Ensemble vs Celtx: a focused screenplay editor versus an everything-suite.
Celtx started as free open-source screenwriting software and grew into a pre-production suite — at the cost of its free tier. Ensemble stays focused on writing, and stays free.
Try Ensemble Free →What is Celtx?
Celtx began in 2008 as one of the original free, open-source screenwriting tools. Over the years it broadened into a full pre-production platform — storyboards, shot lists, budgeting, scheduling, call sheets — and migrated to a SaaS model with paid plans starting around $14.99/month for the writing tier.
The free tier today is a heavily-limited trial of the larger platform. For writers who just want a script editor, the wider toolset is largely cost without benefit. For producers running an entire indie production from one app, Celtx covers far more ground than any focused editor can.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Ensemble | Celtx |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (Pro $9.99/mo) | Free trial; paid from ~$14.99/mo |
| Generous free tier | Yes — unlimited projects | Limited |
| Runs in browser | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes — multi-cursor | Yes (paid) |
| Industry-standard formatting | Yes | Yes |
| PDF export | Yes (free) | Yes (paid tiers) |
| Fountain import/export | Yes | Limited |
| AI shot lists | Yes (Pro) | Yes (separate paid module) |
| Storyboards | No (third party) | Yes |
| Production budgeting | No | Yes (higher tier) |
| Scheduling / call sheets | No | Yes (higher tier) |
| Read-aloud / table read | Yes — 9 voices | No |
Where Celtx is the better choice
- You're running an entire indie production and want a single app for script, schedule, budget, storyboards, and call sheets.
- You're a producer or AD whose job is downstream of writing, and you want to keep all of that in one tool.
Where Ensemble is the better choice
- You only want to write the screenplay — the writing should be the product, not a checkbox on a sales page.
- You don't want to pay a monthly subscription to do the basic job of typing a script.
- You miss the original free Celtx and want something that won't keep upselling you to a higher tier.
- You want AI shot lists without buying into an entire pre-production platform.
The honest take
Celtx and Ensemble solve different problems. If your day job is producing — coordinating crew, locations, schedules, and budgets — Celtx's broader suite earns its monthly cost.
If your job is writing the script, Ensemble does that job better and for free. For shot lists and production-adjacent work, our Pro plan covers shot lists at $9.99/mo — and you can do storyboarding and scheduling in whatever specialist tool you prefer.
Try Ensemble before you commit.
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