Buyer's guide
The best script breakdown software for Mac
A script breakdown turns every scene into a list of what it needs: cast, extras, props, wardrobe, vehicles, effects. Software earns its place when those tags flow on into the schedule and the budget instead of stopping at a report. Here is how the main options compare on a Mac, including the ones that cost nothing.
What to look for
- Does it read the script? Tagging inside the screenplay beats retyping scenes into a separate tool, and a rewrite should update the breakdown.
- Where do the tags go? A breakdown that feeds a stripboard, a Day Out of Days and a budget saves the most work.
- Mac and offline. Browser tools run on a Mac but need a connection; desktop apps keep working on location.
- Price over the whole production. A monthly plan that runs through prep and the shoot often costs more than a one-time licence.
The options compared
| Tool | Type | Breakdown → schedule → budget | Price | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scriptease | Mac desktop app, offline | Yes, all in one project, plus the script itself | $99.99 once | 14-day full trial |
| StudioBinder | Web app | Breakdown and stripboard; budgeting not listed on pricing | From $29/month | Free plan: 1 project, tag up to 10 elements |
| Filmustage | Web app, AI breakdown | Breakdown, schedule, DOOD, budget, call sheets | From $49/month | Free: AI on 20% of scenes, manual tools, 1 project |
| Gorilla (Jungle Software) | Desktop (Mac/Windows) and online | Breakdown sheets, stripboard; budgeting in Combo | Desktop from $24.99/month; online from $19/month | Online demo tier: 1 project, 20 scenes |
| Celtx | Web app | Breakdown, schedule, budget as paid add-ons | Writer Pro from $24.99/month plus add-ons | Free plan has no production tools |
| Movie Magic Scheduling | Desktop (Mac/Windows) | Breakdown and stripboard; budgeting is a separate product | $299.88/year | None stated |
| Yamdu | Web app, mobile | Breakdown, schedule, DOOD, call sheets, budget | From $45/month | Free trial, no free plan |
Competitor details checked on 22 October 2026 on each company's own pricing and help pages. Prices are USD and change often; check before you buy.
Is there free script breakdown software?
Yes, with limits, and it is worth being honest about them:
- Free tiers from StudioBinder, Filmustage and Gorilla's online version let you break down a short or test the workflow, but they cap projects, scenes or tagged elements.
- Paper and spreadsheets cost nothing and work for a short film. Our guide to how to do a script breakdown walks through the colour codes and steps, and our free production templates cover the paperwork around it.
- The catch is the same every time: a free stack does not link the breakdown back to the script, so every rewrite means re-tagging by hand.
How Scriptease handles the breakdown
Write or import the script (Final Draft, Fountain or PDF). Scriptease detects the scenes and suggests cast, props and other elements as it reads them; you confirm and tag the rest. Each element lives once in the project, so the same prop appears in the breakdown, on the stripboard and on the budget line. Change the scene and the breakdown follows.
It is single-user and macOS only. If your crew needs several people tagging the same project at once, a web tool such as StudioBinder fits better — see our StudioBinder comparison.