Celtx, a screenwriting software alternative to the industry-leading Final Draft, is a lean package that offers some innovative features. While it can’t stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Final Draft, this is to be expected considering its price: free. The software does offer the user straightforward script writing functionality, with the added benefit of real-time collaboration tools that make it possible for two people to edit a script at the same time.

Celtx does strive to go beyond just helping the aspiring screenwriter craft their scripts; it also offers pre-production tools. With its robust reports, Celtx makes it easy to run, store and distribute call sheets, one-line schedules and scene summaries. While these extra features are nice, the script-writing functionality is noticeably sparse. However, it should be made clear that Celtx is still leaps and bounds above attempting to format a screenplay in a word processor, and accomplishes this task many times faster.

Celtx has limited support for the many and varied types of screenplay formats out there, so playwrights and others may find it a bit more difficult to work with. The software does, however, come with powerful editing tools that make it easier for writers to isolate sections of a script, analyze character dialog or view only action description.

There are conflicting reports on the functionality of the online collaboration tools, with some users reporting that they don’t work at all, and others insisting that they work sporadically. In fact, little is known on how the collaboration tools work, apart from the fact that they attempt to create a secure connection between two computers. This makes troubleshooting the problem difficult for tech-savvy users. Still, considering Celtx’s price, and the fact that it achieves its primary goal, it can still be considered a viable option to commercial software for budget-conscious consumers.