Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Ensemble?
Ensemble is a browser-based screenplay editor. It handles standard formatting automatically, so you can focus on your story instead of fiddling with margins and fonts.
Is Ensemble free?
Yes. Free tier gives you five pages per script with writing, saving, and sharing. For unlimited pages and export (PDF, Fountain, JSON), Pro is $9.99/month.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. It runs entirely in your browser. Nothing to download, no plugins, just a modern web browser.
What browsers does Ensemble support?
Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all work. Ensemble is built on WebAssembly, which all major browsers support.
Account
Do I need an account to use Ensemble?
No. You can start writing right away without one. Your work saves to your browser's local storage. An account is needed to share, collaborate, or export, but creating one is free.
How do I create an account?
Click Sign Up in the nav bar and enter your email and a password. There is no social login (Google, Apple, etc.) - just email and password.
I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
On the sign-in screen, click the Forgot password link and enter your email address. You will receive an email with instructions to reset your password.
Can I change my email address?
Contact Ensemble support to change the email address associated with your account.
Editor
Can I work offline?
Yes. Your work saves to local storage as you type, so you can write without an internet connection. When you come back online, changes sync to the cloud if you have an account.
How does auto-formatting work?
Ensemble detects element types based on context. Start a line with INT. or EXT. and it becomes a scene heading. After that, it defaults to action. Type a name in uppercase and it becomes a character cue, then dialogue starts automatically. You can also press Tab to cycle between types manually.
What is the page limit on the free tier?
Five pages per screenplay. A standard screenplay page is 55 lines, roughly one minute of screen time. Upgrade to Pro ($9.99/month) for unlimited pages.
Can I have multiple scripts?
Yes. Create as many as you want from the dashboard. The five-page limit applies per script, not across your account.
Sharing and Collaboration
Is my script private by default?
Yes. No one can see your screenplay unless you generate a share link or invite a collaborator.
What is the difference between sharing and collaborating?
Sharing generates a read-only link. Anyone with the link can read your script, but they cannot edit it. Collaborating invites someone by email and gives them full editing access. Collaborators can write, edit, and delete text in real time alongside you.
How many collaborators can I have?
There is no hard limit. In practice, two to four writers tends to work best.
Can I see who changed what?
Each collaborator's cursor shows in a unique color with their name. You can see where everyone is working and what they are typing as it happens.
Billing
How much does Pro cost?
$9.99/month. Unlocks unlimited pages and export (PDF, Fountain, Ensemble JSON).
How do I upgrade to Pro?
Click Upgrade in the toolbar or in the modal that appears at the free-tier page limit. You will be taken to a Stripe checkout page to enter payment details.
How do I cancel my Pro subscription?
Cancel any time from your account settings. You keep Pro features until the end of your current billing period, then your account reverts to the free tier.
What happens to my scripts if I cancel Pro?
Your scripts are not deleted. They stay in your account and you can still read and edit them. Scripts longer than five pages become read-only on the free tier - trim them or re-subscribe to keep editing. Export is also unavailable until you resubscribe.