Tool profile
Slugline: cost, fit and limits
Slugline is a minimal screenwriting application for Mac, iPhone and iPad that writes scripts in the Fountain plain-text format, with Final Draft import and export and iCloud or Dropbox sync. The vendor's pages read do not name its maker.
What to know first
Slugline 2 for Mac is free for the first six pages, with no watermark or other limit before page six, and a $49.99 USD purchase then covers unlimited writing and FDX export. The site says short-film writers can use it free. The iPhone and iPad app is sold separately, and its price was not shown. The privacy page returned a 404.
Slugline at a glance
| Maker | Not stated by the vendor, Not stated by the vendor |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free for six pages; $49.99 USD one-off for the full Mac version |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Screenwriting Software in 2026, rank 7 of 13 |
| Website | slugline.co |
Who Slugline is best for
Short-film writers
The site describes six free pages and says short-film writers can use the Mac app free, so a ten-minute script may never require a purchase.
Writers who work across Apple devices
iCloud and Dropbox sync between Mac and iOS or iPadOS devices lets a script follow the writer from desk to phone.
Minimalists who like plain text
The default format is Fountain and the interface is deliberately spare, which suits writers who find full-featured editors distracting and prefer a quiet screen.
Slugline plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Slugline 2 for Mac (free) | Free | First six pages, with no watermark or other limits before page six; short-film writers can reportedly stay on it. |
| Slugline 2 for Mac (full) | $49.99 USD one-off | Unlimited writing and FDX export; the page presents it as the single payment that completes the Mac app. |
| Slugline for iPhone and iPad | Not stated | Sold separately from the Mac version; no price appears on the page read, so check the App Store listing before budgeting. |
Checked November 2026.
What Slugline does
- Fountain-first editing
- Scripts are plain-text Fountain files, so they can be opened in other Fountain-aware apps and are not trapped in a proprietary container, which keeps them readable for years.
- Final Draft interchange
- Final Draft files can be imported, and FDX export belongs to the paid version, which writers should weigh when they need to hand a script to a Final Draft user.
- Sync via iCloud or Dropbox
- Files sync between Mac and iPhone or iPad through the writer's own iCloud or Dropbox account rather than a vendor-run cloud; these are the two services the site names.
- Six-page evaluation
- Six pages is long enough to test formatting and sync before paying, and the vendor states there is no watermark or other limit before page six on the Mac.
- Spare interface
- The Mac, iPhone and iPad apps share a minimal writing interface, which the site presents as a spare way to write scripts on any Apple device a writer owns.
How Slugline handles your data
The privacy link on the site returned a 404 when we opened it, so no privacy statement was read. The site says files can sync through iCloud or Dropbox, which means copies sit in whichever of those services the writer chooses and fall under that provider's terms. No training statement, hosting region or certifications were found. With no AI feature named, prompts to a model provider are not a concern on the pages read, but the vendor's own policy was not checked.
Where Slugline falls short in practice
- Page cap before purchase. The free Mac version stops after six pages, so any feature-length script requires the $49.99 USD payment before work can continue, ideally before a deadline.
- Export gated by payment. FDX export is part of the paid version, which means a writer who tries the free tier cannot hand a Final Draft file to a collaborator.
- Unclear mobile cost. The iPhone and iPad app is sold separately with no price on the page read, so total cost across devices is unknown and should be budgeted separately.
Works with
Alternatives to Slugline
Slugline: common questions
How many pages does Slugline allow for free?
Slugline 2 for Mac is free for the first six pages, with no watermark or other limits before page six. After that, a $49.99 USD payment adds unlimited writing and FDX export. The site adds that short-film writers can use it free.
Can Slugline export to Final Draft?
Yes, but FDX export comes with the paid version. Final Draft import is listed on the site as well. Writers who need to send a script to a Final Draft user before buying could export Fountain instead, which other tools can convert.
Does Slugline sync between devices?
Yes. The site says files can sync between Mac and iOS or iPadOS devices through iCloud or Dropbox. The iPhone and iPad app is sold separately, and its price was not shown on the page we read, so confirm it before buying.
Does Slugline use AI?
The site mentions no AI feature. It presents a minimal Fountain editor with Final Draft interchange and sync across Apple devices. Writers who want generation or research help will need a separate tool, and Fountain files move easily between editors.
Is there a Windows version of Slugline?
The pages we read describe apps for Mac, iPhone and iPad only and mention no Windows version. A Windows user could still open the plain-text Fountain files in another editor, because Fountain is an open format, but Slugline itself would not run.