Better Draft

AI script notes in the margin, from a reader that argues back.

Beginner
Screenshot of Better Draft, AI script notes in the margin, from a reader that argues back

What is Better Draft?

Better Draft is a dialogue generator tool. An AI script reader for screenwriters that leaves notes in the margin of a full draft, remembers the whole screenplay, takes pushback on its notes, and generates coverage and a rewrite plan. Free to start, with a native Mac app and a mobile notes companion.

Better Draft is a screenwriting desk built around a single job: reading a script and telling the writer what is not working. Its AI reader, Penn, works through the full draft, holds characters, promises and threads in a running bible, and places each note beside the line it is about rather than dumping a report at the end. Notes describe what is landing, what is not, and the question that opens the scene up. Penn does not write pages and the company states that submitted work is never used for training and never shared. In practice the writer opens a Final Draft, Fountain or plain text file (or pastes a scene) and lets the tool format it as a script. Penn reads from the top, so a note on page 40 can reference a setup from page 12. The writer can then argue: claim the parking line is deliberate, explain that a character deflects by nature, and Penn either defends the note with the page it came from or concedes and says what changed its mind. The next read accounts for the changes. A separate coverage mode produces grades for premise, structure, character and dialogue, a logline, an executive summary and a prioritised rewrite plan, regenerated on whatever draft exists today. A craft library of analyses covering 91 produced screenplays lets a note point to how a finished film solved the same problem, and a table read performs the pages aloud. It is aimed at screenwriters in the rewrite: people with a draft, a suspicion that the middle sags, and no honest reader lined up. The pitch is explicitly not a replacement for paid human coverage on a final draft, but for the drafts before that one. Final Draft handles formatting and chatbots rewrite what you paste; Better Draft stays on the reading side, which matters for contests and guild rules that bar AI-generated pages rather than AI-read ones. A companion notes app on mobile captures ideas and files them to the right script, and a native Mac app keeps files local and works offline.

How do you use Better Draft?

  1. 1Paste a scene or open your draft
    Start on the homepage with the free sample read, or sign up to bring a full script. Final Draft, Fountain and plain text are accepted, and pasted text gets formatted.
  2. 2Read the margin notes
    Penn reads from the top of the script. Each note appears next to the line it is about and covers what works, what does not, and the question that opens the scene up.
  3. 3Argue with a note you disagree with
    Reply to any note with your reasoning. Penn either defends the note citing the page it came from or concedes and explains what changed its mind.
  4. 4Run coverage on the current draft
    When you want the whole picture, generate coverage with grades for premise, structure, character and dialogue, plus a logline, executive summary and rewrite plan.
  5. 5Install the Mac app for desk work
    The native macOS app keeps scripts as real files on your machine, opens quickly and works offline, using the same account and the same Penn notes.
  6. 6Capture ideas on your phone
    Better Draft Notes lets you speak or snap a line or fix on the go, filing it to the right script so it is waiting at the desk for your next session.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Notes sit beside the specific line they concern rather than arriving as an end-of-draft reportAI
  • Penn holds the entire script in memory, so late notes reference earlier setupsAI
  • Writers can dispute a note and get either a defence with page evidence or a concessionAI
  • Coverage mode adds grades, a logline, an executive summary and a prioritised rewrite planAI
  • Table read performs the pages aloud, which surfaces dialogue that does not sound humanAI

Cons

  • The site offers no published examples of notes on a full 90 page script, only short sample scenesAI
  • Coverage grades and a rewrite plan are generated by the same reader, so they inherit its blind spotsAI
  • No integration with Final Draft beyond file import, so revisions are not round-tripped backAI
  • Craft library comparisons are limited to the 91 analysed screenplays and may miss genre matchesAI
  • Only a small team's own sample notes are shown, with no independent reviews or user testimonials yetAI

How much does Better Draft cost?

Free trial

A free read is available with no account and no card, and the free tier covers logline-stage work before full pages exist.

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Pricing

Free to start with no card required. Plans begin at $16 a month, and launch prices are locked for 12 months from the signup date. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies if the notes do not help the draft.

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Integrations

Imports Final Draft, Fountain and plain text files. A native macOS app and a separate mobile notes app share the same account and notes.

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Features

Margin notes tied to specific lines, whole-script memory of characters and threads, a back-and-forth argument mode, full coverage with grades and a rewrite plan, a craft library of 91 produced screenplay analyses, and an aloud table read.

Frequently asked questions about Better Draft

  • How much does Better Draft cost?
    Free to start with no card required. Plans begin at $16 a month, and launch prices are locked for 12 months from the signup date. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies if the notes do not help the draft.
  • Does Better Draft offer a free trial?
    A free read is available with no account and no card, and the free tier covers logline-stage work before full pages exist.
  • How do you use Better Draft?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Paste a scene or open your draft 2. Read the margin notes 3. Argue with a note you disagree with 4. Run coverage on the current draft 5. Install the Mac app for desk work 6. Capture ideas on your phone.
  • What platforms does Better Draft support?
    Better Draft is available on Web App, MacOS, iOS and Android.
  • What does Better Draft integrate with?
    Imports Final Draft, Fountain and plain text files. A native macOS app and a separate mobile notes app share the same account and notes.
  • What are the limitations of Better Draft?
    The site offers no published examples of notes on a full 90 page script, only short sample scenes. Coverage grades and a rewrite plan are generated by the same reader, so they inherit its blind spots. No integration with Final Draft beyond file import, so revisions are not round-tripped back.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web AppMacOSiOSAndroid

Pricing

FreemiumSubscription