That time’s better spent pruning your dialogue or dreaming up the next high concept sitcom or doing… anything, really. Microsoft Word and Notes do not address specific screenwriting issues and wrestling with their margins is time-consuming. Trying to craft and edit a script with non-specific screenwriting software can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. This will make the writing process that much smoother, as the software takes over all that pesky formatting and lets you focus on the creative side. It’s obviously important to find screenwriting software that suits your approach to screenwriting. This guide (updated for 2021) has been divided into the best free screenwriting software and the best paid screenwriting software, for the benefit of writers strapped for cash.