Celtx

Celtx suits screenwriters and media teams that want story development and production planning alongside script editors. Its strongest case is the path from script to schedules, budgets, and call sheets; its main drawback is that project capacity and access to those tools depend on the plan.

Overview

Celtx is a cloud-based workspace for writing and managing projects in film, television, commercials, documentaries, and interactive media. Its editors cover screenplays, stageplays, multi-column audio/video scripts, and game scripts, with planning tools for work that moves toward production. Founded in 2000, the company is based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

This breadth makes Celtx more compelling for a project that needs coordination beyond drafting than for someone seeking only a place to write. The free tier is a useful way to start, but its one-project ceiling is a real constraint for ongoing work.

Key features

Writing and story development

Dedicated editors handle several script formats, while Beat Sheet, Storyboard, and Script Goals & Insights support development before or alongside drafting. That range is useful for writers moving among formats or shaping a story with visual and structural tools. Writer Pro adds story-development features and unlimited projects, a meaningful step up from the Writer plan’s three-project limit.

Production planning

The Studio includes breakdowns, catalogs, shot lists, scheduling, cast and crew, sides, budgets, call sheets, and reports. Revision tracking, budgeting, and cost reporting help keep production work connected to the script. This is Celtx’s clearest advantage for teams preparing material for production; writers who do not need those workflows may be paying for a broader workspace than they need.

Collaboration and integrations

Real-time collaboration includes presence awareness, comments, and permissions to read, edit, or approve scripts; users can also share read-only links. Celtx keeps revision, feedback, and approval history, although the free plan provides read-only history. The Adobe Premiere Pro Panel can import screenplays, map scenes to media bins, and synchronize scripts, which is relevant to teams using Premiere in their production workflow.

Offline use

Celtx Screenplay is available for Windows and Android, and offline mode is supported. The app does not include Studio project-view tools such as Storyboard and Breakdown, so offline access is not a full substitute for the cloud workspace. Mobile browsers include iPhone Safari support.

Pricing

Celtx is freemium, with a 7-day trial and paid plans starting at $11.24/user/mo (annual). Annual billing can save up to three months of billing. Most plans are offered monthly or annually, while Education and Student are annual only. Major cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted.

• Free — free. One cloud project, script editors, real-time collaboration, read-only history, and shareable links. It is a sensible way to assess the writing workflow, but one project limits its usefulness as a lasting workspace.
• Writer — $11.24 a month (billed yearly). Up to three projects and unlimited comments. It suits writers who need more room than the free plan but do not need the story-development toolkit or production planning.
• Writer Pro — $18.74 a month (billed yearly). Unlimited projects, unlimited comments, and story-development tools for writing, episodic work, and development. It fits writers managing several projects, though it does not include the production-planning tools offered on Team.
• Team — $44.95 a month (billed yearly). Includes five members, unlimited projects and comments, story development, production planning, and live chat team support. It is the clearest fit for a small group that needs planning as well as writing; the price is for a five-member plan, not a solo writing tier.
• Education — custom pricing. Annual plans cover 10–700 seats and include educator admin controls, unlimited projects, story development, and production planning. It is aimed at institutions that need seat management and classroom administration.
• Student — custom pricing. Requires a student email and includes unlimited projects, Writer Pro and production-planning features, and three years of discounted pricing at over 75% off regular price. Eligible students get a broad feature set, but the offer is tied to student status and a limited discount period.

Platforms

The cloud product runs in a web browser, and Celtx lists web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and extension platforms. The separate Screenplay app is available for Windows computers and Android devices; iPhone users can use the mobile browser. Its offline support is useful for drafting away from a connection, with the Studio-tool limitation noted above.

Who it's for

Celtx is best suited to screenwriters, educators, students, and small production teams whose work benefits from connected script development and production planning. Film, television, theater, documentary, and interactive-media writers have dedicated editor formats to choose from. Solo writers who only need a drafting tool, or users who need full Studio project views while offline, should consider a narrower alternative.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple script editors and story-development tools support different formats and stages of writing.
• Pros: Production planning, collaboration, and revision history can keep script work and team preparation in one workspace.
• Pros: Student pricing includes Writer Pro and production-planning features, with a three-year discount period.
• Cons: The free plan is limited to one project, and Writer to three, so active writers may need to upgrade quickly.
• Cons: Offline Screenplay omits Studio project-view tools including Storyboard and Breakdown.
• Cons: Education and Student pricing requires contacting sales or otherwise uses custom pricing, making the cost less direct to compare.

Alternatives

WriterDuet is worth considering for a screenwriter who wants a free plan with three projects; its Plus plan includes unlimited projects and real-time collaboration. Campfire is a candidate for writers interested in writing and worldbuilding modules, with a free option offering limited access and no credit card required. Reedsy Studio is an alternative for a web-based writing workflow oriented toward book creation. Story Architect may suit writers who value an open-core option, with core source code under MIT and some closed-source commercial features. Overleaf is the more relevant choice for collaborative document work, with a free plan allowing one collaborator per project and unlimited projects. LyX is a free desktop alternative for users who prefer GPL-licensed software. Readers comparing broader writing tools can browse Writing Apps; those focused on scripts can compare Screenwriting Software. For connected planning workflows, see Creative Project Management Software and Video Production Management Software.

Verdict

Choose Celtx if you write for screen or stage and want a shared workspace that can carry a project from story development into production planning. Its script-format range, team collaboration, and production tools are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need only a lean writing tool or expect the offline app to expose the full Studio project workflow.