Write your series, season, episode, and scene in one studio, get notes from an AI coach that has read the whole script, and export to Final Draft (FDX) and Fountain so you stay compatible with the industry.
Updated June 2026
Short answer: The best Final Draft alternative for most new and working writers is Slima. It handles industry formatting, organizes a show by series, season, episode, and scene, gives you a scene board and a character bible, and adds an AI coach that has read your whole script. It starts free and exports to Final Draft (FDX) and Fountain, so you lose nothing.
Final Draft is the long-time industry standard, and that is not in question. These are the practical reasons writers shop around.
Final Draft is a one-time purchase around 200 dollars. For a new writer working on a first script, that is a real barrier before a single page is written.
Final Draft is reliable, but the interface shows its age. Writers used to modern tools want a calmer studio that gets out of the way of the draft.
Final Draft is built for a single script. Planning a TV show across seasons and episodes, with a scene board and a series bible, is where it falls short.
Final Draft remains the delivery standard. Slima exports FDX, so the comparison is about how you write, not what you can hand in.
| Capability | Slima | Final Draft |
|---|---|---|
| Final Draft (FDX) export | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fountain export | ✓ | ✓ |
| Series / season / episode structure | ✓ | – |
| Scene board | ✓ | – |
| AI coach that has read your script | ✓ | – |
| Free plan | ✓ | – |
| Industry-standard for delivery | – FDX export keeps you compatible | ✓ |
One studio for the whole show: structure, a scene board, a character bible, and a coach that has read every page.
Plan series, season, episode, and scene in one place, with a scene board and a character bible. See Script Studio and the guide to a TV series bible.
An AI coach that has read your whole script gives notes on structure, character, and pace. It reads and questions the draft; it does not write it for you.
Export to Final Draft (FDX) and Fountain at any time. Built for screenwriters who need to stay compatible with the room.
Final Draft is the standard for a reason. Its formatting and revision tools are strong and reliable, and many productions still require an .fdx file on delivery. That is exactly why Slima exports Final Draft (FDX): you write in a modern studio, you plan your series the way you think, and you still hand in the file the industry expects. You lose nothing on compatibility, and you gain structure, a scene board, and a coach that has read the whole script.
Yes. Slima is a free Final Draft alternative and free screenwriting software to start with. The free plan covers industry formatting, series and episode structure, a scene board, and Fountain export. Pro runs about 16 to 20 dollars a month and adds Final Draft (FDX) export and the full AI coach. See pricing.
Yes. Slima exports to Final Draft (FDX) and to Fountain. Productions that expect an .fdx file get one, so you stay compatible with the industry standard while you write in a modern studio.
Yes. Slima is built around series, season, episode, and scene structure, with a scene board and a character bible. You can plan a whole show and keep every episode in one studio, then export each script to FDX or Fountain. Start with the series bible guide.
Yes. Slima starts free, handles industry formatting for you, and includes an AI coach that has read your whole script and gives notes. It is a coach and reader, not a generator, so the writing stays yours.
Plan your series, get notes from a coach that has read every page, and export to Final Draft (FDX) and Fountain.