dropping. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Plugins: The macOS app supports plugins written in JavaScript, and its Plugin Library offers official plugins with optional automatic updates. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Privacy: The maker says Beat collects no data and stores documents on the user's device; the app can work offline. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Publishing tools: Yes · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
Support: Users can report bugs through the maker's bug-report page and contact the developer by email or Discord. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Version history: Yes · beat-app.fi, 19 Sept 2026
What it does: Beat is a screenwriting app made for writers, with a distraction-free interface and tools for structuring stories. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026
Writing tools: Beat automatically recognizes screenplay elements, supports autocomplete, and can track revisions and highlight changes in exported PDFs. · beat-app.fi, 7 Oct 2026