Tool profile
Beat: cost, fit and limits
Beat is a screenwriting application made by Kaikki on haurasta Oy in Finland that writes screenplays in the Fountain plain-text format on macOS and iOS, storing everything on the user's computer and carrying no AI features by the maker's own statement.
What to know first
Beat is free on macOS and the page says it will remain free forever, while the iOS companion is a single payment of 12,99 EUR. The developer is credited as Lauri-Matti Parppei. Work is stored only on your computer, and the one internet check is for plugin updates, which can be turned off. When asked about AI, the site answers 'No. Beat is made for humans.'
Beat at a glance
| Maker | Kaikki on haurasta Oy, Finland |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free on macOS; 12,99 EUR one-time on iOS |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Screenwriting Software in 2026, rank 6 of 13 |
| Website | beat-app.fi |
Who Beat is best for
Mac writers on a zero budget
The macOS app is free with no page limit or watermark stated on the site, so a writer can finish a full script without paying anything.
Privacy-minded drafters
All work is stored on the user's computer and the only internet access is an optional plugin-update check, so scripts do not leave the machine unless the writer moves them.
Writers switching editors
Beat imports Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx files, which makes it a practical landing spot for someone leaving a paid or abandoned tool.
Beat plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Free | Desktop app that stores all work on your own computer, with plugins through the Plugin Library on macOS only. |
| iOS | 12,99 EUR one-time | iOS companion app, a single payment; the free macOS app does not cover iPhone or iPad. |
| Schools and organizations | Custom quote | Licensing with low update costs, no figures published; contact is by email to the address on the site. |
Checked November 2026.
What Beat does
- Fountain-based writing
- Scripts are Fountain plain text, which the site says also opens in Slugline, Logline, Storyboarder and Highland, so a writer is never tied to one program.
- Import and export
- The app imports from Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx, and exports to Final Draft and PDF, covering the formats most producers and readers request.
- JavaScript plugins
- A Plugin Library lets macOS users extend the app with JavaScript plugins, which is how features that other editors build in can be added by the community.
- Offline operation
- Beat works without a connection and contacts the internet only to check for plugin updates, a check the user can switch off in the settings.
- Regional pricing
- The site mentions reduced prices for countries with emerging film industries and optional Patreon support, but publishes no figures or tiers for either, so those prices are unconfirmed.
How Beat handles your data
The vendor states that everything is stored only on the user's own computer, and the only internet access is a plugin-update check that can be turned off. Because there are no AI features, no prompts are sent to a model provider. The privacy policy page is on the vendor site. No training statement is made because the app has no AI, no hosting region applies given local storage, and no certifications were stated on the pages opened.
Where Beat falls short in practice
- Apple platforms only. The pages read list a macOS desktop app and an iOS companion, with no Windows or Android versions, so teams with mixed machines cannot standardize on it.
- Paid phone app. Writers who also want the iPhone or iPad app pay 12,99 EUR separately, because the free macOS app does not extend to iOS devices, and the purchase is made once.
- No generation at all. The maker rejects AI features by design, so a writer who wants drafting, rewriting or research help has to use a separate tool next to Beat.
Works with
Alternatives to Beat
Beat: common questions
Is Beat really free?
The macOS desktop app is free, and the page says it will remain free forever. The iOS app is a one-time 12,99 EUR payment. Reduced prices for countries with emerging film industries are mentioned without figures, and schools and organizations get quotes by email.
Does Beat have AI features?
No. The FAQ on the vendor site answers a question about AI with: No. Beat is made for humans. A writer who wants machine drafting would pair Beat with a separate tool, and because Fountain is plain text the files move easily between them.
Which files can Beat import and export?
Beat imports from Final Draft, Highland, Fade In and Celtx and exports to Final Draft and PDF. Its native Fountain files also open in Slugline, Logline, Storyboarder and Highland, according to the vendor site, and plain text opens in any editor.
Where does Beat store my scripts?
Only on your own computer, according to the vendor. The app works offline and its only internet access is a check for plugin updates, which can be turned off. Syncing or backing up scripts is therefore something the writer arranges.
Does Beat support plugins?
Yes, through JavaScript plugins in the Plugin Library, which is available on macOS only. The library is how the vendor describes adding features beyond the built-in set. Plugin updates are the one reason the app contacts the internet, and that check can be disabled.